Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

Free Materials For ESL Teachers and Learners

“Negotiation” ESL Discussion Questions

I. Negotiation Basics
1. What is a negotiation?
2. Why are negotiation skills important?
3. What makes a successful negotiator?

II. Preparing for Negotiation
4. How do you prepare for a negotiation?
5. Why is research important in negotiation?
6. How do you set your goals for a negotiation?

III. Communication Skills
7. How do active listening skills help in negotiation?
8. How can you improve your communication skills?
9. How do body language and tone affect negotiation?

IV. Building Relationships
10. Why are trust and rapport important in negotiation?
11. How can you build trust with the other party?
12. How can you manage emotions during negotiation?

V. Strategies and Tactics
13. What is a win-win strategy in negotiation?
14. How can you identify the other party’s needs?
15. What tactics can you use to gain an advantage?

VI. Overcoming Obstacles
16. How do you handle difficult negotiators?
17. How can you break a deadlock in negotiation?
18. How can you overcome language barriers?

VII. Cultural Differences
19. How do cultural differences impact negotiation?
20. How can you adapt to different negotiation styles?
21. What are some cultural etiquette tips for negotiation?

VIII. Ethical Considerations
22. How can ethics play a role in negotiation?
23. How do you handle dishonest negotiators?
24. How can you negotiate ethically?

IX. Online Negotiation
25. What are the challenges of online negotiation?
26. How can you build rapport in online negotiation?
27. How can you adapt your negotiation style online?

X. Work-related Negotiation
28. How do you negotiate a job offer?
29. How do you ask for a raise or promotion?
30. How do you resolve conflicts at work?

XI. Personal Negotiation
31. How do you negotiate with friends and family?
32. How do you manage conflicts in personal relationships?
33. How do you negotiate shared responsibilities?

XII. Consumer Negotiation
34. How do you negotiate prices when shopping?
35. How do you handle customer service issues?
36. How do you negotiate a refund or exchange?

XIII. Real Estate Negotiation
37. How do you negotiate when buying a home?
38. How do you negotiate rental agreements?
39. How do you negotiate with a landlord or tenant?

XIV. International Negotiation
40. How do you prepare for international negotiations?
41. How do you overcome cultural misunderstandings?
42. How do you negotiate trade agreements?

XV. Learning from Experience
43. Describe a successful negotiation you’ve had.
44. Describe a challenging negotiation experience.
45. What did you learn from past negotiations?

XVI. Improving Negotiation Skills
46. How can you improve your negotiation skills?
47. What books or resources can help you?
48. How can you practice negotiation regularly?

XVII. The Role of Emotions
49. How can emotions influence negotiation?
50. How do you manage your emotions?
51. How do you respond to emotional negotiators?

XVIII. Power Dynamics
52. How does power affect negotiation?
53. How can you balance power differences?
54. How do you negotiate with a more powerful party?

XIX. Compromise and Agreement
55. How do you find common ground?
56. How do you know when to compromise?
57. How do you reach a mutually beneficial agreement?

XX. Reflecting on Negotiation
58. How do you evaluate a negotiation’s outcome?
59. How can you learn from negotiation mistakes?
60. How can you apply lessons from negotiation to life?

Feedback