Business English can have a reputation as…a little boring. Isn’t business the same way? All offices and paperwork, offices and emails?
While yes, you do need to learn all of those things to be successful in the business world (and therefore, you need to learn all of those in business English classes), you’ll be happy to know that your business English lesson plan ideas don’t need to be boring at all!
To help you out, I’ve compiled this list of business English lesson plan ideas to make your lessons engaging, useful, and interesting. Essentially: not boring!
Some extra tips for teaching business English
Before we jump into our business English lesson plans, there are a few things to keep in mind when you’re planning! First, make sure to know where your students are at—some kind of assessment so you know their approximate English levels is a great start.
You will also want to tailor your lessons to provide vocabulary and skills for your students’ specific jobs and businesses. Finally, at the beginning of each lesson, make sure to start with an icebreaker or game! I’m tellin’ ya—English comes much easier when it’s fun to learn!
1. Business English A to Z
Level: All levels
Objectives: To target potential areas of improvement, to assess student knowledge, to introduce new vocabulary
Materials: Whiteboard, timer, individual pencil and paper
“Business English A to Z” is a great lesson that can be adjusted for all levels, and is especially ideal for assessing student knowledge and introducing basic business English vocabulary. It’s also a fun icebreaker and can be used to introduce a variety of different themes and business English lesson ideas.
To begin, write the letters from A to Z on a whiteboard or a chalkboard, with plenty of space. Have the students write out all the letters of the alphabet in their notebooks or on a piece of paper, and begin the timer. The students have five minutes (or more or less, depending on the class—that’s your call!) to list common business English words for each letter.
When the time’s up, students share what they’ve come up with for each letter, while you write them out below their corresponding letters on the board. The student who has the most words per letter wins!
2. Business English Definitions Race
Level: Easily adaptable to all English levels
Objectives: To introduce new vocabulary, review previously learned vocabulary, and assess student knowledge
Materials: Whiteboard or chalkboard (or paper in a pinch), writing implements (markers, pens, chalk), buzzers, list of business English words and their definitions
Also an engaging icebreaker or assessment, the “Business English Definitions Race” can be used to introduce or review business English vocabulary. Split the class into teams, and give each team a buzzer or a pen, depending on the format you choose.
For the teams with buzzers, you’ll read out a common business English word, and whoever answers first, and correctly, gets the points. (Keep a tally on the board!).
You can also write the full list of words on the board ahead of time, and have the teams line up and take turns filling in the proper definitions next to the corresponding word. Whichever team gets the most definitions wins!
3. Job Interview Role Play
Level: Can be adapted to different levels, but some conversational English knowledge is necessary
Objectives: To practice interview questions and responses, to review English grammar and sentence structure
Materials: None necessary, could provide notecards with sample jobs or sample questions, or a video of a sample interview
The “Job Interview Role Play” lesson plan, while more easily adapted to advanced English and above, is useful for anyone learning business English.
As a lead into the lesson, you can have two students practice what they think a typical interview looks like, or show a video of a sample interview. Then, split the class into pairs, and have each student take a turn being interviewed, and being the interviewer.
Depending on the level, you can provide notecards to pass around, filled with sample questions for the interviewer, or with job ideas to give guidance on what students could be “applying” for. The interviews should include greetings, common questions, and typical farewells.
4. Staying In a Hotel
Level: Intermediate to advanced English
Objectives: To learn common phrases and vocabulary needed for hotel stays and general travel
Materials: Whiteboard or notecards for target words and phrases, audio file with an example of hotel receptionist and guest
Many people in business have to travel frequently, and if a student is learning business English, there’s a chance they might need to travel to English-speaking hotels. This lesson, “Staying in a Hotel,” will introduce all the phrases and vocabulary needed for hotel stays in the English world.
Begin with an audio file of a guest checking into a hotel and speaking with the receptionist. Have the students parse out common words and phrases to write on the whiteboard, before splitting them into pairs to practice checking into a hotel.
5. Making Slogans
Level: Intermediate to advanced English
Objectives: Review of common business English vocabulary, practice writing and reading English
Materials: Paper, pencils
“Making Slogans” gets students to use their creative sides while also reviewing and learning business English vocabulary.
To begin, have the class share any famous business slogans they can think of (write them on the board if you wish). Split the class into groups (ideally three or more), and have them brainstorm new slogans for a business. The businesses can already exist, or the students can make up a new business.
For example, students could think of a new slogan for a common worldwide brand, like McDonald’s. They could also brainstorm slogans for a broader business, like a restaurant, or for the businesses they currently work for.
6. Resumé/CV Preparation
Level: Advanced beginner and above
Objectives: To practice writing and reading resumes or CVs
Materials: Various examples of resumés or CVs (preferably hard copies), paper, pencils/pens
An essential skill in business (and in the world) is crafting a resumé or curriculum vitae (CV). That’s generally how you get jobs, after all! For this lesson, share a few examples of resumés via PowerPoint or slides, and then pass out some hard copies of different types of resumés or CVs.
Using these examples, each student will then practice writing out their own resumés, either on paper or on their computers (if they have them).
Be on hand to answer questions, help with formatting, or to discuss issues as they come up.
7. Guess the Brand Bingo
Level: All levels
Objectives: To identify businesses, discuss effective branding, practice English listening skills
Materials: Images of common brand logos on worksheets in different grid patterns, answer key for teacher
“Guess the Brand Bingo” is an engaging lesson for students to delve deeper into the business world. In addition to practicing their English listening, students can discuss common brand logos and what makes them effective, learn English names for businesses, and consider what makes these businesses stand out.
Pass out the bingo worksheets to each student, then, using your answer key, say the name of the business. The student needs to find the brand icon on their sheet and mark it off. Whoever gets four or five in a row first, wins! Just make sure to check their icons with the ones you’ve listened to make sure they got them correct!
8. All About Meetings
Level: Upper intermediate and above is best, although can be adapted to lower levels
Objectives: To practice a typical business meeting, reinforce common business English and meeting culture
Materials: Whiteboard with common meeting phrases, video clips of meetings
Meetings are kind of a necessary evil in the business world (and maybe the world, in general). Although nowadays many meetings are conducted online via Zoom or other chat programs, students still need to know how to conduct a meeting or take part in one, in English.
Begin the lesson with a discussion of what happens in meetings, common phrases students need to know, and video or audio clips of meetings. Then have the students break into groups and have a pretend meeting, where they greet everyone, introduce themselves, and discuss what the “meeting” will cover.
9. Writing Emails Race
Level: Can be adapted from advanced beginner and above
Objectives: To introduce and review typical business English email structure and vocabulary
Materials: Email template, timer, small writing papers, and pens
Emails! Another necessary evil in the workplace. Also, a very efficient, useful way to communicate with colleagues all over the world.
For the “Writing Emails Race,” put an email template on the board (on a slide or a PowerPoint). Discuss the common phrases and vocabulary seen in most emails, then pass out small pieces of paper. In pairs, students will then practice writing emails back and forth, complete with sample email addresses and subjects.
After several practice rounds to make sure each student understands the format, start the timer! The pair that writes the most emails back and forth, that are also grammatically correct, wins.
10. Guess the Job
Level: Can be adapted from advanced beginner and above
Objectives: To practice speaking and reading business English, to introduce new vocabulary
Materials: Notecards with different jobs
For “Guess the Job,” students will each get a notecard filled out with a different job. Students will then walk around the room, trying to guess the jobs on each other’s notecards. Students must ask questions to figure out the various jobs.
This lesson can be adapted to different levels using more complicated jobs, such as “teacher” and “doctor” versus “chief financial officer” and “software engineer.” Don’t forget to mill around and check pronunciation and grammar as the students chat, while making notes on any discussion points for later.
11. Surveys, Graphs & Charts
Level: Best for intermediate and above
Objectives: To practice conversational English, to familiarize the student with surveys, graphs, and charts
Materials: Graph paper, markers, pens, regular paper
This final lesson plan, “Surveys, Graphs & Charts,” is ideal for several lesson periods.
Begin by splitting each student into groups. The groups then need to come up with a survey for the rest of the class. Depending on the level, it can be an easier question, such as eye color, or it can be more tailored to business English, such as how many hours a week they work, or even more complicated.
The students must then design the survey and administer it to the rest of the class. After all the members of the class (themselves included) have filled out the survey, the groups will then analyze the results. Using the results, have the groups make a chart or a graph (or both) and then present it to the class.
This lesson is an ideal business English lesson plan, and it includes conversation, numbers analysis, information discussion, and presentation skills.
Conclusion
There you have it! 11 engaging business English lesson plans to spice up your lessons, without sacrificing the essential vocabulary, grammar, and themes necessary for fluency.
If you’re an ESL teacher, what lessons would you add to this list? If you’re a student, which of these sounds like the most interesting class? Let’s discuss in the comments below.