How a Speak Like lesson works
Every lesson in these TV series ESL lesson plans follows the same four steps, so students know what to expect after the first one:
- Watch a short scene and talk about what happens.
- Notice the phrases the characters use and what they really mean.
- Work out the meaning from context and practice the phrases.
- Use them in a dialogue of their own.
Many students already try to learn English with TV series at home. These lessons give that habit a structure, so the phrases stay with students after the episode ends.
Because every lesson follows the same steps, the series is easy to teach as a course. Start with one show at the right level, and by the third lesson students know what to look for in a scene before you ask. Many teachers use one Speak Like lesson a month as a reward that still teaches real spoken English.
Every lesson in the series
| Lesson | What students learn | Level |
| Speak Like Gravity Falls | How to react naturally to surprising or bad news | A2-B1 |
| Speak Like Friends | Idioms from some of the funniest episodes | B1-B2 |
| Speak Like Emily In Paris | Phrases from the characters in a season opener | B1-B2 |
| Speak Like The Holiday | How to sound less direct and more emotionally aware | B1-B2 |
| Speak Like Love Story | Playful ways to say no from a series about a secret wedding | B1-B2 |
| Speak Like Gilmore Girls | Fast, witty conversation | B2-C1 |
| Speak Like Bridgerton | Formal, indirect English from Regency England | B2-C1 |
| Speak Like Fleabag | Humor, pauses and sarcasm at an awkward family dinner | B2-C1 |
If you need a Friends TV show ESL lesson plan, Speak Like Friends is the place to start. Instead of covering a single Friends episode, it collects the best idioms from several, so students hear each phrase in a scene that makes it memorable.
Teachers often ask for a Friends episode ESL lesson plan they can use without spending a whole class on the video. The Speak Like lessons solve that by working with short scenes, so most of the time goes to the language. Each of these TV series ESL lesson plans also has a printable PDF, so students can review the phrases at home.
What students learn from TV dialogue
Textbook dialogues are polite and complete. Real conversations are full of half-answers, jokes, hesitation and phrases that mean more than they say. The Speak Like lessons teach exactly that: how to react, how to say no without saying no, how to be sarcastic and how to sound formal when it matters. Students who learn English idioms with TV series and movies also remember them better, because each one comes with a face and a voice. For more lessons about how people talk, see the communication page.
Speak Like series FAQ
Do I need a streaming subscription?
No. Each lesson works with the scene in the lesson materials, and every task is built around it, so you never need to show a full episode.
Which level should I start with?
Start A2-B1 students with Speak Like Gravity Falls. B1-B2 groups can try Friends, Emily In Paris or The Holiday, and B2-C1 classes are ready for Gilmore Girls, Bridgerton and Fleabag.
How do I choose a series for my students myself?
Our post on Netflix shows for ESL students suggests series that work well in class and explains what to look for.
All TV series ESL lesson plans in the Speak Like series come with a teacher subscription, together with the rest of the library.