ESL WORKSHEET - Diversity and inclusion

LESSON PLAN FOR ENGLISH TEACHERS

EVERYONE’S INVITED: 1

LinguaHouse

May 4, 2026

Level: Intermediate (B1-B2)
Type of language: Business English
Tags: Challenges; Business Ethics; Ethics and Conduct; Companies and Jobs; Useful Vocabulary; People and Places; Human Resources (HR); Meetings; Problems at Work; Business People; Article Based; Office Life; 16-18 Years Old; 18+ Years Old
Publication date: 05/04/2026

This lesson looks at the subject of diversity and inclusion. Students will read an article on the topic and listen to three people talking about problems they have had with discrimination. Exercises focus on vocabulary related to the topic, listening and reading skills and give students the opportunity to discuss questions using phrasal verbs. (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

Employee A (40s): Well, I’m a black woman. That’s two things: black and a woman, so I know about discrimination. I’ve had black men talk down to me because I’m a woman, and white and Asian women be rude to me because I’m black. I’ve sat in a meeting where the manager asked everyone for their opinion, except me, the only black woman in the room. When I tried to speak up for myself, someone talked over me and everyone listened to them. There was a 22-year-old man in the room who had been there for six months. Everyone listened to him and his ideas for five minutes. I’d been there two years. No one cared. Then there’s also patronizing racial comments. Usually, it’s ‘Oh, I love your hair, can I touch it?’ No, you can’t touch it! Would you ask the Head of Sales if you can touch their hair? No! But I also get comments like ‘You are so smart’ when you know that what they mean is ‘You are so smart … for a black woman.’ I know I’m smart. You don’t have to tell me. I was the one who got a distinction in my MBA. I was there.
Employee B (British of Indian descent, 40s): I grew up in the UK, and I’d say overall the stereotype of Indian families that people bring up has started to phase out a bit, at least in my experience. I live in South London and there are so many people from all over the world that no one really says anything. It’s living with multiple sclerosis that causes more of a challenge for me as there are times when I need to walk with a stick as I can’t rely on my legs to work. I’ve noticed how people at work seem to avoid me more when I use it. It’s like, when my disability is obvious, then they want to stay away. I know it’s because they don’t always know what to say, but it still makes me feel sad as I suddenly feel unwanted. You look at the office in a different way too when it’s hard to walk too as accessibility isn’t always good. We often have meetings on the top floor and there was a period of two weeks when the lifts weren’t working properly. I had to leave about twenty minutes before the meeting just to get up the stairs and it felt a bit lonely to be honest.
Employee C (late 20s): What is a real shame about the harassment I’ve had at work is that it has made me very unfriendly with people I don’t know. And I’m not that kind of person naturally. I’m warm and welcoming. But I’m always ready for battle, ready for the rude comments about what I’m wearing, or my hair, and I have to be ready to stick up for myself. If I try to look good, then I’m trying to bring attention to myself. If I dress normally and don’t wear makeup, then I need to try harder. I really don’t think that most of the men I work with understand what it’s like. One day, I walked into the office and there were several men who were bringing in a delivery. They just stopped working and looked at me and one of them put his arm around me and asked if he could help me. They were all laughing. It was the most uncomfortable feeling I’ve ever had. I don’t know what is worse, experiencing the lack of equality, or knowing that other people don’t even see it.

Adapted from: https://www.linguahouse.com/esl-lesson-plans/business-english/everyones-invited-1. Accessed on May 8, 2026. LinguaHouse.com © 2008–2026. All rights reserved.