Summary
This downloadable PDF lesson plan for B2 ESL students focuses on using discourse markers to structure complex business arguments. The material helps students enhance the clarity, coherence, and persuasiveness of their communication in professional settings.
This lesson guides B2 students through the functions of key connecting words like 'however', 'consequently', and 'furthermore'. Activities include a listening exercise, vocabulary matching, a grammar focus on punctuation, and practical application through reading and speaking tasks. The goal is to equip students with the linguistic tools to build logical and impactful arguments in meetings, presentations, and written reports.
Activities
- A warm-up discussion on the importance of structured arguments in a professional context.
- A listening comprehension task where students identify key discourse markers in a short audio clip about business strategy.
- A drag-and-drop vocabulary exercise to match discourse markers (e.g., Furthermore, Consequently) with their correct functions.
- A grammar practice section focused on the correct punctuation and placement of discourse markers within sentences.
- A gap-fill reading activity based on an article about the hybrid work model, requiring students to use discourse markers to ensure coherence.
- A guided speaking practice where students use the target language to build arguments on various business-related topics.
Vocabulary focus
The vocabulary section introduces essential discourse markers for structuring arguments. Key terms include "Furthermore," "Consequently," "However," "For instance," "In summary," and "Nevertheless." Students learn how these connectors are used to add information, show contrast, indicate results, provide examples, and conclude their points effectively.
Grammar focus
This lesson concentrates on the correct punctuation and placement of discourse markers. It specifically addresses using a comma after a discourse marker that introduces a sentence (e.g., "Therefore, we need to adapt...") and offsetting them with commas when they appear mid-sentence to connect independent clauses.
