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B1 English: ESL lesson plans for intermediate adults

Level B1, intermediate 3 courses, 69 lessons One-to-one or groups

B1 English on edio.ai is three courses of ready-made B1 ESL lesson plans for adults, in American English. English B1.1 follows a podcast team through true stories of travel, jobs, space, the internet, books, sport and mysteries, with the present perfect and its continuous form, future forms, modals and quantifiers. English B1.2 moves on to the second conditional, the passive, reported speech, the past perfect and relative clauses. English B1 · Hot Topics adds five stand-alone lessons for the weeks of GTA VI's release, Black Friday, two December blockbusters, Christmas and New Year. Every lesson is interactive, and its practice exercises check themselves.

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English B1.1 · Stories That Travel

8 units, 32 lessons

32 lessons for adults at B1 in American English, each built around a true story. Riley, Jade and Darius make a podcast in Kansas City about true American stories, and each lesson tells one, from a seaplane airport in Alaska to the Marfa Lights of West Texas. Learners compare the present perfect with the past simple, use future forms, modals and quantifiers, and give their own opinions. The practice exercises check themselves.

Grammar
The present perfect against the past simple, for and since, the present perfect continuous, would and used to, future forms and time clauses, modals of advice and obligation, adjectives, quantifiers, question tags and linking words.
Topics
True American stories of travel, jobs, space, the internet, books and screens, green living, sport and mysteries, in eight units of four lessons.
Every lesson
Word cards, a magazine-style article, two listenings, grammar practice with a scheme, a chat and a speaking game, then homework that checks itself. Every lesson brings a new grammar point.
Teach this course

  1. Unit 1 Travel smart

    the present perfect vs the past simple, for and since, indirect questions, be used to and get used to

    1. Lesson 1Would you visit an airport just for fun?Present perfect vs past simple
    2. Lesson 2Would you sleep in a 300-year-old inn?For and since with the present perfect
    3. Lesson 3My suitcase has gone to Honolulu!Indirect questions for polite requests
    4. Lesson 4Can you practice a flight?Be used to and get used to

  2. Unit 2 Dream jobs, new jobs

    will have to and won't be allowed to, the present perfect continuous, simple vs continuous, would vs used to

    1. Lesson 5Would you jump off a moving boat for a job?Will have to, will be able to and will be allowed to
    2. Lesson 6Working from anywherePresent perfect continuous
    3. Lesson 7Could you be a camp counselor?Present perfect simple vs continuous
    4. Lesson 8Would you live in a lighthouse?Would vs used to for the past

  3. Unit 3 Space and discovery

    it's + adjective + to, What's it like to…?, future forms compared, future time clauses, too and enough + to

    1. Lesson 9What's it like to work in space?It's + adjective + to and What's it like to…?
    2. Lesson 10Who will walk on the Moon next?Future forms compared by meaning
    3. Lesson 11A message for the starsFuture time clauses
    4. Lesson 12A helicopter on Mars?Too and enough + to-infinitive

  4. Unit 4 Life online

    the more…, the more…, be supposed to, ought to and had better, let, make and allow

    1. Lesson 13The internet's first word was “LO”Comparative and comparative; the more…, the more…
    2. Lesson 14Who sent the first spam?Be supposed to for rules, expectations and plans
    3. Lesson 15Is your password really safe?Ought to and had better for advice and warnings
    4. Lesson 16Who writes Wikipedia?Let, make and allow + someone

  5. Unit 5 Screen and page

    -ed and -ing adjectives, gradable and extreme adjectives, present tenses for a plot, articles for things in general

    1. Lesson 17Why do readers still love Nancy Drew?-ed and -ing adjectives for feelings
    2. Lesson 18Movie night in your carGradable and extreme adjectives
    3. Lesson 19Would you review a book on TV?Present tenses to tell a plot
    4. Lesson 20Where are the books about girls like me?Articles for things in general and specific things

  6. Unit 6 Green living

    few and a few, little and a little, all, most, some and none, each and every, fewer and less

    1. Lesson 21A year's trash in one jar?Few, a few, little and a little
    2. Lesson 22No food in the trash!All, most, some and none (of)
    3. Lesson 23A farm in the middle of DetroitEach and every
    4. Lesson 24A trash collector with googly eyesFewer and less

  7. Unit 7 Sporting moments

    could, was able to and managed to, for, during and while, present tenses for live commentary, question tags

    1. Lesson 25From a leg brace to three goldsCould, was able to and managed to
    2. Lesson 26A doctor and an Olympic champion?For, during and while
    3. Lesson 27Who's that runner coming from behind?Present simple and continuous for live commentary
    4. Lesson 28Why do high jumpers go backward?Question tags

  8. Unit 8 Mysteries and lost worlds

    both… and, either… or and neither… nor, uncountable nouns, how sure we are about the future, unless, as long as and in case

    1. Lesson 29A calendar made of posts?Both… and, either… or, neither… nor
    2. Lesson 30What was the Great House for?Uncountable abstract nouns
    3. Lesson 31What does Newspaper Rock say?Certainty about the future
    4. Lesson 32What are the Marfa Lights?Unless, as long as and in case

English B1.2 · Changemakers

8 units, 32 lessons

32 lessons for adults at B1 in American English, about people and ideas that changed things: start-ups, future cities, food, memory, customs, art, volunteers and adventure. The podcast team of English B1.1 is back for a season called Changemakers. Learners use the second conditional, the passive, reported speech, the past perfect, relative clauses and verb patterns, and the practice exercises check themselves.

Grammar
The second conditional, the passive in five tenses and with modals, reported statements, questions and commands, degree adverbs, the past perfect, relative clauses, verb + -ing or to, possessives and modals of deduction.
Topics
Start-ups, cities of tomorrow, food for the future, memory and learning, customs and manners, art and design, volunteers and adventure, in eight units of four lessons.
Every lesson
New words with pictures and audio, an article, two listenings, a grammar scheme with drills, a chat and a speaking game, and self-checking homework. Each lesson has its own grammar point.
Teach this course

  1. Unit 1 Start-up stories

    the second conditional, If I were you, the first vs the second conditional, also, too, as well and besides

    1. Lesson 1The garage where Silicon Valley beganThe second conditional for imagined situations
    2. Lesson 2Would you sell lemonade to save bees?Second conditional questions and If I were you
    3. Lesson 3Pitch it to the Sharks!First vs second conditional: a real plan or a dream?
    4. Lesson 4A bakery that hires anyone?Adding ideas: also, too, as well, either and besides

  2. Unit 2 Cities of tomorrow

    the passive in the present simple and the past simple, with modals, and in the present perfect and present continuous

    1. Lesson 5Can you cross a city without going outside?The present simple passive
    2. Lesson 6A park on top of a freeway?The past simple passive
    3. Lesson 7Can a desert city catch the rain?The passive with modals
    4. Lesson 8Can an old railroad become a park?The present perfect and present continuous passive

  3. Unit 3 Food for the future

    comparative and superlative adverbs, the future passive, verbs with prepositions, phrasal verbs with up, away and out

    1. Lesson 9Why did Carver tell farmers to plant peanuts?Comparative and superlative adverbs
    2. Lesson 10Lettuce from space?The future passive with will be
    3. Lesson 11Why do corn, beans and squash grow together?Verbs with dependent prepositions
    4. Lesson 12What happens to dining-hall leftovers?Phrasal verbs with up, away and out

  4. Unit 4 Memory and learning

    reported statements with say and tell, tense changes, time and place words, reported questions, requests and commands

    1. Lesson 13Can you train your memory?Reported statements with say and tell
    2. Lesson 14He got better but never rememberedReported statements about the past
    3. Lesson 15Can a TV show teach the alphabet?Reported questions
    4. Lesson 16Can you learn a new skill at 70?Reported requests and commands

  5. Unit 5 Customs and manners

    degree adverbs such as quite and pretty, the past perfect, the past perfect vs the past simple, make vs do

    1. Lesson 17To tip or not to tip?Adverbs of degree before adjectives and adverbs
    2. Lesson 18They'd already started without me!The past perfect: had + past participle
    3. Lesson 19What should you do at a powwow?Past perfect vs past simple
    4. Lesson 20How do you accept a lei?Make vs do: collocations to learn

  6. Unit 6 Art and design

    relative clauses with whose, non-defining relative clauses, relative clauses without a pronoun, when and why

    1. Lesson 21Art that moves in the airRelative clauses with whose
    2. Lesson 22A heart that sells a stateNon-defining relative clauses
    3. Lesson 23What would you paint on a city wall?Relative clauses without who, which or that
    4. Lesson 24Why does the sign say Hollywood?Relative adverbs: when, why and where

  7. Unit 7 Volunteers and changemakers

    verb + -ing or to, -ing as a subject and after prepositions, stop, remember, try and forget, prefer and would rather

    1. Lesson 25A day on, not a day off?Verb + -ing or verb + to
    2. Lesson 26The house that welcomed a neighborhoodGerunds as subjects and after prepositions
    3. Lesson 27A walk that lasted 24 hoursStop, remember, forget and try + to or -ing
    4. Lesson 28Head, heart, hands and healthPrefer, would rather and would prefer

  8. Unit 8 Adventure and challenge

    possessive 's vs of, must and can't for deduction, might, may and could for possibility, the meanings of get

    1. Lesson 29Could you climb a fourteener?Possessive 's, s' or of
    2. Lesson 30It must be here somewhere!Must and can't for deduction
    3. Lesson 31How did Houdini get out?Might, may and could for possibility
    4. Lesson 32A capital with no road inThe meanings of get

English B1 · Hot Topics

2 units, 5 lessons

Five stand-alone lessons for teens and adults at B1, in American English, each tied to an event of late 2026: GTA VI's release on November 19, Black Friday, two blockbusters on December 18, Christmas around the world and New Year. Teach each one in the week of its event, for example between units of English B1.1 or B1.2. Every lesson has its own grammar point, and the practice exercises check themselves.

Grammar
The present perfect with already, yet, for and since next to the past simple, the first conditional, the present simple passive, -ed and -ing adjectives, and be going to vs will: one point per lesson.
Topics
The wait for GTA VI, thirteen years after GTA V, Black Friday deals and traps, Christmas in the UK, Ukraine, Japan and Australia, two blockbusters on one Friday, and New Year's resolutions.
Every lesson
Word cards with audio and short definitions, an article, a listening, a grammar scheme with drills, a chat and a speaking game, and homework that checks itself. Each lesson stands alone, with two new speakers.
Teach this course

  1. Unit 1 November: a launch and a sale

    GTA VI's release after two delays and Black Friday deals, with the present perfect with already, yet, for and since, and the first conditional

    1. Lesson 1GTA 6: worth the wait?The present perfect with already, yet and just vs the past simple
    2. Lesson 2Black Friday: deal or trap?The first conditional: if + present simple, will / won't

  2. Unit 2 December: holidays and big screens

    Christmas in four countries, two blockbusters on one Friday and New Year's resolutions, with the present simple passive, -ed and -ing adjectives, and be going to vs will

    1. Lesson 3Christmas around the worldThe present simple passive for customs
    2. Lesson 4Two blockbusters, one Friday-ed and -ing adjectives: bored or boring?
    3. Lesson 5Goodbye 2026, hello 2027Be going to vs will

More English lessons

Ready-made interactive lessons for every level, from beginner to advanced.

Questions about B1 English

What grammar is taught at B1 level?
The perfect tenses, the passive, reported speech and conditionals. B1 learners use the present perfect with for and since and its continuous form, the past perfect, would and used to, future forms and time clauses, the first and second conditionals, the passive, reported speech, relative clauses and verb patterns such as stop doing and stop to do. On edio.ai, English B1.1 and B1.2 teach them over 16 units of four lessons.
What can you do in English at B1 level?
Handle most everyday situations and explain your opinion. At CEFR level B1, learners understand the main points of clear speech and writing on familiar topics, deal with most situations while traveling, describe experiences, events, hopes and plans, and give short reasons for their views. By the end of English B1.2, students retell true stories, report what others said and discuss ideas that changed things.
What's the difference between B1 and B2?
B1 handles familiar topics; B2 handles abstract and complex ones. A B1 learner describes experiences and plans and explains an opinion briefly. A B2 learner follows the main ideas of complex texts, including technical discussions in their field, and talks with a degree of fluency and spontaneity. B1 grammar includes the second conditional and the passive; B2 adds the third and mixed conditionals, narrative tenses and past modals of deduction.
What's the difference between A2 and B1?
A2 covers routine matters; B1 adds stories, opinions and reasons. A2 learners manage simple exchanges about familiar things with the past simple, going to and the present perfect for experiences. B1 learners tell longer stories, compare the present perfect with the past simple, use the continuous perfect forms and conditionals, and say why they think something. English B1.1 follows on from English A2.2, with a new cast.
Which B1 course should I teach first?
English B1.1 first, then B1.2. English B1.1 covers the present perfect and its continuous form, would and used to, future forms, modals of advice and quantifiers in 32 lessons of true American stories. English B1.2 builds on it with the second conditional, the passive, reported speech, the past perfect and relative clauses, in 32 more: 64 lessons in all. The five lessons of English B1 · Hot Topics fit in anywhere, each in the week of its event.
What's in a B1 ESL lesson plan?
A warm-up, new words, an article, two listenings, grammar and speaking. In English B1.1 and B1.2, every lesson has word cards with pictures and audio, a magazine-style article on a true story, two listenings, a grammar chapter with a scheme and drills, a speaking chapter with a chat and a game, and homework that checks itself. Teachers get the transcript of every listening.
What speaking topics do the B1 lessons cover?
Travel, work, technology, books, sport, customs and the future. Each lesson ends with a chat and a speaking game, such as open the box, with prompts about the lesson's story and the students' own lives: a trip that went wrong, a dream job, a password habit, a local custom or a skill to learn at any age.
How do you teach English to B1 learners?
Give them real stories to retell and discuss. B1 learners know the basic tenses, so each lesson brings one new form in a true story, shows it in an article and a listening, then practices it in drills and a speaking task. English B1.1 and B1.2 work this way, and later lessons bring earlier forms back, such as the past simple next to the past perfect.
Are there interactive ESL lessons for B1?
Yes. edio.ai has 69 interactive B1 lessons in three courses. Students work in their own accounts, and the practice exercises, such as drag-and-drop, gap-fills, tables and quizzes, check every answer. Each lesson page has exercises from the lesson you can try without an account, and a free 7-day trial opens every course.
Can you teach a B1 course one-to-one or online?
Yes, in a live lesson or as homework. Live, each student follows the lesson in their own account while the teacher leads it, and the speaking games work for a pair as well as a group. The homework checks itself, so the results are there for the teacher without any marking.

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