Summary
This downloadable PDF lesson plan for English teachers helps B2 students navigate workplace conflicts. This ESL class material focuses on professional communication skills, providing vocabulary and grammar for dealing with difficult colleagues in an English-speaking environment.
Activities
This lesson equips students with the language to handle professional disagreements. Activities include a warm-up discussion on conflict scenarios, vocabulary matching, a listening gap-fill, and a case study analysis. Students learn and practice useful phrases for setting boundaries and giving constructive feedback. The lesson culminates in a series of practical role-play scenarios, allowing students to apply their new skills in a safe and supportive class environment.
- A warm-up discussion where students share personal experiences with impulsive actions and regret, setting the stage for the lesson's theme of self-control in real-life scenarios.
- A listening comprehension exercise that features a personal account of managing a difficult colleague. Students complete a gap-fill task and answer follow-up questions to practice their listening skills.
- A case study analysis where learners analyze a conflict between a meticulous planner and a procrastinating teammate. They discuss the best course of action and plan a conversation using the language and grammar points from the lesson.
- Guided role-play scenarios involving common workplace conflicts, such as sending an angry email or interrupting a colleague, allowing students to practice giving and receiving advice using newly learned vocabulary and phrases.
Transcript
00:00 I used to dread team meetings because of Mark's constant negativity.
00:08 Initially, I found it hard to address his unprofessional behavior without escalating the situation.
00:13 However, I learned the importance of setting clear boundaries.
00:17 Now, I focus on presenting constructive feedback calmly and objectively.
00:21 It's crucial to de-escalate tension and stick to facts, not personal attacks.
00:24 Maintaining a professional demeanor, even when provoked, has significantly improved our working relationship.00:27 Ultimately, it's about managing your own reactions as much as theirs.
Vocabulary focus
This lesson introduces key vocabulary for discussing workplace dynamics. Students will learn and practice terms such as "to undermine," "patronizing," "constructive feedback," "to de-escalate," "passive-aggressive," "professional demeanor," and "to address an issue." The vocabulary is presented through a matching exercise and reinforced throughout the lesson.
Grammar focus
The grammar section focuses on using modal verbs for giving polite and diplomatic advice. Students will learn the nuances between strong advice ("should") and softer suggestions ("could," "might want to"). A practice exercise involves rewriting direct statements into more professional and tactful suggestions, a crucial skill for maintaining positive working relationships.
