Summary
This downloadable PDF lesson plan for English teachers helps C2 students discuss geopolitics and supply chains. This advanced ESL class material is perfect for business English.
This C2 business English lesson explores the impact of geopolitics on global supply chains. Students begin with a warm-up discussion before learning key vocabulary. Activities include a listening gap-fill with an expert's analysis, comprehension questions, and a grammar focus on the formal conjunction 'lest'. The lesson culminates in a strategic role-play where students act as company executives during a supply chain crisis, applying the new language and concepts to solve a real-world business problem.
Activities
- Students start by discussing the real-world effects of global events on product availability, connecting the topic to their personal experiences and activating prior knowledge.
- The lesson features a C2-level listening exercise where students complete a gap-fill while listening to an expert analyze supply chain vulnerabilities and the need for new strategies.
- A targeted grammar section introduces the formal conjunction 'lest' with the subjunctive, allowing students to practice rewriting sentences to express urgency and negative purpose.
- The final task is a collaborative role-play in which students, as senior executives, must devise a strategic plan to mitigate a severe supply chain disruption, using the lesson's vocabulary.
Vocabulary focus
This lesson introduces advanced vocabulary for discussing global trade and business strategy. Key terms include 'geopolitical realignments' (shifts in global power), 'inherent vulnerabilities' (fundamental weaknesses), 'production paradigms' (business models), 'mitigation strategies' (action plans to reduce risk), and 'nearshoring' (relocating operations to a nearby country).
Grammar focus
The grammar section provides an in-depth look at the formal conjunction 'lest'. Students learn how to use it with the subjunctive mood (base form of the verb) to express a negative purpose or to warn against a potential outcome (e.g., 'Diversify the supply chain lest we face another disruption.'). This structure is ideal for formal and academic writing, adding sophistication to students' language.
