Success and Failure
ESL Lesson PlansSuccess and Failure

Success and Failure

This lesson plan is designed for adults at the B2 level. This 60-minute individual lesson focuses on developing listening and speaking skills through a Ted Talk on success and failure. Students will analyze quotes, match vocabulary with definitions, complete sentences, and discuss their opinions. Perfect for enhancing language skills while exploring the themes of success and failure.

Skills

  • Can distinguish main themes from asides, provided the lecture or talk is delivered in standard language or a familiar variety.
  • Can recognise the point of view expressed and distinguish this from facts being reporting.
Online Interactive
Based on CEFR
Fully Customizable
1

Read these quotes and choose one that you agree with the most.

I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.
- Thomas Edison
Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.
- Winston S. Churchill
Success is a continuous journey.
- Richard St. John
Your answer:
2

You're going to listen to a TedTalk by Richard St. John. First, match these words to their definitions.

3

Complete the sentences using the words from the previous exercise.

4

Now, watch the video and choose the right summary.  Do you agree that "success is a continuous journey"? Explain.

5

Watch the video again and mark the statements as true/false.

6

Discuss these questions with your partner. Express your personal opinion.

Other lessons in this category

A1-A2
Halloween Around the World

This ESL lesson plan introduces A1-A2 teens and adults to Halloween traditions from around the world through engaging reading and writing exercises in a 60-minute individual session. Students will complete fill-in-the-blank activities, explore Halloween customs across countries, and discuss cultural differences in how people celebrate this holiday. Through vocabulary practice and comprehension questions, learners enhance their ability to describe global Halloween traditions and share their personal celebrations.

C1
Martian Chronicles

This ESL lesson plan explores the topic of colonizing Mars while enhancing reading, vocabulary, and discussion skills. Students analyze a detailed article about Mars, discuss ethical and practical challenges of colonization, and complete gap-fill and glossary-based activities. The lesson culminates with a creative conversation imagining life on the Red Planet, using target vocabulary for fluency and critical thinking.

A2-B1
Exploring Spotify

This ESL lesson plan engages teens in exploring AI-powered apps and websites through interactive reading tasks in a 60-minute group session. Designed for A2-B1 learners, students will discuss their favorite apps, learn key vocabulary, and follow step-by-step guides for using popular AI tools like Spotify.

B2
Transitive Separable Phrasal Verbs in Tech

This ESL lesson plan introduces learners to key phrasal verbs related to technology, with an emphasis on vocabulary for common tech support scenarios. Students will work on phrasal verbs and conversation skills by matching terms, ordering sentences, filling in dialogues, and completing a role-play activity. By the end, learners will be able to use phrasal verbs naturally in tech-related conversations, discussing everything from setting up devices to troubleshooting connection issues.

B2
Business Negotiation Essentials

This ESL negotiation lesson plan guides learners through essential negotiation skills in a business context. Students will engage in role-playing activities to practice structuring arguments and using key phrases for effective communication. With exercises focused on business vocabulary, sequencing arguments, and persuasive techniques, this lesson helps students gain confidence in negotiation scenarios.

B2
Conversations: Reacting to News

This engaging ESL lesson plan focuses on ways to react to news in a conversation, designed for adult and teen learners at a B2 level, lasting 45 minutes in a group setting. Targeting speaking skills, the lesson features interactive tasks, including discussions in pairs, audio comprehension, and reacting to various statements. Activities encourage students to practice appropriate responses in unexpected scenarios, enhancing their conversational fluency and confidence.

B2
A Festive Mood

This ESL lesson plan for B2-level adults focuses on listening, speaking, and reading skills in an individual learning format. Students explore Easter traditions in English-speaking countries through video discussions, text analysis, and vocabulary exercises. Activities include identifying cultural differences, learning idiomatic expressions, and reflecting on personal and cultural Easter practices. Perfect for enhancing cultural awareness and English proficiency through engaging holiday-themed activities!

Free
A2-B1
Describing Food and Drink

This ESL lesson plan focuses on building vocabulary to describe food and drink in a group setting for teens and adults. Students will practice reading and speaking activities, using common adjectives to express opinions and preferences about flavors and textures.