Handling Awkward Moments

B2 · Upper-intermediate48 minConversation SkillsLesson 7 of 8 · Outline

Aims

Goal: recover from social mishaps in seconds with Acknowledge–Redirect — name it lightly, normalise it, move the conversation on.

The lesson, stage by stage

  1. Warm up5 min

    Warm-up: When it gets awkward

    2 warm-up questions

  1. Reading10 min

    Reading: Embracing the Uncomfortable

    Read a 228-word text about Embracing the Uncomfortable

  2. Framework6 min

    Framework: Acknowledge–Redirect

    Acknowledge–Redirect, 3 steps

  3. Practice7 min

    Practice: Recovery Vocabulary Practice

    Gap-fill exercise, 5 items

  4. Dialogue10 min

    Dialogue: Handling a Social Mishap

    Role-play: You're at a work social event making conversation with a group of colleagues. You accidentally mention that your team is getting a budget increase — information that was supposed to be confidential. Your manager, who told you in confidence, is standing right there. Use Acknowledge–Redirect to handle this gracefully. (4 lines)

  5. Discussion10 min

    Discussion: Your mission: ten-second recoveries

    5 discussion questions

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This plan comes from the Advanced Conversation Techniques course in the Tuton library. Browse all free lesson plans.