C1 ESL Video Lesson Plan: The Attention Economy

Lesson Summary:

This Advanced (C1) to Proficient (C2) ESL lesson plan is built around the short video The Attention Economy Needs to Change. But How? and explores the themes of attention, focus, and the attention economy. It helps learners develop key language skills—listening, viewing, speaking, reading, writing, and visually representing—through viewing, discussion, roleplay, and creative activities.

Learning Objectives:

• To introduce students to the concept of attention and the attention economy
• To expand vocabulary related to attention, media influence, and technology
• To develop students’ viewing, listening, and reading comprehension skills
• To improve speaking fluency through discussion and roleplay using new vocabulary
• To enhance writing skills through creative and reflective tasks
• To strengthen multimodal communication skills through homework composition tasks

Lesson Activities:

• Vocabulary-building and prediction tasks on attention and technology use
• Viewing and comprehension of the short video The Attention Economy Needs to Change. But How?
• Analytical and reflective discussion on issues raised in the video
• Reading and reflection on the article Digital Detox: The Art of Reclaiming Your Mind
• Speaking and writing activities using new vocabulary
• Roleplay and critical thinking discussions on focus and media influence
• Creative multimodal homework composition tasks

Learner Type:

Advanced (C1) – Proficient (C2); mature teens and adults

Language Focus:

• Attention and focus
• The attention economy
• Media influence and digital technology
• Distraction and self-regulation
• Communication and well-being

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 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

 

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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.