Gen Z’s Money Problems

In this B2 ESL lesson plan, your students will:

• – explore and discuss the financial and professional challenges Generation Z faces,
• – improve their reading comprehension skills by answering questions about an authentic text, and boost their vocabulary with word replacement exercises,
• – engage in meaningful discussions.

This upper-intermediate ESL lesson explores the financial and professional challenges Generation Z faces in today’s workplace, including the experience paradox, gig economy pressures, and the housing crisis.

Warm-up:

Students answer thought-provoking discussion questions based on a graphic to elicit their existing knowledge and English vocabulary about the topic. This lead-in activity allows the teacher to gauge the students’ current ability to talk about the topic in English. 

Video:

Students watch an authentic English-language video titled “Gen Z is worried about their jobs and money”. After watching the video, students complete some comprehension questions to check that they were able to understand the key ideas. Students are also encouraged to note down any new English vocabulary or phrases that they hear in the video, so that they can ask the teacher about them.

English practice exercises:

Exercises in this lesson focus on presenting and practicing English vocabulary related to the topic of the lesson. First, students complete a gap-fill activity using useful vocabulary, then they practice paraphrasing with a “word replacement” exercise, and finally they match a selection of words with their antonyms. These activities should be done interactively, with the teacher asking questions to guide students in the right direction if necessary. 

English reading exercises:

Students read an authentic English-language text about Gen Z’s challenges in the job market, then answer questions about the key ideas to confirm their understanding. The primary focus of this exercise is on reading comprehension, but it may also present additional new vocabulary for the students to use in the final discussion activity. 

English discussion activity:

Students practice answering questions about Gen Z. The teacher asks follow-up questions to encourage students to give more detail or examples.