A nudist beach is a place by the sea where people can relax while wearing no clothes at all. These are quite common in some countries — while strictly forbidden in others.
This lesson plan is guaranteed to raise a lot of questions in the classroom and create a ton of discussion and debate. You can use this complete lesson today. Download the full lesson plan in PDF format by clicking the link down below.
Introduction
Do you have nudist beaches in your country?
Do you think they should be allowed? Why/why not?
Would you visit a nudist beach? Why/why not?
Reading
Nicole had never been to a nudist beach before.
“It was my first time and I felt really nervous,” she said.
So if you felt so nervous about it, why go?
“I wanted to step outside of my comfort zone,” she said. “I wanted to do something to make me feel like I was more alive than before.”
The beach she visited was a famous beach in the south of France. It has been a nudist beach for many years and many people go there every year to relax.
The one policy of the beach being — no clothes allowed on the beach.
“When I first arrived there was no one to check if I had any clothes on or not,” said Nicole. “At first, I thought I could just walk on the beach in my shorts and t-shirt. But then I saw one or two others — and they had no clothes on at all.”
What made the whole experience more terrifying for Nicole was that she was alone.
“None of my friends wanted to come with me,” she said. “I felt even more awkward because of that.”
The first two people that Nicole saw were a middle-aged couple. They had been coming to nudist beaches for most of their adult lives. They were a member of a nudist club and a Facebook group for nudists.
“They were really helpful,” said Nicole. “They didn’t make it seem weird or anything like that. After a couple of minutes, I took my clothes off and walked on to the beach.”
The first few minutes being completely nude was an exhilarating experience for Nicole.
“I felt so self-conscious at first but that quickly passed and I felt free for the first time in my life. It just felt like the most natural feeling in the world.”
The following Monday, Nicole had to go back to work.
“I told my colleagues about going to the nudist beach and many of them were shocked,” she said. “But one or two of them were a little intrigued. I could see by the look in their eye they were interested.”
Since taking the courage to go to the nudist beach the first time, Nicole has since been several times.
“I am now good friends with the middle-aged couple I met the first time,” she said. “And I have joined a nudist group online. We all go on holiday together. There are special holiday destinations for people who want to be nude.”
What did Nicole’s parents think about it?
“My mum was the most shocked. She always said that I was so shy when I was younger. I would hardly say boo to a goose as a child. So when I told her that I went to a nudist beach her jaw dropped.
My dad just laughed. But he did tell me to be careful.”
Would Nicole advise others to visit a nudist beach?
“Yes, absolutely. It will help you be more comfortable in your own skin. It will give you confidence and make you feel totally free.”
Reading Comprehension Questions
Is this Nicole’s first time to a nudist beach?
Why did she go?
Where is the nudist beach?
What is the rule of the beach?
Does the beach have any security guards?
How many of Nicole’s friends went with her?
Who were the people that Nicole first encountered on the beach?
Were these people big fans of the nudist lifestyle? How do you know?
How did Nicole feel when she took off her clothes?
What did her colleagues think about going to the nudist beach?
What did Nicole’s parents think about it?
Was her father worried about her going to the nudist beach? What do you think he was concerned about?
How does Nicole recommend going to a nudist beach?
Essential Vocabulary
nudist | step outside comfort zone |
famous | relax |
policy | terrifying |
awkward | middle-aged |
adult lives | Facebook group |
helpful | weird |
couple of minutes | completely nude |
exhilarating experience | self-conscious |
felt free | natural feeling |
shocked | intrigued |
look in their eye | courage |
online | holiday destinations |
shy | boo to a goose |
her jaw dropped | advise |
comfortable in your own skin | confidence |
Exercise
Write down all the words and phrases in your vocabulary notebook. Look in your dictionary
and find the meaning of each word. Write the definition next to each word.
Then make up your own sentences using each word or phrase.
For example:
Notebook—a small book with pages of blank paper that students use to make notes when
studying.
“I left my notebook at home so I was unable to make any notes in my English class.”
I Would Never Do That!
Look at the expressions and say whether the person would do something, not do something or maybe undecided.
- Not on your life!
- You must be joking.
- I might give it a go.
- I’d have to think long and hard about that one.
- I wouldn’t think twice about it
- Not in a million years!
- Absolutely not
- I would die
Discussion Questions
Are nudist beaches legal in your country?
What do you think of the idea of nudist beaches?
Would you like to go to a nudist beach?
What kind of people do you think go to nudist beaches? Try to describe a person that goes there? Why do they go there?
Do you know what a nudist colony is? Should these places be allowed?
If they had a nudist colony in your hometown, where would be the ideal location for it?
In the article, Nicole talked about feeling free for the first time. What do you think she meant?
Do you think the way we dress restricts us in our lives? Do we have freedom in our clothes or do we have to obey certain conventions?
What gives you a sense of true freedom?
What one thing would you like to try but have been too afraid until now? What stops you from doing this thing?
Do you know what ‘comfort zone’ means? Do we all live inside our comfort zones? Why do we do that?
Writing
You are going to write a letter to your local administration office.
You want the local authorities to open a nudist colony.
State your reasons very clearly why you think this is a good idea.
You must be respectable and polite at all times in your letter while at the same time being firm.
Group Work
You are an advertising agency.
A nudist appreciation website has asked you to do their advertising.
Work with your group and then present your ideas to the rest of the class.
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