Teachers, are you looking for a fresh, conversation-starting ESL lesson for your B2 adult learners? This plan uses the trailer for the upcoming romantic comedy-drama, 'Materialists' (2025), to spark discussions on modern relationships, societal expectations, and the age-old question of what truly makes a relationship last. It's designed to be interactive, engaging, and to hone crucial speaking and listening skills while promoting critical thinking.

Lesson Overview

This lesson plan is built around the 'Materialists' movie trailer, providing a contemporary hook for discussing dating, matchmaking, and the complexities of finding a life partner. It incorporates a variety of activities to keep your students engaged, from initial trailer reactions to structured vocabulary building and a spirited class debate.

Target Audience & Skills

Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
Age: Adults
Skills Focus: Speaking, Listening, Vocabulary, Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking

Materials Needed

Internet access to play the 'Materialists' movie trailer (ensure it's accessible prior to the lesson).
Whiteboard or projector
Handouts for vocabulary matching, True/False statements, and gap-fill exercises (prepared by the teacher).

Lesson Procedure

1. Warm-up: Setting the Stage (10-15 minutes)

Begin by getting your students thinking about relationships. Pose the following questions and have them discuss in pairs or small groups:

What do you think are the most important qualities in a romantic partner?
How has the way people date changed in recent years?
What are some common challenges people face when trying to find a partner?

2. Trailer Engagement: First Impressions (10 minutes)

Introduce the film 'Materialists' and play the trailer. After watching, facilitate a brief whole-class discussion with questions like:

What is your initial impression of the film?
What do you think the main themes of the movie will be?
What kind of characters do you expect to see?

3. Vocabulary & Comprehension Boost (20-25 minutes)

Activity A: Word Association

Provide a list of key vocabulary words and phrases from the context of dating and relationships. Have students match them to their definitions. This can be done individually or in pairs.

Activity B: True or False?

Present a short description of the film's premise (based on trailer information or a synopsis). Students read this and then decide whether accompanying statements are true or false. This tests their reading comprehension and ability to infer meaning.

Activity C: Gap Fill for Deeper Understanding

Prepare a short text related to the film's themes or a synopsis with key words removed. Students fill in the gaps using the vocabulary they've just learned or from a word bank. Follow this with small group discussions based on questions related to the text and the trailer.

4. The Grand Debate: Material Success vs. Emotional Connection (25-30 minutes)

This is the highlight of the lesson. Divide the class into two main groups: one arguing that material success is more important in a relationship, and the other arguing that emotional connection is paramount. Provide students with a few minutes to prepare their arguments within their groups. Facilitate a structured class debate, ensuring respectful discourse and encouraging students to use the newly acquired vocabulary.

5. Wrap-up & Reflection (5 minutes)

Briefly recap the main points discussed during the debate. Ask students to reflect on what they learned about the topic and their own opinions. You could also assign a brief writing task for homework, such as writing a short paragraph arguing for their preferred side of the debate.

Materialists: Debating the Perfect Relationship - An Engaging B2 ESL Lesson Plan