Reflecting on past decisions: expressing wishes and regrets

Summary

This 90-minute ESL lesson for B2 learners explores Reflecting on past decisions: expressing wishes and regrets through a real audio recording. Across 9 interactive exercises, you'll develop listening comprehension, vocabulary, speaking skills — all built around authentic English content.

What you'll practise:

• 5 key vocabulary items with definitions and usage notes
• Gap-fill and cloze exercises to test vocabulary in context
• Matching exercise to connect terms with their meanings
• A reading passage to practise newly learned language

Lesson activities (9 exercises)

Each exercise builds on the previous one. Work through them in order for the best learning experience.

1. Warm-up — Discussion questions to activate what you already know about the topic.
2. Reading — Read a short passage on the topic and answer comprehension questions.
3. Comprehension — Answer questions to check your understanding of the main ideas and supporting details.
4. Vocabulary — Learn key words and expressions from the audio recording, with definitions and usage notes.
5. True / False — Test your detailed understanding — decide if each statement matches the source.
6. Fill the gaps — Complete sentences with the correct vocabulary. Drag and drop or type your answers.
7. Multiple choice — Choose the correct answer from four options — testing comprehension and language use.
8. Matching — Connect words, phrases, or concepts to their correct counterparts.
9. Discussion — Reflect on the topic and share your opinions using the language you've learned.

Vocabulary

This lesson introduces 5 key terms drawn directly from the audio recording:

• In hindsight — looking back at a situation and understanding it more clearly than you did at the time
• A steep learning curve — a period when you have to learn a lot of new information or skills very quickly
• To bite the bullet — to make a difficult or unpleasant decision that you have been avoiding
• To weigh the pros and cons — to carefully consider the advantages and disadvantages of a situation before making a choice
• To kick oneself for (doing) something — to feel very annoyed with yourself for missing an opportunity or making a mistake

Grammar

This lesson includes a grammar focus with clear explanations and practice exercises.