OVERVIEW & OBJECTIVES

This ESL lesson plan on making polite requests offers engaging activities, PDF worksheets, and digital materials designed for pre-intermediate A2-B1 students. In this lesson, students will:

• Discuss common favors people ask and analyze polite ways to request them.
• Expand their vocabulary with phrases used for making and responding to polite requests.
• Watch a video explaining how timing and mood influence whether people say yes to requests.
• Correct common mistakes in polite request structures and practice using them in dialogues.
• Engage in a role-play activity to apply polite request strategies in real-life scenarios.

PREVIEW & DISCUSSION

Students begin this ESL lesson plan on making polite requests by reading a short dialogue where one person asks for a favor, and the other declines while offering alternatives. They answer comprehension questions to analyze how the request was made and whether it was polite. Then, they discuss broader questions about asking for favors, including what it means, common examples, and personal experiences. Next, students complete a short fill-in-the-blank exercise with missing phrases related to different types of requests. Finally, they discuss the best times or situations to ask for favors, preparing them to think critically about timing and politeness in requests.

VIEWING ACTIVITY

Students watch a video about a study conducted by French researchers, which found that people are more likely to say yes to a request when the sun is shining. The study suggests that mood and timing affect whether people agree to help. After watching, students answer comprehension questions about the experiment, including what favor was asked and the role of weather conditions. They then correct three incorrect statements based on the video’s content. Finally, students recall and write the three examples of favors mentioned in the video: borrowing coins, asking for a date, and requesting a raise.

DISCUSSION & PHRASES

Students reflect on the video by discussing whether they consider timing when making requests, whether their helpfulness changes based on mood and weather, and how comfortable they are asking for favors. Next, they complete dialogues by inserting polite request phrases into conversations where people ask for help. These dialogues demonstrate how to ask and respond to requests politely. Finally, students categorize key phrases from the dialogues into a table under three columns: accepting a request, denying a request, and proposing alternatives. 

ASK & RESPOND: POLITE REQUEST ROLE PLAY

Students participate in a role-play where they take turns making and responding to polite requests. First, they choose a type of favor, such as borrowing something, needing a ride, or getting help with a task. Then, they use structured phrases to make their request, and their partner either accepts or denies it, offering alternatives when appropriate. To reinforce practical use, students switch roles and repeat the activity with a new request. As an alternative, students discuss real-life situations where they have made or received requests, considering when and how to ask for help politely in different contexts.

BENEFITS OF USING THIS ESL POLITE REQUESTS LESSON PLAN

This lesson plan helps students develop essential communication skills through structured practice. It provides engaging discussion activities that encourage reflection on real-life interactions. The video component makes the lesson dynamic by introducing a psychological perspective on making requests. Grammar and vocabulary exercises strengthen students’ ability to form polite requests naturally. Finally, the role-play and discussion activities ensure that students apply what they have learned in practical, meaningful ways.