Summary
This downloadable PDF lesson plan for English teachers explores diversity and inclusion at work. This ESL class material helps B1 students learn and practice the language of belonging, fostering respectful communication in professional contexts.
This complete lesson plan guides students through the topic of workplace inclusion. Activities include a warm-up discussion, a vocabulary matching task, and a listening comprehension exercise about a colleague's experience. Students will read a short article about a company's D&I policy, analyze useful phrases for inclusive conversations, and put everything into practice with real-world role-play scenarios. It's designed to build both language skills and cultural awareness in a business English setting.
Activities
- Students begin by matching key D&I terms like 'equity' and 'unconscious bias' with their definitions. This is followed by a listening exercise where they fill gaps in a short monologue from a colleague discussing the importance of inclusive language at their job.
- The lesson includes a clear grammar explanation and practice exercise on using gender-neutral job titles and the singular 'they'. A reading comprehension task based on a short article about a new company policy reinforces understanding in context.
- Learners are equipped with useful phrases for inviting different perspectives and showing support. The lesson culminates in a practical speaking activity where students role-play scenarios, such as politely correcting a non-inclusive greeting in a meeting.
Transcript
I've learned that using inclusive language at work is really crucial. It ensures everyone feels respected and valued, fostering a sense of belonging. We're encouraged to avoid gendered terms and instead use neutral expressions like team or colleagues. Actively listening to feedback about language helps us improve. It's an ongoing process, but one that truly strengthens our team dynamics.
Vocabulary focus
The vocabulary section introduces essential terms for discussing diversity and inclusion. Key words include: diversity, inclusion, belonging, equity, unconscious bias, and ally. These terms are crucial for understanding and participating in modern workplace conversations about creating a positive environment.
Grammar focus
The grammar section concentrates on practical aspects of inclusive language. It explains how to replace gendered job titles (e.g., 'chairman') with neutral alternatives ('chairperson') and teaches the correct use of the singular 'they' as an inclusive pronoun when a person's gender is unknown or irrelevant.
