Texas
Adult Education Standards and Benchmarks
for ABE ASE and ESL Learners
Lesson Plan Bank
esl LESSON PLANS
Texas Adult Education Standards
Lesson Plan
Before you begin
Title: A Letter to an Organization
Setting: ESL
NRS Level(s): Level 5: High Intermediate
Open entry/exit: Yes
Context: Workplace
Standard(s): ESL Convey Ideas in Writing
Benchmark(s): 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, 4.5, 5.5
Objective: To enhance effective communication skills by writing to a business or some other organization.
Materials:
- Computer and overhead projection screen
- 1 or 2 model business letters. For example refer to Rubin, D. (1990). Power English 8: Writing Skills. Englewood, NJ: Cambridge Adult Education, Prentice Hall Career & Technology (pp. 85 & 146). ISBN 013-685516-0.
- Paper and pencils
Estimated time needed to prepare for this lesson plan: 30 minutes
Estimated time needed to complete this lesson plan: 3 hours
The Lesson Plan
Introduce the lesson:
As a class, brainstorm experiences students have had writing business
communication. Discuss vocabulary words associated with business communication.
Emphasize how the business-related role of the person the letter is
addressed to should be considered when choosing the appropriate vocabulary.
Teach the lesson:
Review models of letters to a business by projecting samples on the overhead.
As a whole group exercise, students will identify a shared need to contact a local business. The class will organize and compose a letter that the teacher types and projects on a projection screen. Input should be encouraged from all members of the class. Grammatical and punctuation will be emphasized as a part of this exercise. The finished letter should be reviewed and compared to the sample letters as a whole group exercise. Revisions should be made based on teacher’s instructions. The finished letter may be copied by each student and used to compose individual letters.
Practice the lesson:
Each student will write a business letter based on their personal needs
or concerns. Student will use the group composed letter as a model.
Assess the lesson:
In pairs, students will share their letters with a partner. Students
may rewrite letters based on peer feedback. Letters will be submitted
to the teacher for further feedback and possible revisions.
Apply the lesson to the real world:
Students should be able to write business letters with more confidence.
For example writing a letter to a child’s teacher or principal
is one instance in which this lesson might be applied.
Submitted by: Mary Sharp
