English through Music

Taylor Swift: Love Story

Rewriting the ending

B1–B2Approximately 31 minutesAdults

Created by Denis M., British English teacher.

01 Watch 02 Useful English 03 Quick quiz 04 Speaking

Your goal: Follow a romantic narrative and discuss how stories create obstacles and satisfying endings.

Romance, family disapproval and marriage. No knowledge of Shakespeare is required.

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 obstacle to the relationship and what changes near the end.

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.

disapprove

verb

To think that something is wrong or not acceptable.

Her parents disapproved of the plan to leave without telling anyone.

Use disapprove of + noun or -ing form.

sneak out

phrasal verb

To leave quietly or secretly to avoid being noticed.

The cat sneaked out through an open window.

reassure

verb

To help someone feel less worried.

The tutor reassured me that one mistake would not ruin the presentation.

happy ending

noun phrase

An ending in which the main characters reach a positive outcome.

The film has a happy ending, but the characters still have problems to solve.

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 creates an obstacle for the relationship?

A shared decision that they do not like each other.Disapproval and pressure from the girl’s family.A disagreement about which instrument to learn.

2. How does the romantic story end?

With the narrator discovering they have never met.With both characters deciding never to speak again.With a marriage proposal and reassurance.

3. They disapprove of the plan. What do they think?

The plan is not acceptable.The plan has not yet been written down.The plan is especially impressive.

4. Someone sneaks out of a room. How do they leave?

Quietly, hoping not to be noticed.With a loud announcement to everyone.Only after asking everyone to applaud.

5. Which reply is meant to reassure a nervous speaker?

Everyone is waiting for you to make a mistake.You have prepared carefully; take your time.You should worry much more than you do now.

6. What makes an ending a happy ending?

The story stops before any outcome becomes clear.Every sentence uses a cheerful adjective.The main outcome is positive for the central characters.

1–2 minGrammar in a minuteB1–B2 · Reporting a promise

Use reported speech to retell a character’s commitment.

Anna promised that she would wait outside.

Original practice model, not a song lyric

In a past-time report, would can keep a promised action in the future from the earlier speaking moment. Keep the person and time relationships clear; had waited would describe an earlier action instead.

Leo said, “I will help you tomorrow.” Report the promise later, preserving the original time sequence.Leo promised that he had helped me the previous day.Leo promised that he would help me the next day.Leo promised that I would help him the next day.

Grammar support

B1–B2Reported speech

04 · 10 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. What makes an obstacle in a love story believable?

Give an example from fiction rather than your own life.

The obstacle feels believable when…

2. Do happy endings need to solve every problem?

Explain what an audience needs to feel satisfied.

An ending can be happy even if…

3. Would you keep this ending or write a different one?

Describe your alternative aloud and explain its effect.

I would change… because…

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