Back to work after a vacation
Lesson plan overview
This Business English lesson on returning to work after a vacation is designed for intermediate (B1–B2) learners. For higher-level students, try this lesson: “Returning to work after a vacation“. It is an ideal lesson to teach after summer, and is aimed at professionals seeking to improve fluency while discussing productivity, stress management, and transitioning smoothly back to work. The worksheet combines workplace vocabulary, listening practice, and speaking activities that encourage learners to reflect on real-life challenges when returning to the office, exchange strategies, and practice natural communication skills. Other lessons you might like are “Phrasal verbs: Job performance“, “Motivation“, “Productivity and AI tools“.
Speaking:
The lesson begins with a discussion about holidays and personal experiences, helping learners compare short vs. long vacations, share activities, and reflect on feelings during the first day back at work.
Vocabulary: Workplace Problems and Solutions
Students look at photos illustrating problems people have when they return from a vacation. Then, they read sentences that describe the problems, and match them to the correct photo. The sentences also include key vocabulary for this lesson (pile up, to-do list, back-to-back meetings, work schedule). After that, they discuss a few conversation questions given. Next, they expand the vocabulary for this lesson with expressions like grace period, productivity slump, to substitute, to delegate. They match terms to definitions, and then complete 11 sentences with the correct word. After completing, students say which sentences are true for them.
Listening: Tips for a Smooth Transition
Forat, learners look at 12 tips for a smooth transition back to work and discuss them. Then they watch a video called “5 Tips for a Smooth Return to the Office After Vacation.” and complete 2 listening comprehension activities.
Speaking: Post-listening discussion
The lesson ends with a post-listening discussion on the tips.
For more speaking practice, you can use the conversation cards.
Unlock these resources with one of our subscription plans
Teacher’s lesson plan
Student’s worksheet
Student’s interactive PDF
Conversation cards PDF
Pre-class activities
All video-based ESL lesson plans include online pre-class activities, which are FREE and can be completed without registration. Perfect for teachers who wish to embrace the blended learning approach. 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.
The pre-class activities are optional: if you choose not to assign them, or your students don’t complete them, it will not disturb the flow of the class. You can find and review the pre-class activities for this lesson plan here:
To send the pre-class activities to your students, copy the link below.
In-class activities
To download the PDF files for this lesson, you need to have an active Premium or Premium + subscription.
Browse FREE lesson plans here.
Additional resources
Each video-based lesson plan includes links to additional resources (videos and articles), which are FREE can be found online (in the pre-class activities page. These links aim to extend the learning experience, enabling students to connect classroom knowledge with real-world applications.
Unlock these resources with one of our subscription plans
Teacher’s lesson plan
Student’s worksheet
Student’s interactive PDF
Conversation cards PDF
Not sure yet?
Try one of our FREE lessons plans
Share this lesson plan with someone who will find it useful