Your Brain Wants to Trust You
Grammar: Modal Verbs
A Business English English lesson exploring psychology.
What's in this lesson
A Business English ESL lesson on psychology, practising modal verbs. The worksheet has a reading, target vocabulary, a grammar reference with practice and discussion questions.
From the reading: Your Brain Wants to Trust You
Here is a strange fact. In a 2009 study at the University of Zurich, researchers gave volunteers oxytocin — the hormone released during a handshake, a warm conversation, or a well-timed compliment — and then asked them to negotiate a deal. The oxytocin group made more concessions, accepted less favourable terms, and walked away feeling perfectly satisfied. Their rational calculations had not changed. Their brain chemistry had. The lesson for anyone who has ever sat across a table from a client? Trust is not just psychology. It is biochemistry, and you can trigger it deliberately.
Vocabulary
- come to the table
- hold your ground
- move the goalposts
- read the room
Grammar: Modal Verbs
- could — soft proposal
- We could consider a phased rollout. — offers an idea without pressure
- might — tentative
- There might be scope for a revised timeline. — leaves room for the other side
Discussion questions
- Which closes a deal more reliably: flawless data or a compelling personal story?
- Would you rather negotiate face-to-face or over email — and why?
- A warm handshake or a polished presentation: which builds trust faster?
Your Brain Wants to Trust You
Grammar: Modal Verbs
What's in this lesson:
Full lesson plan with reading, grammar, vocabulary, and discussion.
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