Joining the British Army in the First World War

This lesson examines the motives and men who volunteered to fight for the British Army during the First World War, and features a letter from a young recruit to his mother. This is closely based on the letter written by an English soldier called Frederick Wade, which is in the collection of the Imperial War Museum.

Students will start by looking at some First World War recruitment posters, like the one to the right, which men like Frederick Wade would have seen. The students will also have a group discussion about patriotism in the present day.

Topic: Volunteering for the British Army during the First World War

Level: B2/ Upper intermediate

Time: 60 minutes

Aims:

To develop student's ability to read for gist and for detailed information
To encourage word building skills
To develop critical thinking skills

Copyright - please read

All the materials on these pages are free for you to download and copy for educational use only. You may not redistribute, sell or place these materials on any other web site without written permission from the BBC and British Council. If you have any questions about the use of these materials please email us at: teachingenglish@britishcouncil.org

Downloads

Lesson plan

Worksheet

Recruitment posters PowerPoint

Need a little more help with your professional development? Find a training course for your needs.

Add new comment

A - Z of Content

J L M N S T W


Joining the British Army in the First World War
Letters Home
Life in the trenches
Migration and the First World War
Military exemption
Numbers and the First World War
Soldiers from the Caribbean in the First World War
The outbreak of war
The soldier and the pacifist
Wilfred Owen

Professional development
-Teachers
--Planning lessons and courses
---Articles
---Magazine
---Find other content
--Understanding learners
---Articles
---Magazine
---Find other content
--Managing the lesson
---Articles
---Magazine
---Teaching reading and writing
---Teaching speaking
---Low-resource classrooms
---Find other content
--Knowing the subject
---Articles
---Magazine
---Teaching knowledge database
---TeachingEnglish radio
---Video tips
---Find other content
--Managing resources
---Articles
---Find other content
--Assessing learning
---Articles
---Magazine
---Find other content
--Integrating ICT
---Articles
---Magazine
---Find other content
--Taking responsibility for professional development
---Articles
---Magazine
---Networks
---Find other content
--Using inclusive practices
---Articles
---Magazine
---Find other content
--Using multilingual approaches
---Articles
---Magazine
---Find other content
--Promoting 21st century skills
---Articles
---Magazine
---Find other content
--Understanding educational policies and practices
---Articles
---Find other content
-Teacher educators
--Knowing the subject
---Articles
---Find other content
--Understanding the teaching context
---Articles
---Find other content
--Understanding how teachers learn
---Articles
---Find other content
--Supporting and mentoring teachers
---Articles
---Find other content
--Research and contributing to the profession
---Find other content
--Taking responsibility for own professional development
---Articles
---Find other content
--Monitoring teacher potential and performance
---Articles
---Find other content
--Managing and developing learning resources for teachers
---Articles
---Find other content
--Demonstrating effective teaching behaviour
---Articles
---Find other content
--Planning and managing teacher learning
---Find other content
--Enabling skills and self-awareness features
---Articles
---Find other content
Publications
-Resource books
-Case studies, insights and research
-Milestones in ELT
-ELT research database
-ELT Research Awards
--ELTRA guidelines
--ELTRA winners
--ELTRA FAQS
-ELT masters dissertations
--ELT Masters dissertations winners
--MA in ELT FAQs
--ELT Masters Dissertation Award
Teaching resources
-Teaching primary
--Lesson plans
---Level 1
---Level 2
---Level 3
--Activities
---Level 1
---Level 2
---Level 3
--Stories and poems
--Songs
--Teaching tools
-Teaching secondary
--Activities
---Beginner A1
---Pre-intermediate A2
---Intermediate B1
---Upper intermediate B2
---Advanced C1
--Lesson plans
---Pre-intermediate A2
---Intermediate B1
---Upper-intermediate B2
---Advanced C1
--Stories and poems
--Teaching tools
--UK history and literature
---Shakespeare
---Jane Austen
---Charles Dickens
---Dylan Thomas
---Magna Carta
---First World War
-Teaching adults
--Lesson plans
---Beginner A1
---Pre-intermediate A2
---Intermediate B1
---Upper intermediate B2
---Advanced C1
--Activities
---Pre-intermediate A2
---Intermediate B1
---Upper-intermediate B2
---Advanced C1
--English for business
Training
News and events
-Top stories
-IATEFL Online
--IATEFL Online 2019
--IATEFL Online 2018
-Webinars
-Conferences
-World Teachers' Day
--2016
--2017
--2018
--2019
-Seminars
-ELTons Innovation Awards
--ELTons Innovation Awards 2020
--Past ELTons
---ELTons 2019
---ELTons 2018
---ELTons 2017
--Become an ELTons judge