Diplomatic Language
-
Level:
Intermediate & higher -
Estimated classroom time:
120 min
-
Price:
$15.00
What you get
This intermediate and upper-intermediate ESL workbook helps students master the art of diplomatic communication in client interviews. Learners practice softening language, reframing negative statements, and delivering constructive feedback in a professional way. Through listening, role-plays, and rewriting tasks, students gain the tools to disagree, refuse, or critique while still sounding polite, collaborative, and trustworthy.
The vocabulary section equips students with professional and diplomatic expressions for interviews and negotiations. Key phrases include “to touch briefly on,” “Do you mind me asking…,” “walk someone through,” “lean towards,” “streamline,” “room for improvement,” etc. These expressions help learners handle high-stakes conversations with tact – making their communication sound polished, respectful, and client-oriented.
✅ Warm-up discussion
✅ Diplomatic alternatives task (rephrasing blunt statements into polite, professional versions)
✅ Listening activity (analyzing how tone and phrasing change client perceptions)
✅ Brainstorming task (generating examples for various strategies to sound more diplomatic)
✅ Writing exercise (transforming real interview answers into more diplomatic responses)
✅ Mock interview practice (answering questions diplomatically, applying techniques learned)
✅ Reflection task & summary