Diplomatic Language

B2 · Upper-intermediate1 hr 7 minBusiness EnglishLesson 4 of 8 · Outline

Aims

Goal: say no, disagree, and push for better terms diplomatically — softening techniques, model pushbacks, and a live 'diplomatic no' mission.

The lesson, stage by stage

  1. Warm up5 min

    Warm-up: Saying no without the bruise

    2 warm-up questions

  1. Reading10 min

    Reading: Speaking Diplomatically in Negotiations

    Read a 244-word text about Speaking Diplomatically in Negotiations

  2. Vocabulary8 min

    Vocabulary: Diplomatic Language Vocabulary

    7 items

  3. Reading10 min

    Reading: Three model pushbacks

    Read a 297-word text about Three model pushbacks

  4. Practice7 min

    Practice: Make It More Diplomatic

    Error-correction exercise, 5 items

  5. Practice7 min

    Practice: Match Direct to Diplomatic

    Matching exercise, 6 items

  6. Dialogue10 min

    Dialogue: Negotiating Diplomatically

    Role-play: You're in a tense negotiation where you disagree with several points. Practice using diplomatic language to express your position without damaging the relationship. (8 lines)

  7. Discussion10 min

    Discussion: Your mission: the diplomatic no

    3 discussion questions

Open the full lesson

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Target vocabulary

In a Tuton account these words become your student's vocabulary deck, so they come back in practice between lessons.

diplomaticsoftententativehedgeunderstatetactfulindirect

This plan comes from the Negotiations & Persuasion course in the Tuton library. Browse all free lesson plans.