Workplace gossip
Lesson plan overview
This ESL lesson plan is focused on the topic of workplace gossip and how to handle it. Students will learn useful vocabulary and expressions to talk about workplace gossip, will learn how to use indirect speech in the workplace, and will have plenty of opportunities to discuss the topic. You can combine this lesson with the lesson “Dealing with a difficult co-worker”, and the worksheet “Idioms: secrets and gossip”.
Speaking: This lesson starts with 2 speaking activities. First, students are given 7 conversation questions related to workplace gossip to discuss in pairs and small groups. Then they are given 5 discussion statements to agree or disagree with, giving reasons for their answers.
Vocabulary: The target vocabulary for this lesson is introduced through a very short text about why people gossip. it includes words such as bond, undermine, be left out, spread rumors, discredit, vent, let off steam. Students work out the meaning of the words from context and match them to their definitions. Then they complete 2 practice activities. First, they choose the correct option to complete 6 sentences. Then they complete 5 short dialogues with the correct expression. Finally, they discuss a few questions given.
Listening: Students watch a video “Workplace gossip (rules to avoid office gossip)” and complete 2 tasks, after which they engage in a post-listening discussion. After that students are given different situations, and they talk about how they are going to react in each one.
Grammar: Students learn how to use indirect speech in the workplace. First, there is a short explanation of the grammar point. Then students are asked to transform 6 sentences from direct to indirect speech. To practise, students are asked to bring a co-worker up to date with what happened during a business meeting they had not attended, using indirect speech as much as possible.
The conversation cards provide a great opportunity to revise the vocabulary from this lesson.
You can combine this lesson with other Business English topics such as workplace conflict.
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Teacher’s lesson plan
Student’s worksheet
Student’s interactive PDF
Conversation cards PDF
Pre-class activities
All video-based ESL lesson plans include online pre-class activities, which are FREE and can be completed without registration. Perfect for teachers who wish to embrace the blended learning approach. By providing students with resources and engagement opportunities before the actual class session, educators can foster active participation, enhance comprehension, and optimise in-class discussions.
The pre-class activities are optional: if you choose not to assign them, or your students don’t complete them, it will not disturb the flow of the class. You can find and review the pre-class activities for this lesson plan here:
To send the pre-class activities to your students, copy the link below.
In-class activities
Additional resources
Each video-based lesson plan includes links to additional resources (videos and articles), which are FREE can be found online (in the pre-class activities page. These links aim to extend the learning experience, enabling students to connect classroom knowledge with real-world applications.
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Teacher’s lesson plan
Student’s worksheet
Student’s interactive PDF
Conversation cards PDF
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