Fixed Phrases in English – A2–B1 ESL Lesson

With this lesson, students will build confidence in speaking more naturally by mastering high-frequency fixed expressions such as after all, it depends on, to be honest, in case of and so on. Through engaging storytelling tasks, discussion activities, and video-based exercises, learners practice using these phrases in real-life situations while developing fluency and conversational confidence.

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lesson overview

This A2-B1 ESL lesson plan on fixed phrases helps students sound more natural and fluent in everyday conversations. Through reading, matching tasks, gap-fills, storytelling, video work, and discussion, learners practice high-frequency expressions such as at first, as a result, by mistake, in the end, all of a sudden, on the other hand,  when it comes to, and many more! Students first explore fixed expressions in context, then actively use them in personalized speaking tasks, story retelling, and guided discussions. The lesson gradually moves from controlled practice to freer production, helping learners build confidence and fluency step by step. The user-friendly digital format allows easy navigation in presentation mode with just a click of the spacebar, requiring no additional software.

Target Audience:

  • Level: A2–B1 (Pre-Intermediate to Intermediate)
  • Best for: Adults, older teens

Content Breakdown:

  • Warm-Up
  • Read & Match
  • Gap-Fills
  • Complete the Sentence with Your Own Ideas
  • Retell the Stories 
  • Watch the Video and Answer the Questions
  • Discussion

HOMEWORK (Extra Language Immersion):

Read & Practice 

For homework, students read the story “Unexpected Luxury in a Snowstorm” and retell it in 8–10 sentences using at least five fixed phrases from the lesson. They then answer reflection questions that encourage personal responses and deeper discussion.