A Ghost Story - A Video Shorts Lesson

A thought-provoking video lesson that brings language, imagination and storytelling to life

Level: A2 and above (CEFR)
Lesson duration: 60–90 minutes, plus optional follow-up activities
Skills: Speaking, listening, writing, critical thinking and storytelling

Get your students talking, thinking, writing and creating with this engaging, video-based ESL lesson.

What happens when a soldier returns from the dead? Why has he come back, and what unfinished business has brought him back to the world of the living?

A Ghost Story uses a beautifully crafted short film to draw students into an intriguing and emotional narrative. As they explore the story, students develop their speaking, listening, writing and critical-thinking skills while practising the language of deduction, speculation and storytelling.

Designed for learners at A2 level and above, this flexible 60–90-minute lesson combines engaging classroom activities with creative follow-up tasks that can be completed independently, for homework or in subsequent lessons.

Flexible teaching, extended learning

The core lesson is designed to fit into a 60–90-minute class, with eight stages that teachers can select and adapt according to their students' needs and interests.

The lesson also includes creative follow-up activities that allow students to explore the story in greater depth, including:

Screenplay writing: Reconstruct scenes from the film, create dialogue and write directions for the characters.
Creative letter writing: Imagine the soldier's thoughts and feelings and write a personal letter to his wife.
Role-play: Create and perform an imagined conversation between two of the characters.
Reflection: Consolidate useful language and think about what has been learned.
These extension activities provide opportunities for further language practice, making the resource suitable for a single lesson or extended learning over multiple sessions.

Who is this lesson for?
A Ghost Story is ideal for ESL/EFL teachers working with A2, B1, B2 and higher-level learners, including mixed-ability groups where activities can be adapted to different language levels.

It's particularly useful for teachers looking for an engaging 60–90-minute video-based lesson that integrates meaningful discussion, grammar in context and creative language production, with ready-to-use follow-up activities to extend learning beyond the classroom.

More than just a video lesson

In just 60–90 minutes, your students can explore an intriguing mystery, practise making deductions, discuss cultural beliefs and develop their confidence using English to express ideas and opinions.

With optional creative writing, role-play and reflection activities, the learning doesn't have to stop when the lesson ends.

Turn a mysterious ghost story into a memorable language-learning experience.

Get A Ghost Story and bring mystery, imagination and meaningful communication into your next lesson.