Introduction
The “Around the World in Eighty Days” ESL lesson plan is an engaging and educational topic that captivates students’ interest while improving their English language skills. This lesson plan introduces students to key themes and vocabulary related to travel, geography, and cultural diversity. Through this lesson, students will have the opportunity to expand their English language proficiency while exploring the adventurous journey of Phileas Fogg around the world. The ESL lesson plan aims to cultivate students’ reading, listening, and speaking abilities within a context that is both informative and exciting.
Vocabulary Building
Vocab
Vocab |
Definition |
|---|---|
Expedition |
A journey or voyage undertaken for a specific purpose. |
Itinerary |
A detailed plan for a journey, including a list of places to visit and the schedule. |
Circumnavigate |
To travel all the way around something, typically the world. |
Adventure |
An exciting or unusual experience that involves risks and challenges. |
Fascinating |
Extremely interesting or captivating in an attractive way |
Contextual Usage
1. Phileas Fogg embarked on an exciting **expedition** around the world to win a bet.
2. The travelers carefully planned their **itinerary** to ensure they visited all the major landmarks within eighty days.
3. The goal was to **circumnavigate** the globe as quickly as possible.
4. Their journey was full of thrilling **adventures** and unexpected encounters.
5. The students found the story absolutely **fascinating**, eagerly discussing Phileas Fogg’s daring endeavors around the world.
ESL Warm-up Activity
To kick off the ESL lesson on “Around the World in Eighty Days,” start with an interactive warm-up activity. Have students imagine themselves as explorers planning their own around-the-world adventure. Provide them with a list of cities and landmarks around the world, and ask them to create an itinerary for their journey in English. Encourage them to use vocabulary related to travel, such as “expedition,” “itinerary,” and “adventure,” while discussing their plans with classmates. This activity not only captures students’ attention but also sets the tone for the upcoming lesson by immersing them in vocabulary and themes relevant to Phileas Fogg’s adventurous expedition.
Main ESL Lesson Activities
Vocabulary Activity: “Travel Journal”
To reinforce vocabulary related to travel, have students imagine themselves as modern-day explorers. Ask them to create a travel journal entry in English describing a fictional journey around the world. Encourage them to incorporate the lesson’s key terms such as “itinerary,” “adventure,” and “fascinating” into their writing.
Listening Activity: “Around the World Podcast”
Divide the students into pairs and provide them with a podcast or audio clip about global travel or adventurous journeys. After listening, encourage them to discuss the most captivating parts of the story and share how it relates to Phileas Fogg’s expedition. This activity enhances listening skills while fostering group discussion.
Roleplay Activity: “Travel Agency Simulation”
Organize a roleplay activity where students act as travel agents and customers. Students can practice using vocabulary related to planning a trip by suggesting destinations, creating itineraries, and discussing adventurous activities with their classmates. This hands-on exercise encourages pair work and facilitates practical application of vocabulary.
Reading and Writing Activity: “Destination Brochure”
In this activity, have students choose a real or fictional destination around the world and create a promotional brochure in English. They should emphasize exciting activities, attractions, and unique experiences using descriptive language learned from the lesson. This activity provides an opportunity for creative expression through writing while reinforcing comprehension of vocabulary concepts.
ESL Homework Assignment
For homework, students are encouraged to continue their exploration of the lesson’s themes and vocabulary. Assign the following tasks:
1. Research and write a short essay on an adventurous journey or travel experience, using at least five new vocabulary words from the lesson.
2. Listen to a travel-related podcast or watch a documentary in English, then summarize the key points and discuss its relevance to “Around the World in Eighty Days” in a written reflection.
3. Create a fictional travel itinerary for an around-the-world trip, including at least five different destinations and descriptions of unique experiences at each location.
These assignments aim to reinforce lesson content while providing opportunities for independent learning and creative expression outside of the classroom.
Conclusion
Summary
In summary, the “Around the World in Eighty Days” ESL lesson plan delves into vocabulary related to travel and adventure, provides engaging activities that enhance listening, writing, and speaking skills, and encourages students to explore the world through language.
Reflective Prompt
As students reflect on their learning experience with this lesson plan, they are prompted to consider how the acquired vocabulary can be applied in real-world scenarios such as planning trips, describing experiences, and engaging in discussions about global exploration. This application of language not only reinforces their understanding but also nurtures their language development within a culturally rich context.
Why this topic is great for ESL learning
Engaging and Relevant Content
The “Around the World in Eighty Days” ESL lesson plan offers students a captivating and relevant topic for their language learning journey. The adventure-filled story of Phileas Fogg’s quest around the world not only sparks students’ curiosity but also provides them with an opportunity to explore vocabulary related to travel, geography, and cultural diversity.
Cultural Awareness
This ESL lesson plan encourages students to expand their knowledge of different countries, landmarks, and customs through engaging activities. By exploring diverse cultures and discussing global adventures, students gain a deeper appreciation for cultural differences and foster a sense of global citizenship.
Language Acquisition
By incorporating key terms related to travel into various activities, this lesson plan facilitates vocabulary acquisition. Students practice using these terms in context through speaking exercises, writing assignments, or role-playing scenarios. Additionally, listening activities help improve comprehension skills while building familiarity with common English expressions in travel-related contexts.
Real-world Application
The “Around the World in Eighty Days” ESL lesson plan provides valuable language skills that can be applied beyond the classroom walls. Whether it is planning an itinerary for personal travels or engaging in conversations about different countries and experiences from around the world, students are equipped with practical language abilities that prepare them for real-life situations.
Cross-curricular Integration
This topic lends itself well to integration with other subjects such as geography or history. By incorporating cross-curricular elements into the ESL lessons, students develop a holistic understanding of various subjects while building their English language skills.
This unique combination of engagement, cultural awareness, language acquisition opportunities,
real-world application,
and interdisciplinary connections makes “Around the World in Eighty Days” an excellent choice for ESL learning.
