Summary
This downloadable lesson plan for English teachers provides class material on franchise agreements. Ideal for B2 business students, this lesson explores the language of franchising, contracts, and negotiation through practical, engaging activities.
This lesson helps advanced students explore the intricacies of business negotiations. Activities include a warm-up discussion on famous franchises, a key vocabulary matching task, and a listening gap-fill about reviewing an agreement. Students will engage in a reading comprehension exercise on a franchise dispute and participate in a realistic role-play to apply useful phrases for business negotiations. The material is designed to generate meaningful conversation and provide practical communication tools for high-stakes business situations.
Activities
This lesson guides students through the complexities of franchise agreements. Activities begin with a warm-up discussion on famous franchises and a key vocabulary matching task. Students then complete a listening gap-fill about reviewing an agreement and a reading comprehension exercise on a franchise dispute. The lesson culminates in a practical role-play where students negotiate the terms of a fictional franchise, applying all the language and concepts learned throughout the class.
- Students start by matching key franchising terms like 'royalty fees' and 'due diligence' with their definitions, building the foundational vocabulary needed to understand legal and business agreements.
- A listening exercise challenges students to fill in the gaps in a monologue where a franchisee discusses their experience reviewing a contract, honing their listening skills for specific business details.
- A reading comprehension task based on a news article about a franchise dispute helps students analyze conflicts and understand the real-world application of contract clauses and legal language.
- The lesson concludes with a structured role-play where students act as a franchisee and franchisor, using provided prompts and useful phrases to negotiate the terms of a gym franchise.
Transcript
Reviewing the franchise agreement was quite extensive. We had to pay close attention to the royalty fees and initial investment. The franchisor offered substantial marketing support, which was a major selling point. However, the exclusive territory clause required careful negotiation. Ultimately, we completed our due diligence thoroughly before signing. It's crucial to understand every term and condition.
Vocabulary focus
The lesson introduces essential business and legal vocabulary related to franchising, including terms like 'franchisor,' 'franchisee,' 'due diligence,' 'turnkey operation,' and 'exclusive territory.' It also provides a comprehensive list of useful phrases for business negotiations, covering how to ask for clarification, express concerns, and propose new terms in a professional context.
Grammar focus
The grammar section focuses on modal verbs of obligation and necessity. Students learn to correctly use 'must,' 'have to,' 'should,' 'must not,' and 'don't have to' to discuss rules, recommendations, and prohibitions within the context of a legal agreement. A gap-fill exercise allows them to practice applying these modals to sentences about franchise rules and responsibilities.
