What is this lesson about?
This C1-C2 speaking lesson takes a close, amused look at humblebragging — the art of boasting while pretending to complain. Students react to recognisable examples, rate how often they encounter different types, debate whether it’s harmless or manipulative, and try to guess their partner’s own humblebragging habits before telling a personal story of their own
 
How do students practise?
Learners build fluency through a reaction-to-debate sequence:
Reacting to recognisable humblebrag examples
Comparing attitudes to bragging in a forced-choice warm-up
Reflecting on their own humblebragging habits
Discussing why people humblebrag instead of bragging outright
Rating how often they encounter different types of humblebrag
Responding to realistic social scenarios
Agreeing or disagreeing with statements about humblebragging
Predicting a partner’s own humblebragging habits before asking
Debating whether humblebragging is harmless or manipulative
Telling a personal story using the target language
 
Why is this lesson useful?
By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:
Discuss social behaviour and self-presentation with nuance and wit
Take part in a genuine two-sided debate with a clear personal position
Engage in a lesson that is entertaining
 
Who is it for?
This lesson is designed for adult ESL learners at C1-C2 level who want an entertaining, high-level speaking lesson that builds advanced conversational fluency through wit, debate and personal reflection.