Summary
This downloadable PDF lesson plan for English teachers helps B2 students master business proposals. This ESL class material covers key vocabulary and grammar for crafting winning tender documents and persuasive bids.
This comprehensive business English lesson guides students through the process of writing effective proposals. Activities include a warm-up discussion, vocabulary matching, a listening gap-fill about core principles, and a reading exercise based on a fictional news article. Students then focus on using formal modal verbs for persuasion before analyzing useful phrases for different proposal sections. The lesson culminates in a practical writing task where students draft their own mini-proposal.
Activities
- Start with a discussion to activate their existing knowledge of business proposals and tenders, setting the stage for the new vocabulary and concepts to be introduced.
- Complete a vocabulary matching exercise with essential terms like 'value proposition' and 'evaluation criteria', followed by a listening task where they fill gaps in a project manager's advice.
- Apply their new vocabulary in a reading comprehension task before moving on to a grammar practice focused on using formal modals like 'will', 'should', and 'shall' persuasively.
- Conclude with a structured production activity where they write a short, persuasive proposal, applying the language and phrases learned throughout the class.
Vocabulary focus
The lesson focuses on professional vocabulary essential for business communication. Students will learn and practice terms such as 'tender document', 'bid', 'value proposition', 'evaluation criteria', 'competitive advantage', and 'submission'. Adjectives like 'meticulous' and verbs like 'articulate' are also included to enhance descriptive and persuasive writing skills.
Grammar focus
The grammar section concentrates on using modal verbs for formality and persuasion in professional writing. The lesson explains the distinct functions of 'will' (commitment), 'should' (recommendation), 'must' (obligation), and the highly formal 'shall' (contractual promise). Students practice transforming informal sentences into professional statements appropriate for a business proposal.