Study Abroad ESL Lesson Plan

OVERVIEW & OBJECTIVES

This study abroad ESL lesson plan offers activities, PDF worksheets, and digital materials designed for intermediate B1 - B2 students. In this lesson, students will:

• Describe study abroad experiences through pictures and prompts
• Engage in discussions about their own study or work plans
• Watch a video about the benefits of studying abroad
• Correct mistakes and complete sentence exercises based on the video
• Use superlative adjectives to discuss personal life-changing experiences

PREVIEW & DISCUSSION

Students begin this study abroad ESL lesson plan by looking at pictures of Hannah, a young woman engaged in various activities during her study abroad. They describe what they think the pictures represent, such as travel and educational experiences.

Then, students choose between two options, A or B, based on whether they have studied at university or not. They engage in a discussion, answering questions related to their own study experiences or hypothetical plans for studying abroad.

Finally, students imagine that Hannah has completed her semester abroad and is making a video about her experience. They finish her ideas, expressing potential benefits she might highlight, such as gaining confidence, learning outside the classroom, and returning home with amazing memories.

VIEWING ACTIVITY

In the video, a few students talk about their semesters abroad and the many benefits they gained and advice they have for others. Students first match sentence halves with the advice and benefits of studying abroad.

Next, they do an activity involving true and false statements according to the information discussed by the students. In the final part, students discuss or write the final benefit of studying abroad mentioned in the video, specifically on how this experience can help you in the future.

VIEWING FOLLOW-UP

Students reflect on the benefits of studying abroad by discussing which of Beza’s points they find most appealing. They also consider potential drawbacks, discussing whether only young people can benefit from the experience.

In the second part, students complete sentences using nouns like “leap” and “predicaments” to describe study or work experiences shared by other individuals. Lastly, they analyze the use of superlative adjectives in these examples and discuss the different forms of superlatives in English.

In the final part, students complete a text about a woman, Marta, describing her work abroad experience. In the text, they form superlative adjectives from provided adjectives that suit the context of Marta's ideas.

SUPERLATIVE DISCUSSIONS: OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE

For the activation, students choose a life-changing experience where they stepped outside their comfort zone, such as studying abroad, changing jobs, or taking on a significant personal challenge. After taking notes on this experience, they work in pairs to share their stories, answering questions about the most rewarding, memorable, or challenging aspects. They engage in discussions using superlative adjectives, reflecting on the most exciting or craziest moments from their experience, and how it pushed them beyond their limits.

BENEFITS OF USING THIS STUDY ABROAD ESL LESSON PLAN:

This lesson plan offers teachers structured materials that encourage critical thinking and practical language use. Students practice fluency through engaging discussions, expand their vocabulary with context-specific phrases, and reinforce their grammar by identifying and correcting mistakes. The lesson also fosters confidence by encouraging students to reflect on personal experiences, all while using superlative adjectives to enhance their expression. With a variety of interactive exercises, teachers can effectively support their students' learning goals.