Business EnglishLeadership

Be Curious, Not Judgmental

Grammar: US–UK vernacular and professional register: cross-cultural slang, idiom, and business vocabular

A Business English English lesson exploring leadership.

leadershipus–uk vernacularprofessional register: cross-cultural slangidiombusiness vocabulary

What's in this lesson

A Business English ESL lesson on leadership, practising us–uk vernacular and professional register: cross-cultural slang, idiom, and business vocabular. The worksheet has a reading, target vocabulary, a grammar reference with practice and discussion questions.

From the reading: Be Curious, Not Judgmental

In September 2020, Apple TV+ launched a show about an American college football coach hired to manage an English Premier League soccer club — a job for which he was, by every measurable standard, completely unqualified. Ted Lasso, played by Jason Sudeikis, had never coached professional football, didn't fully understand the offside rule, and arrived in Richmond, London, carrying a tin of homemade biscuits for his new boss. Critics expected a comedy of ignorance. What they got was something closer to a masterclass in psychological leadership.

Vocabulary

  • a bit naff
  • chuffed
  • fancy
  • sorted

Grammar

US vs UK: same idea
US: on the field / UK: on the pitch — same concept, different word
Register shift
Informal: chuffed / Formal: extremely pleased — match register to the room

Discussion questions

  1. Have you ever worked under a manager from a different country or culture?
  2. Is it better to be respected or liked by your team?
  3. What is more important in a leader: expertise or attitude?

Be Curious, Not Judgmental

Grammar: US–UK vernacular and professional register: cross-cultural slang, idiom, and business vocabular

What's in this lesson:

Full lesson plan with reading, grammar, vocabulary, and discussion.

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