Negotiating idioms pairwork
A LESSON PLAN FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHERS
Idiomatic phrases used in negotiations speaking activity, including useful context to understand the phrases, and a brainstorming extension stage.
Lesson Plan Content:
Negotiating idioms pairwork
Optional preparatory stage
Work with another person with the same worksheet to predict what could go in the gaps on your worksheet.
Matching pairwork
Work with someone who has the other worksheet (Student A if you are Student B, and vice versa). Without showing your worksheets to each other, try to match the beginning and endings of the sentences. You can also use the section headings to help. When you are sure that you have the right match, write the missing part from your partner’s worksheet in the gap given (still without looking at the other handout).
|
Useful phrases for doing the activity “Sorry, can you say that again (more slowly)? “Sorry, did you say… (or…)?” “I think that matches…”/ “I think the best match is…” “That sounds right. Can you say it one more time so I can write it down?” “How do you spell…?” “I don’t think that matches (…) (because…) Are there any other options?” “What phrases do you have left?”/ “What are the remaining phrases on your worksheet?” “None of those matches well. Maybe we need to change…” “Maybe it can go with… or… Which one do you think is best?”
|
Still without showing your worksheets to each other, try to match the section headings on the Student A worksheet to the sections on the Student B worksheet (Section A, Section B, etc).
Check as a class or with the answers, then ask about phrases you aren’t sure how to use.
After doing the brainstorm stage, test each other on the phrases:
- say the beginning of one phrase and help your partner complete it
- say a category and help your partner make suitable phrases (with other suitable phrases not on the worksheets also okay)
- say a full sentence (including your own ideas in the “…” part), and see if your partner can respond
- say a sentence (including your own ideas in the “…” part), listen to the response, respond to that, then roleplay the rest of the negotiation together
Student A
Soft proposals/ Polite proposals
- Could you see your____________________________________________________?
Strong proposals/ Demands
- We can’t go __________________________________________________________
Phrases to get a response
- Is that in the right ball __________________________________________________?
- How does that strike ___________________________________________________?
Checking the proposal/ Clarifying the offer
- From a quick back of the _______________________________________________
Positive responses
- I can definitely shake __________________________________________________
- That is a step in the right _______________________________________________
Negative responses
- I can’t move quite that _________________________________________________
- That is not on the _____________________________________________________
- If you put yourself in my ________________________________________________
Pushing further/ Adding further aspects (after positive reactions)
- There is one more thing that’d be icing ____________________________________
Conceding/ Changing your position/ Softening your position/ Being flexible
- You’ve twisted my _____________________________________________________
Suggesting compromises and trading concessions
- I can meet you half ____________________________________________________
Alternative suggestions/ Finding solutions to negative reactions
- To break the __________________________________________________________
Discussing details
- Looking at the small ____________________________________________________
Delaying a decision
- I’ll have to get _________________________________________________________
Insisting/ Not changing your position
- I’m going to stand my ___________________________________________________
Threats
- I may have to back _____________________________________________________
Student B
Section A
- ___________________________________________ deadlock, might I suggest…?
Section B
- __________________________________ envelope calculation of what you said…
Section C
- _______________________________________________________________________
Section D
- _____________________________________________________________ print,…
Section E
- __________________________________________________ back to you about that.
Section F
- ______________________________________________________________ ground.
Section G
- ________________________________________________________________ table.
- _________________________________________________________________ far.
- __________________________________________ shoes, you will understand that…
Section H
- _______________________________________________________________-park?
- ________________________________________________________________ you?
Section I
- _____________________________________________________________ direction.
- ______________________________________________________________ on that.
Section J
- _________________________________________________________ on the cake.
Section K
- _____________________________________________________________ way to…?
Section L
- _____________________________________________________ forward without…
Section M
- _____________________________________ -way on that, but only if you throw in…
Section N
- _________________________________________________ out of this deal unless…
Suggested answers
Soft proposals/ Polite proposals
- Could you see your way to…?
Strong proposals/ Demands
- We can’t go forward without…
Phrases to get a response
- Is that in the right ball -park?
- How does that strike you?
Checking the proposal/ Clarifying the offer
- From a quick back of the envelope calculation of what you said…
Positive responses
- I can definitely shake on that.
- That is a step in the right
Negative responses
- I can’t move quite that
- That is not on the
- If you put yourself in my shoes, you will understand that…
Pushing further/ Adding further aspects (after positive reactions)
- There is one more thing that’d be icing on the cake.
Conceding/ Changing your position/ Softening your position/ Being flexible
- You’ve twisted my
Suggesting compromises and trading concessions
- I can meet you half -way on that, but only if you throw in…
Alternative suggestions/ Finding solutions to negative reactions
- To break the deadlock, might I suggest…?
Discussing details
- Looking at the small print,…
Delaying a decision
- I’ll have to get back to you about that.
Insisting/ Not changing your position
- I’m going to stand my
Threats
- I may have to back out of this deal unless…
Brainstorming stage
First of all without any help, try to write as many suitable phrases as you can in each category below. Many phrases not above are also possible.
Soft proposals/ Polite proposals
Strong proposals/ Demands
Phrases to get a response
Checking the proposal/ Clarifying the offer
Positive responses
Negative responses
Pushing further/ Adding further aspects (after positive reactions)
Conceding/ Changing your position/ Softening your position/ Being flexible
Suggesting compromises and trading concessions
Alternative suggestions/ Finding solutions to negative reactions
Discussing details
Delaying a decision
Insisting/ Not changing your position
Threats
Compare with above, brainstorm more, then share your extra phrases as a class.
Terms of Use
Lesson plans & worksheets can be used by teachers without any fee in the classroom; however, please ensure you keep all copyright information and references to UsingEnglish.com in place.
You will need Adobe Reader to view these files.
