Role-play activities make up an important part of any ESL class. When beginning any role play activity, help your students feel comfortable by preparing note cards with focus phrases first. When first thrown into a conversation, many ESL students feel awkward and will shy away from speaking.
For this role-play activity, divide students into two groups: employers and job seekers. Before beginning, help students brainstorm questions and answers they might hear at a job fair on the board, such as "Do you know how to use Excel?", "Are you organized?", and "Do you have any sales experience?"
The "employer" students will move to separate desks, and the "job-seeking" student can move from desk to desk, asking and answering their questions. When they finish, have them switch roles and repeat. Students may use their note cards as a reference---the more comfortable they feel, the more they'll talk.
Speaking on the phone also plays an important role in the business world, but it may prove intimidating when using a second language. This activity will help students prepare for phone conversations.
Choose a topic with which students have already grown comfortable, such as simple interview questions or personal inquiries. Divide the students into pairs, and have them move their desks so that each pair sits back to back. One of the pair "calls" the other to hold a conversation. Orient the students so they cannot see each other's mouth, as this lack of visual aid will help your students get used to the intimidation factor of phone conversations.
For this activity, have each student take 10 to 20 minutes to write notes about their company (real or imaginary), with information such as name, number of employees, their role in the company and what the company does. Each student will take a turn in front of the class speaking about their company. After their presentation, each member of the class must ask one question about the company, such as "Where is it based?" or "Do you have to travel a lot?"