Summary
This downloadable PDF lesson plan for English teachers provides C2-level ESL class material on global trade. Students will learn the advanced vocabulary and diplomatic language needed for high-stakes tariff negotiations, culminating in a realistic role-play. This comprehensive lesson guides C2 students through the complexities of international trade talks.
Activities include a warm-up discussion, a listening gap-fill, and vocabulary exercises on key economic terms. Students will analyze a news report, practice diplomatic grammar like inversion and hedging, and learn essential negotiation phrases. The lesson culminates in a detailed role-play where students must negotiate a tariff agreement, applying all the language and concepts they have learned.
Activities
- Students begin by discussing complex topics like trade wars and protectionism. They then complete a listening gap-fill exercise to familiarise themselves with the core concepts and vocabulary of international trade negotiations.
- Learners master advanced economic terminology through a matching exercise and a contextual reading task. They fill gaps in a news report about a trade pact stalemate, using words like 'impasse' and 'concessions'.
- The lesson focuses on diplomatic communication, teaching hedging language and inversion in conditional clauses. Students then apply these skills in a structured role-play, negotiating an EV tariff agreement between two economic blocs.
Transcript
00:00 International trade negotiations are always complex, often involving intricate tariff discussions.00:06 Each country aims to protect its domestic industries while also seeking better access to foreign markets.00:13 Striking a delicate balance is crucial for maintaining global economic stability.00:19 High tariffs can easily trigger retaliatory measures, which in turn hinders the flow of free trade.00:28 Conversely, open trade agreements typically foster greater competition and offer consumers more choice.00:36 The profound impact of these negotiations truly shapes national economies worldwide.00:43 Ultimately, successful trade deals require significant compromise and foresight from all parties involved.
Vocabulary focus
This lesson focuses on the specialized lexicon of economics and trade. Key vocabulary includes terms for trade policies like 'protectionism', 'subsidy', and 'non-tariff barriers', as well as negotiation concepts such as 'reciprocity', 'impasse', 'concessions', and 'quid pro quo'.
Grammar focus
The grammar section is dedicated to the nuanced, diplomatic language required in C2-level negotiations. It focuses on using inversion in conditional clauses (e.g., 'Were we to agree...') and hedging language with modal verbs ('We might consider...') to soften statements and propose ideas formally.
