Category Archives: Upper-Intermediate
A Day Like No Other (Upper-Intermediate Lesson Plan)
This story-based lesson describes a hurricane hitting a town. The student must complete speaking activities as the story unfolds. (B2 level)
Family Travels the World (Upper-Intermediate Lesson Plan)
A lesson on a Canadian family that traveled the world to create memories for their children. Includes role-plays and speaking activities.
The Gender Pay Gap (Upper-Intermediate Lesson)
A video-based lesson from BigThink’s “Devil’s Advocate” series on the Gender Pay Gap. Includes speaking activities for ESL/EFL class.
The Big Five Personality Traits (Upper-Intermediate Lesson)
A lesson on The Big Five personality traits (aka OCEAN Model). The lesson includes reading, listening (video), and speaking activities.
Health & Wellness (Upper-Intermediate Lesson)
A lesson on nutrition, exercise, and mental health for upper-intermediate ESL/EFL class including many speaking and vocabulary activities.
The Societal Effects of Pornography (Upper-Intermediate Lesson)
A lesson on Louise Perry’s “How porn f*cked our minds.” Includes speaking activities for upper-intermediate ESL conversation class.
How to Argue by Dan Shapiro (Video) (Upper-Intermediate Lesson)
A video-based upper-intermediate lesson on how to negotiate & find common ground. The lesson includes speaking and vocabulary activities.
AI & Artificial General Intelligence (Upper-Intermediate Lesson)
A free lesson on the impacts of AI & AGI on humanity in general, education, and healthcare. For conversational English class (B2/C1 level)
Crime & Punishment: Bobby Bostic’s Story (Upper-Intermediate)
An upper-intermediate lesson on the punishment of Bobby Bostic for crimes committed as a juvenile. For conversational English class (EFL).
Middlebury Language Schools (Upper-Intermediate)
A lesson on the intensive language immersion program at Middlebury Language Schools. For B2/C1 levels for ESL conversational English class
Beauty & Body Image (Upper-Intermediate)
This upper-intermediate lesson discusses body image and beauty. It contains role-plays and debates for conversational EFL/ESL class.
The Paradoxes of Life (Upper-Intermediate Lesson)
This B2-level lesson focuses on paradoxes. It includes a discussion of the prisoner’s dilemma, a role-play, and other speaking activities.
Stutz Documentary & Therapy (Upper-Intermediate/Advanced)
A video-based lesson on the tools used by therapist Phil Stutz (from a 2022 Netflix documentary). For upper-intermediate/advanced levels.
Factfulness about the Future (Upper-Intermediate Lesson)
A lesson about optimism about the future and a summary of Hans Rosling’s book, Factfulness for upper-intermediate (EFL) conversation class.
2022 News in Review (Upper-Intermediate Lesson)
Review the top 2022 news stories (Covid lockdowns, Iranian protests) with this upper-intermediate lesson for conversational English class.
Climate Change (Upper-Intermediate EFL Lesson Plan)
An upper-intermediate lesson on climate change, energy, & environmental activism. The ESL lesson includes speaking & vocabulary activities.
A Korean Christmas Miracle (Upper-Intermediate Lesson)
An upper-intermediate lesson on a Christmas miracle from the Korean war. The lesson includes a section on lifeboat ethics & other speaking activities.
The Egg (Short Story) (Upper-Intermediate/Advanced Lesson)
ESL/EFL Level: Upper-intermediate & Advanced Lesson Topic: Creation, the meaning of life, empathy Skill Focus: Listening, Vocabulary, Speaking Approximate Class Time: 1.25 hours Lesson Plan Download: the-egg-short-story-upper-intermediate-advanced.docx Lesson Overview: This lesson is based on a short (7:55m) but powerful animated short story by Andy Weir. The themes include creation, the meaning of life, family, reincarnation, and […]
Trends in Customer Service (Upper-Intermediate Lesson Plan)
ESL/EFL Level: Upper-intermediate Lesson Topic: Trends in customer service and experiences in the last decade Skill Focus: Speaking, Reading, Vocabulary Approximate Class Time: 1.75 hours Lesson Plan Download: customer-service-upper-intermediate-lesson-112022.docx Lesson Overview: Trends mentioned in the reading passage include chatbots, self-checkout machines, tip creep, feedback fatigue, a focus on empathy, and digital payments. Post-reading activities include a […]
Belief in Conspiracy Theories (Upper-Intermediate EFL Lesson)
An upper-intermediate lesson on conspiracy theories and their effects on society. Includes activities on vocabulary, fallacies, and biases.
Ethical Dilemmas at Work (Upper-Intermediate EFL Lesson)
Upper-intermediate lesson on ethical dilemmas in the office, including reading, vocabulary & speaking activities (e.g. BINGO) for EFL class.