Subscriptions, subscriptions everywhere!

Summary

This 90-minute ESL lesson for B2 learners explores Subscriptions Everywhere! Clean Up Those Forgotten Monthly Fees | WSJ through a real video. Across 11 interactive exercises, you'll develop listening comprehension, vocabulary, practical communication, speaking skills — all built around authentic English content.

What you'll practise:

• 5 key vocabulary items with definitions and usage notes
• Real-world phrases for discussing managing personal subscriptions and expenses with friends or family
• Gap-fill and cloze exercises to test vocabulary in context
• Matching exercise to connect terms with their meanings
• A reading passage to practise newly learned language

Lesson activities (11 exercises)

Each exercise builds on the previous one. Work through them in order for the best learning experience.

1. Warm-up — Discussion questions to activate what you already know about the topic.
2. Watch — Watch the video and note the main arguments and examples.
3. Comprehension — Answer questions to check your understanding of the main ideas and supporting details.
4. True / False — Test your detailed understanding — decide if each statement matches the source.
5. Vocabulary — Learn key words and expressions from the video, with definitions and usage notes.
6. Matching — Connect words, phrases, or concepts to their correct counterparts.
7. Practical English — Learn phrases for discussing managing personal subscriptions and expenses with friends or family — ready to use in real conversations.
8. Fill the gaps — Complete sentences with the correct vocabulary.
9. Reading — Read a short passage on the topic and answer comprehension questions.
10. Multiple choice — Choose the correct answer from four options.
11. Discussion — Reflect on the topic and share your opinions using the language you've learned.

Vocabulary

This lesson introduces 5 key terms drawn directly from the video:

• recurring revenue — income that a company expects to receive regularly over time, usually monthly or yearly.
• get out of hand — to become difficult to control or manage.
• subscription fatigue — the feeling of being overwhelmed or annoyed by having too many subscriptions, leading to a desire to cancel some of them.
• fall into the trap of (doing something) — to be tricked or misled into a difficult or undesirable situation, often by making a common mistake.
• streamline your expenses — to make your spending more efficient and organized, often by reducing unnecessary costs or simplifying your financial processes.

Grammar

This lesson includes a grammar focus with clear explanations and practice exercises.

Practical English

Discussing managing personal subscriptions and expenses with friends or family

The video highlights how easy it is to accumulate many subscriptions. These phrases will help you discuss your own subscription habits, express concerns, and share strategies for managing your monthly expenses with others.

Phrases you'll learn:

• "My subscriptions are really starting to get out of hand." — Expressing that you have too many subscriptions and they are becoming difficult to manage.
• "I'm definitely feeling a bit of subscription fatigue lately." — Describing the feeling of being tired or overwhelmed by having too many subscriptions to manage.
• "It's so easy to fall into the trap of signing up for things you don't really need." — Acknowledging a common mistake of accumulating unnecessary subscriptions.
• "I'm trying to streamline my expenses by reviewing all my monthly payments." — Stating your intention to make your spending more efficient and organized, especially regarding recurring costs.
• "Have you found a good way to keep track of all your recurring payments?" — Asking for advice or strategies on how to monitor and manage regular bills and subscriptions.