Is 10,000 Steps a Day Enough?
This engaging C1 Advanced ESL lesson explores the health benefits of walking, offering students a unique opportunity to deepen their vocabulary and language skills. Students will begin by watching a captivating 5-minute video that highlights the surprising physical and mental health improvements associated with walking. Throughout the lesson, they’ll practice 8 key vocabulary terms related to walking, reflect on their own walking habits, and read about a man who embarked on a journey to walk around the world. The class also focuses on using synonyms for “walk” and includes a picture description activity to boost speaking skills. Perfect for online and offline classrooms, this lesson is ideal for students of all ages looking to enhance their language proficiency while discussing a topic that promotes well-being.
Level | Vocabulary | Video length | Lesson time |
C1 / Advanced | 8 words | 5:25 min | 60-70 min |



Vocabulary
- circumnavigate
- stroll
- brisk pace
- blood vessels
- stroke
- benchmark
- yield benefits
- greenway
Contents
- Lead-in
- Vocabulary
- Definitions
- Reading
- Video
- Comprehension questions
- Reading
- Comments
- Vocabulary practice
- Quote
- Synonyms
- Speaking
Lead-In
This advanced lesson on walking and its health benefits begins with five lead-in questions. Use as many questions as needed to start the lesson, encouraging students to share real-life examples and personal experiences for a more engaging discussion.
Vocabulary, Definitions
The vocabulary page includes eight sentences with key terms in bold. Students read the sentences and explain the bold words. If unsure about a term’s meaning, they can check the definitions on the next page. Feel free to provide additional synonyms, definitions, and examples as needed to support their understanding.
Reading, Video, Comprehension
The reading page features a short excerpt from a story in the video about a man who decided to walk around the world. Use it as a discussion prompt to encourage students to imagine creative ways the story might unfold. Then, have them watch the video on the next page carefully to find out what actually happened to him. Next, students move to the page with a video about taking 10,000 steps a day. They should take notes on key points listed, such as the physical and mental health benefits of walking, how it strengthens bones and muscles, and the role of urban design and accessibility. These notes will help them answer the five comprehension questions on the following page. Encourage students to refer to their notes, and invite them to ask their own questions to deepen the discussion.
Reading, Comments, Quote
The next reading page provides brief information about a man from Canada who decided to walk around the world in 11 years. You can discuss the images, his route, or other interesting facts mentioned on the page. This is optional but adds a nice touch to the walking story, helping students connect with the real person behind such an adventurous feat. After this, students will read five comments from the video. Encourage them to express their opinions and ask them to write their own comment. The speaking page presents a quote from the beginning of the video: “It is a great art to saunter.” Ask your students to share their thoughts on the quote, explore its meaning, and perhaps rephrase it in a more modern way.
Vocabulary practice, Synonyms
The practice page includes sentences with gaps, but no words are provided. By this point, students should be familiar with the vocabulary from the lesson, so they need to fill in the gaps with words from the video. If they’re unsure, you can encourage them to use other words that fit the context. The next page focuses on synonyms. Divide students into pairs or small groups, and have them find definitions for six synonyms of “walk.” Once they understand the meanings, they should create example sentences for each word.
Speaking
The final page features three images from the video, encouraging students to use their imagination. They must picture themselves walking through one of these locations and describe what catches their eye, what sounds fill the area, and how the atmosphere makes them feel. Students should focus on the details that stand out and share any personal experiences that shape their thoughts and mood. This is an optional activity that can be assigned as homework, and you can be flexible with how students approach it.