Christmas Markets ESL Lesson Plan

OVERVIEW & OBJECTIVES

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

• Explore their senses and share descriptions of Christmas markets through interactive discussions.
• Watch a video highlighting the top five Christmas markets in Europe and identify key features of each.
• Discuss their opinions on Christmas markets and rank destinations based on the video.
• Expand their descriptive vocabulary through reading and analysis of Christmas cultural celebrations.
• Create and present their own cultural market or festival using detailed descriptions and a brainstorming mind-map.

PREVIEW & DISCUSSION

In the preview section for this Christmas markets ESL lesson plan, students imagine visiting a Christmas market and use their five senses to describe what they see, hear, smell, feel, and taste. They share their ideas in pairs or with the teacher, setting the scene for the lesson. Next, students discuss their past experiences or knowledge of Christmas markets. Those who have visited a market share details about attractions and what they enjoyed most, while others discuss popular markets they have heard of or whether they would like to visit one. Finally, students complete sentences using verbs in the correct form to describe market experiences, such as sipping mulled wine or strolling through snowcapped stalls. Students wrap up this section by reflecting on why Christmas markets are special and why they attract so many visitors each year.

VIEWING ACTIVITY

Students watch a video introducing five magical Christmas markets in Europe: Manchester, Cologne, Budapest, Prague, and Tallinn. The video showcases festive street food, stunning backdrops like Cologne’s Cathedral, Gothic charm in Prague, chimney cakes in Budapest, and Tallinn’s fairy-tale streets. To reinforce comprehension, students match each market to its description and complete a table with details about each market’s location, entertainment, and food. Students then focus on listening accuracy by choosing the correct words they hear in sentences, such as identifying whether smells "fill the air" or a Christmas tree "towers" over the square. These activities encourage careful listening and comprehension while enhancing vocabulary.

DISCUSSION & DESCRIPTIVE ADJECTIVES

Following the video, students reflect on their thoughts about Christmas markets and discuss their preferences. They share whether they have visited any of the featured markets, rank their top destinations from the video, and explain their choices. Next, students read descriptions of Christmas markets and celebrations from around the world, such as Medellin’s twinkling Alumbrados festival, Nairobi’s lively craft fair, and Seoul’s bustling markets. They identify descriptive adjectives like “mesmerizing,” “upbeat,” and “intricate” and categorize them under themes such as entertainment, atmosphere, and food. This activity helps students recognize and apply rich, descriptive language.

EVENT MAGIC: BRING YOUR FAVORITE CELEBRATION TO LIFE!

In the activation section of this Christmas markets ESL lesson plan, students use their creativity to bring a cultural market or celebration to life. They choose between two options: Option A involves brainstorming ideas for a real or imagined cultural event using a mind map, focusing on categories like entertainment, food and drinks, arts and crafts, and atmosphere. Students then present their event using descriptive adjectives to enhance their descriptions. Option B offers discussion points for students to share personal experiences about captivating places, mouth-watering foods, intricate souvenirs, and heartwarming travel moments. This section allows students to practice speaking fluently while applying the vocabulary and ideas learned throughout the lesson.

BENEFITS OF USING THIS ESL CHRISTMAS MARKETS ESL LESSON PLAN

This lesson plan offers teachers a structured and engaging approach to exploring Christmas markets with B2 students. Students develop key skills in listening, speaking, and vocabulary building while engaging with a cultural topic relevant to the season. The activities encourage collaboration and creative thinking, as well as a lively and interactive classroom environment. The video and reading materials expose students to real-world examples of cultural traditions, enhancing their understanding of global celebrations. Teachers will find the lesson easy to implement with clear steps and practical worksheets that keep students focused and motivated.