LESSON PLAN FOR ENGLISH TEACHERSYOU’RE FIRED!
Sep. 6, 2025
Level: Upper-intermediate (B2-C1)
Type of language: Business English
Tags: Human Resources (HR); Business People; Business Ethics; Business Law; People and Places; Ethics and Conduct; Companies and Jobs; Article Based; Useful Vocabulary; 16-18 Years Old; 18+ Years Old
Publication date: 09/06/2025
In this updated lesson, students will look at different reasons to fire someone. Students will first read a text on the UK laws on dismissing someone from work, then learn some expressions and idioms on firing someone. After some vocabulary and comprehension tasks, they then will hear five different people talking about their experiences on being fired. They also will get their own chance to use the sayings phrases at the beginning of the lesson. They wrap up by recording their own video, explaining the laws from their home country. (by Edward Alden)
- 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
Speaker 1: I got fired from my job as a cafe barista, and I tell this story to all my friends who ask why I opened my own business! I was making a cappuccino for this customer, and he kept asking me to remake it, saying it didn’t taste right. When he told me to remake it the fifth time, I lost my patience, and straight out refused to, possibly a bit too rudely and a bit louder than I should have. HR called me for a meeting, and told me I was being let go! That was just the kick I needed to open my own cafe - five minutes from my house, no annoying customers!
Speaker 2: I got canned for such a silly reason! My boss makes us clean the kitchen every day, even though it isn’t really that dirty to begin with. One night, I had just finished a 12-hour shift, and decided to leave it as it was. I was going to open the next day anyway, so no harm done! Well, it turns out we were very busy first thing, and I didn’t have time to clean up immediately. As luck would have it, we had a surprise inspection, and we failed. The kitchen did not meet health and safety regulations, or whatever they said. I got fired the very same day! Well, their loss!
Speaker 3: I got sacked for something that wasn’t really my fault in my view. See, I worked two jobs: doing deliveries during the day, and developing video games at night. I often would not get enough sleep, which I got used to, but last month I had a very important deadline on a game that needed to be in the stores in a couple of months’ time. I overslept a lot, which meant I had to arrive late multiple times for my shifts at the restaurant I made deliveries for. After a week or two, they fired me! I tried explaining to them that I would be back to normal once the game was done, but they didn’t even bother to hear me out! Luckily, the game came out and was a huge success, so I don’t need a second income anymore!
Speaker 4: About a year ago, I got into trouble at work and got the axe. I was a manager at a jewelry store, and they had the most beautiful necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. I had a wedding that week, and the bride was my childhood friend. I decided to borrow this beautiful necklace and wear it to my friend’s wedding. It shouldn’t be a problem as long as I brought it back first thing next day, right? Wrong! I was at the wedding party, and guess who was a guest at the wedding? My boss, who immediately recognized the necklace I had on! Of course I got fired, but it was all okay in the end. This made me realize that I was much better at styling clothes than selling jewelry - so I became a fashion consultant! I have many customers and haven’t looked back since.
Speaker 5: If you ask me to this day, I still don’t know why I got fired. I had a rough shift at work, so I decided to whine about it on social media. I mean, that’s what it’s for, right?! I posted something in my stories about my annoying boss, and I made sure not to mention his name or the name of the company I worked for for this exact reason. Well, that didn’t matter, because one of my coworkers found the post and sent it straight to HR. I couldn’t believe it! I guess I learned my lesson.
Adapted from: https://www.linguahouse.com/esl-lesson-plans/business-english/youre-fired. Accessed on September 9, 2025. LinguaHouse.com © 2008–2025. All rights reserved.
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