Our standalone lessons
SEE ALL LESSON PLANSStandard Lesson 60 min
Cultural appropriation
General Global IssuesIn this lesson, students watch a video about cultural appropriation in fashion and learn some vocabulary. The lesson also includes lots of speaking activities for advanced students.
Standard Lesson 60 min
Living a digital nomad lifestyle
Business LifestyleIn this lesson students watch a video about being a digital nomad and learn and practise advanced multiword verbs.
Standard Lesson 60 min
Stay interested, stay motivated – first lesson with new students
GeneralThis ESL worksheet can be used in the first lesson with new students. In the lesson, students discuss their interests, watch a video about motivation, and do vocabulary and grammar tasks.
Standard Lesson 60 min
Will Gen Zers make cash cool again?
LifestyleIn this lesson, students talk about generations and their approach to money, watch a video about Gen Zers and learn vocabulary related to the topic.
Critical Reading Club 30 min
Biometrics – applications and implications
TechnologyIn this lesson students discuss biometric technology, its applications and the concerns people have about using it. Students also do a word formation exercise and complete a definition.
Standard Lesson 75 min
Sharpen your critical thinking (CAE Speaking Part 3)
General GrammarWith this lesson plan, students evaluate the validity of arguments using the information from a video about logical fallacies. They also practise conjunctions and do a Cambridge CAE Speaking Part 3 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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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
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.