OVERVIEW & OBJECTIVES

This ESL lesson on advanced airport vocabulary offers engaging activities, PDF worksheets, and digital materials designed for advanced C1 students. In this lesson, students will:

• Discuss personal attitudes toward airports and public developments in an extended warm-up.
• Expand their vocabulary with nouns like clearance, horticulture, undertaking, and centerpiece.
• Watch a video on Singapore’s Changi Airport to explore its features, sustainability goals, and global ambitions.
• Practice using precise language to express approval, concern, or mixed feelings toward large-scale development.
• Engage in a structured activation task where they express nuanced attitudes in simulated real-world discussions.

PREVIEW & DISCUSSION

In the introductory section of this ESL lesson on advanced airport vocabulary, students reflect on what matters to them when using airports by ranking priorities like entertainment, layout, and cleanliness. They then share and compare personal or imagined airport experiences to explore emotional responses. In a guided brainstorm, students imagine how a top-tier airport spokesperson might promote advanced airport features like border control automation or smart technology. Next, students are introduced to key vocabulary through a headline-matching activity involving words like horticulture and undertaking. The preview wraps up with an open-ended discussion about the future of airports, helping students prepare contextually for the video content.

VIEWING ACTIVITY

Students watch a visually rich and informative video on Singapore’s Changi Airport, which highlights why it's considered the best airport in the world. The video showcases features such as its waterfall, butterfly garden, efficient clearance systems, and an $8 billion expansion plan aimed at future-proofing the facility. To begin, students complete a multiple-choice cloze task that reinforces the video's key ideas and vocabulary. They then answer two short-answer comprehension questions focused on Changi’s standout features and its approach to horticulture. Finally, students complete selected quotes from the video, practicing collocations and expressions tied to movement, automation, and infrastructure strategy.

VIEWING FOLLOW-UP

To deepen understanding, students discuss what impressed them most about the airport and whether such a large investment is truly justified. They then define advanced emotions and attitudes such as ambivalence, optimism, and outrage, and practice using their noun forms in structured sentence frames. Finally, students read two authentic-style resident responses to the Changi developments. Through these, they infer nuanced attitudes based on content cues and reflect on the contrast in tone, word choice, and values. 

PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT DISCOURSE: EXPRESSING ATTITUDES

In this final section, students apply everything they’ve learned by taking on real or imagined public development projects such as wind farms, stadiums, or mega-malls. In Option A, they choose a development type, provide background and details, and then assume a stakeholder’s role (e.g., local resident or planner) to express an informed opinion. This part reinforces target vocabulary while boosting presentation and critical thinking skills. Option B offers flexible talking points to encourage spontaneous discussion. Students evaluate public developments through the lens of nuanced attitudes and emotional responses, practicing expressive and accurate C1-level language.

BENEFITS OF USING THIS ADVANCED ESL AIRPORT LESSON & VOCABULARY

This advanced ESL airport lesson & vocabulary builds real-world communication skills using a highly relevant and visually engaging topic. Students gain exposure to sophisticated vocabulary related to urban planning, infrastructure, and public attitudes. They engage in meaningful discussions and role-based tasks that mimic authentic conversations and debates. The activities challenge students to analyze tone and infer emotions—essential skills at the C1 level. It also provides a structured framework that scaffolds learners from discussion to listening to productive output, helping teachers meet a wide range of classroom objectives with minimal prep.