B2 ESL Lesson Plan: Emotions and Difficult Conversations

Lesson Summary

How can students express difficult feelings and discuss sensitive issues constructively? This ESL video lesson plan invites Upper Intermediate (B2) to Advanced (C1) learners to explore difficult emotions and ways of approaching difficult conversations.

The lesson centres on the short video How to Control Your Emotions During a Difficult Conversation and the article ‘How to Say Something Difficult Without Damaging a Relationship’. Through viewing, reading, discussion and roleplay, students examine strategies for managing emotional reactions and communicating with honesty and respect.

Learning Objectives

Students expand their vocabulary related to emotions, conflict and self-regulation while developing viewing, listening, reading and speaking skills. Critical reflection, creative writing and multimodal homework encourage them to apply and represent their learning.

Lesson Activities

• Discuss difficult emotions and approaches to sensitive conversations.
• Predict video content, watch the video and answer comprehension questions.
• Analyse the video and critically evaluate its advice.
• Practise constructive communication through roleplay.
• Read the accompanying article, check understanding and discuss its ideas.
• Complete writing tasks, reflect on learning and create multimodal homework projects.

Learner Type

Mature teens and adults

Level

Upper Intermediate (B2) – Advanced (C1)

Language Focus

Vocabulary related to emotions, conflict and self-regulation, with opportunities to practise expressing feelings, making requests and responding to different perspectives.

Time

90–120 minutes

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 short video.

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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

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.