Learner groups use their business English to choose between different investments, each with its own risk and reward profile. Who is the wisest investor in your class?

Classroom Activities: Learners are grouped into investment teams. The teams are given six years of seed money to invest. In each fiscal year, they are given three investments, each with its own risk & reward profile. The team uses its business English skills to discuss the pros and cons of each investment and then makes a decision.

The team draws a random number to determine whether the chosen investment is successful or not. If successful, the team enters that investment's cash flow into its cash flow sheet. They can use that cash flow for future investments. If not successful, the team has then lost its money for that fiscal year.

As in real life, the riskier investments in Risk & Reward have more reward. But if the teams don't handle their risk levels wisely, they could go broke.

There's lots of good business English conversation as the students give their opinions on the investment choices.

Quizzes: There is an 89-word vocabulary quiz with this module.

Duration: Plan about one hour for the business game. This module allows groups to move at different speeds.

Homework: After playing the game, students can write a strategy paper on how to be successful in Risk & Reward. If they want to do the exercise again to test their theories, give them another round of Risk & Reward. It's still good business English practice.

Regular ELT: This would be a fun module to introduce in a regular intermediate level classroom. Give the students a break from the grammar lessons and have them play this business game.