How Dating Has Changed
This B1 lesson explores how dating has changed through three short videos contrasting past and present approaches. Students learn vocabulary like “approach,” “make eye contact,” and “quality time,” then discuss whether man approaching woman at diner or sending “here” text shows more effort. The activities include agree/disagree statements, true/false comprehension, matching sentence halves, retelling stories using new vocabulary, and two-minute speaking topics about romantic gestures.
Lesson overview
- Practice dating vocabulary including romantic gestures, communication methods, and relationship quality
- Watch three videos showing past dates with flowers and conversations versus modern low-effort texting
- Build sentence construction by matching halves using vocabulary like “dressed up” and “stare at screen”
- Develop storytelling skills by retelling each video scenario using lesson vocabulary naturally
Student's Version (Light/Dark)
Teacher's Version (Answer Keys)
Printable Classroom Version (A4)
| Level | Vocabulary | Video Length | Lesson Time |
| B1 / Intermediate | 18 words | 0:27, 0:22, 0:20 min | 60 min |
Vocabulary
- diner
- make eye contact
- approach
- compliment
- note
- swipe
- pull up
- bouquet
- gorgeous
- dressed up
- low effort
- text
- quality time
- hold hands
- enjoy the moment
- admire the view
- stare at the screen
- ignore
Contents
- Agree or disagree
- Vocabulary 1
- Video 1
- Vocabulary 2
- Video 2
- Vocabulary 3
- Video 3
- Comments
- Your comment
- Storytelling
- Practice
- Discussion
- Wrap up
Start with eight agree/disagree statements about coffee versus dinner dates, workplace dating, age differences, and whether past dating was more romantic. Students take positions and defend them. The first vocabulary section matches six words to pictures: diner, make eye contact, approach, give compliment, note, and swipe.
The first video runs 27 seconds showing a man approaching a woman at a diner, making eye contact, giving a compliment, and receiving her phone number on a note versus modern swiping on apps. Students discuss five questions about where he is, what he does, how she responds, and which method they prefer. The second vocabulary set teaches “pull up,” “bouquet,” “gorgeous,” “dressed up,” “low effort,” and “text.”
The second video runs 22 seconds contrasting a man bringing flowers, knocking on the door, and complimenting her appearance versus pulling up outside and texting “here” without getting out. Students complete seven true/false statements testing details like whether he brings chocolates, knocks on the door, or gets out of the car. The third vocabulary section teaches “quality time,” “hold hands,” “enjoy the moment,” “admire the view,” “stare at screen,” and “ignore” through multiple-choice definitions.
The third video runs 20 seconds showing a couple spending quality time together, holding hands, admiring sunset views versus sitting together but ignoring each other while staring at screens. Students complete eight sentence starters expressing opinions about what dates mean, how technology affects connection, and what the best kind of date is.
Comments show mixed reactions from “we need to go back to that” to “it’s simply the choices we make” rather than old versus new. Students write their own 2-3 sentence comments responding to the videos. The storytelling section shows screenshots from all three videos. Students retell each story using vocabulary learned. Practice provides ten sentence halves to match using phrases like “approach her,” “give compliment,” “pulled up outside,” “dressed up,” “quality time,” and “staring at screen.”
Discussion questions personalize vocabulary by asking when someone last gave them a compliment, whether making eye contact is easier than starting online conversations, and what quality time means to them. The wrap-up offers six two-minute speaking topics including how parents met, embarrassing date stories, ideal first dates, and technology’s role in relationships.
