OVERVIEW & OBJECTIVES

This ESL lesson plan on tariffs and trade wars offers engaging activities, PDF worksheets, and digital materials designed for C1 students. In this lesson, students will:

• Discuss how tariffs, trade wars, and related terms connect in the global economy.
• Learn key vocabulary and phrases related to economic issues, including tariffs, trade wars, and market reactions.
• Watch a video explaining the impact of tariffs on the global economy, particularly how they affect investors, businesses, and consumers.
• Practice using idiomatic expressions related to tariffs, trade wars, and economic conditions through sentence completion exercises.
• Engage in a discussion activity to explore the dilemmas faced by individuals affected by tariffs and trade wars.

PREVIEW & DISCUSSION

In the preview phrase of this ESL lesson on tariffs and trade wars, students begin by engaging in a conversation about the terms tariffs, trade wars, imports, exports, and the economy. They are asked to discuss how these terms are connected and reflect on who imposes tariffs and why, as well as who is most affected by them. Students then explore potential impacts of tariffs and trade wars by combining verbs with nouns (e.g., "trigger a recession" or "boost consumer spending"). This activity helps students to expand their vocabulary and prepares them for the video content. In the final part of the preview, students match verbs like "pass," "wipe," "mark," and "slap" to headlines about recent tariffs, then discuss which news story interests them the most. Finally, students can discuss any international trade wars that are currently taking place around the globe.

VIEWING ACTIVITY

The viewing phase of the lesson begins with students watching a video about the impact of tariffs, specifically focusing on Donald Trump’s trade policies. The video explains how tariffs are structured, their impact on the stock market, and how various industries react to these policies. After watching, students complete several activities. In the first part, they match statements about Trump's tariffs to the appropriate ideas from the video, such as the impact on stock value or the consequences of retaliatory tariffs. In the second part, students discuss or write short answers based on specific time stamps in the video, exploring hypothetical examples and personal reactions to tariffs. 

DISCUSSION & IDIOMS

In this section, students first discuss whether the video helped them understand tariffs and their impacts, focusing on any surprising information. They also share their opinions on the tariffs imposed by the United States and the global response to them. Students then move on to a language-focused task where they choose the correct nouns to complete idiomatic expressions related to the economy, such as "a bitter pill to swallow" or "walking on thin ice." These exercises help students to understand how idiomatic language functions in the context of economic discussions. Lastly, students match statements from Part 2 with potential speakers, analyzing who might have made each statement based on the context provided.

TARIFF TENSIONS: EXPLORING ECONOMIC DILEMMAS

In the activation, students work in pairs or with the teacher to discuss several statements about tariffs and trade wars. They are encouraged to share their thoughts, insights, and opinions, providing advice or discussing potential outcomes for various individuals impacted by tariffs. This activity requires students to put together their knowledge from the video and the idioms they learned, while also practicing their speaking skills in a real-world context. Students express their viewpoints on issues such as job security, consumer price increases, and the challenges faced by small retailers in light of the tariffs.

BENEFITS OF USING THIS TARIFFS & TRADE WARS ESL LESSON

This ESL lesson plan on tariffs and trade wars offers a range of engaging activities and opportunities for C1 students to improve both their vocabulary and speaking skills. Through discussions, video analysis, and idiomatic exercises, students deepen their understanding of complex economic topics. The lesson encourages critical thinking as students explore the different perspectives surrounding tariffs and trade wars. Teachers can expect active participation as students engage in real-world scenarios, role-playing as factory workers, small retailers, and political leaders. This lesson also helps students to become more familiar with both common and specialized vocabulary related to economics, enhancing their ability to discuss these topics confidently.