Work-life balance: critiquing social policies and proposing solutions

Summary

This 90-minute ESL lesson for C1 learners explores Work-life balance: critiquing social policies and proposing solutions through a real video. Across 9 interactive exercises, you'll develop listening comprehension, vocabulary, speaking skills — all built around authentic English content.

What you'll practise:

• 5 key vocabulary items with definitions and usage notes
• Gap-fill and cloze exercises to test vocabulary in context
• Matching exercise to connect terms with their meanings

Lesson activities (9 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. Vocabulary — Learn key words and expressions from the video, with definitions and usage notes.
5. True / False — Test your detailed understanding — decide if each statement matches the source.
6. Fill the gaps — Complete sentences with the correct vocabulary. Drag and drop or type your answers.
7. Multiple choice — Choose the correct answer from four options — testing comprehension and language use.
8. Matching — Connect words, phrases, or concepts to their correct counterparts.
9. 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:

• To be stretched thin — to have so many responsibilities or tasks that you lack the time or energy to handle them effectively.
• Statutory entitlement — a right to a benefit, such as paid leave or sick pay, that is guaranteed by law.
• The mental load — the invisible, cognitive, and emotional work involved in managing a household and family, which often falls disproportionately on one person.
• To fall through the cracks — to be overlooked or missed by a system that is supposed to provide support or care.
• In stark contrast to — used to emphasize a very significant and obvious difference between two things.

Grammar

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