Summary
This ESL lesson for B2 English students delves into the universal concept of "The Hero's Journey." This English class material uses a captivating video and interactive activities to explore how this ancient narrative pattern shapes literature, film, and even our own personal growth.
Students will uncover the stages of a hero's quest, from the call to adventure to the return with a new life. Activities include a warm-up discussion on what makes a hero, a listening comprehension task based on the video, and a vocabulary matching exercise focusing on key terms like variant, threshold, and ordeal.
The lesson also features a grammar focus on narrative tenses (Past Simple, Past Continuous, Past Perfect) for effective storytelling, practice with idioms for challenges and growth, and engaging speaking activities where students reflect on their own "hero's journeys." This material is designed to spark meaningful conversations about archetypal stories and personal development.
Activities
- A warm-up discussion where students consider the qualities of real-life heroes, share their favorite fictional heroes, and discuss whether they believe in a personal "hero's journey."
- Video comprehension questions and a fill-in-the-blanks exercise based on a TED-Ed video that breaks down the 12 stages of "The Hero's Journey."
- A vocabulary matching activity to solidify understanding of key terms from the video, such as variant, quest, threshold, ordeal, reborn, and symbolic.
- A grammar exercise focused on narrative tenses (Past Simple, Past Continuous, Past Perfect), allowing students to practice using these tenses to tell stories chronologically.
- A practical English section introducing and practicing idioms related to facing challenges and personal development, including "face your fears," "rise to the occasion," "cross the Rubicon," and "take the plunge."
- Speaking practice activities encouraging students to identify the stages of the Hero's Journey in popular culture and reflect on their own "symbolic caves" and the "treasures" they've found.
Vocabulary focus
The vocabulary section introduces essential terms for discussing epic narratives and personal journeys. Key terms include variant, quest, threshold, ordeal, reborn, and symbolic. Students will practice matching these terms to their definitions and using them correctly in context.
Grammar focus
This lesson concentrates on narrative tenses: Past Simple, Past Continuous, and Past Perfect. Students will learn and practice how to use these tenses effectively to describe sequences of events, ongoing actions, and actions that occurred before other past events, which is crucial for retelling stories and recounting personal experiences.
