Level: Upper Intermediate (B2)
Objective: The student will discuss the relationship between happiness and success, expand their vocabulary, and practice listening skills with the BBC podcast.

1. Warm-up (10 min)

Discussion Questions:

• What does success mean to you?

• Can someone be successful without being happy? Why or why not?

• What things make people happy at work?]

Prediction Activity:

• Show the title: Is happiness the key to success?

• Ask: What do you think the podcast will talk about?

2. Vocabulary Introduction (15 min)

Introduce the vocabulary with definitions and examples:

1. Modernise – Make more modern, for example, through introducing new technology.

   • Many companies are modernising their offices with AI tools.

2. Social fabric – Community relationships that connect members of a society.

   • Strong families and friendships help maintain the social fabric of a country.

3. Intact – Complete and untouched.

   • Despite the storm, the old bridge remained intact.

4. Take centre stage – Become more important than anything else.

   • Climate change has taken centre stage in global discussions.

5. Brain drain – When large numbers of educated and skilled people leave their country to work abroad.

   • Many doctors move to the US because of the brain drain in their home countries.

6. Upskilling – Improving workers’ skills by giving them additional training.

   • The company is upskilling employees to prepare them for new technology.

3. Listening Activity (20 min)

Step 1: First listen – General understanding

• What is the main idea of the podcast?

• Does the speaker think happiness is the key to success?

Step 2: Second listen – Focus on details

• What examples are given about happiness and success?

• How do the vocabulary words appear in the podcast?

• What is the answer to the question: When is International Happiness Day?

4. Discussion & Speaking Practice (15 min)

Debate: What is more important: happiness or success?

• One student argues that happiness leads to success.

• One student argues that success leads to happiness.

Follow-up Questions:

• Can money buy happiness?

• How does social fabric influence happiness?

• What are the risks of brain drain for a country?

5. Writing Activity (10 min)

Task: Write a short essay (150-200 words) answering:
"Do you think happiness is necessary for success? Why or why not?"

• Use at least 3 new vocabulary words.

6. Wrap-up (5 min)

• Review the key vocabulary.

• Share answers to the International Happiness Day question.

• Ask: What did you learn today?