One of the skills that I have
most focused on in my classes is the oral one. Most part of the time, students want
to SPEAK the language rather than just study its grammar (by answering some grammar
exercises) in class.
Considering that speaking is
developed by practice (that’s just my opinion), I developed some short
activities that can be used by teachers in their EFL/ESL classes.
This one is meant to be used with B2
or C1 students.
PROCEDURE: Write the situation on the board
TIME: 30 to 40 minutes
TOPIC: business
SKILL: speaking
TEACHER’S
ROLE: facilitator
Read the situation below and
brainstorm with a partner a list of pints that both partners might want to include
in a negotiation
Situation about the employees
and employers:
IMAGINE
A COMPANY. NOW, IMAGINE THAT THE COMPANY FINDS ITSELF IN ECONOMIC DIFFICULTY
AND THEN EMPLOYEES HAVE ALREADY LOST THEIR JOBS. THE EMPLOYEES ARE UNHAPPY WITH
EMPLOYMENT AND SALARY ISSUES.
Now, ask your students to
reflect upon the following questions:
WHY SHOULD EACH
PARTY NEGOTIATE?
WHAT DOES EACH
SIDE WANT TO ACHIEVE?
After the students have reflected
upon the situation as well as discussed with their partners, ask them to share
their thoughts on the topic. Then, divide the group into ‘employees’ and ‘employers’
and simulate the situation above.
Ask them to write short dialogues
as well as practice them in pairs (or groups). Finally, when you feel that students should
talk about negotiation, tell them to start a conversation in which they should
use (some of) the structures/questions below:
I am willing to accept________
if ________.
I think we will have to agree
with_________.
It would be an alternative
to______________.
We can trade this against
________________.
Our intention is________________________.
I would like to_______________________.
We might like
to____________________.
We must________________________.
Our main concern is
__________________.
It is vital that
__________________________.
We refuse to accept
__________________________.
It is extremely important
for us to include ____________.
How about ______________?
Do you feel that you can
accept _______________?
How can we reach a
compromise?
Could you tell us why you
feel like that?
Shall we put this into a
written proposal?
Can you offer us any other
possibility?
And you can give them some
production moment (I am considering the steps of the PPP approach) in which
they are supposed to develop a role-play activity about negotiation (of any kind).
If you have enough time, you
can ask your students to think about the last time they were involved in
situation in which they were supposed to negotiate something.
HOW
MUCH TIME DID THEY SPEND ON PREPARATION?
Ask them if they would prepare
differently if they had to negotiate again.
PORTAL DA
LÍNGUA INGLESA has no responsibility for the
persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-partly internet websites
referred to in this post, and does not guarantee that any context on such websites
are, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.
In some
instances, I have been unable to trace the owners of the pictures used here;
therefore, I would appreciate any information that would enable me to do so.
Thank you very much.
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fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact me!
Your feedback is welcome. Please
direct comments and questions to me at bruno_coriolano@hotmail.com
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