Lesson Overview

In this B2 ESL lesson plan, students explore the advantages and disadvantages of owning a home and consider whether buying a property is always the best choice. They begin by discussing different types of homes, their ideal living spaces, and the things that can make a house a great place to live.

Students then learn and practise useful vocabulary connected to buying and owning property, including mortgages, deposits, landlords, house hunting, and the cost of living. They also practise key verbs such as pay off, move in, move out, rent out, save up, and renovate through a range of practical activities and discussion questions.

The lesson includes a reading task about someone who questions the idea that everyone should aim to own a home. Students examine the arguments against home ownership before listening to a contrasting perspective from someone who believes buying a home is worth the commitment.

Students then discuss common problems that can occur in a home and consider whether they would stop them from buying a property. The lesson finishes with an argument-building task and debate on whether buying a home is always better than renting, followed by a fun game.

1. Warm Up: Homes
2. Buying a Home: Problems
3. Verbs
4. Key Words
5. Article: Why I Don’t Want to Own a Home
6. Audio: Why I Think You Should Own a Home
7. Functional Language & Debate
8. Debate
9. Discussion
10. This or That?

Homework

There is an excellent homework task to supplement this B2 ESL lesson plan on “Is Owning a Home Worth It?” Students are challenged to read an engaging article before writing detailed answers to a series of article-based questions. Activity layout:

1. Article: Why Some People Choose to Rent
2. Writing Task