Summary
This downloadable PDF lesson plan for English teachers focuses on business communication. The class material helps B2 students learn the unspoken rules of preparing for meetings and influencing decisions through effective communication strategies and key vocabulary. This ESL lesson plan is based on a video about the 'meeting before the meeting'. Students will start with a discussion on effective meetings, then learn key business idioms.
Activities include video comprehension, vocabulary practice, and a grammar focus on making suggestions. The lesson culminates in a practical role-play where students practice 'socializing an idea' with a colleague, using the new language to get feedback and build support for a proposal before presenting it in a formal setting.
Activities
- Students begin by discussing their experiences with good and bad meetings, activating their existing knowledge and setting the stage for the lesson's theme of effective preparation and communication in a professional context.
- Through a matching exercise and a gap-fill, students learn and practice essential business idioms like 'to socialize an idea', 'naysayer', and 'to be on board', which are crucial for understanding the video and the role-play.
- Learners watch a short video about the importance of pre-meetings. They answer comprehension questions to check their understanding of how ideas are tested and refined before they are officially proposed in a formal setting.
- The lesson concludes with a structured role-play where students practice the art of 'the meeting before the meeting'. They use targeted grammar and vocabulary to propose an idea, seek feedback, and build alliances.
Vocabulary focus
This lesson focuses on key business English idioms and phrases related to workplace communication and influence. Students will learn terms such as 'to socialize an idea', 'ardent supporter', 'naysayer', 'to be on board', and 'unspoken rule'. These expressions are vital for navigating the informal but crucial conversations that often determine the outcome of formal meetings, helping students sound more natural and strategic in a business environment.
Grammar focus
The grammar section centers on collaborative and diplomatic language for making suggestions and seeking opinions. Students practice moving from direct commands to softer, more persuasive forms like 'How about we...?', 'Have you considered (+ing)...?', and 'What's your take on...?'. This helps learners master the art of proposing ideas in a way that invites discussion and feedback rather than creating resistance, which is a key skill in professional settings.
