The topic of health and fitness never goes out of style. From weekend yoga sessions to the latest superfood trends, it’s something students often have opinions on. This B2-level vocabulary lesson on health and fitness is a fantastic opportunity to introduce students to useful terminology while getting them talking about their personal routines and habits.
While health and fitness often come up in conversation, this lesson gives the topic a clear learning focus. It helps students expand their vocabulary in a meaningful way and encourages them to think about their own habits and routines. With a balance of engaging speaking practice and targeted language work, it’s both practical and enjoyable.
Keep reading to access the presentation, worksheet, and teacher’s notes for this fifth part of the bite-sized lesson series. Check out the previous bite-sized lesson on The Passive Voice.
Warmer: Ranking Fitness Activities
The class begins with students ranking popular fitness activities, such as running, yoga, swimming, or weightlifting, from most to least favorite. This is a great way to introduce the theme while engaging students in a light, personal conversation. Let them justify their rankings and compare with partners to see who shares the same workout vibes.
Vocabulary: Talking About Health and Fitness
In the main section of the lesson, students read fitness advice from a coach (helpfully written with the help of ChatGPT!). Their task is to fill in gaps using vocabulary supported by helpful definitions. This time, the key words include: regimen, wellness, workout, endurance, nutrition, and metabolism.
These words are not only useful for discussing fitness, but they also show up in real-world health articles, podcasts, and lifestyle blogs. After completing the reading task, students go on to use the same words in a second context-based activity to reinforce their understanding.
Speaking: Personalise the Language
The bite-sized approach means students quickly move from learning to speaking. In this lesson, students answer personalized questions using the target vocabulary. By encouraging them to speak about their own routines, the words stick much more naturally.
- What is your current workout regimen?
- How do you ensure good nutrition?
- What do you do to build your endurance?
Role-Play: Be a Fitness Coach
One of the most engaging activities in the lesson is a simple but effective role-play. Students take turns being a fitness coach and a client, using the new vocabulary to give practical health advice. This pushes them to speak fluently while thinking creatively and using target language actively.
Group Speaking: One Health Tip
To finish the lesson, students share one health tip they currently follow or want to try out. It could be something small like drinking more water, or something bold like trying a vegan month. Either way, it’s a chance for everyone to connect, and possibly inspire one another.
If you love incorporating real-world topics into your ESL lessons, this health and fitness vocabulary class is a great fit for your B2 students. Download the files below and get your learners talking about wellness in English!
What’s one health tip that you actually follow?
