TEACHING ENGLISH ONLINE
Business English
Through Coaching and
Conversation - Lesson Plans
Over 60 simple, conversational lesson plans
including behavioural, skills and issues-based, and
industry specific topics in addition to
behavioural interview questions and much more!
Written by DAVID OSTROWSKI
Edited by MARIA MARQUEZ
Lesson
Plans
4. Leadership conversation
9. Behavioural conversation
20. Skills-based conversation
34. Issues-based conversation
37. Information Technology
41. Marketing
46. Human Resources
59. Medical
63. Retail
66. Banking & Risk topics
69. Idioms
75. Phrasal verbs
79. Advanced collocations
87. Behavioural questions
89. Basic questions
90. Situational questions
91. Appendix
How to use
Lesson Plans
Using the following lesson plans is very simple! Remember,
we are focusing on teaching through coaching and
conversation. Here is some useful information and tips The leadership, behavioural, skills, and issues-based topics
all come with a similar objective focusing around boosting
the confidence of students. To the right, you will find a box
of useful, relevant phrasal verbs, idioms, and advanced
collocations which you can send to a student prior to the
lesson, with the aim of utilising it during your lesson.
Additionally, these words and phrases can then become part
of his/her active vocabulary. Of course, you may wish to
use your own vocabulary and phrases which you feel are
more relevant to use during a lesson.
The industry-specific topics also have a similar section to
the right. However, these points act as both prompts for
you, as the teacher, as well as pre-work for the student.
Again, consider sending these points to your students to
encourage preparation.
LEADERSHIP
Empathy
OBJECTIVES
To confidently discuss and
describe the nature of
empathy in the workplace
accompanied with real-life
examples and relevant vocab
to build confidence
USEFUL COLLOCATIONS,
IDIOMS, OR PHRASAL
VERBS
Boost confidence
Delicate balance
Put myself in your shoes
Go the extra mile
Got out on the wrong side of the
bed
Relate to
Look after
DISCUSSION POINTS
What is your understanding of the term 'empathy'?
What other words would you use to describe demonstrating empathy in the
workplace with colleagues?
Why is empathy in the workplace important?
In what situations would empathy be required in business environments?
Would you describe yourself as an empathetic person?
Describe a time when you have required your manager to demonstrate
empathy towards you.
Describe a time when you have had to demonstrate empathy towards your
colleague or team.
What can happen to workplace relationships if empathy is not demonstrated
regularly?
When could utilising empathy and understanding in the workplace require you
to be harsh and direct towards members of your team?
If you are not particularly empathetic in the workplace, what could you do to
develop your skills?
BEHAVIOURS
Success
OBJECTIVES
To confidently discuss and describe
the importance of celebrating
success in the workplace
accompanied with real-life examples
and relevant vocab to build
confidence
USEFUL COLLOCATIONS,
IDIOMS, OR PHRASAL
VERBS
Celebrate success
Praise sandwich
Humble opinion
Brag about
Boast about
Work on
Level up
Move on
DISCUSSION POINTS
Would you describe yourself as successful in your career?
What have been some of the high points/main achievements?
Is your company a successful one? What is their history of success?
How does your company measure success?
What specific KPIs are you required to deliver on in your role?
Are 'numbers' the best way to measure success? Why could this not be the
case?
Why do most companies focus on 'numbers'; for example, sales?
Do you think it's important to always remain humble when it comes to
describing your success? If so, why?
What's more important, immediate success, or long-term, sustained success?
Why?
How do you maintain long-term success? What are some of the obstacles?
Have you ever had times where you have felt impatient or demoralised
because it has taken time to be successful?
How do you motivate yourself in these cases?
SKILLS
Informal Communication
OBJECTIVES
To confidently discuss and
describe the importance of
informal communication in the
workplace accompanied with
real-life examples and relevant
vocab to build confidence
USEFUL COLLOCATIONS,
IDIOMS, OR PHRASAL
VERBS
All ears
Dog eat dog
Cut to the chase
Drop by
Drop off
Ping off
Chat about
Run into
DISCUSSION POINTS
What's your opinion on informal communication?
Is the view that informal communication is unacceptable an outdated one?
Do you struggle in any situations when informal communication is necessary?
What informal communication tools do you use? (Whatsapp, WeChat, Skype,
Zoom, Slack)
Can informal communication also be non-visual (Kanban boards, etc.)?
How does informal communication differ from formal?
In what situations would you use the tools you mentioned?
How has communication changed since the increase in remote working due to
Covid-19?
How does informality also relate to appearance and behaviour?
In which situations can informality aid in building relationships (team-building,
company parties, etc.)?
Have you been to company conferences and to mingle/network with superiors
in an informal manner? What was this experience like?
When is it it appropriate to be more informal with a superior?
INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY
Agile Methodology
OBJECTIVES
To discuss and describe Agile
Methodology in the workplace,
how you use it, and the
benefits, whilst using real-life
examples to build confidence
in the workplace
TECHNICAL
PROMPTS/PRE-WORK
Scrum meetings
Role of Scrum Master
Sprint review
Benefits of multiple releases
Kanban boards
Comparison with Waterfall
DISCUSSION POINTS
What is Agile Methodology?
Describe the stages of Agile from Scrum, Sprint, Sprint Review, Retrospective,
etc.
What are the key benefits of using Agile in an IT environment?
Do you believe Agile has some disadvantages? If so, what are they?
What kind of roles have you had in relation to Agile? Have you ever been a
Scrum Master?
Do you use a Kanban board? How is this beneficial to your planning,
organising, and prioritising?
Describe how you and your company have used Agile recently, using some
real-life projects as examples.
What are the key differences between Agile and Waterfall?
What are the benefits of regular releases accompanied by regular feedback?
Why is the Waterfall process not necessarily the best option in IT?
Do you think Agile Methodology should be applied to all industries? Is that
possible? Are there any industries where it wouldn't work?
HR BUSINESS
PARTNER
The 'Conscience' Role
OBJECTIVES
To confidently discuss and describe
the nature of the HRBP role being
the 'conscience' accompanied by
real-life examples and relevant
vocab to build confidence
TECHNICAL
PROMPTS/PRE-WORK
Workplace ethics
Following the law
Pushing back to managers
Strength and resilience
Ability to say "No"
Ensuring impartiality
DISCUSSION POINTS
What is meant by an HRBP being the 'conscience' of a company?
How do you think the role of an HRBP has developed?
Describe some examples of when you have had to 'manage your manager'.
Why is it sometimes necessary to see through the emotion of
colleagues/superiors and remain rational as an HRBP?
Describe some situations where your superior has been about to make a 'rash'
decision, and you have had to step in.
In what situations can superiors often make these decisions?
How can an HRBP role be largely about ethical decisions in the workplace?
How does an HRBP manage equality and diversity in the workplace?
Describe some 'tough' decisions you have had to make as an HRBP.
How have you built trust with managers at the same level in addition to your
superior?
Describe some situations when you have had to use your empathy skills to
resolve a situation.
Have you ever supported the wrong decision? Describe your example.