Summary
This downloadable PDF lesson plan for English teachers helps C1 students navigate remote conflict. This ESL class material provides a complete lesson on communication, psychology, and de-escalation techniques for the modern workplace. It guides students through the complexities of remote workplace disagreements, with activities starting with a discussion on personal experiences, followed by a vocabulary exercise on the psychology of conflict.
Students watch a video for deeper understanding, practice de-escalation phrases, and learn to use hedging language. The lesson culminates in a practical role-play, allowing students to apply their new communication skills in realistic scenarios, fostering more diplomatic and effective conflict resolution.
Activities
- Students start by sharing personal experiences with remote miscommunication, exploring the unique challenges and potential benefits of handling disagreements from a distance.
- Learners complete a vocabulary gap-fill exercise on the psychology of conflict before watching an insightful video. They then answer comprehension questions to solidify their understanding of why remote communication can be so challenging.
- The lesson provides extensive practice with diplomatic language, focusing on modals of speculation and hedging phrases. Students apply this grammar in a culminating role-play, navigating common remote conflict scenarios.
Vocabulary focus
The lesson focuses on vocabulary to discuss the psychology of remote communication and conflict. Key terms include: inevitable, nonverbal cues, misattribute, ripe for, reflexive, instinctive, underlying, fidelity, and vulnerable. Students also learn useful phrases for de-escalation and showing humility.
Grammar focus
The primary grammar point is the use of hedging language and modals of speculation to discuss sensitive topics diplomatically. Students practice transforming direct accusations into softer statements using phrases like "it seems like," "it appears that," and modals such as "might have," "could have," and "may not be."
