Summary
This downloadable PDF lesson plan for English teachers provides class material for B2 or C1 level students. This ESL lesson focuses on the art of diplomatic language and hedging in business negotiations through a variety of engaging exercises. This comprehensive lesson equips advanced English learners with the tools for effective business communication.
Students explore the concept of hedging through varied activities, including a warm-up discussion, a vocabulary matching task, and a grammar analysis. They will complete a listening gap-fill and practice rewriting direct statements before applying their skills in a realistic negotiation role-play, ensuring practical application of the language learned.
Activities
- Students begin by discussing cultural differences in communication and matching key business negotiation terms like 'concession' and 'leverage' to their definitions, building a solid foundation for the lesson.
- The core of the lesson involves a grammar focus on hedging, followed by a listening exercise where students identify and fill in the gaps with diplomatic phrases they hear in a negotiator's speech.
- Learners apply their knowledge through reading and controlled practice exercises, transforming blunt statements into polite alternatives before engaging in a final, collaborative negotiation role-play.
Vocabulary focus
This lesson introduces essential vocabulary for business negotiations. Students will learn and practice key terms such as 'common ground,' 'counter-proposal,' 'deadlock,' 'stakeholder,' and 'leverage.' The activities ensure learners can confidently use this specific lexicon to discuss and navigate complex business agreements.
Grammar focus
The primary grammar point is hedging, a crucial skill for diplomatic communication. The lesson breaks down how to use modal verbs (might, could), introductory phrases (It seems that...), tentative verbs (suggest), and adverbs (perhaps) to soften statements, express opinions cautiously, and maintain a positive negotiating atmosphere.
