Summary
This downloadable PDF lesson plan for English teachers helps C1 students discuss career change. This ESL class material uses a video and role-play to explore professional growth, making it a complete lesson on a key business topic. This C1 English lesson guides students through the topic of career disruption.
Activities start with a warm-up discussion about feeling stuck professionally. Students then learn key vocabulary before watching a video on the S-curve of learning. The lesson includes grammar practice on inverted conditionals and provides useful phrases for negotiating a role change. It culminates in a role-play where students must convince their manager to support their career move, applying all the language they've learned.
Activities
- Students begin with a warm-up discussion, sharing personal experiences about feeling stuck in a job and exploring the signs that it's time for a professional change. This activates prior knowledge and sets the stage for the lesson's core theme of career development.
- Based on a video by career expert Whitney Johnson, students answer comprehension questions about the "S-curve of learning." They will identify the signs of needing a career change and understand the theory's three stages, from launch point to mastery.
- The lesson includes a targeted grammar exercise on the inverted third conditional. Students learn to transform standard conditional sentences into the more formal "Had I known..." structure, which is perfect for advanced-level business and formal discussions.
- The lesson culminates in a practical role-play activity where students simulate a conversation with a manager about changing roles. Using key vocabulary and phrases, they must present a persuasive argument for their career development and growth within the company.
Vocabulary focus
The vocabulary section introduces advanced terms for discussing career progression and stagnation. Key words include "complacent" (overly comfortable), "plateau" (a period of no growth), "precipice" (a dangerous situation), "a creeping feeling" (a slowly developing sense of unease), "to codify" (to formalize), and "exhilaration" (excitement). These terms are practiced in context throughout the lesson.
Grammar focus
The grammar point is the inverted third conditional, a structure used for emphasis and formality in C1-level English. Students practice transforming sentences like "If I had known..." into "Had I known...". This helps them express hypothetical past situations in a more sophisticated way, which is particularly useful in business contexts and formal writing.
