Summary
This downloadable PDF lesson plan for English teachers explores modern career development. This ESL class material helps advanced students discuss non-linear career paths, moving beyond the traditional 'corporate ladder' concept using engaging activities. This lesson helps students discuss career goals using the 'rock-climbing wall' metaphor. Activities include a warm-up discussion, vocabulary matching and gap-fill exercises, and comprehension questions based on a short video. Students will practice using gerunds and infinitives to talk about their professional plans. The lesson culminates in a practical role-play where students simulate a career development meeting with their manager, using newly learned phrases to articulate non-linear ambitions.
Activities
- Students begin by comparing two metaphors for a career: a traditional ladder and a modern rock-climbing wall. This discussion activates prior knowledge and sets the stage for the lesson's central theme of flexible career progression.
- Learners watch a short video explaining the benefits of viewing a career as a 'rock wall.' They then answer comprehension questions to check their understanding of concepts like playing to your strengths and psychologically safe environments.
- The lesson includes a focused grammar section on using gerunds and infinitives to talk about career plans and goals. After a clear explanation, students complete a gap-fill exercise to solidify their understanding and apply the rules.
- The lesson ends with a collaborative role-play. In pairs, students simulate a career development meeting between an employee and a manager to discuss non-linear goals, using the vocabulary and functional phrases taught in the lesson.
Vocabulary focus
This lesson introduces essential business English vocabulary for discussing career growth. Key terms include metaphors like 'career ladder' vs. 'rock wall,' and verbs/phrases such as 'broaden your scope,' 'tackle a challenge,' 'play to your strengths,' 'backtrack,' 'add to your toolkit,' and the idiom 'knock it out of the park.'
Grammar focus
The grammar section focuses on the correct use of gerunds (verb + -ing) and infinitives (to + verb) when discussing career ambitions. It covers their use after specific verbs, after prepositions, as the subject of a sentence, and to express purpose, which are common structures in professional goal-setting.
