ESL CONNECT | Growth Mindset B2

Mindset and Personal Growth

This B2 lesson helps students understand Carol Dweck’s idea of fixed and growth mindsets and discuss how mindset affects learning, feedback and risk-taking.

Lead-in:

Do you think talent is mostly natural, or can people improve almost any ability through practice?
How do you usually react when you make a mistake?
Can failure be useful? Why or why not?
What is one skill you have improved through effort and practice?

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Prep Part 1

Match the key words before watching the first part.

Questions

1

If a talent is innate,...

2

If something is unchangeable,...

3

If you pivot after failure,...

4

If feedback is critical,...

Answer options

Watch Part 1

Watch from 0:04 to about 1:02. Focus on the difference between fixed and growth mindsets.

Watch on YouTube

Open the first part of the video.

Open video

Tapescript Gap Fill: First Minute

Listen to the first minute of the video. Complete the tapescript with the 8 missing words.

Complete the text

Researcher and professor Carol Dweck uses the term “mindset” to describe the way people think about and talent. Dweck delineates between two different mindsets that exist on a . The first is the fixed mindset, which suggests that your abilities are and unchangeable. The second is a growth mindset, which views it as something you can improve through . In a fixed mindset you view failure as . But with a growth mindset you see failure as a chance to learn and even . Those with a fixed mindset are more likely to view critical feedback as a personal , while those with a growth mindset will see it as a chance to improve and develop new .

Missing words

Use each word once.

Comprehension 1

Click each question to reveal the answer.

The way people think about ability and talent.

It suggests that abilities are innate and unchangeable.

It suggests that ability can be improved through practice.

As permanent.

As a chance to improve and develop new systems.

Vocabulary from Part 1

1A fixed mindset sees ability as .

2A growth mindset sees ability as .

3Failure can be a chance to learn and .

4Critical feedback can help people .

Prep Part 2

Match the ideas before watching the second part.

Questions

1

If you put in minimal effort,...

2

If you embrace a challenge,...

3

If you face an obstacle,...

4

If something is continual,...

Answer options

Watch Part 2

Watch from about 1:02 to the end. Focus on effort, obstacles, risk-taking and improvement.

Watch on YouTube

Open the second part of the video.

Open video

Comprehension 2

Click each question to reveal the answer.

Because if they believe talent is fixed, they may not see the point of improving.

Embrace challenging tasks and work hard to improve.

As a chance to experiment and solve problems.

Measurable accomplishments.

Creative risk-taking, how people view feedback, and whether they finish difficult tasks.

Vocabulary from Part 2

1A fixed mindset may lead to minimal .

2A growth mindset helps people embrace .

3Obstacles can be chances to .

4Creative risks can help people .

Vocabulary Review

Review key B2 mindset vocabulary from the video.

Word / phrase	Meaning	Example
mindset	the way someone thinks about something	Your mindset affects how you respond to failure.
ability	skill or capacity to do something	People think differently about ability.
innate	something you are born with	A fixed mindset sees talent as innate.
growth mindset	the belief that ability can improve	A growth mindset values practice.
fixed mindset	the belief that ability is unchangeable	A fixed mindset may avoid challenges.
pivot	change direction or strategy	Failure can be a chance to pivot.
critical feedback	comments that point out weaknesses	Feedback can help people improve.
minimal effort	very little work or energy	A fixed mindset can lead to minimal effort.
obstacle	a problem that blocks progress	Obstacles can be chances to experiment.
continual improvement	ongoing development over time	A growth mindset focuses on continual improvement.

Vocabulary Gap Fill

Complete the sentences using words and phrases from the vocabulary table.

1Your affects how you respond to mistakes and challenges.

2A fixed mindset sees talent as .

3Failure can be a chance to and try a different approach.

4Critical feedback can help people achieve continual .

5An is a problem that blocks progress.

Grammar: Contrast and Comparison

Use B2 structures to compare fixed and growth mindsets.

Structure	Use	Example
while / whereas	contrast two ideas	A fixed mindset avoids failure, whereas a growth mindset learns from it.
more likely to + verb	describe probability	Growth-minded people are more likely to embrace challenges.
less likely to + verb	describe lower probability	Fixed-minded people are less likely to take risks.
rather than + -ing / noun	contrast preference or focus	They focus on improvement rather than perfection.

Grammar Exercise 1: Complete the sentences

1A fixed mindset sees failure as permanent, a growth mindset sees it as a chance to learn.

2Growth-minded people are more likely to challenges.

3Fixed-minded people are less likely to creative risks.

4A growth mindset focuses on improvement rather than .

5Critical feedback can be viewed as an opportunity to .

Grammar Exercise 2: Reveal the correction

A fixed mindset avoids failure, whereas a growth mindset learns from it.

Growth-minded people are more likely to embrace challenges.

Fixed-minded people are less likely to take risks.

They focus on improvement rather than perfection. / They focus on improving rather than being perfect.

Grammar Exercise 3: Sentence Transformations

Use “whereas”.
A fixed mindset avoids failure. A growth mindset learns from failure.

Use “more likely to”.
People with a growth mindset usually embrace challenges.

Use “less likely to”.
People with a fixed mindset often avoid creative risks.

Use “rather than”.
A growth mindset focuses on improvement, not perfection.

Discussion

Use the vocabulary and grammar from the lesson.

Do you think you have more of a fixed mindset or a growth mindset?
Why do some people take feedback personally?
How can failure become useful?
Which is more important: talent or effort?
How can someone become more comfortable with difficult tasks?
What creative risk would you like to take?

Useful Language

Contrasting ideas	Talking about mindset	Giving opinions
Whereas... While... Rather than...	People with a growth mindset... People with a fixed mindset... They are more likely to...	I’d argue that... From my point of view... I’m not convinced that...

Role Play: Mindset Coach

Practise helping someone reframe failure and feedback.

Situation: One student has received critical feedback and feels like giving up. The other student helps them respond with a growth mindset.

Student A: Learner

Explain what happened, why the feedback felt personal and why you feel discouraged.

Student B: Mindset Coach

Help Student A see feedback as a chance to improve and develop new systems.

Challenge

Use at least four phrases from the grammar section.

Learner language	Coach language
I felt like... I’m worried that... Maybe I’m just not good at...	Whereas a fixed mindset..., a growth mindset... You are more likely to improve if... Focus on improvement rather than...