It is time to break down barriers! In this engaging and thought-provoking lesson, upper-intermediate and advanced adult and teenage students will explore the theme of inclusivity and how to create welcoming environments for people with disabilities. The lesson centers around a video featuring Bitty and Beau’s Café - an inspiring business that hires people with disabilities and promotes positive change in the workplace. Students will learn and practice topic-related vocabulary and idioms through clear, real-life examples. The lesson includes interactive tasks, video comprehension, and meaningful discussions designed to build awareness, encourage empathy, and improve communication skills in real-world social and professional contexts.
Listening: Students will watch a video about Bitty & Beau’s Café, a coffee shop that employs people with disabilities. The speaker shares how the café creates a positive, inclusive workplace and the impact it has on employees and customers. This activity helps students understand spoken English in real-life contexts, while focusing on vocabulary related to inclusion and accessibility.
Speaking: Students will take part in discussions about how public spaces and workplaces can be made more welcoming for people with disabilities. They will share opinions and ideas using new expressions from the lesson, such as “come out of one’s shell” and “spark change.”
Vocabulary: Students will learn useful vocabulary and idioms related to the topic of inclusivity. These include words and phrases that describe accessible environments and supportive attitudes, and they will be practiced through conversation and discussion tasks.
Cultural Awareness: Students will explore how different societies approach inclusion and support for people with disabilities. They will compare accessibility in public places and workplaces across cultures and reflect on how attitudes and practices can vary around the world.
Homework: Students will reflect on real-life issues related to accessibility and inclusion. First, they will answer questions based on an image showing people with disabilities, thinking about the challenges these individuals might face and how society can better support them. Then, students will check which accessibility features they’ve noticed in their own city or workplace, encouraging them to think critically about public infrastructure. Finally, they will write a short text from the perspective of a person with a disability, describing their job, daily challenges, and how their employer or coworkers offer support. These tasks aim to deepen students’ understanding of inclusivity in real-world settings and encourage empathy and awareness.