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BUSINESS ENGLISH · BUSINESS ISSUES · UPPER-INTERMEDIATE (B2-C1)

BEGINNER’S
MINDSET

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1 Warm up
In pairs, discuss the following questions.

1. What did you like learning when you were a child?

2. What did you find difficult to learn at that age?
3. When was the last time you learned something new? What was it? Why did you learn it?

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BEGINNER’S MINDSET

2 Focus on vocabulary

Part A: Write the nouns in the box in the correct definition.

specification / grid / monk / chancellor / preconception / mindset

1. a is a man who has dedicated his life to a religion.

2. a is a system of pipes and wires supplying the energy needs of a particular area.

3. a is an idea or opinion that is formed before having all the information or facts.

4. a is a particular way of thinking that reflects how we approach life.

5. a is the title given to the head of government in Germany and Austria.

6. a is a description of how something should be done or made.

Part B: Match the vocabulary to the definitions.

1. conceal (v) a. hide something

2. contrary (adj.) b. in a very certain way

3. pioneer (v) c. young and with little experience

4. reassess (v) d. in a different or opposite way

5. tender age (idiom.) e. do something for the first time

6. undoubtedly (adv.) f. think about something again while being open to

changing your mind

Now scan the article on page 4 and write the words from Part B in gaps 1 – 6. You may need to change
the form of the word.

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BEGINNER’S MINDSET

In pairs, discuss the following questions.

1. Have you ever had to reassess a decision? Why? What happened?

2. Have you ever needed to conceal something from someone? What was the situation?
3. Who was the first person to pioneer something that you find really useful or impressive?
4. Has a situation ever developed completely contrary to what you expected? What happened?

3 Reading for gist

Skim read the article on page four and match the following titles to Paragraphs A – D. You will not
need all of them.

1. Embracing the inner child

2. Helping the poor

3. Staying humble

4. Questioning experience

5. The path to greater knowledge

6. Taking new path

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BEGINNER’S MINDSET

Forget what you know

A beginner’s mindset

A. In his book, Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind, Shunryu needed. She hit upon the idea of providing
Suzuki, a Zen Monk and teacher wrote: ‘ In the small solar-powered units that would serve small
beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in communities of around 100 people in rural areas.
the expert’s, there are few.’ He taught that being Customers buy scratch cards to pay for specific
present in the moment enables us to open up to numbers of hours, much like previous models of
1
progressive approaches which run phonecards. As a result, thousands of people in
to traditional ways of doing things. This is not to Ghana are able to watch television and charge their
discount the knowledge of experts. However, he mobile phones due to her ground-breaking idea.
pointed out that people who have great amounts of
D. A significant aspect of embracing the beginner’s
experience and knowledge in a particular subject, and
mindset is humility. Seeking criticism, even if it is
this can include CEOs and leaders, are likely to repeat
negative, and admitting when you do not have the
the same actions, as this is what has led to success
2
answers is an important part of innovation. This
previously. While this can work in a
trait, in fact, requires a great deal of confidence.
great number of situations, it can prevent exploration
We’ve all met people whose apparent confidence
of new ideas and approaches. It can also lead to a 5
actually serious self-doubt. Research
failure to notice change and adapt to it.
shows that those who are intellectually humble are
B. Take for example Roman Kirsch, CEO of often more curious and willing to learn for the sake
Lesara, a German fast fashion company. At the of it than those who see themselves as experts.
3 4
of 30, he Questioning yourself and your assumptions is a good
a transformative approach to an ongoing problem way to find innovative approaches that lead to new
within the industry. Traditionally, clothing was discoveries. Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of
company-led: fashion was created by designers the United States, and his ability to recognize his
and consumers may, or may not, buy it. Kirsch, own limitations was noted in his time and felt to be
who does not come from a fashion background, directly linked to his ability to make wise decisions.
turned the model on its head and instead got the Angela Merkel, the chancellor of Germany from 2005
company making clothes to customer specifications, – 2021 came into politics from a scientific career.
allowing the consumers to set the trends and making This background no doubt helped her tendency to
what they wanted, when they wanted it. Nicole listen to others and question her own beliefs before
Poindexter, CEO of Blackstar Energy is another forming an opinion - a practice which earned her
example of taking an innovative approach. Her much respect. Whether you are dedicating yourself
desire to speed up the process of providing power to learning new skills, or 6
your
to developing African countries and have it come current ones, it’s a good idea to put aside knowledge
from renewable sources led to her diverting from or preconceptions, even if it’s only temporary. Re-
tradition. engaging the childlike wonder we all had when we
C. Previously, regions relied on the national grid for entered school and discovered ideas and concepts for
their power sources which often took decades as it the first time, will serve as well as adults too.
required the slow installation of the infrastructure

Sources: BBC, Deloitte

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BEGINNER’S MINDSET

4 Scanning for vocabulary

Quickly read the article on page 4 and find vocabulary that has the following meanings.

1. (adj, para. A): preferring new methods and ideas

2. (n, para. A): an examination of a subject or ideas to understand it better

3. (idiom, para. B): cause people to think about something differently

4. (n, para. C): the systems needed for a country to run effectively, such as
transport and power
5. (n, para. D): the quality of showing that you don’t consider yourself more
important than others
6. (n, para. D): a belief created without all of the required information

7. (adj, para. D): approaching tasks with new ideas that haven’t been done
before

5 Reading comprehension

Read the following statements and decide if they are true (T), false (F) or not given (NG).

1. Shunryu taught that experts usually want to focus on one way of doing a task that was successful
for them before leaving them less open to innovation.

2. Roman Kirsch had previously worked in the customer service industry.

3. African countries traditionally used renewable energy for their power.

4. Villagers in Ghana buy their energy in units of hours now.

5. According to the article, being honest about your limitations shows that you are not sure of
yourself.

6. Abraham Lincoln’s way of making decisions made him a very popular president.

7. Angela Merkel used skills from the field of science to help her in her political career.

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BEGINNER’S MINDSET

6 Beginner’s mindset - a questionnaire

Read the questions and make notes on your answers.

Questions Notes

1. What subjects do you consider yourself to

be knowledgeable in?

2. What skills do you have?

3. Where and when did you gain the

knowledge of your subjects?

4. What would you tell someone about your

subjects who knew nothing about it at all?

5. Do you regularly update what you know?

Why/ Why not?

6. What questions did you have about your

subject when you first started?

7. If you were starting your career again, would

you do anything differently in terms of how you
gained your knowledge?

8. If you started in your career again, is there

anything that you would try that you wouldn’t
try now? Why wouldn’t you try it now?

9. What subjects that you are not familiar with

would you like to know more about?

10. What questions do you have about it?

11. What would you like to try in the next year

that you have never done before? Why have
you not done it before?

12. What new skills would you like to learn?

How would you go about learning them?

In pairs, discuss your answers to the questions. Use the answers to make a plan for what you would
like to do over the next year.

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BEGINNER’S MINDSET

7 Extended activity/homework

Write a letter to yourself in a year from now. Tell yourself what you would like to do in the next year.

Consider the following questions:

1. What do you want to learn in the next year?

2. What will you have to do to learn that information?
3. Who do you know who could help you?
4. What would you like to have achieved in a year from now?
5. What goals can you set yourself for two months, four months, six months, etc. from now?
6. What do you think you will do with the knowledge? How will it help you?
7. How could you take it further after the year is up?

You should:

• write at least 150 words,

• check your grammar, spelling and punctuation.

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TEACHER MATERIALS · UPPER-INTERMEDIATE (B2-C1)

BEGINNER’S MINDSET

Key

1. Warm up

5 mins.
This introduces the topics and gets students to consider their own views.

2. Focus on vocabulary

Part A
5 mins.
This allows the students to identify some of the more challenging nouns used in the article.

1. monk 2. grid 3. preconception

4. mindset 5. chancellor 6. specification
Part B
10 mins.
This allows students to identify other vocabulary used in the article and use it in context. When they have finished,
ask them to discuss the questions to practice using the vocabulary.

1. → a. 2. → d. 3. → e.
4. → f. 5. → c. 6. → b.

3. Reading for gist

5 mins.
You may want to set a strict time limit to encourage students to skim read rather than read in detail.
Article sources:
https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20210222-how-a-beginners-mindset-can-help-you-learn-anything
https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/topics/leadership/beginners-mindset-decision-making-for-leadership.html

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20200528-is-this-the-secret-of-smart-leadership

1. Paragraph D 2. Not used

3. Paragraph C 4. Paragraph A
5. Not used 6. Paragraph B
Words from Part B missing in the article gaps:

1. contrary 2. undoubtedly
3. tender age 4. pioneered
5. conceals 6. reassessing
Note:
humble - (adj., para. D): showing that you don’t think others are less important than you

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TEACHER MATERIALS · UPPER-INTERMEDIATE (B2-C1)

BEGINNER’S MINDSET

4. Scanning for vocabulary

5 mins.
This gives added support with the vocabulary and can be done before or after the comprehension.

1. progressive 2. exploration
3. to turn something on its head 4. infrastructure
5. humility 6. assumption
7. innovative

5. Reading comprehension

10 mins.
Allows students to read in greater detail and ask them to underline where they find the answer. If they are unable
to do this, the answer will be Not Given.

1. True. ‘However, he pointed out that people who have great amounts of experience and knowledge in a particular
subject, and this can include CEOs and leaders, are likely to repeat the same actions, as this is what has led to
success previously.’
2. Not Given. It says he was new to the fashion industry, but does not mention what he did before.
3. False. ‘Her desire to speed up the process of providing power to developing African countries and have it come
from renewable sources led to her diverting from tradition.’
4. True. ‘Customers buy scratch cards to pay for specific numbers of hours, much like previous models of
phonecards.’
5. False. ‘This trait, in fact, requires a great deal of confidence.’
6. Not Given. It says he made wise decisions, but we don’t know how many people though this or if this made
him popular.
7. True. ‘Angela Merkel... came into politics from a scientific career. This background no doubt helped her tendency
to listen to others and question her own beliefs before forming an opinion - a practice which earned her much
respect.’

6. Beginner’s mindset - a questionnaire

20 mins.
Allow students time to complete the questionnaire individually and make notes. When they have done this, ask
students to discuss their answers in pairs or small groups.

7. Extended activity/homework

30 mins+
Ask students to plan, write and edit their letters to their future selves. Encourage them to use it as a plan for
personal improvement. Be sure to give them feedback on their work and underline that their writing will be
confidential.

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