B1 ESL Lesson Plan: Recovery High School

Lesson Summary

This Intermediate (B1)–Upper Intermediate (B2) ESL lesson plan explores teenage addiction, sobriety and recovery through a short video about a recovery high school. Students consider the importance of education, connection, accountability and emotional support for young people working towards sobriety.

Learning Objectives

• Explore the effects of addiction on teenagers.

• Discuss sobriety, recovery and sources of emotional support.

• Develop viewing, listening and reading comprehension skills.

• Build confidence in discussing a sensitive social issue.

• Improve speaking and writing through roleplay and reflection.

• Think critically about how schools can support teenagers in recovery.

Lesson Activities

• Brainstorm associations with addiction.

• Discuss addiction and sobriety before viewing.

• Respond to a quotation about sobriety.

• Predict, watch and analyse a short video.

• Complete video comprehension activities.

• Perform a school-support roleplay.

• Read an article about supporting teenagers in recovery.

• Complete article comprehension and discussion tasks.

• Reflect on the lesson through writing.

Learner Type

• Mature teens and adults

Language Level

• Intermediate (B1)–Upper Intermediate (B2)

Language Focus

• Addiction, sobriety and recovery vocabulary

• Emotional support and non-judgemental language

• Asking for help, expressing concern and proposing solutions

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.