Tag Archives: Philosophy
Life as a Piece of Dust in the Universe (Upper-Intermediate Lesson) · August 4, 2026
Why is life is worth living if we are pieces of dust in the Universe? Study astronaut Chris Hadfield's answer in this B2/C1 speaking lesson.The Parable of The Chinese Farmer (Intermediate Lesson) · July 13, 2026
An intermediate lesson on the Chinese Farmer parable with vocabulary, discussion questions, and speaking activities. (B1/B2 ESL)The Chinese Farmer & The Useless Tree (Upper-Intermediate) · July 12, 2026
Two Taoist parables, the Chinese Farmer and the Useless Tree, with vocabulary, discussion questions, and speaking activities. (B2/C1 ESL)Taoist Parables: The Chinese Farmer & The Useless Tree (Advanced) · July 7, 2026
Two Taoist parables, the Chinese Farmer and the Useless Tree, with vocabulary, discussion questions, and speaking activities. (C1/C2 ESL)Eric Dane’s Final Message (Upper-Int/Advanced Lesson) · February 25, 2026
A C1 ESL lesson on resilience and purpose using Eric Dane’s final message. Features vocabulary, comprehension, and speaking activities.A Pale Blue Dot (Advanced Lesson Plan) · February 20, 2026
An advanced ESL lesson on Carl Sagan’s Pale Blue Dot with vocabulary and speaking tasks on humility, ideology, and human responsibility.“The Employment” Short Film & Worker Alienation (Intermediate) · February 9, 2026
A B1/B2 ESL lesson based on the short film The Employment, exploring modern work and alienation through discussion and roleplay.“The Employment” Short Film & Worker Alienation (Upper-Intermediate) · February 7, 2026
A B2/C1 ESL lesson based on the short film The Employment, exploring work, alienation, hierarchy, and meaning through discussion and roleplay.“The Employment” Short Film & Worker Alienation (Advanced Lesson) · February 5, 2026
A C1/C2 ESL lesson based on the short film The Employment, exploring work, alienation, hierarchy, and meaning through discussion and roleplay.Lifeboat Ethics (Upper-Intermediate Lesson Plan) · November 23, 2025
A lesson on a lifeboat ethics case and moral decision-making, featuring vocabulary, speaking, and grammar activities for B2–C1 ESL learners.Thirty-Eight Minutes to Live (Intermediate Lesson) · August 10, 2025
B1/B2 lesson on the 2018 Hawaii missile alert with reading, vocabulary, comprehension, & speaking roleplays about living without regret.Ten Minutes to Live (Advanced Lesson) · August 7, 2025
Jim Carrey explains his experience after getting a missile alert in Hawaii. The advanced lesson includes vocabulary and role-plays.Ten Minutes to Live (Upper-Intermediate Lesson) · August 4, 2025
Jim Carrey explains his experience after getting a missile alert in Hawaii. The upper-intermediate lesson includes vocabulary and role-plays.Suffering & Epicureanism (Upper-Intermediate Lesson) · January 14, 2025
A lesson based on a BigThink video about Epicureanism, suffering, and happiness. The lesson has speaking activities for B2/C1 ESL class.Suffering & Epicureanism (Advanced Lesson Plan) · January 12, 2025
A lesson based on a BigThink video about Epicureanism, suffering, and happiness. The lesson has speaking activities for C1/C2 ESL class.Milgram’s Obedience Experiment (Intermediate Lesson) · March 31, 2024
A lesson on Stanley Milgram's study on obedience and authority. It includes speaking and vocabulary activities for intermediate ESL classes.Milgram’s Obedience Experiment (Upper-Intermediate) · March 29, 2024
A lesson on Stanley Milgram's study on obedience and authority. It includes speaking and vocabulary activities for advanced ESL classes.Milgram’s Obedience Experiment (Advanced Lesson Plan) · March 25, 2024
A lesson on Stanley Milgram's study on obedience and authority. It includes speaking and vocabulary activities for advanced ESL class.Escaping Reality to Avoid Life (Upper-Intermediate Lesson) · March 13, 2024
A lesson based on a YouTube Video "Signs You Are Escaping Reality to Avoid Life." The lesson includes speaking activities for B2/C1 ESL.Escaping Reality to Avoid Life (Advanced Lesson) · March 12, 2024
A lesson based on a YouTube Video "Signs You Are Escaping Reality to Avoid Life." The lesson includes speaking activities for C1/C2 ESL.Hedonism & The Experience Machine (Upper-Intermediate) · February 6, 2024
An upper-intermediate lesson on a TED-Ed video about Nozick's Experience Machine. The speaking-focused lesson discusses hedonism and reality.Hedonism & The Experience Machine (Advanced Lesson) · February 5, 2024
An advanced lesson on a TED-Ed video about Nozick's Experience Machine. The speaking-focused lesson discusses hedonism and reality.Sam Harris on Free Will (Upper-Intermediate Lesson Plan) · November 13, 2023
An upper-intermediate lesson on Sam Harris's view on free will. Includes speaking roleplays, debates, & vocabulary activities for ESL class.Sam Harris on Free Will (Advanced Lesson Plan) · November 10, 2023
An advanced lesson on Sam Harris's view on free will. Contains speaking roleplays, debates, and vocabulary activities for ESL/EFL class.The Paradoxes of Life (Intermediate Lesson Plan) · February 10, 2023
This intermediate ESL lesson focuses on life's paradoxes. It includes a role-play, the prisoner's dilemma, and other speaking activities.The Paradoxes of Life (Upper-Intermediate Lesson) · February 7, 2023
This B2-level lesson focuses on paradoxes. It includes a discussion of the prisoner's dilemma, a role-play, and other speaking activities.The Paradoxes of Life (Advanced EFL Lesson) · February 6, 2023
A lesson on life's paradoxes. Includes the prisoner's dilemma, role-plays, and discussion questions for advanced (C1) ESL conversation class.The Egg (Short Story) (Upper-Intermediate/Advanced Lesson) · November 10, 2022
A video-based lesson on The Egg, an animated short story about creation, death, & empathy. Includes vocabulary and speaking activities.“How to Grow Old” by Bertrand Russell (Advanced Lesson Plan) · September 27, 2022
Advanced lesson on Russell's essay on how to grow old well. Includes reading, vocabulary & speaking activities for EFL conversation class.Kurt Vonnegut’s Letter to High School Class (Upper-Intermediate) · June 1, 2022
Lesson on a letter from Kurt Vonnegut for a high school class. Topics: art, creativity, & banning books. (Made for EFL conversation class)Daoism & The Chinese Farmer (Upper-Intermediate Lesson Plan) · May 11, 2022
Upper-intermediate lesson on Daoism & the Chinese farmer parable. Includes speaking, reading, & other activities for conversation class.Meme: Imagine You Were Born in 1900 (Advanced Lesson Plan) · May 1, 2022
Advanced lesson on generational differences & perspective. Includes speaking, reading, & vocabulary exercises for EFL conversation class.Phoning It In (Upper-Intermediate/Advanced Reading Lesson) · November 14, 2016
A short reading lesson for ESL students interested in business topics. Students can answer comprehension, vocabulary, & discussion questions.The Disease of Being Busy (Upper-Intermediate Reading Lesson) · October 27, 2016
Reading comprehension, discussion, & vocabulary questions for ESL students on the Disease of Being Busy by Omid Safi. Upper-IntermediateBiomedical Ethics & Neanderthal Babies (Advanced ESL Lesson Plan) · January 30, 2013
Advanced ESL lesson plan on Biomedical ethics. Topics: euthanasia, animal rights, cloning, etc. Study online or download the ethics lesson.Biomedical Ethics & Neanderthal Babies (Upper-Intermediate Lesson Plan) · January 28, 2013
Upper-intermediate ESL lesson plan on Biomedical ethics. Topics: euthanasia, animal rights, cloning. Study online or download the lesson.Topic: Reasons for Love (Upper-Intermediate Lesson Plan) · November 28, 2011
Upper-intermediate lesson. Lesson #1: "Reasons for Love" from a unit on Love & Marriage. Study online or download the ESL lesson plan.