TEFL.net—because you teach English

Talking Point Lesson Plans

A range of discussion-based PDF lesson plans by Liz Regan - all available for free download. Each lesson plan is accompanied by handy teacher's notes with answers.

You can use these lesson plans in conjunction with the EnglishClub Talking Point Discussion and Talking Point Homework forums.

Your students can easily find these from the TALKING POINT links on the EnglishClub.com homepage.

There are MORE Talking Point lesson plans in the Talking Point Lesson Plans Archive!

TP Worksheet – Mines
Liz Regan
An interesting lesson topic which provides students with the opportunity to explore the various meanings of the word “mine”. Students meet words and phrases such as “a goldmine”, “a mine of information”, “miner” and “landmine” in a gap-fill exercise before

TP Worksheet – Up in Arms?
Liz Regan
A lesson based on the topic of the army. Students discuss questions such as “What qualities does a good soldier need?” and “Is it a good idea to use soldiers in a peace-keeping role?” A gap-fill activity introduces students to related phrases like “to soldier on” and

TP Worksheet – Floods
Liz Regan
A lesson on the recurrent global theme of floods. First the students deal with the pronunciation of ‘oo’ in words such as ‘look’, ‘food, and ‘flood’. Students then build their vocabulary through a gap-fill exercise including words and phrases like ‘to burst into floods of tears’ and ‘waterlogged’. Students then have

TP Worksheet – Jabbering About Jabs!
Liz Regan
A lesson on the little-covered global topic of “Jabs” and associated words and phrases (e.g vaccination). Students discuss questions such as “Do you know anyone who is scared of needles?” in a fluency activity before moving on to discover expressions and idioms connected with the topic. For example, “to inoculate” and “booster shot”.

TP Worksheet – Oil
Liz Regan
A lesson on Oil and associated words and phrases (e.g oil spill). Students discuss questions such as “What can be done to discourage people from relying so much on fossil fuels like petroleum?” in a fluency activity before moving on to discover expressions and idioms connected with the words “oil” and “grease”. For example, “to […]

TP Worksheet – On Balance!
Liz Regan
A lesson on the unusual, but universal, subject of balance. Students discuss questions such as “Do you think children have a better sense of balance than adults?” in a fluency activity before moving on to discover expressions and idioms connected with the word “balance”. For example, “bank balance”. Practice of these phrases is

TP Worksheet – Flags
Liz Regan
A lesson on the little-covered topic of “Flags” and associated words and phrases (e.g banner). Students discuss questions such as “What do the colours in your national flag represent?” in a fluency activity before moving on to discover expressions and idioms connected with the word “flag”.

TP Worksheet – This is Blinding!
Liz Regan
A lesson on Blindness which is “blinding”! Students discuss questions such as “Can you think of any famous people who are/were blind?” in a fluency activity before moving on to discover expressions and idioms connected with the word “blind”. For example, “as blind as a bat” and “to be blind drunk”.

TP Worksheet – The Eyes Have It!
Liz Regan
Get your students talking about eyesight in general and their own eyes in particular with discussion questions such as, “Whose eyes have you got – your mother’s or your father’s?” and “Which eye do you wink best with?” before moving to complete a gap-fill exercise.

TP Worksheet – What a Relief?
Liz Regan
An up-to-date lesson about relief efforts in disaster zones. Students are introduced to useful topic-related phrases such as “trapped under rubble”. They discuss questions such as “What difficulties are there in organising an international relief effort in a

TP Worksheet – Pack it In!
Liz Regan
A topical lesson on the subject of packaging. Students discuss questions such as “How could people be encouraged to recycle more packaging?” before moving on to a gap-fill exercise which enables them to practise using related words and phrases.

TP Worksheet – Food, Glorious Food!
Liz Regan
This lesson discusses various aspects of food and the lack of it. Students discuss questions such as “What are the advantages and disadvantages of buying food in street markets instead of supermarkets?” They then discuss some traditional sayings such as “You can’t have your cake and

TP Worksheet – Too Hot to Handle
Liz Regan
A lesson dealing with the subject of controversial discussion topics in the classroom. Students discuss questions such as ‘How acceptable is it in your culture to express your opinion in public?’ before moving on to decide which topics might be considered controversial in English language classes around the world.

TP Worksheet – Poverty
Liz Regan
A truly global topic for discussion – students will have a lot to say about this. Fluency is practised in Activity 1 with stimulating questions. Vocabulary is expanded in a gap-fill exercise and students’ general knowledge is tested in a true or false quiz. Fluency is further generated through questions such as

TP Worksheet – Wealth
Liz Regan
A topic close to everyone’s heart! Students practise their fluency in Activity 1 with personalized questions about being rich before exploring the different meanings of the word “rich” in a variety of contexts.

TP Worksheet – Education
Liz Regan
A lesson to get everyone talking! Students practise their past tenses in Activity 1, reminiscing about their school-days, before moving on to a gap-fill exercise based on words built from “education”. The last activity stimulates further discussion, this time of a more general nature, including

TP Worksheet – Adoption
Liz Regan
A stimulating conversation lesson on a controversial topic. Words built from the base word “adopt” are practised in a gap-fill exercise and fluency is encouraged through demanding discussion questions such as: “Should same-sex couples be allowed to adopt children? What is the right age to tell a child

TP Worksheet – Recession
Liz Regan
A lesson that will definitely get your students talking! First, the difference between “economic” and “economical” is clarified and practised. Then your students meet new vocabulary (such as “quantitative easing”). Finally, fluency is encouraged through

TP Worksheet – Bullying
Liz Regan
A stimulating lesson on a serious subject. Explore the vocabulary of words beginning with “bull” (from bullseye to bulldozer) before practising them in a question and answer activity.

TP Worksheet – Fire Away!
Liz Regan
Fire up your students with this red-hot lesson! Explore the various meanings of the verb “to fire” before moving on to complete a gap-fill exercise with topic-related words and expressions.

TP Worksheet – Bees
Liz Regan
A surprisingly topical lesson on an undeniably global issue. Topic-related phrases and idiomatic expressions are introduced in a gap-fill exercise and practised in a question and answer activity.

TP Worksheet – Rats
Liz Regan
An unusual topic for a lesson, but nevertheless, a global issue. Topic-related phrases and idiomatic expressions are introduced in a gap-fill exercise and practised in conversation.

TP Worksheet – Phobias
Liz Regan
An unusual but stimulating topic of conversation – everyone will have something to say about this. Students match the phobias with their definitions before revising the difference between adjectives such as “frightened/frightening”.

TP Worksheet – Flower Power
Liz Regan
An unusual lesson on a global topic which gives students the chance to develop their fluency skills. Students discuss questions such as “Can you think of any edible flowers? Are flowers often used in dishes in your country?” and “What is the difference between

There are MORE Talking Point lesson plans in the Talking Point Lesson Plans Archive!