Lesson "When do you find communicating difficult?" Level B1-B2

Difficulties of Communication

Level: B1–B2

1. WARM-UP | Communication problems

Discuss in pairs.

When can it be difficult to communicate with someone?

Is it difficult for you to understand people with different accents?

What can you do when you don't understand someone?

Is speaking English more difficult in a large, noisy place?

Which is more difficult: understanding someone or explaining something?

Useful phrases:

I find it difficult to...

It's hard to understand...

I'm not very good at...

It can be difficult when...

One problem is...

2. PRE-LISTENING | Vocabulary

Match the words and phrases with their meanings.

3. LISTENING 1 | General understanding

Listen to the audio and choose the best answer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXX98b1_rWc

What is the main topic of the recording?

A. The best ways to learn English

B. Situations in which communication can be difficult

C. Problems people have when travelling

D. How to prepare for a football match

4. LISTENING 2 | Who has the problem?

Listen again and match each situation with the speaker's problem.

5. LISTENING 3 | Complete the sentences

Listen and complete the sentences using these words.

conversation accents learning drunk gestures conflict nervous confidence

The speaker enjoys hearing people and starting a __________.

Some people come from different countries and have different __________.

It's important to keep __________ and make yourself better.

The speaker finds it difficult to communicate with a __________ person.

When players don't understand English, you have to use hand __________ and movements.

At work, communication can be difficult when you have a __________ with your colleagues.

During an interview, you can feel a bit __________.

You need to prepare for an interview to have __________ and know what you want to present.

7. LANGUAGE FOCUS | Talking about difficulties

The speakers frequently use structures like:

I find it difficult to + verb

I find it difficult to understand people.

It's difficult to + verb

It's difficult to communicate in a noisy place.

It's hard to + verb

It's hard to understand some accents.

I have difficulty + -ing

I have difficulty understanding some people.

Practice

Rewrite the sentences using the word in brackets.

Example:

Understanding different accents is difficult for me. (find) I find it difficult to understand different accents.

Speaking in front of a group is difficult for him.

(hard)

She has problems explaining things in English.

(difficulty)

Communicating in a noisy place can be difficult.

(difficult)

8. SPEAKING | What would you do?

Situation cards

You are talking to someone in a very noisy café. You can’t hear them.

You are talking to someone with a strong accent, and you can’t understand everything

You are explaining something to a group of people, but they don’t understand your English.

You have a disagreement with a colleague at work.

You are in a job interview, and the interviewer asks you a difficult question.

Useful language

Could you say that again, please?

Could you speak a little more slowly?

Sorry, I didn't quite catch that.

What do you mean by...?

Let me explain it another way.

Could you give me an example?

I understand what you mean, but...

I see your point.

Let me think for a moment.

9. SPEAKING | Communication survival strategies

In pairs, choose the three most useful strategies.

When you don't understand someone, you can:

ask them to repeat;

ask them to speak more slowly;

use gestures;

ask for an example;

explain what you understood;

use simpler words;

change the subject;

pretend you understood;

ask another person for help.

Why did you choose these three?

10. FINAL TASK | Communication challenge

Choose ONE situation and role-play it.

Situation 1: The difficult accent

You are speaking to a new colleague from another country. You find their accent difficult to understand.

Situation 2: The workplace conflict

You and a colleague disagree about how to do something.

Situation 4: The job interview

The interviewer asks you a difficult question and you need a moment to think.

After each role-play, the class answers:

What was the communication problem?

What strategy did they use?

What else could they have done?