Idioms: Communication & Conflict

This communication idioms ESL lesson plan introduces intermediate learners (B1–B2) to six essential expressions for handling conversations, disagreements, and honest communication. Students explore idioms such as lay your cards on the table, beat around the bush, clear the air, see eye to eye, bite your tongue, and have a bone to pick through a reading passage, comprehension questions, and practice activities. By working with definition matching, sentence transformations, gap-fills, and speaking prompts, learners gain the confidence to resolve misunderstandings and express themselves more clearly in English.

How do students learn the new language?

Learners progress through a structured, discussion-rich sequence:

• Warm-up questions on communication styles and challenges.

• Reading passage & comprehension tasks featuring all six idioms in context.

• Definition and usage matching to clarify meanings.

• Sentence transformations & tense gap-fills for accuracy.

• Speaking practice where learners apply idioms to real-life scenarios.
  

Why is this lesson useful?

By the end of the session, students can:

• Use six idioms to navigate conversations and disagreements.

• Communicate more confidently in personal and professional contexts.

• Practise idiomatic language in grammar, reading, and speaking tasks.

• Build fluency and clarity while reflecting on real communication challenges.
  

Who is it for?

This communication idioms ESL lesson plan is ideal for B1–B2 adult learners. It’s especially useful for teachers who want to help students talk naturally about conversations, conflict, and problem-solving in English.