Grade 12 Life Orientation: Managing Responses to Employment, Study & Bursary Opportunities – Term 4 Week 4

1. Acceptance Letter

A formal written communication confirming that you accept an offer of employment, study placement, or bursary. It should express gratitude, confirm details, and show enthusiasm.

2. Professional Etiquette

The expected standards of polite, respectful, and appropriate behavior in professional and business communications, including proper tone, grammar, and response timing.

3. Negotiation

The process of discussing terms and conditions of an offer with the aim of reaching a mutually beneficial agreement. This may include salary, start dates, study conditions, or bursary terms.

4. Decline/Rejection Letter

A polite, professional communication turning down an offer while expressing gratitude for the opportunity and maintaining positive relationships for potential future opportunities.

5. Terms and Conditions

The specific details, requirements, and obligations associated with an offer (e.g., salary, work-back requirements for bursaries, study conditions, contract duration, benefits).

Hook Activity:

“The Offer Email Reveal”: Project or share a sample email: “Congratulations! We are pleased to offer you…” Ask learners to share how they would feel receiving such an email and what their immediate reaction would be. Discuss: “What happens AFTER you get the good news? How do you respond professionally?”

Introduction Activities:

• Quick Poll: Ask by show of hands: “How many of you have already received responses (positive or negative) from applications you submitted?” “How many of you have actually responded to those emails?”
• Scenario Discussion: Present brief scenario: “Imagine you receive three offers in the same week – a part-time job at a local store, a bursary from NSFAS, and acceptance to your first-choice university. What do you do first?”
• Learning Objectives Review: Display the lesson objectives and explain that today’s lesson is about managing these exciting (and sometimes stressful) moments professionally

Direct Instruction (12 minutes):

Part 1: Types of Responses (5 minutes)

Teach the four main types of responses learners need to know:

• Acceptance: Confirm details, express enthusiasm, ask about next steps
• Decline: Express gratitude, give brief reason, keep doors open
• Negotiation: Thank for offer, state what you’d like to discuss, remain respectful
• Request for More Time: Thank for offer, explain need for time, give specific date

Part 2: Professional Email Structure (7 minutes)

Teach the standard structure using the whiteboard:

Show 2-3 examples: one good example and one poor example. Have learners identify what makes each effective or ineffective.

Guided Practice (15 minutes):

Activity 1: “Fix the Email” (8 minutes)

• Distribute or project a poorly written response email that has multiple errors (incorrect tone, too informal, missing key information, grammatical errors)
• In pairs, learners identify problems and rewrite the email professionally
• Discuss solutions as a class, highlighting key improvements
• Example poor email might say: “Hey! Thanks for the job lol. When do I start? Can I get more money? Hit me back. Peace!”

Activity 2: “Scenario Response Workshop” (7 minutes)

Assign different scenarios to small groups (3-4 learners each):

• Group 1: You received a Funza Lushaka bursary but want to clarify the work-back requirements
• Group 2: You got accepted to university but received a better offer elsewhere – decline politely
• Group 3: A retail store offers you R50/hour but you know similar positions pay R65/hour – negotiate
• Group 4: You received job and study offers on the same day – need more time to decide

Groups draft the opening paragraph of an appropriate email response.

Independent Practice (13 minutes):

Individual Writing Task: “Your Professional Response”

Learners choose ONE scenario from the following options and write a complete, professional email response (120-150 words):

Remind learners to use the structure taught and maintain professional tone throughout.

Consolidation Activity: “Response Speed Round” (5 minutes)

Rapid-fire Q&A to reinforce key concepts:

• “Should you respond to a rejection email?” (Yes – thank them and request feedback)
• “How quickly should you respond to an offer?” (Within 24-48 hours, or as specified)
• “Can you negotiate a bursary offer?” (Yes, respectfully discuss terms if needed)
• “What tone should a decline email have?” (Polite, grateful, professional)
• “Why is it important to respond even when declining?” (Maintains relationships, professional reputation, future opportunities)

Exit Ticket: “Three Things I Learned” (5 minutes)

Learners write down (on paper or submit digitally):

1. One key component of a professional response email
2. One mistake to avoid when responding to offers
3. One question they still have about managing responses

Collect these to assess understanding and address remaining questions in the next lesson or via email.

Teacher Reminder:

Preview next lesson: “Final examination preparation and study skills review” – encourage learners to bring any questions about their post-school plans.

📝 Formative Assessment

• Observation: Monitor pair work during “Fix the Email” activity – check for identification of errors and understanding of corrections
• Group Work Review: Circulate during group scenario activity and provide immediate feedback on draft responses
• Exit Tickets: Review learner responses to identify common misconceptions or areas needing reinforcement
• Questioning: Use targeted questions during consolidation to check understanding of key concepts

📋 Summative Assessment

• Individual Email Task: Evaluate completed professional response emails using rubric (structure, tone, grammar, content)
• Portfolio Addition: Learners add their best response to their career portfolio for future reference
• Rubric Criteria: Professional tone (25%), Correct structure (25%), Grammar & spelling (20%), Content completeness (20%), Appropriateness for scenario (10%)

🤝 For learners who need support:

• Sentence Starters: Provide opening sentences for each section of the email (e.g., “Thank you for your offer of…”)
• Email Templates: Offer fill-in-the-blank templates with guided prompts
• Vocabulary Bank: Create a word wall with professional phrases and transitions
• Peer Buddy System: Pair with stronger writer for feedback and support
• Extended Time: Allow additional time to complete the individual writing task
• Scribe Option: For learners with writing difficulties, allow oral dictation of response with teacher/peer scribing

🚀 For advanced learners:

• Complex Scenarios: Provide multi-layered scenarios requiring nuanced responses (e.g., negotiating multiple aspects simultaneously)
• Research Extension: Investigate cultural differences in professional communication across different countries
• Peer Mentoring: Assist classmates during group work and provide constructive feedback
• Additional Task: Create a follow-up email for 2 weeks after accepting an offer (checking on onboarding, asking questions)
• Portfolio Development: Create a personal “Response Template Library” with 5+ different scenarios for future use
• Presentation: Prepare a 3-minute presentation on professional email etiquette for younger grades

♿ For learners with barriers to learning:

• Multilingual Support: Allow first draft in home language, then translate key concepts to English
• Visual Aids: Provide flowcharts showing decision-making process for different response types
• Audio Support: Read scenarios and examples aloud for learners with reading difficulties
• Simplified Language: Use shorter sentences and everyday language when explaining concepts
• Alternative Formats: Allow voice notes or video responses instead of written emails if appropriate
• Break Down Tasks: Divide the individual writing task into smaller steps with checkpoints
• One-on-One Support: Provide individual assistance during independent practice time

✅ What worked well:

[To be completed after lesson – Consider: Were learners engaged? Did the scenarios feel relevant? Were the examples clear? Did learners successfully write professional responses?]

🔧 What could be improved:

[To be completed after lesson – Consider: Was timing appropriate? Do learners need more practice? Should scenarios be adjusted? Were differentiation strategies effective?]

📝 Notes for next lesson:

[To be completed after lesson – Consider: Which concepts need reinforcement? Follow-up activities needed? Individual learners requiring additional support? Questions to address?]