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.
- Warm-up and discussion: Students begin by discussing common workplace challenges, brainstorming solutions for scenarios like dealing with micromanagers or colleagues who take credit for their work. This sets the stage for the topic and activates prior knowledge.
- Listening comprehension: A listening exercise features a personal account of managing a difficult colleague. Students complete a gap-fill task to practice their listening comprehension and then answer follow-up questions to check their understanding of the key strategies mentioned.
- Case study analysis: Learners analyze a case study about 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.
- Role-play scenarios: The lesson concludes with a dynamic role-play activity where students practice difficult conversations. Scenarios include dealing with an interrupter, a public critic, and a colleague who over-delegates, promoting fluency and confidence.
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.
