B1
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Think, pair, share
Read more: Think, pair, shareThink alone. Build together. Share with confidence. In this B1–B2 peer-learning activity, learners develop communication, critical thinking, argumentation, and synthesis skills through the powerful Think–Pair–Share approach. From environmental challenges to education and employment debates, learners practice expressing opinions, listening actively, and co-constructing knowledge in a collaborative space. Because the best learning often happens when ideas…
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Let’s take a photo!
Read more: Let’s take a photo!A photo is worth a thousand words. But the conversation before you take it? That’s where the real learning happens. In Let’s Take a Photo!, pairs receive a list of titles and go out to capture them. Before every single photo, learners must discuss: What does this title mean to us? What will be in…
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Music and identity
Read more: Music and identityCan music change the world — or does it only reflect it? This group discussion activity takes students from personal music taste to big social questions. From rock and rap to politics and identity, learners practise describing, debating, and defending their opinions. Perfect for developing fluency, argumentation skills, and real-life communication. What does your playlist…
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Persuasion exercise
Read more: Persuasion exerciseCan you justify your will well and persuade others? In this exercise, which is based on real-life situations, students get to test what they could say in different situations when the purpose is to persuade or entice others to do something or change their minds. The exercise works well with B1 level students, but it…
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Who built our future?
Read more: Who built our future?Who built the world?Not kings, not CEOs, not only the men in lab coats. Behind some of the world’s most important discoveries stand women — curious, brave, and often forgotten. The Wi-Fi you use every day? Thank Hedy Lamarr.The dishwasher that changed households? Josephine Cochrane.The first computer code? Ada Lovelace. In this exercise learners explore…
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Taste of home: Easy Local Recipes
Read more: Taste of home: Easy Local RecipesWhat’s cooking in your classroom? In our OPTIMO activity “Taste of Home: Easy Local Recipes,” learners bring their culture to life through food — one recipe at a time. From quick snacks to traditional dishes, students choose a simple local recipe, write the ingredients, and explain the steps using imperatives like cut, mix, add, boil.…
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Lights, camera… and action!
Read more: Lights, camera… and action!What’s the story behind the movies in your country? How do local films reflect culture, history, or everyday life — and what makes them different from what we see on Hollywood screens? Learners choose a successful movie from their region, research its director, plot, and main characters, and watch the trailer. But they don’t stop…
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Cultural differences
Read more: Cultural differencesDid you ever feel funny or silly doing something that feels normal to you but other people seem to look at you like you are an alien? Sometimes when you move to a new country, you learn new habits by accident when you notice that everyone else is doing something differently than what you are…
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Sports and well-being
Read more: Sports and well-beingWhat is your favorite sport? What does push-ups mean? How often should you exercise to stay fit? Question cards lead students to discuss various issues related to exercise and well-being. At the same time, students must reflect on their own exercise habits and why exercise is important for everyone. The question cards for the exercise…
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What happened here?
Read more: What happened here?Can you guess the situation? In this exercise your students will need to use all their imagination to guess what happened. One of them will know everything, and the others may ask questions that can be answered only with “yes” or “no” to get bits of information. The winner is the one who can put…