Black Friday ESL Activities

OVERVIEW & OBJECTIVES

In these Black Friday ESL activities for advanced C1 students, students engage in a lesson in which they:

• Discuss key ideas related to Black Friday and consumerism.
• Expand their vocabulary with terms related to the holiday season and shopping culture.
• Watch a video about Black Friday and its impact, completing comprehension activities.
• Analyze and critique the concepts presented in the video using critical thinking.
• Write and discuss a formal editorial piece on modern consumerism and Black Friday.

PREVIEW & DISCUSSION

These Black Friday ESL activities begin by students reflecting on the connection between terms like "The Holiday Season," "Consumerism," "Shopping," and "Black Friday" to introduce the theme. This helps them think critically about how these concepts overlap. They then move on to a discussion where they express their agreement or disagreement with statements related to Black Friday and consumerism, such as whether holiday shopping is beneficial or harmful. The goal is for students to think deeply about the holiday season, reflecting on their views and encouraging open dialogue. The final part of the preview has students read different perspectives on Black Friday and holiday shopping, followed by a discussion on the connotations of the word "shopping."

VIEWING ACTIVITY

This Black Friday viewing activity begins with a video featuring Joshua, who critiques the commercialization of the holiday season. He argues that Black Friday represents the chaotic nature of consumer culture. He suggests rejecting material gift-giving and instead promotes giving experiences or simply offering time and attention to loved ones. Students watch the video and complete ESL activities designed to check comprehension, such as determining if statements about the video are true, false, or not given. They also fill in missing words from Joshua's quotes and discuss his alternative ideas to participating in Black Friday, exploring different views on consumerism and gift-giving during the holidays.

DISCUSSION & GRAMMAR

After watching the video, students discuss several questions to reflect on their views regarding Black Friday and consumerism. They are encouraged to express whether they agree with Joshua's perspective, how they feel about the tone of the video, and whether they consider themselves conscious consumers. Students also complete a summary activity using comment adverbs to describe Joshua's viewpoint on Black Friday. Then, students answers some questions about the usage of comment adverbs and what they are. These activities aim to deepen students' critical thinking skills and help them form and express their views clearly.

CRITICAL COMMENTARY: MODERN-DAY CONSUMERISM

For the final activation, students choose a topic related to Black Friday or consumerism, such as whether Cyber Monday is better than Black Friday or how second-hand shopping can challenge consumer culture. They then write a formal editorial or discuss their opinions, using at least three comment adverbs to express their views critically. Students share their editorial pieces with a classmate or teacher and engage in a reflective discussion about the ideas presented. This activity encourages students to synthesize their learning from the lesson and practice formal writing and speaking skills.

BENEFITS OF USING THESE BLACK FRIDAY ESL ACTIVITIES

This lesson plan is a valuable resource for teaching C1-level students about critical consumerism and Black Friday. The engaging video, thought-provoking activities, and vocabulary expansion make it easy for students to connect real-world issues with language learning. Teachers can use this lesson to foster meaningful discussions, develop students' critical thinking, and encourage thoughtful reflection on holiday consumerism. The writing activity also gives students the chance to practice formal writing. The focus on the grammar usage of comment adverbs enhances their ability to express opinions clearly. By incorporating a variety of ESL activities about Black Friday, this lesson ensures that students actively engage with the topic and language.