Summary
This downloadable PDF lesson plan for English teachers helps B1 students practice requesting time off. This ESL class material covers essential vocabulary and grammar for professional communication in the office, focusing on annual and sick leave.
This practical business English lesson helps students master the language for requesting time off and calling in sick. Activities include a warm-up discussion, a vocabulary matching exercise, and a listening gap-fill. Students will study useful phrases for different situations, analyze a reading text about modern leave policies, and practice their skills through guided role-play scenarios. The focus is on building confidence in real-world workplace communication.
Activities
- Warm-up discussion and a vocabulary matching exercise to introduce key terms like 'sick leave' and 'annual leave', building a strong foundation for the lesson's theme.
- A short listening exercise where students complete a monologue about planning time off, enhancing their comprehension of spoken English in a professional context.
- A reading comprehension task based on a short article about unlimited leave policies, followed by true/false questions to check understanding and prompt discussion.
- A final role-play activity where students practice conversations between an employee and a manager, applying the new vocabulary and grammar in realistic work scenarios.
Transcript
0:00 I really need to request some time off next month. My daughter has a school play and I don't want to miss it.0:09 I'll check my accrued leave days and then fill out the absence request form. Hopefully my manager approves it quickly.0:19 It's important to give plenty of notice, especially for non-urgent requests.
Vocabulary focus
This lesson introduces essential business English vocabulary for discussing time off. Students will learn and practice terms such as 'sick leave,' 'annual leave,' 'accrued leave,' 'public holiday,' 'a doctor's note,' and key verbs like 'to submit a request,' 'to approve a request,' and 'to cover for someone'.
Grammar focus
The main grammar point is making polite requests using modal verbs. The lesson clearly explains the different levels of formality between 'can,' 'could,' 'may,' and the phrase 'would it be possible to...'. Students solidify their understanding through a practical exercise where they rewrite direct statements into more appropriate, polite questions for the workplace.
