Tag Archives: #video

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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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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What’s in it for us?

Level B2/C1 Time: 90min

Putin has declared that referendums in four partially occupied areas of Ukraine have delivered a mandate for assimilation into what Moscow calls Russian territory.

On top of that he has started ‘partial mobilisation’ with plans to recruit 300.000 civilians.

And last week it became clear that Kremlin wants the use of nuclear weapons to be considered a real possibility and, as Putin said, “it’s not a bluff.”

In such circumstances I felt that it’s necessary to introduce the topic of the war in Ukraine in my high school classes.

What started as a search for material on the war, ended up being a very fruitful and enriching experience and discussion on geopolitics, privilege and rhetoric skills.

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Huggy Wuggy

Level: B1 Time: 60 min

Plug and play lesson on the controversial topic of Huggy Wuggy the character from a video game called Poppy Platime. The video game is rated for children ages 12 and above. However, law enforcement officials warn that some fan-made videos featuring the character start out with very child-friendly visuals that quickly turn nightmarish so younger children may access them without realizing their true nature.

The police warnings and concerned parents posting appaling comments made Huggy Wuggy a true craze. Which makes it perfect for an up-to-date lesson.

Enjoy.

https://wordwall.net/embed/b6f558bc1b7c478a8b4eaf94555deb50?themeId=41&templateId=76&fontStackId=0
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Video

I’d rather…

Level: B1/B2 Time: 90min

This lesson is based on the infamous situation that took place during 2022 Oscars Ceremony when Will Smith hit Chris Rock.

I tested it with my teenage groups as well as adults. It’s great for introducing grammar of ‘past tenses to talk about unreal situations’. There is some nice vocabulary to work on. Reading comprehension activities and a little bit of writing based on the article written by NYC author, public speaker and well known social critic Fran Lebowitz.

Fran Lebowitz on Will Smith, Chris Rock and the slap heard round the world

The lessons ends with reading Will Smith’s letter of apology and a discussion on physical and emotional violence and a role play in which SS get a chance to put themselves in the shoes of Jade, Will or Chris.

https://www.npr.org/2022/03/28/1089360891/will-smith-apology-chris-rock-oscars-slap?t=1649110178606

btw… I felt kinda old when I found out that none of my students knew the movie G.I. Jane 😉 That’s why I recommend watching a trailer of G.I. Jane before the lesson or as a warm-up activity.

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Video

Thanksgiving Traditions

Level: B2 and up Time: 60-90 min

I made this lesson for my teenage group of 13-14-year-olds. It is an opportunity to explore this traditional American holiday.

I started with a brainstorming activity, followed by vocabulary presentation, and a video that follow.

Vocabulary: https://quizlet.com/_anz6un?x=1jqt&i=sje7e

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Aside

Hustle Culture – Who is Gary Vaynerchuk?

Free, printable worksheets for selfstudy, ESL teachers and educators based on Gary Vaynerchuk’s content.

Don’t overthink shit. Just pick one and fucking GO! – that’s what Gary once said when asked about picking the right name for a company. Do the same with the worksheets.

Just print them, hand out and fucking GO! 

If you and your students are new to my content, this video and worksheet are probably the best place to start. Cute cartoon about Vaynerchuk’s life.

Find out who Gary Vaynerchuk is and get ready for some hardcore controversy in your classroom.

Who-is-Gary-Vee-Worksheet    pdf icon

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