ESL lesson plans for teachers

Video-based lesson plans

Whether your lessons are online or in-person, The English Flows’ lesson plans are the ultimate time-saver for ESL teachers working with adult and Business English students. Cut down on prep work and free up your time for what truly matters – guiding, coaching, and meeting your students' unique needs. Our current and highly relatable topics will keep your students engaged before, during, and after the class. We add 7-8 new video-based ESL lesson plans each month. Ignite their curiosity and inspire them to explore the English language further!

Trending topics

Autumn/Fall

First English class

Mpox (Monkeypox)

Returning to work after a vacation

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people analysing graphs, and a slogan "dealing with the off-season slump"

Vocabulary: describing graphs and charts
Vocabulary: to diversify, existing assets, overheads, staffing
Speaking: seasonal businesses, diversification, off-season marketing

7:00

an illustration of a heated debate and a slogan "can you spot these dirty debate tactics?"

Vocabulary: verb + noun collocations (bring up a topic, get defensive, change the subject, dodge a question), and adjective + noun collocations (ongoing/constructive/heated debate, complex/unresolved issue)
Reading: common logical fallacies and dirty debating tactics
Video: Why debates turn into arguments (and how to fix it)

3:15

a person crossing his fingers and a slogan "are you a superstitious person?"

Vocabulary: words and expressions related to superstitions (e.g. omen, jinx, misfortune, unlucky, toss a coin, knock on wood, cross your fingers)
Video: The craziest superstitions in the world
Speaking: superstitions in students’ culture

5:15

a photo of a dog and a slogan - "How do pets improve our mental health?"

Vocabulary: pet care, having fun with your pet, mental health benefits of having a pet
Video: “7 ways having a pet can improve your mental health”
Speaking: animals in our lives, responsibilities of having a pet, how to have contact with animals if you can’t have a pet

5:30

a photo of people working on a computer, and a slogan "Can Europe produce its own tech giants?"

Vocabulary. to scale up, unicorns, brain drain, to raise capital, social safety nets
Vocabulary: types of funding (bootstrapping, venture capital, angel investors, government grants, crowdfunding
Video: Why does the EU suck at tech?

5:42

a person throwing away a computer, and a slogan "how can we combat throwaway culture?"

Vocabulary: verbs related to repairing things and tools
Speaking: consumerism, recycling, alternatives to throwaway culture
Videos: Repair cafés – what they are and why we need them

2:59

UPDATED

a person preparing a vaccine and a slogan - viruses and vaccines

Vocabulary: symptoms (rash, swollen glands, fever)
Vocabulary: viruses (spread, outbreak, strain)
Video: Why is mpox a global health emergency?

3:07

an image saying "yeas, I can", and a slogan "How cna you boost your self-confidence?

Vocabulary: self-confidence (empowered, self-esteem, face challenges head-on, pep talk)
Functional language: expressions to motivate and encourage someone
Vocabulary: words starting with self (self-care, self-defense, self-respect, self-awareness, self-control, self-doubt)

4:17

a calendar with the date 5th novemeber election day circled, and a slogan "how is the president od the united states elected?"

Reading: US presidential election timeline
Vocabulary: expressions related to the US presidential election
Speaking: voting, elections, 2024 US election

5:22

how to turn an internship into a full-time job?

Vocabulary: expressions related to internships (gain hands-on experience, gain industry insights, bring to the table, get a foot in the door)
Speaking: talking about your internship at a job interview, advantages of internships, discussing statements and conversation questions
Video: How to turn an internship into a job offer

2:24

chuldren paiting outdoors, and a slogan "do children have too many extracurricular activities nowadays"?

Vocabulary: extracurricular activities, skills
Video: Studies suggest too many extracurricular activities may be harmful to kids
Speaking: evaluating pros and cons of extracurricular activities, opinions, summer activities for children

2:22

a woman on a trip and a slogan "how to maintain healthy habits while on vacation"

Vocabulary: verb + noun collocations with “habit” and “routine”
Vocabulary: packing
Speaking: healthy habits and routines packing for a trip

 

2:00

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Every lesson plan includes

Pre-class online activities
(Free)

In-class activities
(For Full members)

After class: Additional resources
(Free)

Each video-based ESL lesson plan features:

  • Online Pre-class Activities: Perfect for teachers who wish to embrace the modern blended learning approach. The pre-class activities are FREE for all video-based ESL lesson plans and can be completed without registration. By providing students with resources and engagement opportunities before the actual class session, educators can foster active participation, enhance comprehension, and optimise in-class discussions, promoting flexibility and a deeper, more interactive learning experience. On the other hand, if you choose not to assign the pre-class activities, or your students don’t complete them, it will not disturb the flow of the class.
  • Versatile In-Class Material: Each lesson includes 5-8 pages of in-class material created to explore the topic in-depth. The lessons encompass a diverse spectrum of current Business and General English topics. Whether you're exploring business trends or everyday conversational skills, our materials ensure that each subject is comprehensively covered, making the learning experience relevant and practical.
  • Engaging Video Content: Immerse your students in real-life language use through short YouTube videos, featuring content such as TED Talks, BBC Ideas, or news reports. These videos not only enhance listening and comprehension skills but also expose students to different accents, and a wide range of current, real-world topics and expert perspectives, making the learning experience more engaging and relevant.
  • Focus on communication: The English Flows’ lessons are all about communication. They're tailored to spark conversations and offer plenty of speaking opportunities. Additionally, each lesson includes a set of printable conversation cards, which teachers can use to revise target vocabulary, or turn the lesson into a conversation class.
  • Meaningful Homework Ideas: Each lesson suggests three research topics that encourage students to engage with authentic materials, fostering independent exploration and critical thinking skills after class. There are also links to additional resources (videos and articles), which can be found online and are FREE for all video-based lesson plans. These features aim to extend the learning experience, enabling students to connect classroom knowledge with real-world applications.

Try The English Flows’ video-based ESL lesson plans today and watch your students thrive!