Instant Academic English  Lessons

instant academic English lessons

What is an ‘instant lesson’?

Instant lessons are for the busy EAP teacher to pick up and go. They are designed around a specific topic and include all key skills.

  • Time: 1-2 hours of content (activities can be extended or shortened easily).

  • Level: B1 (intermediate) – C1 (advanced) or IELTS 5 – 7.5.

  • All four skills included in one lesson (reading, listening, speaking, writing).

  • Listenings included MP3 &/or video (with PPT).

  • Minimal planning – just download and go.

  • Interesting topics based around credible sources.

  • Challenging and highly motivating.

  • Go here: example

Instant lesson Explanation Video 

Instant lesson –  a video presentation of our instant lesson booklets.

Instant Lesson Topics

INSTANT LESSONS 1

Instant lesson 1: cruises

Instant lesson: cruises (new for 2021)

This instant lesson includes an introduction, a reading text (& comprehension questions), a 4-minute lecture listening (& comprehension questions), a speaking discussion (based on the two texts) and a paragraph writing exercise. Worksheet Example  Webpage Link Time: 1-2 hours.  Level ***** [B1/B2/C1]  Video [04.15] MP3 / TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

What’s the cruise reading text about?

Cruise Ships: discover the world in luxury

  The 400-word text discusses how the cruise industry has reinvented itself over the last two decades and as a consequence has become incredibly successful. It provides key data on the biggest businesses in the industry and highlights that the Caribbean is the most popular cruise destination. It finishes with explaining why cruise holidays are so saleable. The reading test worksheet includes: headings/ T,F,NG / vocabulary. 

 

What’s the cruise lecture listening about? 

 

Cruise holidays – the biggest cruise ship in the world

The 4-minute lecture focuses on the largest cruise ship in the world ‘The Symphony of the Seas’. The lecturer provides facts and figures about the ship including size, staterooms, crew and features. He then illustrates the true cost of the ticket with many of the hidden costs not included in the ‘all-inclusive price’. It finishes with a summary about the popularity of cruising. The listening test worksheet includes: table completion / summary gap fill / vocabulary. 

Instant lesson 2: charities

Instant lesson: charities (new for 2021)

This instant lesson includes an introduction, a reading text (& comprehension questions), a 4-minute lecture listening (& comprehension questions), a speaking discussion (based on the two texts) and a paragraph writing exercise. Worksheet Example  Time: 1-2 hours.  Level ***** [B1/B2/C1]  Video [03.31] MP3TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

 

What’s the charity reading text about?

Charity: a brief overview

The 400-word text discusses the first charity and how many charities there are now.  It provides information on the top three most popular charity types in the UK and their annual income revenue in 2020.  It discusses how charities raise money and the importance of volunteers. The reading test worksheet includes: headings/ T,F,NG/ vocabulary. 

 

What’s the charity lecture listening about?

Charities – The National Trust

The 3.35-minute lecture focuses on Europe’s biggest conservation charity ‘The National Trust’. The lecturer provides information on how it started, the property and land that they own and the cost of conservation. He then discusses the National Trust’s annual income using their 2019/2020 annual report and highlights the diverse range of employment within the organisation. The listening test worksheet includes: open questions / summary gap fill completion / /vocabulary

Instant lesson 3: electric cars

Instant lesson: electric cars (new for 2021)

This instant lesson includes an introduction, a reading text (& comprehension questions), a 4-minute lecture listening (& comprehension questions), a speaking discussion (based on the two texts) and a paragraph writing exercise. Worksheet Example  Time: 1-2 hours.  Level ***** [B1/B2/C1]  Video [04.12] MP3 / TEACHER MEMBERSHIP INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

 

What’s the electric cars reading text about?

The Electric Car Revolution

The 400-word text discusses the dramatic growth of the electric car market in the last few years because of the UK government’s future ban on petrol and diesel cars. It provides information on the different types of electric cars available and their green environmental credentials.  It finishes with public perceived barriers and how these issues are being addressed. The reading test includes headings / T,F,NG / vocabulary

 

What’s the electric cars lecture listening about?

Electric cars – a comparison of two e-cars

The 4-minute lecture focuses on the recent facts and figures connected to the growth of electric car market. The lecturer compares the top two most popular models of EV in the UK at the moment. He then asks the question on whether the UK is ready for the electric car revolution and what needs to be done to meet this goal. The listening test includes open questions & table completion

Instant lesson 4: single use plastics

Instant lesson: single use plastics (SUPs) (new for 2021)

This instant lesson includes an introduction, a reading text (& comprehension questions), a 4-minute lecture listening (& comprehension questions), a speaking discussion (based on the two texts) and a paragraph writing exercise. Worksheet Example  Time: 1-2 hours.  Level ***** [B1/B2/C1]  Video [04.12] MP3 / TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

 

What’s the single use plastic reading text about?

The environmental price of single use plastics

The 400-word text defines single use plastics (SUPs) and highlights their devastating impact on the environment. It discusses how they break up in the natural environment into micro and nano plastics. It provides evidence on how they are harmful to human health and this is exacerbated through recent research discovering micro plastics in our drinking water systems. It finishes with a range of suggestions necessary to deal with the problem. The reading test includes: headings / T,F,NG / vocabulary.

 

What’s the single use plastics lecture listening about?

Single use plastics – bio-plastic the alternative?

The 4-minute lecture focuses on the recent facts and figures connected to single use micro plastic pollution. The lecturer presents bioplastic as a possible alternative and analyses the company Vegware: plant-based compostable plastics. He discusses the process of creating bioplastic through the use of corn starch – polylactic acid. He questions whether bioplastic is a valid environmental alternative for SUPs and concludes by suggesting other measures that would be more successful. The listening test includes: open questions,  table completion and summary gap fill.

Instant lesson 5: biohacking

Instant lesson: biohacking (new for 2021)

This instant lesson includes an introduction, a reading text (& comprehension questions), a 4-minute lecture listening (& comprehension questions), a speaking discussion (based on the two texts) and a paragraph writing exercise. Worksheet Example  Time: 1-2 hours.  Level ***** [B1/B2/C1]  Video [03:40] MP3 / TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

 

What’s the biohacking reading text about?

The biohacking movement

The 400-word text starts by defining what biohacking is and explains who biohackers are and what they are trying to achieve. It provides information about the first biohacking facility and the treatments on offer. It then illustrates the most extreme and controversial treatments available. It finishes with explaining the future of biohacking.The reading test includes: headings / T,F,NG / vocabulary.

 

What’s the biohacking lecture listening about?

 Cybernetic Organisms

The 3:40 minute lecture starts by defining cybernetic organisms and gives some examples of restorative medical procedures that are currently being offered. It then provides information about enhanced procedures that will be available in the near future. It finishes with a discussion about the ethical issues of cybernetic organisms. The listening test includes: gap fill exercises, open questions and multiple choice. 

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INSTANT LESSONS 2

Instant lesson 6: COVID-19

Instant lesson: COVID-19 pandemic (new for 2021)

This instant lesson includes an introduction, a reading text (& comprehension questions), a 4-minute lecture listening (& comprehension questions), a speaking discussion (based on the two texts) and a paragraph writing exercise. Worksheet Example  Time: 1-2 hours.  Level ***** [B1/B2/C1]  Video [04.20] MP3 / TEACHER MEMBERSHIP INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

 

What’s the COVID-19 reading text about?

COVID-19: can it be controlled?

The 400-word text defines COVID 19 and highlights the key symptoms associated with the virus. It discusses the possible origins of the virus as zoonotic and a possible conspiracy theory of a laboratory leak. It describes how countries responded to the pandemic using lockdowns and finishes by discussing the key vaccines being used to control the virus. The reading test includes: headings / T,F,NG / vocabulary.

 

What’s the COVID-19 lecture listening about?

The COVID-19 Pandemic

The 4-minute lecture starts with an introduction to COVID-19 and its possible origins. The lecturer provides a basic description of how COVID-19 infects the body by preventing the interferons from recognizing it is a danger. He then discusses how the virus mutates and provides two examples of a UK and South African variant. The lecture also highlights how the virus spreads and its longevity in the air and on surface. The listening test includes: open questions, table completion and summary gap fill.

Instant lesson 7: zero waste

Instant lesson: zero waste movement (new for 2021)

This instant lesson includes an introduction, a reading text (& comprehension questions), a 4-minute lecture listening (& comprehension questions), a speaking discussion (based on the two texts) and a paragraph writing exercise. Worksheet Example  Time: 1-2 hours.  Level ***** [B1/B2/C1]  Video [03.23] MP3 / TEACHER MEMBERSHIP INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

What’s the zero waste reading text about?

The zero waste movement.

The 400-word text discusses the issue with landfill sites and explains that some people are eliminating waste from their lives. It provides information about the zero waste movement and the strategies that people can use to make the change. It finishes with examples of large companies who have reduced their waste significantly and small companies who are completely zero waste. The reading test includes: headings / T,F,NG / vocabulary.

What’s the zero waste shop lecture listening about?

The rise in zero waste shops

The 3.23-minute lecture discusses the issue with waste and explains what zero waste shops are and why people have set them up. It illustrates the benefits of zero waste shops and also explains the criticisms. It finishes with a range of questions that the lecturer proposes and attempts to answer about zero waste shops. The listening test includes: open questions & gap fill exercises.

Instant lesson 8: Fast Fashion

Instant lesson: fast fashion (new for 2021)

This instant lesson includes an introduction, a reading text (& comprehension questions), a 4-minute lecture listening (& comprehension questions), a speaking discussion (based on the two texts) and a paragraph writing exercise. Worksheet Example  Time: 1-2 hours.  Level ***** [B1/B2/C1]  Video [04.35] MP3 / TEACHER MEMBERSHIP INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

What’s the fast fashion reading text about?

Fast Fashion: the pros and cons

The 400-word text discusses what is fast fashion and what kind of shoppers it attracts (self and social consumers). It provides information about the production of clothing lines and how quickly a clothing store can turn around a new product from design to shop floor. It finishes by examining the darker side to the industry through unethical labour practices, the pollution to the environment and consumer waste. The reading test includes: headings / T,F,NG / vocabulary.

What’s the fast fashion lecture listening about?

The true price of fast fashion

The 4.35-minute lecture discusses what fast fashion is and its purpose. It focuses on three serious environment impacts caused by the fast fashion industry. 1) materials 2) manufacturing 3) waste. The lecture provides examples and data to support the claims. It finishes by suggesting that we (the consumers) are the problem and we should support companies that follow a circular economic model. The listening test includes: open questions, table completion, multiple choice & gap fill exercises.

Instant lesson 9: Fintech

Instant lesson: fintech (new for 2021)

This instant lesson includes an introduction, a reading text (& comprehension questions), a 4-minute lecture listening (& comprehension questions), a speaking discussion (based on the two texts) and a paragraph writing exercise. Worksheet Example  Time: 1-2 hours.  Level ***** [B1/B2/C1]  Video [04.05] MP3 / TEACHER MEMBERSHIP INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

 

What’s the Fintech reading text about?

Fintech: how technology is changing financial services

The 400-word text defines Fintech and explains how Fintech is changing the financial landscape. It illustrates some of the Fintech services and finishes with illustrating the drawbacks for the people with no access to the technology that Fintech relies on. The reading test includesheadings / T,F,NG / vocabulary.

 

What’s the Fintech lecture listening about?

Fintech: payment systems (PayPal & Stripe)

The 4-minute lecture explains what Fintech is and illustrates some the Fintech services, paying particular attention to payment systems. It compares two of the biggest payment services: PayPal and Stripe in terms of finances, users and security. It finishes with deciding which one is a better system. The listening test includes: gap fill exercises, open questions and multiple choice.

Instant lesson 10: Mental Health

Instant lesson: mental health (mindfulness-based cognitive therapy) (new for 2021)

This instant lesson includes an introduction, a reading text (& comprehension questions), a 4-minute lecture listening (& comprehension questions), a speaking discussion (based on the two texts) and a paragraph writing exercise. Worksheet Example  Time: 1-2 hours.  Level ***** [B1/B2/C1]  Video [03.48] MP3 / TEACHER MEMBERSHIP INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

 

What’s the mental health reading text about?

Mental health: a brief overview  

The 400-word text starts by explaining the changes to mental health over the last 70 years. It then provides information about the two most common types of mental disorders and includes some important statistics on how many people suffer from each type of illness. It finishes with an explanation of the different treatments on offer. The reading test includesheadings / T,F,NG / vocabulary.

 

What’s the mental health lecture listening about?

Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy [MBCT]

The 3.52-minute lecture starts by providing some important statistics connected to mental health: number of people affected, causes, demographics and economic costs. It then defines MBCT, mindfulness and cognitive based therapy and explains how they work. It finishes by looking at briefly at the success rates of this treatment. The listening test includes:  gap-fill exercises, open questions & multiple choice.

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