Have you got the edge?

Megan | Oct 03, 2025Oct 28, 2025

LESSON OVERVIEW

The main objectives of this ESL lesson on business competition are to:

• talk about business competition and review business analysis models;
• watch a video about competitive forces;
• practise useful vocabulary to talk about business rivalry and strategic approaches.

In this lesson, students discuss competition in business, watch a video about what makes companies successful and explore business analysis frameworks. They explore phrases for talking about competition (e.g. exert pressure, fierce rivalry, play on weaknesses), examine business competition strategies and analyze the competitive environment in varied situations. Students also read about analysis models and advise business owners in different situations.

WARM-UP AND VIDEO

This ESL lesson on business competition starts with a warm-up. Students read a quote (If you’re losing a tug-of-war with a tiger, give it the rope.You can always buy a new one.) and explain what they think it might mean in the context of competition in business. Next, they discuss questions about business competition. Following that, students guess the ending of a statement (Competition is not about who’s the biggest, it’s about who…). Afterwards, they watch the first part of a video about a business analysis framework called Porter’s Five Forces. Students check their answers and say if they think the statement is always true. Moving on, they watch the rest of the video and choose its correct summary. 

USEFUL PHRASES AND DISCUSSION

In this part of this ESL lesson on business competition, students read the explanations of Porter’s Five Forces and their possible countermeasures. They choose the correct words to complete the phrases (e.g. exert pressure, bargaining power, competitive edge). Then, students match the forces with their possible countermeasures. After that, they read different scenarios involving business competition and say which of Porter’s Five Forces is at play in each. Students then discuss questions about applying those competitive forces in real industries. Next, they choose business scenarios and apply Porter’s Five Forces to analyze the competitive environment. Students use the target phrases from the lesson and add details. Finally, they read about more business analysis frameworks. Students imagine being analysts and advise business owners in various situations.

HOMEWORK/REVISION

This lesson also includes an additional task that you can use as homework or revision. In the task, students complete the gaps in statements about business competition. They then match the sentences with their responses. 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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