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B2 ESL Video Lesson Plan: Metacognition

Published on March 29, 2026
By kierandonaghy
Lesson Summary:This Upper Intermediate (B2) to Advanced (C1) ESL lesson plan is built around a thought-provoking video that explores the theme of metacognition and emotional intelligence. It is designed to help learners develop key language skills—listening, viewing, speaking, reading, writing and visually representing—through guided discussion, roleplay, vocabulary building and engaging classroom activities. Learners explore how […]

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A2 ESL Video Lesson Plan: What’s Cooking?

Published on August 2, 2021
By kierandonaghy
This ESL video lesson plan is designed around two short videos, What’s Cookin’? by LRG and Happy Food by Yum Yum London, and the theme of food. Students learn vocabulary related to food, talk about food, watch two short videos, discuss two short videos and reflect on the lesson.     Language level: Pre-intermediate (A2) […]

Extensive Viewing Guide: 1917

Published on July 30, 2021
By kierandonaghy
A 29-page Extensive Viewing guide to the Oscar-winning film 1917 starring George MacKay, Dean-Charles Chapman, Colin Firth and Benedict Cumberbatch for English language students who want to learn English through watching films. The guide will help students improve their English vocabulary, listening comprehension, pronunciation and speaking. The viewing guide includes: • Viewing recommendations • A […]

B1 ESL Video Lesson Plan: World Builder

Published on July 26, 2021
By kierandonaghy
This ESL video lesson is designed around a short film by Bruce Branit called World Builder and the theme of creating different worlds. Students learn collocations with ‘build’, speak and write about a perfect world, watch a short film, predict the end of a short film, answer comprehension questions, discuss a short film and reflect […]

Extensive Viewing Guide: Captain Fantastic

Published on July 23, 2021
By kierandonaghy
A 36-page Extensive Viewing guide to the Oscar-nominated film Captain Fantastic starring starring Viggo Mortensen, Frank Langella, and Kathryn Hahn for English language students who want to learn English through watching films. The guide will help students improve their English vocabulary, listening comprehension, pronunciation and speaking. The viewing guide includes: • Viewing recommendations • A […]

B1 ESL Video Lesson Plan: Grandfather

Published on July 21, 2021
By kierandonaghy
This ESL video lesson is designed around a beautiful and poignant short film by Luiz Lafayette Stockler. Students describe a grandparent, talk about grandparents, watch a short film, answer comprehension questions, discuss a short film, write a description of a grandparent and reflect on the lesson.     Language level: Intermediate (B1) – Upper-intermediate (B2) […]

Train Online with Kieran on the Empathy in Language Teaching Course this Summer

Published on July 19, 2021
By kierandonaghy
Join Kieran Donaghy on the Empathy in Language Teaching online course. Explore why empathy is particularly important in language teaching and how empathy can be developed among both language teachers and learners.     Course description Get exclusive video lectures, handouts and articles. A 4-week course with continual support at every stage and detailed feedback […]

Extensive Viewing Guide: Lost in Translation

Published on July 16, 2021
By kierandonaghy
A 28-page Extensive Viewing guide to the Oscar-winning film Lost in Translation starring Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson for English language students who want to learn English through watching films. The guide will help students improve their English vocabulary, listening comprehension, pronunciation and speaking. The viewing guide includes: • Viewing recommendations • A film synopsis […]

B1 ESL Video Lesson Plan: Why Bring a Child into this World?

Published on July 14, 2021
By kierandonaghy
This ESL video lesson plan is designed around a short film titled Why Bring a Child into this World? directed by Oscar-winning director Errol Morris. The themes of the lesson are babies, parents and the future. Students learn debating expressions, prepare arguments for a debate, debate a question, watch a short film, answer comprehension questions, […]

B1 ESL Video Lesson Plan: Gabe and Chris López

Published on July 12, 2021
By kierandonaghy
This ESL video lesson plan is designed around a short video titled Gabe and Chris Lópe by Story Corps and the themes of gender and transgender children. Students practise vocabulary starting with the prefix ‘trans’, discuss questions about gender and transgender children, watch a short video, answer comprehension questions, discuss a short video and reflect […]

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