This B1 ESL lesson is based on the video “Is it Even a City?” from the Visit Oslo YouTube channel. It’s a funny take on promoting tourism in Oslo. In this lesson, students will talk about what makes a city great, explore exaggeration and sarcasm, and compare Oslo with other cities.
| Type | Level | Vocabulary | Video Duration | Lesson Time |
| Regular Lesson | B1 / Intermediate | 8 words | 1:46 min | 60 min |
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Vocabulary
- Available
- Exclusive
- Famous
- Prime Minister
- Worth
- Stand in line
- Temporarily
- Disgusting
Contents
- Lead-in
- Vocabulary match
- Discussion
- Video
- Questions
- Reading
- Figures of speech
- Practice
- Writing
- Debate
Lead-in, Vocabulary
In this fun ESL lesson, students start with an activity where they talk about what makes a city a great place to live. They pick three words from a list to share their thoughts on city life. Next, there’s a vocabulary match exercise. Students match words from the video about visiting Oslo to their definitions. There are 8 B1-level words in total.
Video, Comprehension
The main part of the lesson features a video. Students watch a humorous promotional clip from the Visit Oslo YouTube channel that showcases the city’s unique traits. After watching, they answer comprehension questions and do a gap-filling exercise to check their understanding.
Figures of Speech
In this section, students learn about exaggeration and sarcasm as used in the video. They practice spotting these techniques in sentences and create their own examples.
Writing, Debate
The lesson wraps up with a writing and debate activity. Students write a short, creative paragraph about their city using exaggeration and sarcasm, guided by examples. Then, they debate the pros and cons of living in different cities, using images as prompts, and respond to their classmates’ views.
This ESL lesson plan is available in Light, Dark, and A4 printable versions, making it convenient to print and distribute to students.
