The Business of Childhood
Grammar: Discourse markers and connectors for professional communication
A Business English English lesson exploring work.
What's in this lesson
A Business English ESL lesson on work, practising discourse markers and connectors for professional communication. The worksheet has a reading, target vocabulary and discussion questions.
From the reading: The Business of Childhood
When Erica Haughey opened her Montessori school in Nairobi in 2019, she expected to spend most of her time teaching children to pour water and sort shapes. Instead, she found herself managing a payroll, negotiating lease terms, and writing safeguarding policies before a single child walked through the door. Haughey's experience is increasingly common: roles working with children — crèche manager, dance teacher, early-years coordinator — have quietly become some of the most operationally demanding jobs in the service sector.
Vocabulary
- not
- at arm's length
- close the gap
- move the needle
- on the same page
- because of
- before
- for
- in
- with
Discussion questions
- Would you consider a job working with children a profession or a vocation?
- What skills do you think are hardest to teach in any job involving children?
- How much business knowledge should a teacher or childcare worker actually need?
The Business of Childhood
Grammar: Discourse markers and connectors for professional communication
What's in this lesson:
Full lesson plan with reading, grammar, vocabulary, and discussion.
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