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‘Mr. Happy Man’ Lesson Plan

This ESL lesson is designed around a beautiful short film by Matt Morris about Johnny Barnes, an 88-year-old man who dedicates his life to making people happy. Students practise speaking, listening and writing.


Check out the lesson plan

This ESL lesson is designed around a beautiful short film by Matt Morris about Johnny Barnes, an 88-year-old man who dedicates his life to making people happy. Students practise speaking, listening and writing.

 

Language level: Upper-intermediate (B2)- Advanced (C1)

Learner type: Mature teens and adults

Time: 90 minutes

Activity: Speaking, writing and watching a short film and a video

Topic: Happiness

Language: Adjectives to describe character

 

Watch the film.

 

 

Check out the lesson plan

 

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We hope you enjoy this ESL lesson.

 

Kieran and the Film English Team

Check out the lesson plan

 

27 comments on “‘Mr. Happy Man’ Lesson Plan

  1. John Bezich says:

    Thanks Kieran, this looks great …. I can definitely use this for my B2.2 class. Have a nice holiday ….

    Kind and grateful regards,

    John

    1. Thanks a lot, John. Glad you like it. Have a great summer too.
      All the best,
      Kieran

      1. John Bezich says:

        Hi Kieran … We’ve just started spring (as far as I know) … but if you’ve somehow managed to leap frog into summer, let me know how you did it – I could use some serious beach time right about now …

        1. Wishful thinking on my behalf, John. I meant Easter ; )

  2. Thanks for your work, I’d like to use this with my students but the video doesn’t work, where can I get it? as in youtube there is only a preview???

    Thanks

    1. The film is working, but here’s a link to Vimeo, just in case: http://vimeo.com/36673515
      Cheers,
      Kieran

  3. Excellent . Inspiring. I love it very much. Thanks!

    1. Hi Vesna,
      I’m happy you find it inspiring 🙂
      Cheers,
      Kieran

  4. Maraming salamat (thank you very much) from the Philippines. Your lessons are like a breath of fresh air. I absolutely love them!

    1. Thanks a lot, Anna. It’s great to know the lessons have reached the Phillipines.
      Cheers,
      Kieran

  5. Thanks ever so much for the lesson, I’ll be using in class after Easter and link it to my classroom blog, too. I loved it, and not only this lesson but many others that you share, thanks for sharing!

    1. Hi Mª Jesús,
      Thanks a lot for your kind comments, I’m really happy that you emjoy the lessons.
      All the best,
      Kieran

      1. I worked through the lesson with a bunch of B2 ESL students yesterday. Link to the blog: http://stopandlearnenglish.blogspot.com.es/2012/04/mr-happy-man-from-film-english.html
        I hope you don’t mind my linking, it’s for my students to go back to it easily, as I have other tasks for them on their classroom blog, too!
        The lesson brought so much discussion, both about the film and about the quotes that I had to set the composition as homework, so brilliant, as it made speak in English for quite a while.
        Thanks a bunch again!

  6. Thank you ! It’s really one of the greatest lessons . I loved it and will use it with my students. Very urgent community problems are touched in the lesson .Thanks a lot!

    1. Thanks a lot, Zalina. I’m really happy that you like the lesson, let me know how it works with your students, please.
      All the best,
      Kieran

    1. Thanks a lot. I’m glad you like it. Cheers, Kieran

  7. Incoming link: Motivation | Pearltrees

  8. I wish I could hold that unfathomable source of happiness in my heart… thanks for sharing this with us. Elsa

  9. Thank you for posting this. I used it in two different lessons today. One was an advanced group and the other was an intermediate one on one. It went well in both. I will use it in future lessons as well. Thanks again! Love the lesson and the site.

    1. Thanks a lot, Eric. I’m happy the lesson went well with your students. Good to know you like the site as well : ) Cheers, Kieran

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