When avoiding conflict is toxic

The main goals of this ESL lesson plan are to:

• – learn and practice reporting verbs through grammar instruction and fill-in-the-gaps exercises that focus on how we describe what people say and think about conflict situations;
• – explore the concept of conflict avoidance and its potential negative effects by watching videos about relationship dynamics, reading texts about when avoiding conflict becomes harmful, and correcting mistakes in written materials;
• – develop critical thinking and discussion skills through sharing personal experiences with conflict, analyzing why people avoid confrontation, and engaging in conversations that examine the complex balance between keeping peace and addressing important issues.

This C1-level ESL lesson explores the topic of conflict avoidance and why it can sometimes be toxic. It includes warm-up questions, a short grammar section on reporting verbs, and an interactive fill-in-the-gaps exercise. The lesson concludes with a discussion that encourages students to think critically about the complexities of avoiding conflict.

Warm-Up

Students will start with warm-up questions that tap into their personal experiences and opinions regarding conflict avoidance.

Video

The students will watch a short video on pitfalls of conflict avoidance in relationships and answer the  questions that follow.

Grammar

A brief overview of reporting verbs will be presented to set the stage for the interactive exercises and discussions.

Exercises

A fill-in-the-gaps activity using reporting verbs in sentences themed around conflict avoidance.

Reading

The students will read a short text and will be asked to find and correct any mistakes they can find. There are also follow-up questions to gauge reading comprehension.

Discussion

Students will engage in a discussion based on four questions designed to stimulate critical thinking on the topic.