OVERVIEW & OBJECTIVES

This ESL lesson plan on life journeys offers engaging activities, PDF worksheets, and digital materials designed for intermediate B1–B2 students. In this lesson, students will:

• Discuss meaningful life journeys, adventures, personal goals, and the challenges they involve.
• Expand their vocabulary with expressions related to journeys, perseverance, and achievement.
• Watch a BBC news report about a British man's 28-year walk around the world.
• Practice past simple, present perfect, and present perfect continuous tenses.
• Share and discuss meaningful personal, real-life, or imaginary journeys.

PREVIEW & DISCUSSION

Students begin this life journeys ESL lesson plan by exploring what the word "journey" means beyond simply traveling from one place to another. They examine six different experiences, including writing a book, starting a business, becoming fluent in another language, and trekking to Everest Base Camp. Through discussion, they consider the challenges and sacrifices involved in each journey and which experiences they would find most rewarding or meaningful.

Next, students imagine they are adventurers who have spent years walking around the world. They complete statements about where their journey began, dangerous crossings, problems with authorities, unexpected delays, and what they might miss about their adventure.

To finish the preview, students explore useful expressions related to travel, personal challenges, and achievement. These include "a leap of faith," "a sense of adventure," and "tenacity and resilience." They discuss what the expressions mean and how they might relate to someone who has spent decades on an extraordinary journey.

VIEWING ACTIVITY

Students watch a BBC news report about British adventurer Karl Bushby, who returns to his hometown of Hull after an extraordinary 28-year journey on foot. The report covers his 31,000-mile expedition, the dangerous situations he faced, his struggles with visas and authorities, and his emotional return home. Before watching, students discuss what they would miss most if they spent years away from their normal lives.

In the first activity, students listen carefully and select the correct words from multiple options to complete details about Karl's story. This exercise focuses on specific information from the report, including his background, the distance he traveled, his welcome home, and the reactions of local crowds.

The second activity uses four images connected to important parts of Karl's journey. Students watch the next section of the report and write brief notes about what happened and why each image is significant. They explore details about his route, the challenges he faced, and the events that delayed his progress.

Finally, students watch the last section of the report and answer short questions about Karl's feelings after completing the journey and what he did during its final stages.

VIEWING FOLLOW-UP

After watching the report, students discuss their reactions to Karl's extraordinary experience. They share what they found most surprising, consider what else they would like to know about his journey, and reflect on whether they have ever wanted to step away from their normal routines to pursue a major adventure or life change.

The next activity focuses on past simple, present perfect simple, and present perfect continuous. Students imagine Karl is approaching the end of his journey and read a series of statements from his perspective. They choose the correct verb forms and explain their answers, with a focus on completed past events, life experiences, and actions that started in the past and continue into the present.

Students then apply these grammar structures to a different type of personal journey. They complete a short story about Gemma, a woman who bought an old delivery van and has spent time converting it into a tiny home. Using verbs provided in brackets, they fill in the correct tense forms to describe her progress, challenges, achievements, and experiences so far.

THE JOURNEY SO FAR: THE STORY BEHIND IT ALL

In this creative speaking activity, students choose a meaningful journey or experience to explore. It can be something from their own lives, another person's experience, or an imaginary story. They select one or more areas of life, such as education, work, personal interests, travel, or a major life change.

Next, students develop their ideas using four categories: The Beginning, Experiences Along the Way, Now & the Future, and Personal Impact. They consider how the journey started, what challenges or highlights occurred, how things have changed, and what the experience has meant to the person involved.

To complete the activity, students take turns telling their stories and asking each other questions. They use past and present perfect tenses alongside expressions such as "at one point," "eventually," "over the last," and "so far" to describe events and experiences naturally.

BONUS DISCUSSION TOPICS: LIFE JOURNEYS & EXPERIENCES

As an alternative or additional activity, students choose from several discussion topics related to personal journeys and life experiences. They share their views on adventure, risk-taking, extraordinary people, unexpected life changes, memorable periods of their lives, and experiences they would like to have in the future.

BENEFITS OF USING THIS LIFE JOURNEYS ESL LESSON PLAN

• Inspirational real-life story: Introduce a remarkable adventure that offers plenty of opportunities for discussion.
• Authentic British English: Expose students to natural British accents, news vocabulary, and real-world storytelling.
• Clear grammar practice: Reinforce past simple, present perfect, and present perfect continuous through meaningful contexts.
• Broad personal relevance: Connect the theme of journeys to careers, education, major decisions, and personal achievements.
• Flexible classroom activities: Use structured storytelling tasks or open-ended discussions for different student needs.