Summary
This downloadable PDF lesson plan for English teachers helps B2-level ESL students master business communication. This class material focuses on the language of procurement, vendor selection, and negotiation, making it a valuable resource for any business English lesson.
This comprehensive lesson guides students through the process of choosing a business partner. Activities include a warm-up discussion, a vocabulary matching task for key procurement terms, a listening gap-fill, and a reading comprehension exercise based on a case study. The lesson culminates in a practical role-play where students negotiate a business deal, applying the language and grammar learned. It provides a structured approach to mastering professional communication skills for vendor management and negotiations.
Activities
- Students begin by defining and matching key business terms like 'procurement,' 'RFP,' and 'due diligence,' building a foundational vocabulary for the topic. This activity sets the stage for understanding the entire vendor selection process.
- A short listening exercise requires students to fill in the gaps in a description of a vendor selection process. This task sharpens their listening comprehension skills for business contexts and reinforces key vocabulary in an authentic setting.
- Students practice grammar and communication skills in a final role-play. They take on the roles of a buyer and a vendor to negotiate a contract, using the second conditional and useful phrases learned throughout the lesson to reach a deal.
Vocabulary focus
The lesson introduces essential vocabulary for business procurement and supplier management. Key terms include: procurement, vendor, supplier, RFP (Request for Proposal), quote, due diligence, terms and conditions, compliance, and mitigate risk. Students also learn useful phrases for requesting quotes, clarifying details, negotiating, and stating requirements.
Grammar focus
The grammar section centers on using the second conditional (If + past simple, ... would + infinitive) for hypothetical situations. This structure is presented as a vital tool for business negotiations, allowing students to make offers, counter-offers, and discuss potential outcomes in a professional and nuanced way, such as "If you offered a discount, we would sign the contract."
