WARM UP

Think about influential people and personal achievement.

• Who do you look up to the most, and why?
• Have you ever thrown yourself into a new project or challenge?
• What social issues should people raise awareness of today?
• Do you think successful people are born talented or do they devote themselves to their goals?
• What ambition would you still like to fulfil in your life?

Answer in full sentences and give detailed reasons.

VOCABULARY – ROLE MODELS & ACHIEVEMENT

• campaign for – to publicly support or promote a cause or idea
Example: Many activists campaign for equal educational opportunities.

• campaign against – to publicly oppose a cause, action, or idea
Example: Several organisations campaign against animal cruelty.

• come up against – to face a difficulty or obstacle
Example: Every entrepreneur eventually comes up against unexpected challenges.

• devote yourself to – to give most of your time and energy to something
Example: She devoted herself to improving healthcare in rural communities.

• fulfil an ambition – to achieve an important personal goal
Example: After years of hard work, he finally fulfilled his ambition of becoming a surgeon.

• look up to – to admire and respect someone
Example: Many young athletes look up to successful professionals.

• raise awareness of – to help people learn about and understand an issue
Example: The campaign helped raise awareness of mental health problems.

• role model – a person whose behaviour inspires others
Example: Teachers can be powerful role models for young people.

• take on a challenge – to accept and attempt something difficult
Example: She decided to take on the challenge of running a marathon.

• think highly of – to have a very positive opinion of someone
Example: His colleagues think highly of him because of his honesty.

• throw yourself into – to do something with great enthusiasm and energy
Example: He threw himself into learning the language after moving abroad.

Say each expression out loud.
Think about people you admire and why they inspire you.

GRAMMAR – PARTICIPLE CLAUSES

Participle clauses help us make our language more concise, natural, and sophisticated.

They are commonly used at C1 level to connect ideas without repeatedly using words such as because, when, while, after, or who was.

Present Participle Clauses (-ing)

Used when two actions happen at the same time or when one action explains another.

Examples

• Campaigning for social change, she inspired thousands of people.

• Raising awareness of environmental issues, the organisation gained international recognition.

• Taking on increasingly difficult challenges, he developed remarkable resilience.

• Devoting herself to education, she became a respected leader.

Past Participle Clauses (-ed / third form)

Used to describe passive meaning.

Examples

• Inspired by his role model, he pursued a career in medicine.

• Recognised for her achievements, she received several awards.

• Respected by colleagues around the world, she became an influential figure.

• Supported by thousands of volunteers, the campaign expanded rapidly.

Perfect Participle Clauses

Used when one action happened before another.

Structure

• Having + past participle

Examples

• Having fulfilled his ambition, he decided to help others achieve theirs.

• Having come up against numerous setbacks, she became more determined.

• Having devoted herself to the project for years, she finally succeeded.

• Having thrown himself into the challenge, he gained valuable experience.

More Examples

• Looking up to her mentor, she adopted many of his leadership qualities.

• Campaigning against discrimination, the organisation changed public attitudes.

• Having taken on the challenge, he refused to give up.

• Thinking highly of their manager, the team remained loyal during difficult times.

DIALOGUE – AN INSPIRING ROLE MODEL

Anna: Who has influenced you the most in your life?

David: My grandfather. Having come up against many difficulties, he never gave up.

Anna: What made him a good role model?

David: Devoting himself to helping others, he earned everyone's respect.

Anna: Do people still think highly of him?

David: Absolutely. Many people look up to him because of his generosity and determination.

Anna: What did you learn from him?

David: To take on challenges confidently and to throw myself into opportunities instead of avoiding them.

Read again and practise.

SHORT ARTICLE

Some individuals become exceptional role models not because they achieve fame, but because of the values they demonstrate throughout their lives. Campaigning for social justice, environmental protection, or equal opportunities, these people often inspire others to make a positive contribution to society. Many of them succeed only after coming up against significant obstacles and setbacks.

One example is a young entrepreneur who spent years developing sustainable technology. Having devoted herself to the project despite repeated failures, she eventually fulfilled her ambition of creating a successful company. Raising awareness of environmental issues through public speaking and educational programmes, she encouraged thousands of people to adopt more sustainable lifestyles.

What makes such individuals inspiring is not simply their success but their willingness to take on challenges and persist when circumstances become difficult. Looked up to by younger generations and thought highly of by colleagues, they demonstrate that meaningful achievement often requires perseverance, courage, and commitment.

Read the article twice. Focus on the participle clauses and notice how they make the text more concise and sophisticated.

LANGUAGE SUPPORT

Talking about role models

• I look up to people who...

• I think highly of individuals who...

• A good role model should...

• I admire people who devote themselves to...

Using participle clauses

• Having fulfilled his ambition, he...

• Campaigning for social change, she...

• Inspired by his mentor, he...

• Having come up against difficulties, they...

Advanced opinion phrases

• What I find particularly inspiring is...

• One quality I admire is...

• What distinguishes successful people is...

• Their greatest achievement was...

Full Sentence Model

• Having devoted herself to improving educational opportunities for disadvantaged children, she became a respected role model whom many people look up to and think highly of.

PERSONAL QUESTIONS

Answer in detail and support your opinions with examples.

• Who is the greatest role model in your life, and why?

• Which qualities make someone worthy of admiration?

• Have you ever fulfilled an ambition that once seemed impossible?

• What challenge would you like to take on in the future?

• Have you ever thrown yourself into a project or goal? What happened?

• Which public figures do you think highly of, and why?

• What causes should society raise awareness of more effectively?

• Have you ever come up against a major obstacle? How did you overcome it?

• Do you believe people should campaign for social change, or should governments lead the process?

• What kind of person would you like younger generations to look up to?

HOMEWORK (WRITE & RECORD)

Writing

Write a 250–300 word article titled:

"The Person I Admire Most"

Requirements:

• Use at least 8 vocabulary expressions from the lesson.

• Use at least 5 participle clauses.

• Include one present participle clause, one past participle clause, and one perfect participle clause.

• Explain why the person is a positive role model.

Recording

Record yourself reading your article aloud.

Focus on:

• Natural linking between ideas.

• Stressing key vocabulary expressions.

• Pausing correctly after participle clauses.

• Speaking with clear intonation and confidence.