In November 2026, Collins Dictionary named “mogging” its Word of the Year and Dictionary.com chose “maxxing”. Both words come from internet slang used by younger people. Students learn the new words, read about the shortlists and discuss slang, self-improvement and how language changes. This B2 version uses a challenging reading full of new words, so it also works well with strong B2 and C1 groups.
Level: B2 · Time: 45 to 90 minutes. Pick the activities that suit your class. They work in almost any order.
Lesson Activities
- Warmer: What Is This? – students guess the picture as the squares are revealed. (Answer: a dictionary.) Then ask: what is a “word of the year”?
- Vocabulary Match – 10 words from the reading, matched with simple definitions. Do this before reading.
- Reading: Out-Mogged and Over-Maxxed – a gap-fill text with a word bank and audio. Students put the 15 new words into the article.
- Sort: What Is Each Word About? – students sort 12 new words into four topics: food, hair and home; people and looks; technology and games; work, money and cars. Do this after reading.
- Discussion Cards – 12 questions, from personal to opinion.
- Ranking: Which Words Will Last? – students rank 9 new words by how likely people are to still use them in 2030, and defend their choices.
Teacher Tips
- For a shorter lesson (45 minutes), use the warmer, the vocabulary match, the reading and the discussion cards.
- Language focus: word formation. Point out compounds (carspreading, friendslop), blends (fricy = fruity + spicy) and suffixes (-maxxing). Ask students to invent a new “-maxxing” word and define it.
- Follow-up: students choose their own word of the year for 2026 and write a short paragraph explaining their choice.
Looking for an easier version? Try the A2 lesson.