Laziness ESL Lesson Plan

OBJECTIVE & OVERVIEW

This ESL lesson plan on laziness provides activities, PDF worksheets, and digital materials designed for advanced C1 students. In this lesson, students will:

• Discuss the connotations of laziness and its societal perceptions
• Watch a video on laziness and answer related questions.
• Learn and use the past perfect continuous tense in context
• Reflect on and discuss personal experiences with work, laziness, and leisure using the past perfect continuous
• Explore societal views on laziness and brainstorm ways to balance rest and productivity

PREVIEW & DISCUSSION

In the first phase of this ESL lesson on laziness, students begin by exploring their perceptions of laziness. They first discuss their personal associations with the term "laziness" and determine whether they believe it has a positive, negative, or neutral connotation. This initial discussion helps students articulate their views on laziness and how it is perceived culturally.

Following this, they engage in a conversation about the difference between laziness and rest. They also discuss their personal experiences with laziness.

Then, students complete sentences using specific verbs and phrases related to laziness, such as “take it easy”, "slack off", and "lie around". They also identify how these actions relate to their own behaviors or experiences.

The final part of the preview involves agreeing or disagreeing with statements about laziness. These statements are focused on the connection between laziness, societal pressures, and the people of their own countries.

VIEWING ACTIVITY

During the viewing activity, students watch a news report video that examines various perspectives on laziness. In the first part, they organize the sequence of topics discussed in the video, including Celeste Headlee’s experiences and insights, the impact of multitasking, and insights from the Institute for Advanced Study. This exercise helps students grasp the flow of information and the relationships between different viewpoints.

Then, students answer several questions about the video content, such as Celeste Headlee's realization about leisure, Professor Golden's explanation of laziness's negative connotation, and Professor Miller's views on multitasking. These questions encourage students to summarize and analyze the key points presented in the video.

DISCUSSION & GRAMMAR

In the viewing follow-up section, students engage in discussions to deepen their understanding of the video's content. They reflect on the most interesting or insightful parts of the video and consider the stigma surrounding laziness in different countries. Additionally, they brainstorm strategies to better value rest and downtime in their own lives.

They then read a personal story about someone who transitioned from overwork to appreciating idleness. In this story, the woman uses the past perfect continuous. Students respond to questions about the use of the past perfect continuous tense in the story, its grammatical structure, and its negative form.

Finally, there are sentences for students to use the past perfect continuous tense in context examples. All of the examples are focused on the topic of work, productivity, and relaxation.

REFLECTIONS ON WORK, LAZINESS, & LEISURE

In this communicative activation, students choose a specific time from their past that fits one of three categories: a period of taking it easy, a time of intense work, or a balanced phase between work and relaxation. They write brief notes on the context and their feelings during this time. Next, students work with a classmate or teacher to discuss their chosen period, focusing on what led to that situation, how it affected them, and what they learned from the experience. They are encouraged to use the past perfect continuous tense in their discussions to describe ongoing actions before another event.

Alternatively, students can discuss various talking points related to laziness, work ethic, and relaxation, reflecting on personal experiences or people they admire. This reflective practice aims to consolidate their understanding of the themes discussed throughout the lesson and apply them to their own lives.

BENEFITS OF USING THIS ESL LESSON ON LAZINESS:

Practice with Past Perfect Continuous:

The lesson helps students practice using the past perfect continuous tense in various contexts. This can be a difficult grammar point to master.

Critical Thinking:

Students are encouraged to think deeply about the concept of laziness, its social perceptions, and how it relates to work and rest.

Listening Skills:

The lesson improves students' listening abilities by requiring them to understand and analyze spoken content from the video.

Engaging Topic:

By relating the lesson to their own experiences, students can make the content more relevant and meaningful. As a result, students should engage well with the material.

Discussion Skills:

The lesson promotes plenty of opportunities for speaking and conversation. These discussions help students articulate their thoughts and listen actively to others.