B1 ESL lesson plans for intermediate students
B1 is where most of the library sits, because it is where most adult students are: comfortable with everyday English and ready for work, exams and opinions. The B1 courses include Business English for meetings, emails and calls, IELTS Speaking and Writing towards band 5 to 6, job interviews, startup pitching, travel problems and presenting. The plans ask for longer answers and give the student more of the talking time.
The first lesson of every course is a full plan you can read here with no signup. The other lessons show an outline.
Written for B1
Hot Topics
Engaging discussion topics about modern life and society (B1 level)
Job Interview Preparation
Master common interview questions and professional communication
Meetings & Presentations
Lead effective meetings and deliver impactful presentations
Professional Email Writing
Write clear, effective business emails
Phone & Video Calls
Communicate confidently in professional calls
Networking & Small Talk
Build professional relationships through effective networking
Tech Support & Troubleshooting
Help users solve technical problems
Agile & Project Management
Navigate Agile processes and project discussions
IELTS Speaking (Band 5-6.5)
Build strong foundations for IELTS Speaking with guided practice and common topics
Part 1: More Everyday Topics
Practice answering Part 1 questions on a wider range of familiar topics
Part 2: Events & Experiences
Master cue cards about memorable events, celebrations, and life experiences
Part 2: Objects & Media
Master describing objects, media, and things you own or use
Part 3: Society & Issues
Develop abstract discussion skills for Part 3 questions
Practice Tests & Simulation
Complete mock tests with guided feedback and self-assessment
Task 1 Academic: Graphs & Charts
Master describing line graphs, bar charts, pie charts, and tables for IELTS Academic Task 1
Task 1 Academic: Diagrams & Processes
Describe process diagrams, maps, and cycles for IELTS Academic Task 1
Task 1 General: Letter Writing
Master formal, semi-formal, and informal letter writing for IELTS General Training
Task 2: Essay Fundamentals
Master opinion, discussion, and problem-solution essays for IELTS Task 2
The Pitch Deck
Master the YC-style 10-slide pitch deck structure and present each section confidently
Pitch Delivery & Storytelling
Present with confidence using storytelling techniques, pacing, and body language
The Elevator Pitch
Craft and deliver compelling 30-second to 2-minute introductions for any situation
Investor Emails & Outreach
Write compelling cold emails, warm introductions, and follow-ups to investors
Product Demos
Plan and deliver compelling product demonstrations for investors, customers, and partners
Customer Discovery Interviews
Conduct effective user research interviews to validate your product ideas
Startup Vocabulary Essentials
Core terminology every founder needs — MVP, runway, burn rate, pivot, cap table, and more
Team Communication & Culture
Lead meetings, give feedback, hire effectively, and build a strong team culture
Presenting & Public Speaking
Communicate ideas clearly and confidently using proven presentation frameworks
Hypothetical & Creative Questions
Explore imagination-driven conversations using structured reasoning frameworks
Sales English
The language of modern selling — pitching, discovery calls, objections, negotiation and follow-up
Making a Career Change
A guided journey from knowing yourself to telling your career-change story with confidence
Confidence at Work
A five-step coaching journey out of your comfort zone: speak up, say no, own your wins, and do the scary thing in English
Landing the New Job
Five lessons that take a career-switcher from CV to first pay slip: rewrite your story, write a letter nobody skips, answer the hardest interview question, talk about money without panic, and start well
Grammar Through Stories
Five stories — a stolen laptop, a broken time machine, a rumour, a fortune teller, a game show — each hiding one piece of grammar
English for Healthcare Workers
Practical ward English for nurses, carers and healthcare assistants: greet patients, ask about pain, explain care simply, hand over clearly, and stay calm in difficult moments
All-levels courses that suit B1 too
These courses are marked for all levels: the topic carries the lesson, and you set the difficulty by what you ask of the answer.
Technology
Conversation lessons from technology and AI news stories.
Business
Conversation lessons from business and economy news stories.
Science
Conversation lessons from science and space news stories.
Health
Conversation lessons from health and fitness news stories.
Culture
Conversation lessons from culture, entertainment and lifestyle stories.
World
Conversation lessons from world news and current events.
Environment
Conversation lessons from climate and environment news stories.
Daily Life Discussions
Everyday topics to get students talking about their routines and experiences
Opinions and Preferences
Practice expressing and defending personal viewpoints
IELTS Speaking Strategies
Master the essential strategies for all three parts of the IELTS Speaking test
Pronunciation & Fluency Essentials
Master the sounds, rhythm, and flow of natural English speech
IELTS Speaking Assessment Deep Dive
Understand exactly how examiners score your speaking and what they're looking for
Ancient Wonders
The pyramids, the Great Wall, Machu Picchu and more. Mixed levels from A2 to C1, so you can pick the version that fits your student.
The World Wars
Trenches, a Christmas truce, the Blitz, D-Day and how nations remember. Human stories from 1914 to 1945, at levels from A2 to C1.
Turning Points
Six moments when the world changed direction: from the printing press to the first smartphone. Levels A2 to C1.
Empires & Explorers
Silk roads, treasure fleets and the people who crossed the map. Trade, power and travel from A2 to C1.
Inventions That Changed Everything
The light bulb, penicillin, the car, the plane and the washing machine: how ordinary life was invented. Levels A2 to C1.
Scientists & Inventors
Curie, Einstein, Lovelace, Tesla, Turing and Newton: the people who changed how we understand the world. Levels A2 to C1.
Leaders & Changemakers
Mandela, Gandhi, Rosa Parks, Malala and more: people who changed their countries without an army. Levels A2 to C1.
Artists & Creators
The Beatles, Frida Kahlo, Picasso, Shakespeare, Miyazaki and Beethoven: what it takes to make something new. Levels A2 to C1.
Founders & Builders
Disney, Chanel, Ford, Honda, Jobs and Carnegie: the people who built companies, and what they cost. Levels A2 to C1.
Athletes & Explorers
Pelé, Serena Williams, Muhammad Ali, Hillary and Tenzing, Amelia Earhart and Shackleton: bodies, limits and the people who pushed them. Levels A2 to C1.
Wonders of the Modern World
The Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty, the Golden Gate, the Sydney Opera House, the Burj Khalifa and the Panama Canal. Levels A2 to C1.
Sacred Places
The Taj Mahal, Petra, Borobudur, Notre-Dame, Mecca and Stonehenge: places built for something bigger than us. Levels A2 to C1.
Natural Landmarks
The Grand Canyon, Ha Long Bay, Iceland's volcanoes, Uluru, the Amazon and the Great Barrier Reef. Nature's monuments, from A2 to C1.
Asia's Icons
Mount Fuji, the Forbidden City, Bagan, the Petronas Towers, Hoi An and the Mekong: the places that define a continent. Levels A2 to C1.
My City's Landmarks
The student is the guide: describe, compare and defend the landmarks of your own city. Speaking-first lessons from A2 to C1.