The myth of multitasking
Lesson plan overview
This English lesson explores the psychology and productivity of multitasking in today’s fast-paced world. Students reflect on their own habits, examine the pros and cons of dividing attention, and learn how cognitive load impacts focus and efficiency. The lesson introduces key vocabulary and expressions related to multitasking, distraction, attention span, and mental overload—essential for discussing modern work and study habits.
Speaking:
The lesson opens with stimulating discussion questions about multitasking, distractions, and daily challenges. Students consider their ability to manage multiple tasks, reflect on personal experiences, and explore whether multitasking is a helpful skill or a harmful myth.
Vocabulary:
Students learn collocations and expressions such as divide your attention, juggle tasks, cope with stress, filter out irrelevant details, and overload your attention. They practice using the vocabulary in sentence completion tasks and discuss real-world scenarios that involve divided focus.
Listening:
Students watch the video “What multitasking does to your brain” to understand how multitasking affects attention, memory, and performance. They answer comprehension questions, explore concepts like inattention blindness and visual attention, and reflect on the limitations of the brain when switching between tasks.
Speaking Practice: Learners evaluate their attention span, identify common distractions, and reflect on environments where they perform best.
For more speaking practice, you can use the conversation cards.
Who Is This Lesson Suitable For?
Upper-intermediate English learners looking to expand vocabulary related to productivity, work, and mental focus
Professionals balancing busy schedules who want to improve communication around workplace efficiency and well-being
Students in academic or business programs who need to discuss attention, learning strategies, or stress management in English
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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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