This downloadable PDF lesson plan for English teachers helps C1 ESL students master job interviews. This class material covers key vocabulary, grammar for emphasis, and practical role-playing exercises to build confidence and fluency.
This lesson helps students prepare for job interviews through a variety of engaging activities. After a warm-up discussion, students learn key vocabulary and idioms related to professional success. They watch a short video for expert advice on storytelling and then focus on using cleft sentences to add emphasis to their achievements.
The lesson culminates in practical scenario challenges and a detailed role-play, allowing students to apply all the new language and strategies in a realistic context.
Activities
- Students begin by discussing first impressions and then complete a gap-fill exercise to learn essential vocabulary for describing skills and experiences, such as 'dazzle', 'riveting', and 'competent'.
- Based on an expert's video advice, students answer comprehension questions about crafting compelling stories. They then match common interview-related idioms and phrasal verbs, like 'ace an interview', to their definitions.
- A clear grammar focus explains how to use cleft sentences (e.g., "It was my experience that...") to add emphasis. Students practice this structure by rewriting sentences to sound more impactful in an interview setting.
- The lesson builds towards practical application with scenario-based discussions and a final, structured role-play. Students take on the roles of interviewer and candidate to practice their skills and receive feedback.
Vocabulary focus
The vocabulary section introduces powerful words for interviews like 'dazzle', 'riveting', 'convey', and 'competent'. It also features a dedicated exercise on useful idioms and phrasal verbs, including 'to ace an interview', 'to have in your back pocket', 'to root for someone', and 'to steer away from'.
Grammar focus
The grammar point is cleft sentences, a powerful tool for adding emphasis. Students learn how to use structures like "It was my creativity that..." and "What I enjoy most is..." to highlight their key strengths and achievements, making their answers more memorable and persuasive during an interview.
