Problem-Solving ESL Lesson

OBJECTIVE & OVERVIEW

This problem-solving lesson plan provides activities, PDF worksheets, and digital materials designed for intermediate B1 students. In this lesson, students will:

• Engage in discussions about problem-solving
• Learn vocabulary terms and phrases related to problem-solving
• Watch an educational video about a problem-solving method
• Learn and use some phrases related to problem-solving methodology
• Partake in a communicative problem-solving workshop

PREVIEW & DISCUSSION

In the first part of this ESL lesson plan on problem solving, students view some images depicting people having a variety of problems. In the activity, they discuss how complex or simple the problems would be to solve.

Then, students discuss some topics about problem solving, and whether or not they agree or disagree with them.

In the final activity of the preview section, students imagine a mental health professional is giving tips on how to solve problems. They use some provided vocabulary terms to help them come up with some tips the expert may be suggesting.

VIEWING ACTIVITY

In the second part of this ESL lesson on problem solving, students watch a video about a method for solving problems.

In the first listening activity, students list the tips the mental health expert gives in order from 1 - 7.

The viewing activity concludes with an exercise for students to complete the problem-solving tips the woman gives using the correct adjective. In addition, there is an exercise featuring true or false statements based on the information in the video.

DISCUSSION & VOCABULARY

After students watch the video, there are a few discussion questions about the video.

The next part of the lesson is focused on useful phrases students could use in each problem solving step the woman recommended in the video. Students categorize the phrases based on which step these phrases apply to.

In the last part, students imagine they have a problem with work-life balance. They use the phrases in Part 2 to brainstorm solutions, evaluate the pros/cons, and choose the least worst solution.

PROBLEM-SOLVING WORKSHOP

In this communicative ESL activity, students will engage in a problem-solving workshop designed to enhance their critical thinking and collaborative skills. In Option A, students begin by identifying a problem they face, which can be real or imaginary, such as a conflict at work or school, low motivation, lack of social life, difficulty learning a skill, managing stress, or another issue of their choice. Working with a classmate or their teacher, they share the problems identified and use a problem-solving board to guide their discussion. The board includes steps to identify the problem, brainstorm solutions, evaluate the pros and cons of each solution, and choose the least worst solution.

In Option B, students select topics they find interesting and discuss them with a classmate or their teacher. They will talk about a current problem and possible solutions, a time they devised a creative solution, a problem solved through teamwork, a problem they handled in school or work, a problem they helped someone else solve, and a difficult problem that taught them an important lesson. This activity fosters practical language use, encourages sharing personal experiences, and promotes collaborative problem-solving, making it an engaging and beneficial exercise for advanced ESL learners.

BENEFITS OF USING THIS PROBLEM-SOLVING ESL LESSON

Enhanced Critical Thinking Skills:

Students engage in activities that require identifying problems, brainstorming solutions, and evaluating pros and cons, fostering critical thinking.

Improved Vocabulary and Phrases:

The lesson introduces specific vocabulary and phrases useful for problem-solving.

Real-World Application:

By discussing real or imaginary problems, students can relate the lesson to their own lives, making the learning experience more relevant and practical.

Collaborative Learning:

Working with classmates or teachers in the problem-solving workshop promotes teamwork and collaborative learning, essential skills in both academic and professional settings.

Active Listening Skills:

The viewing activity and subsequent discussions enhance students’ listening comprehension and ability to extract key information from spoken English.