B1 – Saving Money: Everyday Expenses

Explore everyday spending and practical ways to save money with this engaging B1 ESL listening, speaking, and money management lesson.

Based on the Khan Academy video Easy Tips to Save Money Every Day, students explore common areas of spending and learn practical strategies for managing their money.

In this lesson, students will:

  • Watch and discuss the Khan Academy video

  • Identify common areas where people overspend

  • Explore practical money-saving tips

  • Create a monthly budget for a fictional character

  • Debate saving for the future vs. enjoying life now

Perfect for B1 adult learners, this ready-to-teach lesson combines listening, speaking, critical thinking, and real-life financial vocabulary with minimal preparation.

B1 – Matters of the Heart: Heart Idioms & Expressions

Explore the surprising world of heart idioms with this engaging B1 ESL reading and speaking lesson.
Built around nine common expressions containing the word heart, this lesson helps students discover how English uses the language of the heart to talk about feelings, decisions, relationships, personality, and memory. The idioms and definitions are based on Kenneth Beare’s article “Heart Idioms and Expression” on ThoughtCo.

Students begin by discussing how different situations can affect them physically and emotionally before guessing the meaning of heart idioms from pictures. They then read a short story featuring the target expressions, check their understanding through reading-for-detail questions, match the idioms to their definitions, and practise using them in context. The lesson finishes with personalised sentence prompts and pair discussions.

In this lesson, students will:

  • Read and discuss a story featuring nine common heart idioms and expressions

  • Learn and practise vocabulary related to heart idioms

  • Use context and visual clues to work out the meaning of idiomatic expressions

  • Use heart idioms to talk about their own experiences, feelings, and opinions

Perfect for B1 adult and teenage learners, this ready-to-teach World Heart Day lesson requires minimal preparation and combines vocabulary, reading, and communicative speaking around a memorable everyday language theme.

B1 – Food Innovation: The Story of Seedless Watermelons

Discover the surprising science behind seedless watermelons with this engaging B1+ ESL listening and grammar lesson.

Built around an authentic True Food TV video, this lesson explores how seedless watermelons are produced while introducing students to the fascinating world of food innovation. Through authentic listening, grammar discovery, reading and creative speaking tasks, students learn how everyday foods are developed and practise using the present simple passive to describe real-life processes.

Students begin by discussing unusual fruit and vegetables before predicting how seedless watermelons are made. They then watch the video for gist and detail, discover the passive voice in context, practise choosing between the active and passive voice through an adapted reading about Cotton Candy grapes by wbur, and finish by inventing, developing and pitching their own innovative fruit or vegetable.

In this lesson, students will:

  • Explore the science behind seedless watermelons and other food innovations.

  • Improve listening skills using an authentic SciShow video.

  • Recognise and use the present simple passive to describe how products are made.

  • Design, develop and pitch a creative fruit or vegetable innovation.

Perfect for B1+ teenage and adult learners, this ready-to-teach lesson requires minimal preparation and combines authentic materials, meaningful grammar practice and creative speaking through a fascinating real-world topic that encourages curiosity, discussion and collaboration.

B1 – Keep Trying: The Road To Success

Help your students explore the meaning of perseverance with this engaging B1 ESL lesson built around Pixar's award-winning short film Piper.

Using an authentic, dialogue-free video, students reflect on challenges, fear, resilience, and learning from mistakes while developing their vocabulary, reading, and speaking skills. Through a series of activities, learners analyse Piper's journey, recycle key vocabulary, share their own "never give up" stories, and discuss whether perseverance is always the best approach.

In this lesson, students will:

  • Watch and analyse Pixar's Piper through prediction, sequencing, and cause-and-effect activities.

  • Learn and practise vocabulary related to perseverance, including challenge, obstacle, determined, curious, brave, and overcome.

  • Read and complete a model "Never Give Up" story before reflecting on their own experiences.

  • Share personal stories about overcoming challenges and discuss whether people should always keep trying.

Perfect for B1 adult and teenage learners, this ready-to-teach lesson requires minimal preparation and combines authentic video with meaningful communication. Through engaging speaking tasks and personal reflection, students build confidence in English while exploring the value of perseverance, resilience, and learning from failure.

B1 – The Most Useless Emoji: Facts vs Opinions

Help your B1 students distinguish facts from opinions with this fun, emoji-themed ESL lesson.

Built around the authentic YouTube video This Is My Least Favourite Emoji by Jeaney Collects, this lesson develops students' ability to recognise persuasive language, express opinions, and support their ideas through engaging, real-world communication.

Students begin by discussing and describing emojis before listening for specific details in the video. They analyse persuasive language, collaborate in creative speaking activities, debate which emojis should be deleted, and finish by writing a short persuasive paragraph using the language they've practised.

In this lesson, students will:

  • Distinguish between facts and opinions

  • Identify and use persuasive language

  • Describe and discuss emojis using appropriate vocabulary

  • Write a short persuasive paragraph to support an opinion

Perfect for B1 adult and teenage learners, this ready-to-teach lesson requires minimal preparation and combines listening, reading, writing, and speaking practice through a fun, contemporary topic that students can relate to.

B1 – Making Cocktails: Giving Instructions

Help your B1 students give clear instructions and describe processes with this engaging, recipe-based ESL lesson.

Built around adapted cocktail recipes from Love & Lemons, this lesson develops students' ability to explain how to make drinks using imperative forms, sequencing words, and practical vocabulary related to ingredients and preparation.

Students begin by predicting the lesson content from visuals before reading authentic-style recipes for gist and detail. They then explore key vocabulary, practise giving instructions through structured activities, and apply their language in creative writing, speaking tasks, and a final presentation.

In this lesson, students will:

  • Give clear step-by-step instructions using imperative forms

  • Use sequencing words to organise ideas logically

  • Learn vocabulary related to ingredients, measurements, and preparation

  • Read and analyse authentic-style recipes

Perfect for B1 adult and teenage learners, this ready-to-teach lesson requires minimal preparation and encourages meaningful communication while developing practical language students can use in real-life situations.

B1 – Talking About Jobs: Responsibilities, Skills and Challenges

Help your B1 students speak confidently about jobs and careers with this engaging, video-based ESL lesson.

Built around the authentic video A Day in the Life of a Server, this lesson develops students' ability to describe job responsibilities, discuss essential skills, and talk about the advantages and disadvantages of different careers.

Students begin by predicting the content, then watch the video to understand the speaker's daily role before analysing useful vocabulary and functional language. They reinforce the target language through guided interviews, role-plays, and communicative speaking activities, finishing with a discussion about their own career preferences and experiences.

In this lesson, students will:

  • Describe job responsibilities and daily tasks

  • Talk about the skills needed for different professions

  • Discuss the pros and cons of various jobs

  • Build confidence through structured speaking practice

  • Learn from authentic video content

Perfect for B1 adult and teenage learners, this ready-to-teach lesson requires minimal preparation and encourages meaningful communication throughout.