Asking for and Giving Advice about Exercise

What is this lesson about?

This giving advice ESL lesson plan is designed for pre-intermediate learners (A2–B1) who want to master functional phrases for asking for and giving advice—focusing on the theme of exercise and healthy living. Students practise essential structures such as you should…, how about…?, you could try…, and you ought to… through interactive activities that make language practice practical and meaningful.
 

How do students learn the new language?

Learners follow a clear, step-by-step sequence:

• Warm-up discussion questions to activate prior knowledge about exercise.

• Dialogue analysis to highlight advice-giving structures.

• Gap-fill practice with modals and phrases in context.

• Vocabulary matching to reinforce exercise-related terms.

• Pronunciation focus on intonation patterns for questions vs. statements.

• Speaking role-plays for real-world advice situations (e.g. starting yoga, running, swimming).

• Personal reflection task to consolidate advice-giving skills.
   

Why is this lesson useful?

By the end of the session, students can:

• Use a variety of phrases for asking for and giving advice.

• Speak more confidently about exercise and lifestyle topics.

• Improve their pronunciation and natural intonation when giving advice.

• Apply new language in realistic conversations with peers.
   

What makes this lesson special?

This ESL lesson is highly practical and wellness-focused. Students don’t just memorise sentence frames—they use them in meaningful contexts, practising how to give supportive, realistic advice in English.
 

Who is it for?

This giving advice ESL lesson plan is ideal for A2–B1 adult learners. It’s especially valuable for teachers who want to combine English communication skills with practical, real-world themes like exercise and wellbeing.
 

Related lessons

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Talking About Preferences – Premium ESL lesson (A2-B1) - Teaches a variety of preference structures for varied, natural conversations.

Asking for and Giving Personal Information – Premium ESL Lesson Plan (A2-B1) - This lesson is designed for learners who want to build confidence in asking for and sharing basic personal details.

Making Small Talk and Starting Conversations – Premium ESL Lesson Plan (A2-B1) - This lesson is designed for A2–B1 learners who want to feel more confident starting and maintaining everyday conversations.​

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After some advice on exercise and movement? Read our Exercise & Physical Health blog post, which includes some quick movement tips for busy teachers.