First dates
Lesson plan overview
This ESL lesson is dedicated to first dates. Students will learn useful phrases, will discuss first dates DOs and DON’Ts, will watch a short video will practise answering questions usually asked on a first date. This lesson will work well in combination with the worksheets “Phrasal verbs: relationships and dating” and “Idioms: love” as well as the video-based lesson “Modern dating“.
Speaking: The lesson starts with an initial discussion on the topic of dating, online dating and first dates.
Vocabulary: Students look at a few first dates-related sentences and learn useful words and expressions (e.g. to stand someone up, a blind date, go Dutch). As a practice activity, they complete a few questions with the correct word or expression and answer the questions in pairs or small groups.
Grammar: students learn and practise how to use the modal verbs should, shouldn’t, must, mustn’t and don’t have to. Then they brainstorm first dates DOs and DON’Ts, using a suitable modal verb. After that they are given a list of prompts which they use to talk about what people should and shouldn’t do on a first date.
Video: Students watch a video “Dos and Don’t for a first date”. The first time they watch the video, they tick the topics mentioned by the speakers. The second time they watch the video, they write down more details about each topic discussed.
Useful language for first dates: Students learn useful expressions used to suggest activities, to give a compliment, to say that you will be late and to talk about the bill at the end of a date.
Speaking: After that, students brainstorm interesting first date activities and take turns to suggest the activities, using the phrases learned. Lastly, students discuss which questions or topics are appropriate for a first date. Then they look at a list of questions, say which of the questions they consider to be appropriate and then take turns to answer the questions.
You can use the conversation cards to further practise the target vocabulary from this lesson. You can combine it with other relationship-related lessons.
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Teacher’s lesson plan
Student’s worksheet
Student’s interactive PDF
Conversation cards PDF
Pre-class activities
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In-class activities
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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.
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Teacher’s lesson plan
Student’s worksheet
Student’s interactive PDF
Conversation cards PDF
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