An English for Specific Purposes (ESP) lesson plan on business communications. The lesson focuses on making introductions and exchanging business greetings. Includes small group discussion and roleplay. Used for Grade 11-12 or equivalent students.

1. English for Specific Purposes (ESP)
Lesson Plan
Business Etiquette
Prepared by Sherrie Lee
Title
Exchanging Business Greetings using task-based instruction
Level
Grade 12 equivalent, Diploma in Business students, advanced literacy
Objectives
Students will be able to:
1. Identify appropriate and inappropriate business etiquette.
2. Demonstrate how to exchange business greetings.
3. Develop listening and speaking through role-play.
4. Develop reading, and writing skills through group discussion and reflection.
Class Time
40 minutes total
Preparation Time
10 minutes to assemble materials
Resources
 Large chart paper
 Markers
 Business cards
 Handouts – Scenarios for business etiquette
Procedure
Before class
1. Assemble materials, bring them to class, and set them up.
Sherrie Lee
slideshare.net/orangecanton @orangecanton teachersherrie.wordpress.com

2. During class
1. Explain to students that they will be demonstrating business etiquette and writing
about it. (1 min)
2. Ask for a student volunteer. Teacher demonstrates how to initiate greeting someone.
(2 min)
3. Ask student volunteers to come forward to greet the teacher. Elicit responses from
students on whether the greeting was appropriate. (3 min)
4. Arrange students into four groups. Explain that each group of students will receive a
scenario. Explain to students that they are to read the scenario, decide what is an
appropriate response to the scenario, practice it, then demonstrate it to the class. (3
min)
5. Students read the scenario and carry out the instructions. (5 min)
6. Group 1 demonstrates business etiquette for Scenario 1. (2 min)
7. Group 2 demonstrates business etiquette for Scenario 1. (2 min)
8. Teacher asks Group 3 and 4 to comment on Group 1 and 2’s demonstrations. Teacher
gives feedback on demonstrations. (3 min)
9. Group 3 demonstrates business etiquette for Scenario 2. (2 min)
10. Group 4 demonstrates business etiquette for Scenario 2. (2 min)
11. Teacher asks Group 1 and 2 to comment on Group 3 and 4’s demonstrations. Teacher
gives feedback on demonstrations. (3 min)
12. Ask each group to write down on chart paper what they need to take note of in
business introductions and exchanging business greetings. (5 min)
13. A representative from each group shows and reads out the answers. Teacher gives
feedback on each group’s answers. (5 min)
14. Teacher tells students that they can apply these skills during their internship and the
more they practice appropriate business etiquette, the better they will be at it. (2
minute)
Sherrie Lee
slideshare.net/orangecanton @orangecanton teachersherrie.wordpress.com

3. Appendix
ESP Business Etiquette Scenarios
Scenario 1
You are a junior executive who has just joined the company. At a company function, you
are standing next to your manager and there are also directors nearby. You introduce
yourself to one of the directors. The director looks surprised and your manager stares at
you sternly. What should you have done?
Instructions:
 Identify people in your group to be the junior executive, manager and director.
Decide what actions should have taken place. (2 min)
 Think about what each person should say. Practice it in your group. (2 min)
 Present it to the class. (1-2 min)
Scenario 2
You are an executive with the company, Awesome Electronics. You are attending a
seminar with others from companies in the same industry. During lunch, you meet
someone from another company. You do not know the person and would like to make
contact with him/her. You go up to the person and put your arm around him/her and say,
“Wanna be friends?” The person shrugs away and ignores you for the rest of the seminar.
What should you have done?
Instructions:
 Identify people in your group to be the executive with Awesome Electronics and
the person from another company (e.g. executive from Fantastic Trading). Decide
what actions should have taken place. (2 min)
 Think about what each person should say. Practice it in your group. (2 min)
 Present it to the class. (1-2 min)
Sherrie Lee
slideshare.net/orangecanton @orangecanton teachersherrie.wordpress.com