Ultra
Pro
ESL lesson
Running on Empty
Students explore burnout through authentic video, metaphorical lexis, source comparison and a final negotiated roleplay.
- Level
- C2 / Proficient
- Time
- 90–105 min
- Format
- Video Lesson / Speaking Class
Lesson materials
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Lesson overview
Running on Empty is a C2 Pro video lesson about burnout, overload and the precision of the language used to describe them. Students first distinguish temporary pressure from longer-term overload, then follow a Sprouts animated explainer through its five-stage model. The lesson moves from source-derived metaphorical language to a clean comparison between the video's broad framing and the WHO's narrower occupational framing in ICD-11. Students then practise attributing, qualifying and challenging claims before creating a fictional person under sustained pressure and negotiating realistic changes with two partners.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the lesson, students can:
Follow a structured explainer about burnout and chronic stress.
Use advanced metaphorical language for overload and deterioration.
Distinguish broad everyday usage from a narrower formal definition.
Qualify and challenge claims with precision.
Negotiate realistic changes for a fictional situation using evidence-aware language.
Teaching at a glance
The essentials for planning this lesson.
- Level
- C2 / Proficient
- Teaching time
- 90–105 min
- Language
- Advanced Lexis · Metaphor · Stance · Qualification
- Skills
- Listening · Speaking · Critical Reading · Critical Thinking
- Topic
- Work
- Format
- Video Lesson · Speaking Class
Lesson structure
A practical sequence from warm-up to final task.
-
Pressure, Overload and Video
Students calibrate their expectations, watch the opening and reconstruct the five-stage model.
-
Metaphor and Two Definitions
Students work with source-derived expressions and compare the Sprouts and WHO framings.
-
Claim Calibration and Negotiated Change
Students rewrite overconfident claims, create a fictional persona and negotiate a realistic three-step plan.
Lesson materials
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