OVERVIEW & OBJECTIVES

This ESL vocabulary lesson on workplace problems offers engaging activities, PDF worksheets, and digital materials designed for advanced B2–C1 students. In this lesson, students will:

• Discuss typical workplace issues and challenges faced across different professions.
• Explore common types of work-related problems and compare their complexity.
• Analyze a workplace dialogue between two colleagues to study natural expressions for addressing issues.
• Practice using key problem-solving phrases and idiomatic expressions naturally.
• Engage in scenario-based role plays and real-life speaking tasks to apply the new language confidently.

WARM-UP ACTIVITY

Students begin by discussing four professions—a senior caretaker, a real-estate agent, a project manager, and a warehouse worker—and identifying common workplace problems these roles may face. Next, they explore a range of issue types such as malfunctioning equipment, unclear communication, inconsistent procedures, heavy workloads, and difficult clients. Students reflect on which of these problems they’ve experienced and which seem most complex to solve. Finally, they analyze a workplace situation between Igor, a lawyer, and his colleague Mari, where Igor struggles to understand his boss’s unexplained edits to his work. Through guided questions, students share reactions, discuss possible explanations, and connect the scenario to their own experiences with workplace communication challenges.

TARGET LANGUAGE STUDY

Students study a dialogue between Igor and Mari that introduces key idiomatic expressions for resolving workplace problems, including run a situation by you, bring it up with, get to the bottom of it, take a toll on, wrap your head around, take into account, iron things out, keep an eye on, and look into it. They define each phrase in their own words and practice identifying its meaning from context. Afterward, they complete sentences using the correct form of each phrase to reinforce accuracy and comprehension. This stage builds fluency and helps students understand how to use natural English for discussing and troubleshooting problems at work.

PRODUCTION PRACTICE

Students apply the target language through two detailed workplace scenarios. In the first, David, a logistics coordinator, investigates delayed shipments at a port and must determine the source of the issue while considering solutions and related costs. In the second, Elaine, a company scheduler, discovers a double booking for a key event and must handle the resulting stress and miscommunication with a colleague. Students discuss guiding questions for each case, explaining what actions the characters take to get to the bottom of the problems, who they communicate with, and what factors they need to take into account to iron things out. This part helps students think critically and practice the new expressions in context.

IRONING OUT YOUR OWN ISSUES

Students choose between two final tasks. In Option A, they select or invent a workplace issue—such as a communication breakdown, policy dispute, or workload challenge—and outline background details, including causes, people involved, and impacts. They then share and discuss their cases with a partner, asking and answering questions while using target phrases naturally in conversation. In Option B, students discuss real-life issues they’ve experienced, reflecting on how they resolved them and what actions they took to get to the bottom of the problem or iron things out. Both options allow students to personalize the lesson and strengthen their speaking confidence when addressing work-related problems.

BENEFITS OF USING THIS ESL LESSON ON WORKPLACE PROBLEMS

This ESL lesson on workplace problems helps teachers deliver a complete and professional lesson that combines speaking, vocabulary, and real-world communication skills. It gives students authentic, practical language for describing, analyzing, and resolving work-related issues. Teachers can easily adapt it to various adult or business contexts, ensuring strong engagement through relatable, scenario-based discussions. The materials are ready to use and save preparation time while promoting confident and fluent communication in professional settings.