How to learn a language like a hyper-polyglot

Title separator

Vocabulary

language learning lesson plan

LESSON OVERVIEW

The lesson plan is based on a video about a hyper-polyglot, a teenager who knows 20 languages. Tim Doner has been teaching himself languages since he was 13 years old. He explains how he approaches new languages and what techniques he uses to master them.
The worksheet contains three pre-class activities that students are supposed to do at home, and four in-class activities in which they practise newly-learnt words and discover some collocations related to learning a language.

B2 / Upper Intermediate60 minFlipped LessonUnlimited Plan

This is a Flipped Classroom lesson plan. In a nutshell, it means that the first part of the lesson needs to be done by students at home. Learn more about flipped classroom and how we implement it in these lesson plans in our post.

PRE-CLASS ACTIVITIES

Before the class, students have to complete their part of the worksheet based on the video. First, they need to watch the video and complete sentences with one word each. After that, they have to study the sentences and match words and phrases they’ve completed with their meanings. Finally, students watch the video again. This time they answer comprehension questions about the video.

IN-CLASS ACTIVITIES

The in-class worksheet starts with a discussion. Students have to answer questions about the video as well as issues connected with language learning and English as a lingua franca. Additionally, the questions contain words that students were to study at home in the pre-class worksheet. Next, there is a vocabulary task. Students have to fill in the mind maps with words given in the box. Thanks to that exercise, they will learn such collocations as lifelong learning, dead language, to learn by heart, language barriers, etc. Finally, students move to a speaking part which consists of two tasks. First, they need to finish the sentences with vocabulary from the previous exercise. Then, they share their sentences with each other. Working in pairs, they have to ask follow-up questions to get more ideas.

WORKSHEETS

Comments

Title separator

Leave a Reply

  1. anned

    I love this lesson and my students liked it too. 🙂 Thanks! 🙂

    1. Justa

      Awesome! The best feedback is when your students say they like the lesson 🙂

Browse other materials recommended for you

Title separator
talk about challenges
B1 / Intermediate | B2 / Upper Intermediate
Speaking Class 45 min / 60 min
Loading

Stepping out of your comfort zone

Lifestyle

In this Speaking Class, students watch a video and talk about challenges, and how doing certain things makes them feel. There is also an optional vocabulary activity.

ESL lesson on getting things done
B2 / Upper Intermediate
Standard Lesson 60 min
Loading

A place to get things done

Grammar Lifestyle

This ESL lesson on getting things done and deadlines includes a range of speaking, vocabulary and grammar activities. Students talk about deadlines, learn useful vocabulary and grammar structures, watch a video and have engaging conversations. 

talking about the past
B1 / Intermediate | B2 / Upper Intermediate
Speaking Class 45 min / 60 min
Loading

The good old days (life in the ’90s)

Lifestyle

In this lesson about life in the ‘90s, students watch two ads and practise talking about the past. They also compare life in different decades and plan a ‘90s themed party. 

lesson about appearance
B2 / Upper Intermediate | C1 / Advanced
Speaking Class 45 min / 60 min
Loading

This is how I look

Lifestyle

In this lesson about appearance, students watch a video about women who stopped dying their grey hair and talk about societal norms regarding how a person looks. 

Speaking about air travel
B1 / Intermediate | B2 / Upper Intermediate
Speaking Class 45 min / 60 min
Loading

Are you into flying?

General Lifestyle

This worksheet focuses on speaking about air travel. Students answer different questions, watch and discuss a video. They also read and discuss short stories and create their own. 

Christmas worksheet
B2 / Upper Intermediate
Standard Lesson 60 min
Loading

Spreading Christmas cheer

Lifestyle

With this Christmas worksheet, students talk about holiday traditions, watch a video about a school for Santas and learn vocabulary related to the festive season.

Present Perfect Continuous
B1 / Intermediate | B2 / Upper Intermediate
Standard Lesson 90 min
Loading

I’ve been doing it for a week and I love it!

Grammar Lifestyle

This lesson combines a topic of hobbies and Present Perfect Continuous. Students learn new phrases related to hobbies, watch a video and discuss it. There is also a grammar section that lets students discover rules and put them into practice. 

discussion questions about fashion
B2 / Upper Intermediate | C1 / Advanced
Speaking Class 45 min / 60 min
Loading

Fashion, fashion everywhere

Lifestyle

In this worksheet students go through a variety of discussion questions about fashion. They also choose between opposing statements, explain their choices and come up with their own definition of ‘fashion’. There is also a set of quotations related to different aspects of fashion.

B2 / Upper Intermediate
Critical Reading Club 30 min
Loading

Small house, small problem

Lifestyle

In this Critical Reading Club lesson, students discuss the idea of living in a small house and having fewer possessions. They also learn some useful vocabulary to talk about the topic.

Show more lessons

Questions

Title separator

Is there a minimum subscription period if I choose a monthly subscription?

No, there’s no minimum required number of subscription months. You can cancel any time you want. Basically, you can sign up and then cancel your subscription the next day, which will mean you have access for 1 month and won’t be charged again.

What currencies can I pay in for my subscription?

Our default currency is USD (American dollar), but you can also pay in EUR (euro), GBP (British pound sterling) or PLN (Polish zloty). You can change the currency you want to pay in at the Pricing page before selecting a subscription plan.

How can I edit an e-lesson plan?

You can get your own editable copy of an e-lesson plan and make changes to it. To do so, either (1) make a copy of it on your Google Drive (preferable method) or (2) download it in a Powerpoint format (but formatting might be a bit off so we can’t guarantee that it will work well).

Read more FAQ
Title separator

ESL Brains

Forgot password?
or continue with