With this B2–C1 ESL lesson on interior design and Millennial gray, students practice expressing nuanced opinions, analyzing cultural trends, and using high-level descriptive language such as generic, vague, omnipresent, haphazard, ornate, sleek, lavish and many more! Ideal for advanced conversation classes and critical-thinking ESL lessons.
lesson overview
This B2–C1 ESL lesson plan explores the concept of Millennial gray and contemporary interior design trends, encouraging learners to analyze aesthetics, consumer culture, and the emotional impact of design choices. Through in-depth reading, advanced vocabulary work, image-based discussions, and video exploration, students practice descriptive adjectives, and critical-thinking skills. The lesson tackles topics such as minimalism, cookie-cutter interiors, corporate aesthetics, and the shift toward maximalism, making it ideal for discussion-heavy, intellectually engaging ESL classes. 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: B2–C1 (Upper-Intermediate to Advanced)
- Best for: Adults and older teens
Content Breakdown:
- Before Class / Warm-Up: Watch A Short Video
- Reading Activity: Design Trends, Minimalism & Consumer Culture
- Advanced Vocabulary Focus (e.g. generic, omnipresent, eradicate, cookie-cutter)
- Mini Discussion
- Interior Design Styles: Vocabulary & Concept Matching
- Speaking Practice: Describing Mood, Atmosphere, and Function
- Creative Task: Designing a Home for Different Lifestyle Profiles
- Opinion-Based Speaking Questions & Debate Prompts
HOMEWORK (Extra Language Immersion):
Watch & Reflect
Learners watch an additional video on color trends and modern visual culture and discuss how color influences emotions, behavior, and branding. This task reinforces advanced vocabulary and promotes deeper analytical speaking.