Dangerous Jobs ESL Lesson Plan

OVERVIEW & OBJECTIVES

This ESL lesson plan on dangerous jobs offers engaging activities, PDF worksheets, and digital materials designed for advanced C1 students. In this lesson, students will:

• Discuss various dangerous occupations and the factors that make them hazardous
• Expand their vocabulary by learning compound adjectives and related job terms
• Watch a video about a bridge painter’s dangerous job, focusing on specific tasks and risks
• Practice completing compound adjectives and discussing job-related scenarios
• Participate in a role-play activity to imagine their first week on a dangerous job

PREVIEW & DISCUSSION

At the start of this ESL lesson plan on dangerous jobs, students are shown images of people in various dangerous occupations, such as a search and rescue worker, rugby player, oil rig worker, and bridge painter. They identify the occupations and the duties associated with each one. They then discuss the similarities between these jobs and identifies what makes them dangerous. Students will consider factors like physical risks, emotional tolls, and specific job hazards. They will then reflect on which three jobs they think are the most dangerous and why, and brainstorm additional occupations that may involve significant risks. In the second part, students match descriptions of job characteristics with specific occupations, such as "narrow steel planks at dangerous heights" or "high-intensity drilling tasks." The preview wraps up with a discussion about the skills and traits required to be a successful bridge painter.

VIEWING ACTIVITY

The video features Todd, a professional bridge painter, who talks about the dangerous tasks involved in maintaining massive bridges. His job involves climbing high steel beams, scraping and painting while hundreds of feet in the air. Despite the inherent risks, the job offers a decent salary, steady work, and a breathtaking view of New York and New Jersey. Students first watch the video and answer questions based on the tasks bridge painters do, why Todd accepted a high-risk job, and the salary range for bridge painters. They will then complete statements related to the video, using the phrases that the speakers use in the video. The video provides essential insights for students to understand the unique challenges and perks of this dangerous profession.

DISCUSSION & COMPOUND ADJECTIVES

After watching the video, students will engage in a discussion about the job of a bridge painter. They will answer questions about whether they would take on such a job and whether they believe the salary is fair given the risks. Next, students will complete compound adjectives related to dangerous jobs. For example, they will fill in sentences such as “Being a bridge painter is not for the faint-hearted,” using the appropriate compound adjective. They will then discuss the connotations of the compound adjectives and how they relate to the job descriptions. Students will reflect on which adjectives have positive or negative meanings and use them to describe other dangerous or hazardous jobs they are familiar with.

INSIDE THE JOB: STORIES FROM YOUR FIRST WEEK

In the activation phase, students take on the role of someone who has just started a dangerous job and share their experience of the first week. They will discuss key aspects of their job, such as salary, required skills, and job duties, and assess whether their experience has been positive or negative. Students then participate in a role-play activity where one student describes their job while using compound adjectives such as “faint-hearted,” “stomach-churning,” or “adrenaline-filled,” and the other asks questions and gives their opinion of the job. Alternatively, students can choose to discuss various hypothetical scenarios regarding dangerous jobs, including which jobs would be stomach-churning or adrenaline-filled, and which would be emotionally-draining or back-breaking.

BENEFITS OF USING THIS DANGEROUS JOBS ESL LESSON PLAN

This lesson plan engages students in a comprehensive discussion about dangerous occupations, helping them expand their vocabulary with essential job-related terms and compound adjectives. It introduces real-world examples through video, which enhances understanding and makes the lesson more relatable. The vocabulary exercises and role-play activities encourage students to use new terms in context, reinforcing their learning. The lesson also allows for critical thinking as students reflect on the risks and rewards associated with dangerous jobs, all while improving their ability to discuss complex topics in English. Overall, it provides a dynamic, interactive way for students to learn, practice, and apply advanced language skills.