The power of persuasion

This ESL worksheet introduces learners to the psychological principles of persuasion, emphasizing how these techniques are applied in business and everyday decision-making. Throughout the lesson, students explore seven principles of influence through guided vocabulary work, listening tasks, speaking activities, and structured role-plays. Other lessons you might like are: “The art of listening“, “Communication styles: assertive vs aggressive“, “Elevator pitch“, “Self-confidence“, “Motivation“, “High-stakes negotiations“, “Negotiation strategies“, “Phrasal verbs: negotiations“, “Phrasal verbs: convincing and persuading“, and “Idioms: compromising“.

The lesson begins with a couple of conversation questions, and then moves on to a vocabulary matching task that introduces key terms such as “scarcity,” “commitment,” and “owe,” followed by a controlled practice activity using these new expressions in context, choosing the best option to complete sentences related to influence and motivation. Learners then use discussion prompts which encourage them to reflect on personal experiences with persuasion.

A video-based listening segment titled “7 Principles of Psychological Persuasion” forms the core of the worksheet. In the first listening task, students identify and summarize each principle, focusing on how it operates in real-life scenarios. In the second part, they analyze a practical business example, taking notes on how the speaker (Jane) applies multiple persuasive techniques in a promotional setting. Sample answers are provided to support classroom discussion and reinforce understanding.

Subsequent speaking activities prompt learners to evaluate and compare the seven principles, discuss ethical implications, and consider how these techniques can be applied or resisted in areas like sales, social media, customer service, and leadership. Students then complete a role-play exercise using functional language for persuasion and negotiation, including expressions for making requests, offering returns, justifying decisions, and closing deals.

For more speaking practice, you can use the conversation cards.

This worksheet is suitable for professionals in marketing, sales, and customer relations, as well as advanced ESL learners looking to develop persuasive communication skills for business and social contexts.