Lights, costumes, controversy – what’s not to love? This B1 Eurovision ESL lesson dives into one of the world’s most outrageous events and gets students talking and reminiscing. It helps learners explore the fun and eccentric world of Eurovision while sharpening their speaking and reading skills.
It’s Eurovision week, with the grand final just around the corner on Saturday. It’s the perfect time to tap into the excitement! That being said, this lesson is truly evergreen, since it focuses on why the contest is so popular rather than any specific year or contestants. The class is based on a fun and accessible Trafalgar article titled 9 reasons why the world is still so obsessed with Eurovision, which provides the perfect springboard for discussion. Whether your students are die-hard fans or just curious, it’s a great way to bring some culture into the classroom while encouraging real, meaningful communication.
If your students enjoy pop culture or just chatting about wild performances, scroll to the bottom to download the presentation, worksheet, and teacher’s notes. And if you like the idea of discussing music in class, make sure to check out my other lesson plan, The Power of Music, which explores the importance of music in our world and dives into the meaning behind those catchy earworms we can’t forget.
Warmer: Eurovision Experiences and Expectations
Begin with a relaxed group discussion about students’ Eurovision knowledge. Have they ever watched it? Who usually wins? What kind of songs do they expect? These questions naturally lead into some fun storytelling and gentle vocabulary work. I gurantee that there is a lot to say about some of the most memorable performances. If you have an international group, this could help students remember some artists who became stars in their countries after this contest.
Vocabulary: Words to describe Eurovision
Next, students explore a set of Eurovision-themed words (costume, performance, vote, diversity, etc.) and choose the ones they most associate with the contest. This activity sparks some great debates. Either way, it’s a nice mix of opinion-sharing and vocabulary expansion.
Reading for Gist: Why is Eurovision so popular?
The heart of the lesson is an article titled 9 Reasons Why So Many People Love Eurovision. It’s accessible, engaging, and full of level-appropriate chunks that reinforce earlier vocabulary. Before reading, students predict reasons people love (or maybe hate?) the show. Then, as they read, they check off how many of their predictions match the article. The article touches on music, costumes, inclusivity, unexpected moments, and more.
Reading for Detail: True or False
After the gist task, students go back into the article to complete a classic true/false activity, justifying their answers with evidence. This step really helps them slow down and focus on detail – a crucial skill at B1 level.
Discussion: The Top Three Reasons
In pairs, students then choose the top three reasons why people watch Eurovision. Encourage them to use the language from the article and build on each other’s ideas. Remind them that they don’t have to agree with each other, but ideally should find some compromise finding the best reasons.
Creative Task: Create your own Eurovision
To finish, students let their creativity loose by inventing their own international music contest. Of course, if the task seems to be a bit too difficult, you can adapt it and ask them to create any other type of international contest. Students do so by answering the following questions: Who can take part? What kind of music is allowed? How do people vote? Every group comes up with (wild) rules – the sky is the limit! If there’s time, let them pitch their ideas to the class for some spontaneous presentation practice.
Whether your learners are pop fans or not, this B1 Eurovision ESL lesson is packed with opportunities for vocabulary building, critical reading, and vibrant speaking practice. Eurovision is strange, sparkly, and social – just like a good lesson should be!
Are your students Eurovision fans? Or is it just glitter and noise?
