Author Archives: Dariusz Napora vel Dolce Dario

Oxford Word Of The Year

Level: C1/C2 Time: 90min

This engaging ESL lesson was inspired by 2025 OxfordWOTY and is based on a viral YouTube video that explains how provocative online content is designed to trigger outrage and boost engagement. Using humour and exaggeration, the video offers a sharp commentary on social media, algorithms, and modern online behaviour.

Designed for advanced (C1/C2) ESL learners, this lesson helps students practise listening, vocabulary, and critical discussion while exploring how language, psychology, and attention economics shape internet culture.

🗂️ In this ESL lesson, students will:

  • 🎧 develop listening comprehension using an authentic online video,
  • 🧩 learn contemporary vocabulary and expressions from internet culture,
  • 💬 analyse tone, irony, exaggeration, and persuasion,
  • 🧠 discuss algorithms, online outrage, and digital identity,
  • 🗣️ practise expressing opinions and responding critically.

💡 Why you’ll love this lesson
This ready-to-use ESL worksheet includes vocabulary tasks, high-level comprehension questions, and discussion prompts, plus a full answer key. It’s ideal for teachers who want to bring current, real-world English into advanced classes and spark meaningful conversation about life online.

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Reborn Dolls

Level: B2 and up Time: 90min

This thought-provoking ESL lesson — “Reborn Dolls” — is based on a short documentary video about adults who collect life-like “reborn” dolls. It’s an unusual, emotional topic that helps students practise listening comprehension, vocabulary, and discussion skills while exploring a fascinating real-life hobby that blurs the line between art, therapy, and obsession.

Perfect for upper-intermediate and advanced ESL learners, this lesson encourages empathy, creativity, and deep reflection on how people cope with loss or loneliness.

🗂️ In this ESL lesson, students will:

  • 🧩 learn new vocabulary connected to emotions, appearance, and health,
  • 🎧 complete listening comprehension exercises based on a real documentary video,
  • 💬 discuss topics like grief, comfort, judgment, and human connection,
  • 🧠 express opinions and practise agreeing and disagreeing politely,

💡 Why you’ll love this lesson

This ESL video lesson plan includes ready-to-use, worksheets for vocabulary, listening comprehension, and discussion. It’s ideal for teachers who want to bring authentic, real-world topics into the classroom and help students speak naturally about emotions and empathy.

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Disturbing Dolls

Level: C1 and up Time: 60-75min

Halloween is here again!

Sometimes the best English lessons are the ones that make students stop and say, “Wait… what?!” This lesson plan, “Disturbing Dolls”, does exactly that. It takes a light-hearted look at the strange world of unwanted, creepy, or broken toys — and turns it into a fun and thought-provoking English class.

In this lesson, students:
🧩 complete grammar and vocabulary exercises based on a real article about a couple who collect “disturbing” toys,
💬 learn new expressions like “get your kicks from”, “rifle through” and “snowball”,
🗣 discuss fears, childhood memories and unusual hobbies,
🎭 take part in a speaking task where they have to pitch one of their old toys to be “rehoused” by the fictional company Unsettling Toys.

The materials are designed to develop communication skills, critical thinking, and a sense of humour — all while practising natural English vocabulary and idioms in context.

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Top 5 Decision-Making Methods for Democratic Schools

Level: B2 Time: 45min

  • Choosing books for the library.
  • Choosing a patron.
  • Choosing a brand of toilet paper.
  • Choosing the destination of a school trip

Democratic school communities are constantly faced with the need to make decisions.

It is absolutely crucial to make conscious meta-decisions – i.e. decisions about WHO will make a given decision and HOW.

This is a subjective catalog of the 5 most common/useful decision-making methods along with a short test allowing you to decide which method to choose.

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Gaming Grandma

Level: B1/B2 Time: 60min

Grandma Gamer meets her biggest fan. These two prove that friendship has no age limit. Shirley Curry is an 82-year-old living in a retirement community. Joseph is a 26-year-old who turned to online games after family tragedy. This is the story of how the gaming world unexpectedly made them the best of friends.

This online/projector lesson focuses on speaking and listening skills but there is some vocabulary work to do, too.

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Mardi Gras

Time: 90 min Level: B1+

Mardi Gras – Fat Tuesday.

Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday, is a centuries-old celebration that takes place every year in New Orleans, Louisiana, and other parts of the world. The festivities typically begin on January 6th, also known as Twelfth Night or Epiphany, and culminate on the day before Ash Wednesday.

It is a celebration that has been a part of New Orleans’ culture for centuries. From the colorful parades to the traditional foods and elaborate costumes, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

This lesson is an opportunity to learn about Mardi Gras but also share some personal stories. The question about the most memorable carnival costume puts smiles on all SS faces.

Enjoy!

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Would you rather…? – Christmas edition

Time: 60-75min Level: A2 and up

To materiał dedykowany dla dzieci i nauczycieli w Polsce. Większość z was z pewnością zna popularną internetową zabawę Would you rather…? To wersja świąteczna.

Dla mniej zaawansowanych grup, można z niej skorzystać jako materiału do czytania. Dla bardziej zaawansowanych może stanowić zaproszenie do ciekawych rozmów i dyskusji.

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Boys don’t cry.

Level: C1 and up Time: 90 min

This lesson is inspired by the situation that took place during 2022 Football World Cup in Quatar. Robert Lewandowski was reduced to tears after scoring a goal in 2022 World Cup against Saudi Arabia.

Crying men still fall outside the traditional male stereotype, and are often met with confusion, weird looks and sometimes even ridiculed.

Lewandowski video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJ5uRirKupo

Reading: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/van-jones-cry-emotional-cnn-joe-biden_n_5fadbf22c5b6370e7e313ee0

CNN video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2ScxGsB-ks

Unfortunately, because of the copyright I can’t share the article… But I’m sure you can figure it out yourself from the pdf below!!!

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