ESL WORKSHEET - Problems

LESSON PLAN FOR ENGLISH TEACHERS

PROBLEMS

LinguaHouse

Apr. 16, 2025

Level: Intermediate (B1-B2)
Type of language: General English
Tags: Types of Mistake; Making Complaints; Shops and Services; Socializing; Situation Based; Article Based; 13-15 Years Old; 16-18 Years Old; 18+ Years Old
Publication date: 04/16/2025

This lesson looks at problems and how to deal with them. Students will listen to three conversations where people have a problem and read an article about how to resolve problems. Exercises focus on related vocabulary, reading and listening comprehension and offer students the opportunity to discuss questions on the topic. There is an optional writing task at the end. (by Joe Wilson)

• CLICK HERE to download the student’s worksheet in American English.
• CLICK HERE to download the teacher’s lesson plan in American English.
• CLICK HERE to download/listen to the audio in American English.
• CLICK HERE to download the student’s worksheet in British English.
• CLICK HERE to download the teacher’s lesson plan in British English.
• CLICK HERE to download/listen to the audio in British English.

AUDIO TRANSCRIPT

CONVERSATION A
Sale assistant: Good morning, Bernard’s Books, how can I help you?
Belinda: Oh, hi. I was expecting a book to arrive from you this morning, it’s called ‘A History of Cambodia.’ But it hasn’t come.
Sale assistant: I’m sorry to hear that. Can I take your name, please?
Belinda: Belinda - That’s B-E-L-I-N-D-A Matthews.
Sale assistant: Ah, yes, OK, here it is. There was actually an attempted delivery yesterday, but there was no answer.
Belinda: Well, yes, that’s because I wasn’t in yesterday as I was told it would be coming today.
Sale assistant: I’m so sorry for the inconvenience. Our email actually said we would deliver by the 17th, not on the 17th.
Belinda: Well, I have a job to do, and I can’t be in all the time.
Sale assistant: Yes, I understand that. Let me get in touch with the depot for you. It’s not too far from your address. I’ll see if they have it and can bring it over for you. Let me call them and I’ll get back to you.
Belinda: OK. I’m around all afternoon, so hopefully you can fix this.
CONVERSATION B
Mary: Hey Scott, can you keep your voice down when you come in at night? You were talking really loudly last night and woke me up.
Scott: Well, perhaps you shouldn’t be so nosey and listen in on other people’s conversations.
Mary: I wasn’t listening to what you were saying, I could just hear you laughing and talking in the kitchen. Other people live here, so try not to be so tactless, please!
Scott: Seriously, you’re not the house police. Stop involving yourself in other people’s business all the time and trying to find something to whine about at every opportunity. Lighten up a little!
CONVERSATION C
Mike: Oh Sarah, take your feet off the chair!
Sarah: Why? You can sit in that one. I’m just relaxing from all the walking. Stop trying to boss me around all the time.
Mike: No, not for me. It’s just considered offensive to show the bottom of your feet in public here in Thailand.
Sarah: Oh really? I had no idea. I’m sorry.
Mike: It’s fine. You didn’t know and now you do. I’m just trying to be considerate of the culture we’re in. This isn’t our country.

Adapted from: https://www.linguahouse.com/esl-lesson-plans/general-english/problems. Accessed on April 22, 2025. LinguaHouse.com © 2008–2025. All rights reserved.