B1 ESL Video Lesson Plan: The Reader
This B1-level ESL video lesson plan is built around a thought-provoking video that explores the theme of literacy. 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.
Check out the lesson planThis ESL video lesson plan is designed around a moving short film titled The Reader and the theme of literacy. In the lesson students write a narrative, watch a short film and discuss literacy strategies.
Language level: Intermediate (B1) – Upper Intermediate (B2)
Learner type: All ages
Time: 90 minutes
Activity: Writing a short story, watching a short film, and speaking
Topic: Reading and literacy
Language: Narrative structures
Benefits for Teachers:
- Save hours of preparation with a fully developed, flexible lesson plan
- Engage students through compelling stories and real-world themes such as emotional intelligence, character, values, empathy, personal development, identity, relationships, global issues and social issues
- Build classroom routines that integrate multimodal literacy naturally and progressively
- Foster more inclusive and differentiated learning by using varied modes of input
- Rely on a trusted methodology backed by educational research and grounded in the theories of Vygotsky, Kress, Mayer and Krashen
Benefits for Learners:
- Develop communicative competence and confidence through integrated skill-building
- Expand vocabulary and improve listening and reading comprehension through repeated, meaningful exposure
- Think critically and creatively while exploring powerful social and emotional themes
- Strengthen emotional intelligence and intercultural awareness through affective engagement with multimodal texts
Watch the film.
Check out the lesson plan
Remember that Individual Membership and Institutional Membership of Film English Club allow unlimited access to all 800+ Film English Club Video Lesson Plans, Extensive Viewing Guides and Film Study Worksheets.
Upgrade to Film English Club
We hope you enjoy this ESL video lesson plan.
Thanks for being part of the Film English community, and happy teaching!
— The Film English Team
Get Started with Free Lessons
Transform Your English Classroom with the Multimodal Approach
This ESL video lesson plan is built around a thought-provoking short video and designed using the innovative Multimodal Approach, integrating listening, speaking, reading, writing, viewing, and representing. Engage learners with real-world themes, develop communicative competence, build vocabulary and foster critical thinking through dynamic, research-informed activities. Find out more about the Multimodal Approach and join thousands of teachers transforming their classrooms with Film English.
Incoming link: Lesson Materials | Pearltrees
Incoming link: Strategies | Pearltrees
Incoming link: Short films and video lessons | Pearltrees
Incoming link: Back to school 5 | Pearltrees
Thanks again, Kieran. This worked very well this morning. Lots of issues to discuss from the video (illiteracy, motivation, relationships between educated children and their less educated parents, experiences of learning languages/learning to read etc.). I donated again last night and I just want to thank you sincerely for all your hard work- it’s really, really appreciated. I’d be absolutely lost without you and your brilliant lessons. I’ll donate again soon. Thank you.
Hi Eavan,
Thanks very much for commenting, the kind words and for generously donating to the site 🙂 Very much appreciated.
All the best,
Kieran
I totally agree with you! Good to know that you have these moral principles as a teacher. Thank you!
Hi Tatyana,
thanks for the kind words.
Cheers,
Kieran
It looks like it´s easy to do in class and the screenshots are perfect for visual literacy. As Eavan mentioned- lots of interesting topics to discuss. And also a fantastic piece for speaking and writing skills. This clip could also be used as a great intro leading up to a Reading exercise.
John Ware
Hi John,
Thanks for commenting. I’m glad you like the lesson plan and see othe rpotential tasks.
All the best,
Kieran
Incoming link: Short films | Pearltrees
thank you so much for sharing this lesson and all the others. very helpful. i used it ic class and it was a success. i got my students to write. they were really involved in writing though previously diong writing exercises was not their cup of tea. thanks again
Hi Dorsaf,
Thanks for letting me know how the lesson went. I’m really happy your students were engaged and enjoyed it.
All the best,
Kieran