English Refresher

B2 course · Conversation prompts

Health & well-being.

Everyone knows what they should be doing. The interesting conversation starts with why nobody does it.

B2 C1 stretch ~45 minutes Speaking & fluency

Warm-up · ask three

  1. How did you sleep last night, and how much does that change your day?
  2. What is one healthy thing you do without having to think about it?
  3. When did you last feel genuinely rested?

04

B2 course unit 4

Health and Well-Being

These prompts reuse the health and well-being vocabulary from Unit 4, so students meet the same ten items in the reading, the workbook and here.

Let’s talk

Discussion questions

Project the generator and let it cold-call a question. Filter by level, then give a student 60 seconds to answer without stopping. Browse the full decks below.

Random question generator

Press “New question” to put one on the board.

1:00

Deck 1

Body and movement

  • How often do you work out, and what actually gets you started?B2
  • What kind of exercise do you genuinely enjoy?B2
  • Is it possible to get into shape without going to a gym?B2
  • What stops most people from exercising regularly?B2
  • Should employers give staff paid time to exercise?C1

Deck 2

Food and energy

  • What does a balanced diet look like in your house?B2
  • What is the one thing you should cut down on, and will not?B2
  • Do you cook, or do you survive?B2
  • Is healthy food genuinely more expensive, or is that an excuse?C1
  • Should governments tax sugary drinks?C1

Deck 3

Rest and sleep

  • How much sleep do you really need to feel human?B2
  • What is your routine before bed?B2
  • Does screen time affect how well you sleep?B2
  • How do you recharge when a week has drained you?B2
  • Is our culture proud of being tired?C1

Deck 4

Stress and the mind

  • What does stress feel like in your body?B2
  • Have you or someone you know experienced burnout?B2
  • Does mindfulness work, or is it just a trend?B2
  • How openly do people in your country talk about mental health?C1
  • Should schools teach students how to manage stress?C1

Deck 5

Habits and change

  • What healthy habit have you tried and failed to keep?B2
  • Do fitness apps and trackers help, or add pressure?B2
  • Is it easier to be healthy now than thirty years ago?B2
  • Whose responsibility is public health — the individual or the state?C1
  • Can you be healthy and unhappy at the same time?C1

Talk for longer

Useful language

The words students need to talk about health without sounding like a leaflet. Pre-teach a handful, then challenge them to slip three into the discussion or the debate.

Sentence starters

Scaffolding for B2 — finish the sentence about you.

Talking about habits

I have been trying to … I am fairly good at … , but … I keep meaning to … It depends how busy I am.

Giving advice

You would feel better if you … Have you thought about …? What works for me is … It is worth a try, at least.

Describing how you feel

I am running on empty. I feel completely recharged. I have no energy at the moment. I am sleeping much better since …

Hedging an opinion

As far as I know, … I am no expert, but … There is some evidence that … It probably varies from person to person.

Words & phrases

The unit’s target vocabulary — the same ten items as the workbook.

well-beingnoun

the state of being healthy and happy

“Sleep is key to well-being.”

to work outphrasal verb

to exercise

“I work out three times a week.”

a balanced dietnoun

varied, healthy eating

“A balanced diet includes vegetables.”

to rechargeverb

to rest and get your energy back

“I recharge on the weekend.”

burnoutnoun

exhaustion caused by long-term stress

“She suffered burnout at work.”

mindfulnessnoun

calmly focusing on the present moment

“Mindfulness reduces stress.”

to cut down onphrasal verb

to reduce something

“You should cut down on sugar.”

screen timenoun

time spent on phones, tablets, or computers

“Limit screen time before bed.”

to get into shapeidiom

to become fit and healthy

“I want to get into shape this year.”

a good night’s sleepphrase

a full, restful night of sleep

“Everyone needs a good night’s sleep.”

Health word bank

Quick words for the debate and the discussion.

exhaustedrefreshedsedentaryrun-downactivemoderationstaminarestlesssustainableoverwhelmed
Teacher tip Pre-teach five words, then run Well-Being Showdown — a team may only defend a change if they describe its effect using a word from the bank.

Classroom debate

Well-Being Showdown

Two health changes go head-to-head. Vote, watch the split — then make one student defend the winner and another rescue the loser.

Which would do more for your health?

Round 1

vs

0 votes

0 votes

50%50%
0:45

How to play: Read both changes, take a vote and tap the totals in. Then one student defends the more popular choice, and another argues why the loser matters more than it looks. Every argument needs a target phrase.

Model dialogue

Dana & Filip talk about a rough week

Read it together, notice the underlined phrases, then act it out — and finally take on the roles below.

A park bench on a Friday evening. Two friends have just finished a long week.

Dana

You look shattered. Long week?

Filip

Three deadlines. I am close to proper burnout, I think.

Dana

That is serious. When did you last get a good night's sleep?

Filip

Honestly? Weeks ago. I am on my laptop until midnight.

Dana

That will be the problem. Your screen time is eating your evenings.

Filip

Probably. I keep telling myself I will cut down on it.

Dana

Start small. I gave myself half an hour outside every day and it changed everything.

Filip

Does that count as exercise?

Dana

It counts as well-being, which is the bit you are missing.

Filip

Fair. I do want to get into shape again, but I never find the time.

Dana

You do not find it. You take it. Come and work out with me on Tuesday.

Filip

Fine. But if I collapse, you are carrying me home to recharge.

Now advise each other

Student A - the all-or-nothing type

You believe in big changes

Small steps are a way of avoiding the problem. If something matters, you change it completely — diet, sleep, exercise — starting Monday.

Student B - the realist

You believe in small steps

Dramatic plans always collapse by week three. One change at a time is the only thing that lasts, even if it looks unambitious.

Your mission

  1. Tell your partner honestly what your week has done to you.
  2. Each suggest two changes and defend why yours would work.
  3. Agree on one realistic change you will both try for two weeks.
  4. Report back to the class — use at least three phrases from the Useful language section.

Wind down & write

Choose your writing task

Pick one task to finish in class or as homework. Every option pushes the unit vocabulary into writing.

01

Describe your own approach to staying healthy and explain what you would change.

B2~180 words

02

Write an article for a school magazine: five realistic ways to beat stress.

B2~200 words

03

Some people say well-being has become an industry. Write an opinion piece on that.

B2-C1~220 words

04

Write an email to a friend who is close to burnout, giving practical advice.

B2~180 words

05

Whose responsibility is public health — the individual or the government? Give your view.

C1~220 words

Exit ticket · 60 seconds

Before you leave

Quick round-the-room close: each student answers in one sentence. A fast way to check the target language landed.

“Name one change you will actually make this week — and say why that one.”