Lesson Topic: Workplace Communication & Professional Vocabulary

Objectives:

 To enhance students’ ability to communicate in a professional environment.

 To introduce common workplace phrases and vocabulary.
 To practice writing emails and messages in a professional context.
 To practice speaking and role-playing common workplace scenarios.

Materials:

 Whiteboard and markers

 Handouts with vocabulary and expressions
 Computers/tablets (optional for online practice)
 Example emails and role-play scenarios
 Audio/video (optional)

Lesson Structure:

1. Warm-up (10 minutes)

 Start with a quick discussion: "What types of jobs do you want to have in the future?"
o Ask students to share in small groups or with the whole class.
 Introduce the topic of workplace communication: "In every job, you will need to
communicate clearly and professionally. Let's learn some common expressions and
vocabulary used at work."

2. Vocabulary Introduction (15 minutes)

 Introduce and explain the following vocabulary, writing the words on the whiteboard and
giving examples:
o Meeting: A formal gathering of people to discuss work-related topics.
o Deadline: The date or time by which something must be completed.
o Task: A specific piece of work assigned to someone.
o Co-worker: A person you work with.
o Supervisor: A person who oversees and manages work tasks.
o Feedback: Information about how well someone is doing, used for improvement.
o Client: A person or company that receives services or products from a business.
o Report: A document that provides information about work progress or results.
 Have students repeat the words aloud to practice pronunciation.

3. Role-play Activity (20 minutes)

 Divide students into pairs or small groups. Provide them with common workplace
scenarios for role-playing:
o Scenario 1: You are asking a co-worker to help you meet a deadline.
o Scenario 2: You are writing an email to your supervisor asking for feedback on
your performance.
o Scenario 3: You are explaining a task to a new colleague.
 Students practice these scenarios, taking turns to play different roles (employee, co-
worker, supervisor).
 After the role-play, ask students to discuss what went well and what could be improved.

4. Writing an Email (15 minutes)

 Provide students with an example of a professional email. Example:

o Subject: Request for Feedback on My Recent Report
o Dear [Supervisor's Name],
o I hope this message finds you well. I would like to request your feedback on
the report I submitted last week. Any suggestions for improvement would be
greatly appreciated.
o Best regards,
o [Your Name]
 Ask students to write their own emails in response to a given scenario, such as:
o Email to a supervisor asking for help with a task.
o Email to a client thanking them for a recent meeting.
 Share examples as a class and discuss.

5. Listening & Speaking Practice (10 minutes)

 Play a short audio clip or video of a workplace conversation (e.g., a meeting or customer
service scenario).
 Ask students to listen for specific vocabulary (e.g., deadlines, task assignments,
feedback).
 After the listening activity, have students summarize what was discussed and identify key
phrases used in the conversation.

6. Wrap-up and Homework (5 minutes)

 Review key vocabulary and phrases learned during the lesson.

 Assign homework: Write a short email (150-200 words) to a co-worker or supervisor
about a task you need help with, using some of the vocabulary from the lesson.
 Encourage students to practice using the phrases and vocabulary learned in real-life
situations.

Additional Activities:
 Online Resources: Use websites like BBC Learning English or Cambridge English for
listening and vocabulary exercises.
 Group Projects: Have students work in teams to create a professional presentation on a
topic related to their vocational field (e.g., hospitality, business, mechanics).

This lesson plan incorporates both written and spoken activities, encouraging students to develop
communication skills they will use in their future careers

Scenario 1 You are asking a co-worker to help you meet a deadline

Me: Hey [Co-worker's Name], do you have a minute? I need a bit of help with a project, and I’m
feeling a bit overwhelmed with the deadline coming up.

Co-worker: Sure, what’s going on?

Me: So, I’m working on the [project/task], and I’m running short on time to wrap everything up.
I’m trying to finish [specific part of the task], but I’m struggling to make the deadline. Would
you be able to help me out by [specific task you need help with]?

Co-worker: Hmm, I see. I can definitely help you out with that. How soon do you need it done?

Me: Ideally, I’d need it by [specific time or date]. If you can assist me with that, I can focus on
the other parts of the project and get everything finished on time.

Co-worker: Alright, I can prioritize that for you. I’ll get started on it now and should have it to
you in about [estimate of time].

Me: Thank you so much! I really appreciate it. You’re a lifesaver.

Co-worker: No problem, happy to help!

Scenario 2 You are writing an email to your supervisor asking for feedback on your
performance

Subject: Request for Feedback on My Performance

Dear [Supervisor's Name],

I hope you're doing well. I wanted to take a moment to reach out and request your feedback on
my performance over the past few months. As I continue to work on improving my skills and
contributions, I believe your insights would be incredibly valuable.
Specifically, I’d appreciate your thoughts on areas where I’ve been excelling and any aspects
where you feel there is room for improvement. Your feedback will help me better align with the
team’s goals and grow professionally.

Please let me know if you’d prefer to discuss this during a one-on-one meeting or if you’d like to
share your feedback via email.

Thank you in advance for your time and guidance. I look forward to hearing from you.

Best regards,
[Your Name]
[Your Job Title]
[Your Contact Information]

Scenario 3 You are explaining a task to a new colleague

Me: "Hey there! Welcome to the team. I wanted to walk you through a task we'll be working on
today so you can get up to speed quickly. Are you ready?"

New Colleague: "Yes, I'm ready!"

Me: "Great! So, the task we're focusing on today is compiling the monthly report for our client.
It's a bit of a multi-step process, but don't worry, I'll guide you through it."

New Colleague: "Sounds good!"

Me: "Perfect. First, we’ll gather all the data from the different departments. This includes sales
numbers, customer feedback, and performance metrics. We have an internal folder where
everything is stored, so I’ll share that with you now. You’ll just need to download the latest files
from each department and organize them by category."

New Colleague: "Okay, I’ll make sure to sort them out."

Me: "Exactly! Once that’s done, the next step is to summarize the data. For each category, you’ll
create a short bullet-point summary that highlights the key numbers and trends. If you come
across anything unusual, just flag it so we can discuss it later."

New Colleague: "Got it. So, I’m just summarizing the important points from each department?"

Me: "Exactly. After that, you’ll need to format the data into our report template. The template
includes sections for each department, and we need to insert the summarized data accordingly.
There’s also a section for recommendations at the end, so if you notice any areas for
improvement or suggest actions based on the data, include that as well."
New Colleague: "Alright, I’ll make sure to follow the template and add recommendations if
needed."

Me: "Great! Lastly, before submitting, we’ll do a quick review. I’ll look over the draft, and if
there are any adjustments to make, we’ll address them together. Once everything looks good, we
send the report off to the client."

New Colleague: "Got it! Thanks for the clear breakdown. I feel confident about getting started."

Me: "You’re welcome! Let me know if you have any questions along the way. I’m here to help."