SHORT HISTORY, LONG ECHOES · A2/B1 · 50 min

The Colosseum

Rome's giant arena, 2,000 years old.

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Today: tell the story of the Colosseum, a giant building in Rome, and talk about why people watch exciting shows. Grammar: purpose (to / so that) and result (so… that).

Key words — match them first

Before we read, let's learn the important words. Match each word (1–8) to its meaning (A–H). Say your answers out loud — "I think 1 is D" — then check.

Words

  1. an arena
  2. a stadium
  3. Rome
  4. an emperor
  5. a gladiator
  6. a crowd
  7. huge
  8. ruins

Meanings

  • A. very, very big
  • B. the old capital city of Italy
  • C. the open space in the middle where the action happens
  • D. a big building where people watch sport or shows
  • E. the old, broken parts of a building that is no longer new
  • F. a big group of people watching together
  • G. the most powerful leader, like a king, in ancient Rome
  • H. a man who fought other men in front of a crowd in Rome

1 = C (an arena) · 2 = D (a stadium) · 3 = B (Rome) · 4 = G (an emperor)

5 = H (a gladiator) · 6 = F (a crowd) · 7 = A (huge) · 8 = E (ruins)

Now talk — out loud

Before we read:
  • Which words are about a building? Which words are about people?
  • Use three of the words to guess: what do you think happens in this story?

The story, in three parts

Read each part. Then try the questions from memory, and talk about the last one.

Part 1 — A huge building in Rome

The Colosseum is a very big, round, stone building. It is in the city of Rome, in Italy. It is almost 2,000 years old.

A Roman emperor called Vespasian started to build it about 1,950 years ago. He did not see it finished. His son, Titus, finished it in the year 80 AD.

The Colosseum was very big. Between 50,000 and 80,000 people could sit inside! It was like a huge modern stadium, but much, much older.

Quick check — answer from memory, then reveal:

1. Where is the Colosseum, and how old is it?

2. Who started it, and who finished it?

1. It is in Rome, in Italy. It is almost 2,000 years old.

2. The emperor Vespasian started it. His son, Titus, finished it in the year 80 AD.

Talk about it:
  • The Colosseum could hold 50,000–80,000 people. What big buildings in your country can hold a lot of people?

Part 2 — The games inside

Inside the Colosseum, the Romans watched "games". Men called gladiators fought each other in the arena. There were also fights with wild animals.

The crowd loved these shows. It was very exciting for them. The fights were dangerous, and some men did not win — but the people came again and again.

The shows were free. The emperors did not ask the people for money. They gave the games to the people because they wanted the people to be happy and to like them.

Quick check — answer from memory, then reveal:

1. What did people watch inside the Colosseum?

2. Why did the emperors give free shows to the people?

1. They watched "games": gladiators (men) fought each other, and there were fights with wild animals.

2. The emperors wanted the people to be happy and to like them.

Talk about it:
  • The emperors gave free shows so the people would like them. Do leaders today do nice things so people will like them? Can you think of an example?

Part 3 — The Colosseum today

The Colosseum is very old now. In some places, it is broken. Over the years, parts of it fell down, and people took some of the stone to build other things.

But the building did not disappear. It is too big and too famous. It is still there, in the middle of Rome.

Today, millions of tourists visit the Colosseum every year. It is the most famous symbol of ancient Rome.

Quick check — answer from memory, then reveal:

1. Is the Colosseum perfect today, or is it broken in some places?

2. Who visits the Colosseum now?

1. It is broken in some places — it is partly in ruins — but it is still standing.

2. Millions of tourists visit it every year. It is the most famous symbol of ancient Rome.

Talk about it:
  • The Colosseum is the symbol of Rome. What famous building is the symbol of your country or your city?

Grammar: purpose (to / so that) and result (so… that)

We use these words for two different ideas. Purpose tells us why — the plan. Result tells us what happened because something was so big or strong.

Purpose — why? (the plan):
to + verb: "The emperor gave free games to make the people happy."
so that + sentence: "He built the arena so that everyone could watch."

Result — what happened? (so big it did this):
so + adjective + that: "The Colosseum was so big that 50,000 people could sit inside."

Quick difference: so that = the plan (why). so… that = the result (what happened because it was so big).

1. Purpose: choose to or so that

Use to before a verb. Use so that before a new part with its own subject (the people, everyone…).

1. The emperor gave free games make the people happy.

2. He built the arena everyone could watch the shows.

3. Vespasian built it on Nero's land send a message to the people.

4. The shows were free the people would like the emperor.

1. to (to + verb: to make)

2. so that (a new part: everyone could watch)

3. to (to + verb: to send)

4. so that (a new part: the people would like…)

2. Result: make sentences with so… that

Put so before the adjective and that before what happened. Then read it out loud. (Sample answers are shown — yours may be a little different.)

1. The Colosseum was very big. 50,000 people could sit inside.

2. The games were very exciting. The crowd came again and again.

3. The building is very famous. Millions of tourists visit it.

1. The Colosseum was so big that 50,000 people could sit inside.

2. The games were so exciting that the crowd came again and again.

3. The building is so famous that millions of tourists visit it.

Listen

There is a real podcast about the Colosseum. It is for native speakers, so it is fast and quite difficult — that is normal! You do not need to understand every word.

Your job is easy: you already know the story and the key words. So just try to catch a few things you recognise — a name, a place, a word from today. Don't worry about the rest. This is great practice for your ears.

🎧 Short History Of… The Colosseum

From the Noiser podcast network. Hosted by historians, roughly 50 minutes.

Listen on Spotify →
While you listen:
  • Write down three words you hear and recognise from today's lesson (arena, emperor, gladiator, crowd…).
  • Can you hear the names Vespasian or Titus, or the word Rome? How many times?
  • Find one new thing the podcast says, and tell me about it next time — even just one sentence.

Speak

Do all three tasks out loud. Use the timer to keep talking.

Useful language: say why with purpose — "They built it to…", "so that the people could watch…". Say what happened with result — "It was so big that…", "It was so famous that…". To give an opinion: "I think…", "In my opinion…", "For me…".
Time remaining: 3:00
Task A · Tell the story (3 minutes)

Tell the story of the Colosseum in your own words. Use these steps to help you: a huge stone building in Rome → almost 2,000 years old → Vespasian started it, Titus finished it → gladiators and animals fought inside → the crowd loved it → free shows → today it is in ruins but very famous.

As you tell it, say why things were done (purpose: "to make the people happy", "so that everyone could watch") and what happened because the building was so big (result: "it was so big that…"). Use some key words too (arena, stadium, emperor, gladiator, crowd, huge, ruins).

Task B · Watching for excitement (3 minutes)

The Romans loved watching dangerous shows. What do people watch today for excitement? Think about sport, films, TV, or videos online. Why do people like these things?

Task C · A famous place (3 minutes)

Tell me about a big stadium or a famous place in your country. What is it? Where is it? Say what it is for ("It is so that people can…", "They built it to…") and what happened because it is so big or famous ("It is so big that…").

Not sure what to talk about? Choose one:

  • A big football stadium where your team plays and the crowd sings.
  • A concert hall or theatre where people watch music and shows.
  • An old castle, palace or church which is very famous in your country.
  • A new arena where you can watch sport or a big concert.
  • A large shopping centre or fun park which lots of people visit at the weekend.

To finish

  1. The emperors gave the people free shows to make them happy. Was that a good idea, or a clever trick?
  2. Many old buildings fall down. Why do you think the Colosseum is still standing after 2,000 years?
  3. From memory: what is the difference between so that (purpose — why) and so… that (result — what happened)? Give me one example of each, about the Colosseum — for example, "They built it so that people could watch" and "It was so big that 50,000 people could sit inside".