Summary
This downloadable PDF lesson plan for English teachers helps B1 students master small talk at work. This class material provides practical exercises and conversation starters to build confidence in professional settings, making it a valuable ESL resource.
Activities
- Warm-up discussion: Students start by discussing the purpose and cultural norms of small talk, encouraging them to share their own experiences and opinions on "safe" topics for professional environments.
- Vocabulary practice: Learners build a foundation for natural-sounding conversations through a matching exercise where they connect common questions with appropriate replies for various workplace situations.
- Listening comprehension: This lesson includes an audio exercise where students fill in the gaps in typical office conversation starters, helping them sharpen their listening skills and recognize key phrases in real-time.
- Guided role-play: Students consolidate their learning with realistic role-play scenarios, practicing how to initiate, maintain, and politely end conversations in common workplace situations like the office kitchen or waiting for an elevator.
Vocabulary focus
The lesson introduces essential phrases for workplace interactions. Students learn how to start a conversation ("How was your weekend?"), show interest ("That sounds nice"), and end a conversation politely ("I should get back to work"). The vocabulary covers topics like weekends, commutes, and daily workload, providing students with practical language for immediate use.
Grammar focus
The grammar section targets two key tenses used in small talk. Students will review and practice the Past Simple to talk about past events like their weekend activities. The lesson also contrasts "will" and "be going to" for discussing future plans, ensuring students can accurately talk about upcoming holidays or weekend intentions.
