B2 Video: The Wheel Chose My English Lesson

1 Word, 1 English Video Lesson

Who says you need a lesson plan to teach English?

After all, language researchers and teachers much cleverer than me have said that "The language is the curriculum".

I put that theory to the test in today's English video lesson.

With only 1 randomly selected word as the basis for my lesson, I attempt to create a useful video lesson with no script, and no idea what direction the lesson could take!

Was I successful?

You can be the judge.

Accent

The Korean girl in the video had an almost English accent, but the more I listened the more I could hear something not quite native. Sometimes, I thought it even sounded a little Australian.

Subtitles

English and Korean.

Vocabulary Guide

01:44 – wide-eyed (adjective)

Meaning: Looking very surprised or amazed.

Example: She listened wide-eyed as he told the story.

02:26 – skinny (adjective)

Meaning: Very thin.

Example: He used to be skinny as a teenager.

04:15 – back and forth (phrase)

Meaning: Moving between two places, ideas, or people repeatedly.

Example: They argued back and forth for 20 minutes.

06:01 – stock (noun, cooking)

Meaning: Flavoured liquid made by boiling meat, bones, or vegetables. Used as a base for soups or sauces.

Example: The soup tastes better when you make your own stock.

06:41 – dish vs plate

Dish (noun): A type of food or recipe.

Example: Bibimbap is my favourite Korean dish.

Plate (noun): The object you put food on.

Example: He dropped the plate on the floor.

Difference: Dish = the food itself. Plate = the thing you eat from.

07:52 – on the go (phrase)

Meaning: While you’re moving or busy.

Example: She often eats breakfast on the go.

09:27 – raw (adjective)

Meaning: Not cooked.

Example: You can eat carrots raw.

09:42 – whole foods (noun)

Meaning: Foods that are natural and not heavily processed.

Example: She tries to eat more whole foods like fruit and nuts.

10:00 – junk food (noun)

Meaning: Unhealthy food high in sugar, fat, or salt.

Example: He avoids junk food during the week.

10:19 – junk (noun)

Meaning: Something low-quality or useless.

Example: This old phone is junk.

10:56 – blow your mind (phrase)

Meaning: To amaze or shock you in a good way.

Example: The ending of the film will blow your mind.

12:53 – to stomach something (verb)

Meaning: To manage to eat or accept something difficult.

Example: I can’t stomach spicy food.

13:19 – dairy product (noun)

Meaning: Food made from milk.

Example: Cheese is a dairy product.

14:16 – eat out (phrasal verb)

Meaning: To eat at a restaurant.

Example: They eat out every Friday.

16:42 – take something upon yourself (phrase)

Meaning: Decide to do something without being asked.

Example: She took it upon herself to organise the event.

18:05 – cut back on something (phrasal verb)

Meaning: Reduce how much you use or eat.

Example: He’s cutting back on coffee.

20:00 – let yourself go (phrase)

Meaning: Stop caring about your health or appearance.

Example: He let himself go during the winter.

20:58 – take some getting used to (phrase)

Meaning: Something feels strange at first but becomes normal over time.

Example: The taste takes some getting used to.

22:06 – sugarcoat (verb)

Meaning: Make something unpleasant sound nicer than it is.

Example: I won’t sugarcoat it — the exam is difficult.

22:48 – take something overboard / go overboard (phrase)

Meaning: Do too much of something.

Example: He went overboard with the decorations.

23:07 – harsh (adjective)

Meaning: Unkind or too strong.

Example: Her comment was a bit harsh.

23:43 – hustle (noun)

Meaning: A culture of working extremely hard, often too hard.

Example: Many people are exhausted by hustle culture.

25:15 – carry on (phrasal verb)

Meaning: Continue.

Example: Let’s carry on with the lesson.

26:16 – work out (phrasal verb)

Meaning: Do exercise.

Example: She works out at the gym three times a week.

27:07 – BTW (acronym)

Meaning: “By the way.”

Example: BTW, your coat is in the car.

27:20 – cut (adjective, fitness)

Meaning: Having muscles clearly visible and low body fat.

Example: He looked really cut after months of training.

28:08 – wrinkle (noun)

Meaning: A line on your skin that appears as you get older.

Example: She has a few wrinkles around her eyes.

30:08 – hilly (adjective)

Meaning: Full of hills.

Example: The city is very hilly.

30:17 – steep (adjective)

Meaning: Rising or falling sharply.

Example: The path is too steep for beginners.

30:37 – workout (noun)

Meaning: A session of exercise.

Example: That workout was tough.

31:35 – filling (adjective)

Meaning: Makes you feel full after eating.

Example: Oats are very filling.

31:41 – be a sucker for something/someone (phrase)

Meaning: Really like something and find it hard to resist.

Example: I’m a sucker for chocolate cake.

32:39 – toned (adjective)

Meaning: Firm and well-defined muscles, usually from exercise.

Example: She wants to get more toned this year.