English through Music

John Lennon: Imagine

Imagining a less divided world

B1–B2Approximately 33 minutesAdults

Created by Denis M., British English teacher.

01 Watch 02 Useful English 03 Quick quiz 04 Speaking

Your goal: Understand a proposal for a different world and discuss ideals with respectful agreement or disagreement.

Religion, national borders and possessions are discussed as ideas. Learners are welcome to disagree and need not disclose personal beliefs.

01 · 7 minutes

Watch

Watch the complete video once without pausing. Focus on the overall meaning and mood; you do not need to catch every word.

Listen for the divisions the speaker asks the listener to reconsider and the kind of world he proposes.

If the player cannot load or reports an error, open the video on YouTube.

Open on YouTube

Choose one word for your first reaction. There is no correct answer.

02 · 5 minutes

Useful English

Four useful items connected with the song. Definitions and examples are original; not every item is claimed to appear in the recording.

British English vocabulary audio

Open the full MP3

Choose an item to hear its word, meaning and example.

division

noun, countable / uncountable

A difference or separation that keeps people or groups apart.

The project aims to reduce division between neighbourhoods.

possessions

plural noun

Things that a person owns.

She packed her most important possessions into two boxes.

ideal

noun, countable

A standard or situation that someone believes would be best.

Equal opportunity is an ideal the organisation hopes to pursue.

coexist

verb

To exist or live together in the same place or period.

Different traditions can coexist in the same city.

03 · 9 minutes

Quick quiz

Choose one answer for each question. Questions 1–2 focus on the song; questions 3–6 practise useful vocabulary.

Open the six-question quiz

1. What kind of world does the speaker ask listeners to consider?

A world in which groups compete to create more boundaries.A world where possessions are the only measure of human value.A more peaceful world with fewer divisions between people.

2. How is this vision presented?

As a factual report that all conflict has already ended.As proof that every listener must hold exactly the same beliefs.As an invitation to imagine an alternative, not a claim that it already exists.

3. An initiative reduces division between groups. What does it try to reduce?

The number of arithmetic lessons they take.Separation and conflict between them.Every harmless difference in their individual tastes.

4. Which of these are possessions?

Every opinion a person disagrees with.The objects a person owns.The weather a person experiences.

5. A fair society is described as an ideal. What does ideal mean?

A desirable standard people hope to approach.A fact that has necessarily been achieved everywhere.A rule that cannot ever be debated.

6. Different traditions coexist in a city. What does this mean?

They exist there together.They have all become exactly the same tradition.Only one tradition is allowed to remain.

1–2 minGrammar in a minuteB1 · Imagine + -ing

Use imagine with an activity to explore a possibility without saying it is real.

Imagine living in a city where everyone can reach a park on foot.

Original practice model, not a song lyric

When a verb directly follows imagine as its activity complement, use -ing: imagine living. Imagine also allows other patterns, such as imagine that…, but not imagine to live in this meaning.

Choose the standard activity pattern.Imagine to share a garden with your neighbours.Imagine sharing a garden with your neighbours.Imagine share a garden with your neighbours.

Grammar support

B1Gerunds and infinitives

04 · 12 minutes

Speaking

Give your opinion and explain it. Different reactions are welcome. You may use invented examples instead of personal experiences.

Open the three speaking questions

1. Which part of the song’s vision seems most appealing, or most questionable, to you?

Explain your view without needing to discuss your own religion or politics.

I find the idea of… appealing/questionable because…

2. Can people coexist peacefully while keeping different beliefs and traditions?

Give one practical condition that would help.

Coexistence may be easier when…

3. Imagine one realistic change that could make your local area more welcoming.

Describe it and explain one possible difficulty.

Imagine… It could help by… although…

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