Explore our lesson plans
Critical Reading Club 30 min
Location-based pay – a thing of the past?
BusinessIn this lesson students learn some useful vocabulary to talk about salaries, discuss if location-based pay should become a thing of the past, and share their views on pay transparency and salary bands.
Flipped Lesson 60 min
Solar, wind or hydroelectric?
Global Issues TechnologyWith this lesson plan, students discuss different forms of alternative energy sources, learn vocabulary related to generating energy and engage in a group activity.
Standard Lesson 75 min
It’s so hot right now!
Business TechnologyIn this lesson students learn expressions to talk about trends and watch a video about one of new buzzwords, i.e. NFTs.
Critical Reading Club 30 min
Menstrual leave sparks debate
Business Global IssuesIn this lesson, students learn advanced words and phrases to express opinions, talk about the idea of menstrual leave and hold a debate.
Standard Lesson 60 min
Advanced vocabulary activities
GeneralThis is a set of ESL vocabulary activities rather than a typical ESL Brains lesson plan. Each of the activities can be used separately as a time filler, a warm-up, etc.
Critical Reading Club 30 min
Are we all content creators?
GeneralIn this lesson students discuss who a content creator is and practise some vocabulary useful when defining vague terms.
Standard Lesson 90 min
Families – extended, nuclear, chosen
Global Issues LifestyleIn this advanced speaking lesson students will practise some vocabulary and watch a video about the history of the nuclear family. They will also discuss some statistics and talk about the changing family model.
Standard Lesson 75 min
Has cancel culture gone too far?
Global IssuesIn this lesson students learn vocabulary useful to talk about cancel culture, do a CAE multiple-choice cloze task, watch a video, and get the opportunity to discuss cancel culture and freedom of speech in depth.
Standard Lesson 90 min
Why do we like horror films?
GeneralIn this lesson, students learn vocabulary useful when talking about fear or relief, watch a video about horror films, and describe situations in which they felt uneasy or scared.
Critical Reading Club 30 min
AI supporting mental health therapy
TechnologyIn this lesson students discuss using AI in areas such as mental health therapy and the justice system, complete the summary of the article they read at home, and share their thoughts on the future of AI.
Flipped Lesson 60 min
Where are all the aliens? (writing an essay)
Global Issues TechnologyIn this lesson,students discuss alien life and the possible first contact scenario and write an essay about different aspects of space exploration. The lesson also includes two videos about extraterrestrials.
Standard Lesson 60 min
Unconventional business model
BusinessIn this lesson, students learn about furniture retailer IKEA and discuss its business model. Then, they come up with their own business idea for a shop.
Critical Reading Club 30 min
Curious questions about curiosity
GeneralIn this lesson, students discuss the topic of curiosity in humans, practise collocations from the article, and reflect on how curiosity has shaped their lives.
Standard Lesson 75 min
The art of giving feedback
BusinessIn this lesson, students discover a formula to help them give great feedback and learn some useful phrases for giving and receiving feedback in English. They also watch a video about giving feedback and learn vocabulary related to it.
Critical Reading Club 30 min
Could a bossless workplace work?
BusinessWith this lesson plan, students discuss how they feel about a bossless workplace. They also learn some useful vocabulary related to worker cooperatives and the hierarchical structure of a traditional workplace.
Critical Reading Club 30 min
To shuffle or not to shuffle?
LifestyleIn this lesson students discuss the article they read at home about Adele’s request to remove the shuffle button on her album. They also study collocations with the words album and track.
Critical Reading Club 30 min
Why do people cheat in online games?
LifestyleIn this lesson, students practise some language related to breaking and following rules, and discuss the reasons behind cheating in online games.
Standard Lesson 60 min
What makes you laugh? (synonyms for laugh)
GeneralIn this lesson students study advanced synonyms for laugh, watch a video about laughter and discuss different aspects of laughter.
Standard Lesson 60 min
Layoffs and cutbacks can lead to start-ups (phrasal nouns)
BusinessIn this lesson, students read a short article about a start-up surge and learn some phrasal nouns by working out their meaning from the context. They also use the phrasal nouns in a discussion and a crossword.
Standard Lesson 60 min
Will your future clothes be made like this?
Lifestyle TechnologyIn this lesson students practise their listening skills while watching a video about 3D printed clothes. They also work with advanced synonyms for make and discuss the implications of 3D printing technology.
Flipped Lesson 60 min
Lying in your garbage
Global Issues LifestyleIn this lesson plan on zero waste students learn new vocabulary related to the word garbage while reflecting on small changes they could make to live a more eco-friendly life. They also watch two videos and practise their listening skills.
Critical Reading Club 30 min
Who should tackle misinformation on social media?
Global IssuesWith this lesson plan students learn and practise some useful news language and reflect on the problem of misinformation on social media.
Standard Lesson 60 min
Behind every success there are dozens of failures
BusinessIn this lesson about success and failure students watch an interview with Jeff Bezos and learn a few idioms related to failure. They also put them into practice through a role-play activity involving different aspects of business failures.
Critical Reading Club 30 min
Dealing with plastic waste
Global IssuesThis lesson gives students the opportunity to discover some language related to plastic pollution, discuss the problem of plastic waste and reflect on some eco-friendly ways to deal with other types of waste.
Critical Reading Club 30 min
Is being creative enough to succeed in innovation?
Business TechnologyIn this worksheet, students look for synonyms of some advanced phrases, practise word formation and reflect on what it takes to succeed in innovation.
Standard Lesson 60 min
Is science denial worse than it’s ever been?
Global Issues TechnologyWith this lesson plan, students reflect on a video about the role of science in the modern world, expand their vocabulary and hold a lively class debate.
Critical Reading Club 30 min
Is it ‘OK not to be OK’ when you’re an athlete?
Business LifestyleIn this lesson students learn words and expressions related to mental health while talking about mental health issues suffered by athletes. They also discuss ways to promote mental health by public institutions.
Standard Lesson 60 min
Closing the gender pay gap
Business Global IssuesWith this lesson plan, students talk about gender stereotypes, watch a video and discuss the factors driving the gender pay gap. They also reflect on solutions to this problem and discover some expressions with the word root.
Critical Reading Club 30 min
Are we lonelier than ever?
LifestyleIn this lesson about loneliness, students get the opportunity to practise word formation and reflect on changes in their relationships with friends.
Critical Reading Club 30 min
Historic space flight or billionaire’s thrill ride?
TechnologyIn this lesson based on an article about Richard Branson’s space flight students learn some advanced phrases related to the lesson theme and practise paraphrasing. They also reflect on the future of space tourism.
Standard Lesson 90 min
Data science and the NBA
Business TechnologyWith this data science lesson plan, students will learn a lot of advanced vocabulary related to the topic and put it into practice through a series of written and oral activities.
Critical Reading Club 30 min
Co-living: an answer to housing and social issues
Global Issues LifestyleIn this lesson students learn and practise some interesting vocabulary related to co-living apartments, while discussing positive and negative aspects of this modern trend.
Critical Reading Club 30 min
Why do we glamourise overwork more than ever
BusinessThis lesson plan about overwork is based on an article and gives students the opportunity to learn work-related language, while reflecting on the cult of overwork.
Standard Lesson 60 min
Is micro living the future?
LifestyleWith this architecture lesson plan students learn and practise vocabulary related to design and building. They also engage in a project and design a micro apartment.
Standard Lesson 60 min
The best shindig ever!
LifestyleIn this lesson students watch a video on how to host a party, learn and practise some informal party words and phrases and engage in a role-play. Just a friendly reminder – this is a lesson for adults.
Standard Lesson 60 min
Blockchain: there’s more to it than crypto
Business TechnologyIn this lesson about blockchain applications, students get an opportunity to practise their listening skills and learn some advanced collocations.
