What is this lesson about?
This decision-making and critical thinking ESL lesson plan helps B2–C1 learners expand their vocabulary for discussing problem-solving, logic, and choices in professional and personal contexts. Students practise advanced collocations such as weigh up the options, question assumptions, evaluate the alternatives, and make an informed decision through engaging, real-world tasks.
 
What language will students learn?
Learners study eight essential collocations:
weigh up the options
reach a conclusion
assess the situation
gather evidence
question assumptions
consider the consequences
evaluate the alternatives
make an informed decision
 
How do students practise?
The lesson develops fluency and accuracy through:
Warm-up discussion questions on decisions and problem-solving.
Collocation matching to check understanding.
Sentence gap-fills and transformations for contextual fluency.
Tense challenge to integrate grammar and vocabulary.
Speaking tasks to personalise language through real-life decision-making.
 
Why is this lesson useful?
By the end, learners can:
Use advanced collocations to talk about critical thinking and decision-making.
Express logical reasoning, judgement, and evaluation.
Integrate grammar, vocabulary, and speaking in one lesson.
Reflect on real-life choices while building higher-level fluency.
 
Who is it for?
This lesson is designed for upper-intermediate to advanced adult learners (B2–C1). It’s particularly useful for learners in academic, business, or workplace contexts where critical thinking and decision-making are key.