Contracts

This Legal English lesson plan focuses on essential vocabulary related to contracts, common contract types, and important clauses used in business agreements. Designed for both Business English and General English learners, this lesson provides practical knowledge and real-world application, making it ideal for students with diverse backgrounds. You might also like the worksheet “Idioms: law”.
The lesson starts with a few conversation questions about contracts and students’ experiences with them.
Speaking Practice: Contracts in Everyday Life: The lesson begins with conversation questions about students’ personal experiences with contracts and their understanding of legal agreements.

Vocabulary: Contract Types and Situations: Students match different situations to the appropriate contract type, such as:

• Employment Contract
• Lease Agreement
• Sales/Service Agreement
• Prenuptial Agreement.

They also pair key parties (e.g., landlord and tenant, employer and employee, lender and borrower) to their corresponding contracts. This is followed by additional discussion questions to reinforce understanding.
Reading and Contract-Related Vocabulary: Students read four short dialogues about contracts (e.g., lease, mortgage, loan, sales) and fill in gaps using verbs like renew, renegotiate, breach, terminate, and perform.
Contract Clauses: Students learn about common clauses in contracts, discussing their importance and matching clauses to specific contract types. Examples include:

• Division of property (prenuptial agreement).
• Non-compete clause (employment contract).
• Warranty clause (sales agreement).
• Repayment schedule (loan contract).

They label example clauses with the correct titles, further solidifying their understanding.

Video: Students watch a video called “Essential clauses for business contracts”, and complete 2 listening comprehension activities. A post-listening discussion encourages students to analyze and apply what they’ve learned.

Extension Activity: Exploring Contract Templates
Students are directed to a resource containing contract templates, where they explore the language and structure of a contract relevant to their personal or professional interests.

Who Is This Lesson For?

• Business Professionals: Ideal for professionals who frequently deal with contracts, such as managers, entrepreneurs, and HR specialists.
• Law Students and Legal Professionals: A great resource for those improving their Legal English skills to work in international or corporate law settings.
• General English Learners: Suitable for learners interested in understanding English for everyday legal situations, such as renting a home or signing a job contract.