OVERVIEW & OBJECTIVES

This ESL lesson plan on blue-collar jobs offers engaging activities, PDF worksheets, and digital materials designed for upper-intermediate B2 students. In this lesson, students will:

• Discuss blue-collar and white-collar job roles, career choices, and societal attitudes toward education.
• Learn vocabulary related to manual trades, higher education, and job market trends.
• Watch a video about young people choosing skilled trades over university and complete comprehension tasks.
• Practice using phrasal verbs such as “drop out of,” “pay off,” and “rack up” through guided exercises and speaking prompts.
• Take part in a realistic activation activity where they give advice and reflect on practical career dilemmas.

PREVIEW & DISCUSSION

Students begin this ESL lesson by defining what a blue-collar job is, identifying job titles from images, and comparing these with white-collar jobs. They discuss the pros and cons of each career type and explore why people may choose one path over the other. Then, students classify vocabulary terms like apprenticeship, student debt, and manual labor as being more related to either blue- or white-collar work. They engage in a debate activity where they express agreement, disagreement, or partial agreement with statements about university education and social pressure. Finally, they reflect on any personal experience with blue-collar jobs and share whether these jobs would suit them or people they know.

VIEWING ACTIVITY

In the video, students watch real-life stories of young adults who leave traditional college paths to pursue skilled trade careers like carpentry and sheet metal work. The video highlights changing attitudes toward education, rising debt concerns, and the growing appeal of learning a trade. Students first answer comprehension questions about the main characters, Jessica and Isla, and describe their similar career paths. They then match statements to outcomes based on the video and complete a short gap-fill activity to finish quotes from an expert. 

VIEWING FOLLOW-UP

Students begin by reflecting on the video and discussing whether similar trends are happening in their country. They talk about the perception, pay, and demand for blue-collar jobs and evaluate their own higher education system. Then, they complete a phrasal verb exercise using phrases like take out loans, drop out of university, and miss out on opportunities in the voice of a student considering different career paths. After that, they use these collocations in open-ended speaking prompts, sharing experiences related to their own or others’ education and career decisions.

TRADES, CAREERS, & BEYOND: PRACTICAL SCENARIOS

In the activation task, students read about people facing career dilemmas involving college, trades, family pressure, debt, and job satisfaction. They summarize each situation using phrasal verbs, give advice, and discuss whether they or someone they know can relate. This task gives students the opportunity to apply new vocabulary and ideas in a realistic, meaningful way, encouraging deep personal reflection and critical thinking about education, class, and career.

BENEFITS OF USING THIS BLUE-COLLAR JOBS ESL LESSON

This blue-collar jobs ESL lesson offers a well-rounded, real-world topic that students find relatable and thought-provoking. It gives students useful vocabulary to talk about education and work, including phrasal verbs that are common in career-related conversations. The video adds context and relevance while the follow-up activities help students deepen their understanding and build fluency. The structured yet flexible discussion and activation tasks give students space to express opinions, share personal stories, and reflect on societal norms. Teachers can use this lesson to spark engaging debates, support vocabulary retention, and encourage meaningful communication in class.