The Loneliness Epidemic

This upper-intermediate lesson plan explores the topic of the loneliness epidemic and its causes.

Warm-up:

The lesson starts with the following question: Do you notice a trend of more and more people living in solitude? The student also reads a short text about how forming new relationships is more difficult these days.

Exercises:

This part starts with students matching phrases with their definitions. In the following exercise, they find parts of the sentences that can be replaced with words provided in a box. In the third exercise, students pick a card and evaluate a series of statements related to the topic of the lesson. In the next one, they categorize groups of people into two sections: those that increase the risk of loneliness and those that decrease it. Finally, the students fill gaps in sentences with provided words.

Video:

Students watch a video titled “New app ‘Are You Dead?’ from China works as check-in tool for people living alone”. After watching the video, they answer a few questions and choose which definition of a phrase used by the speaker in the video is correct.

Discussion:

Students discuss with their teacher the best strategies to combat the loneliness epidemic and share their thoughts on a series of statements.