Why others seem happier

The main goals of this ESL lesson plan are to:

• – investigate why people sometimes think that others are happier than themselves, the influence of social media and the impact of their own biases. 
• – improve English language skills by acquiring new words and practicing language through gap-fill and matching exercises 
• – watch a short video called “The Secrets of Other People’s Relationships” followed by questions and answers. 

In this B2-level English language lesson, students will explore why people sometimes think that other people are happier than they are, discovering the influence of social media and cognitive biases. Students will improve their English language skills by acquiring a greater range of vocabulary. 

Warm-Up

During the warm-up, students reveal hints to discover the last word. 

Video

Students watch a brief video called “The Secrets of Other People’s Relationships.” Afterwards, students answer questions to check for comprehension.

Exercises

Students match words with synonyms from the passage. 

Reading

In the reading comprehension, students read a brief passage related to social perceptions; then, they answer questions to check their understanding of meaning and detail. 

Discussion

In the last part of the lesson, students complete a fill-in-the-blank lesson with appropriate verbs. They have a discussion about the revealed message with the teacher.