*This is the second lesson in the lesson series on: Life Changes & The Many Uses of "Get".

OVERVIEW & OBJECTIVES

This ESL lesson plan on get used to vs. be used to offers engaging activities, PDF worksheets, and digital materials designed for intermediate B1 students. In this lesson, students will:

• Discuss common life changes and share personal experiences adapting to new situations.
• Learn and practice vocabulary related to life transitions and coping with change.
• Watch a video about young people dealing with major life changes and stress.
• Discover and practice the difference between get used to and be used to through guided exercises.
• Participate in a communicative activity where they discuss changes they have experienced.

PREVIEW

Students begin the lesson by thinking about different kinds of life changes and reflecting on how people adapt to them. The opening activity asks students to consider several common transitions such as changing jobs, moving to a new place, starting or ending relationships, and having a child. After selecting a few examples, students write short notes about changes they have experienced or situations they imagine might be challenging. The focus is on describing what was difficult and how people adjust over time.

The next part of the preview introduces useful ideas and vocabulary related to adapting to change. Through short discussion prompts, students talk about experiences where they had to adjust to something new in their lives. 

VIEWING ACTIVITY

Students watch a short video where young people talk about stressful life changes such as moving to a new country, starting a new school, getting braces, or dealing with a breakup. In the video, they explain how these experiences affected them and describe the strategies that helped them manage difficult transitions. The message of the video highlights that change can be challenging but often leads to positive outcomes.

Before watching, students complete a preview activity where they think about what types of changes people commonly experience during their lives. After that, they watch the video and complete a listening activity that checks their understanding of the main ideas and examples discussed. The tasks encourage students to focus on key details about the speakers' experiences and the advice they share for coping with change.

In the final viewing task, students review the information from the video and discuss the strategies mentioned for dealing with stressful situations. They consider which ideas are most helpful and connect the video content to their own experiences with change.

VIEWING FOLLOW-UP

After watching the video, students explore the grammar focus of the lesson: the difference between get used to and be used to. Through guided examples taken from life changes and daily experiences, they examine how these expressions describe adapting to new situations and feeling comfortable with something over time.

Students complete several controlled practice exercises where they choose or write the correct forms of get used to and be used to. These activities highlight how the expressions work with different tenses and structures. The sentences describe everyday situations such as adapting to a new phone, getting comfortable driving a new car, adjusting to new routines, or speaking English at work.

As they work through these exercises, students pay attention to negative forms, verb tenses, and the use of gerunds after the expressions. The goal is to help them clearly understand how get used to describes the process of adapting while be used to describes a situation that already feels familiar.

LIFE CHANGES DISCUSSION

Students finish the lesson with a communicative activity focused on real-life experiences with change. First, they think about important transitions they have experienced in their lives and make short notes about how those situations affected them. They consider whether they are still adapting to something or whether they have already become comfortable with it.

Next, students discuss these ideas with classmates or with their teacher. The discussion prompts encourage them to use get used to and be used to naturally while talking about their own experiences. Topics include current situations they are still adapting to, past changes that were difficult at first, and things they expect they may need to adjust to in the future.

BENEFITS OF USING THIS GET USED TO VS. BE USED TO ESL LESSON PLAN

• Helps students clearly understand the difference between get used to and be used to.
• Provides realistic speaking tasks connected to life changes and personal experiences.
• Includes structured grammar practice with clear examples and varied contexts.
• Builds listening skills through a relatable video about coping with change.
• Encourages meaningful communication using real-life situations and discussions.