C1 – Are You a Victim of Brainrot?

The article-based ESL lesson for advanced students discusses the concept of “brainrot,” a term describing the effects of excessive internet use on mental clarity and communication skills. It highlights how internet slang and constant digital engagement can lead to a form of cognitive distortion, making users more obsessed with online content and less effective in real-life interactions.

Lead-in, Internet Slang

The lesson starts with an activity where students express their opinions and answer questions about their internet habits. They then quickly scan a paragraph written in exaggerated Gen Z / brainrot slang (e.g., mewing, cringe, mogging, skibidi, rizz, gyatt, grimace shake, gooning, edging, etc) and try to interpret its meaning. Students share their thoughts on internet slang and its significance in language.

Vocabulary, Article, Comprehension

Students first preview vocabulary by discussing words they already know and reviewing new terms on the next page. They read an article about brainrot and its impact, followed by a discussion of comprehension questions to deepen their understanding.

Practice, Discussion, AI story

In the practice section, students match sentence parts related to brainrot from the article. They then participate in a discussion activity where they agree or disagree with controversial statements about brainrot and social media, exploring how these topics influence modern life. Next, students create compound words similar to “brainrot” (e.g., hatewatch, oversharing, doomscrolling) individually or in groups. The lesson concludes with a fun activity where students use a chatbot to craft a story filled with brainrot slang, which can also be assigned as homework.

This C1 ESL lesson plan is available in Light, Dark, and A4 printable versions, making it convenient to print and distribute to students.