We should make our office smart! (agreeing and disagreeing)

Joe | Dec 28, 2025Dec 23, 2025

LESSON OVERVIEW

The main objectives of this lesson are to:

• discuss technology at work and smart office ideas;
• practise ways to agree and disagree with suggestions;
• watch a video about a smart item of furniture.

In this lesson, students reflect on what they like and dislike about their workplace. They watch a video about a smart chair, talk about smart technology and work with functional language for agreement and disagreement (e.g. I’m not so sure, I totally disagree, I feel the same). Students share their opinions, discuss work-related suggestions and role-play scenarios involving workplace improvements.

WARM-UP AND VIDEO

This lesson starts with a warm-up. Students think about their workplace and use some ideas (e.g. decorations, furniture, gadgets) to say what they like and what they would change. After that, they watch a video about an unusual office chair. First, students predict what might make it unusual. Then, they watch the video and check. Moving on, students learn what smart technology is and discuss its use. Afterwards, they match smart technology suggestions to their responses. Students then decide which of the phrases in the responses (e.g. I’m not so sure, I see it differently, I think so, too) show different ways to agree and disagree. Following that, students examine the suggestions from the previous exercise as if they applied to their own workplace. They choose one suggestion they agree with and one they disagree with. Students explain their opinions, using the phrases to show agreement or disagreement. 

DISCUSSION AND ROLE-PLAY

In this part of the lesson, students complete responses to opinions by creating phrases for agreeing and disagreeing (e.g. I’m not so sure, I totally disagree, I feel the same). They then say what they think the original suggestion was. Moving on, they look at workplace suggestions (e.g. Meetings shouldn’t be longer than one hour). Students write a response and use different ways to agree and disagree, adding details. Following that, they discuss workplace preferences. Students choose work-related scenarios (e.g. having an AI assistant OR having an office manager), justify their choices and respond with the target phrases from the lesson. They also give reasons and examples. After that, students get role-play cards that involve workplace problem-solving. They read their card and complete the role-play with their partner. Students respond to suggestions using the target phrases for agreement and disagreement and their own ideas.

HOMEWORK/REVISION

This lesson also includes an additional task that you can use as homework or revision. In the task, students choose one of the phrases for agreement or disagreement and complete dialogues. They then write a second response using the other option. The task is available in the teacher’s version of the worksheet. You can print it and hand it out to your students. It’s also included in the e-lesson plan.

WORKSHEETS

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