The modules are fun and easy to learn how to speak and understand English for meetings and presentations. You can complete them at your own pace. Practice conversations can prepare you for real-life situations at work. Whether you are at a beginner, intermediate, or advanced level in learning English as a Second Language (ESL), Alison has a course that will suit you.<\/p>\n
Making Small Talk in the Office<\/strong><\/h2>\nAt work, you can talk to colleagues in a casual way to be friendly. This is called “small talk<\/a>“. It helps <\/span>\u201cbreak the ice<\/span><\/a>\u201d and fill the awkward silence that can happen in various settings<\/span>. For instance:
\nTalk about the weather:<\/strong> \u201cNice weather today!\u201d
\nTalk about sports:<\/strong> \u201cDid you see the game this weekend?\u201d
\nTalk about work:<\/strong> \u201cWhich department do you work in?\u201d<\/p>\nHere is an example of small talk at the office.<\/span><\/p>\nBob:<\/strong> Good morning.<\/span><\/p>\nJane:<\/strong> Good morning. Are you new? I haven\u2019t seen you around the office before.<\/span><\/p>\nBob:<\/strong> No, I\u2019m not new. I\u2019ve been working here for four months.<\/span><\/p>\nJane:<\/strong> Which department do you work in?<\/span><\/p>\nBob:<\/strong> I\u2019m in the IT department.<\/span><\/p>\nJane<\/strong>:<\/strong> IT sounds like an interesting job.<\/span><\/p>\nBob:<\/strong> It is. It can also be technical and requires long hours.<\/span><\/p>\nJane:<\/strong> With such long hours, were you able to watch the game this weekend?<\/span><\/p>\nBob:<\/strong> Unfortunately, not. I was working overtime. But I heard it was a great match.<\/span><\/p>\nJane:<\/strong> It was. And the weather was great too. Would you like a cup of coffee?<\/span><\/p>\nBob:<\/strong> Yes, please. I\u2019d love a cup of coffee.<\/span><\/p>\nThis short and <\/span>basic conversation<\/span><\/a> between Jane and Bob covers three light topics: work, sports, and the weather. <\/span>As you learn more English, you can talk about the game in more detail, like who played well or what strategies they used.<\/span><\/p>\nGetting Help From IT<\/strong>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/alison.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/the-jopwell-collection-QSSgHlpj2kU-unsplash-300x200.jpg\")
<\/b><\/h2>\nIf you need help with something at work, you can ask a co-worker for help. Be clear about the problem. For example, you can talk to a co-worker from the IT department: \u201cMy laptop screen is frozen. Can you help me?\u201d Here is an example:<\/p>\n
Jane:<\/strong> Hi, Bob. How are you today?<\/span><\/p>\nBob:<\/strong> I am doing well, thank you. How can I help you today?<\/span><\/p>\nJane:<\/strong> I\u2019m having a problem with my laptop. Will you be able to help?<\/span><\/p>\nBob:<\/strong> Sure, what seems to be the problem?<\/span><\/p>\nJane:<\/strong> My laptop screen is frozen. I powered it on and off to reboot, but now the screen is black and won\u2019t switch on.<\/span><\/p>\nBob<\/strong>:<\/strong> Sure, no problem. I will come to your desk and assess what the problem could be.<\/span><\/p>\nJane\u2019s English skills<\/a> have passed the beginner stage, and she can describe the problem in some detail, using phrases such as \u2018powered\u2019 and \u2018reboot\u2019 in the proper context.<\/p>\nSetting up a Meeting <\/strong><\/h2>\nMeetings are important at work. You can schedule meetings with co-workers to discuss things. You might want to find a time that works for everyone.<\/p>\n
Sarah:<\/strong> Hi Jane, how are you today?<\/span><\/p>\nJane:<\/strong> I\u2019m doing well, thanks, Sarah. How are you?<\/span><\/p>\nSarah:<\/strong> Great, thanks for asking. How\u2019s your schedule this week?<\/span><\/p>\nJane:<\/strong> I have several meetings and a few tasks to complete this week.<\/span><\/p>\nSarah:<\/strong> Okay, please check your schedule and my calendar availability, and when you find a gap, book the time for us.<\/span><\/p>\nJane:<\/strong> I have a hybrid schedule, so I\u2019m not in the office every day. Does it have to be in person?<\/span><\/p>\nSarah:<\/strong> Ideally, yes. I\u2019m in the office all week, and I\u2019d like to meet next time you\u2019re here as well.<\/span><\/p>\nJane:<\/strong> Sure. Have I done anything wrong?<\/span><\/p>\nSarah<\/strong>:<\/strong> We need to discuss a few matters regarding the presentation you gave earlier today.<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/alison.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/mimi-thian-lp1AKIUV3yo-unsplash-300x225.jpg\")
<\/b><\/h2>\nHow to Give and Receive Feedback<\/strong><\/h2>\nGiving and receiving feedback is important at work. It can help you do your job better. If you get feedback, listen carefully. Ask questions if you don\u2019t understand something. Alison\u2019s free course on Speaking and Writing English Effectively<\/a> can help you practice workplace communication techniques.<\/p>\nSarah:<\/strong> Jane, thanks for making time to come and see me. As I mentioned, I\u2019d like to talk to you about the presentation you gave to the team and client earlier.<\/span><\/p>\nJane:<\/strong> Okay.<\/span><\/p>\nSarah:<\/strong> Your contribution to the presentation seemed disorganised and rushed. Many of the team members could not follow what you were saying.<\/span><\/p>\nJane:<\/strong> What do you mean? Was I unclear about anything?<\/span><\/p>\nSarah:<\/strong> You are an eloquent speaker and know your work very well. However, the client has expressed their dissatisfaction with your presentation and said that the strategies you presented were unclear, and you provided no research to support your strategies and plan going forward.<\/span><\/p>\nJane:<\/strong> It\u2019s just that there\u2019s a lot going on, and I worked late all week to meet my deadlines. This was too much for me to do in time.<\/span><\/p>\nSarah:<\/strong> Okay, I understand. Next time, please let the team know if you are under pressure and unable to prepare a presentation. We are a team that supports each other.<\/span><\/p>\nJane:<\/strong> I know everyone is busy, and I wasn\u2019t sure they\u2019d be able to help.<\/span><\/p>\nSarah:<\/strong> I understand that, but it\u2019s always better to ask than assume. Doing otherwise makes the team look unprofessional.<\/span><\/p>\nJane:<\/strong> Will I receive any disciplinary action?<\/span><\/p>\nSarah:<\/strong> No, not disciplinary, but Peter will be taking the lead on the project going forward, and you will take on a more supportive role. This will allow you to focus your attention on less demanding tasks and give you the opportunity to find time management tools and presentation skills for future projects.<\/span><\/p>\nJane:<\/strong> I understand Sarah. Thank you for letting me know.<\/span><\/p>\nThe text discusses how to give and receive feedback positively. However, the <\/span>advanced use of English phrases and sentence structure<\/span><\/a> can make the conversation difficult to understand. You can click on <\/span>how to give and receive feedback<\/span><\/a> for more business English conversation practice. Alison offers a wide range of free online English courses that can help you learn English for work by improving your speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills.<\/span><\/p>\nWant to know how good your English is before you begin Alison\u2019s free online English courses? Click the link for <\/span>our free English assessment<\/span><\/a> and join the millions of learners who have learned the English Language with Alison. <\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.alison.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/English-Vertical_Blog_CTA-300x65.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nThese courses follow the best English teaching methods used by Cambridge, TOEFL, and TOEIC, so you can improve your English for work or fun.<\/span><\/p>\nDon’t wait! Learn today with <\/span>Alison\u2019s English Vertical<\/span><\/a>. You’ll learn useful expressions, grammar rules, and interesting sentence structures. Start your English learning adventure now!<\/span><\/p>\nFollow Alison on Facebook<\/a>, X<\/a>, LinkedIn<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, Quora<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nTalk about the weather:<\/strong> \u201cNice weather today!\u201d
\nTalk about sports:<\/strong> \u201cDid you see the game this weekend?\u201d
\nTalk about work:<\/strong> \u201cWhich department do you work in?\u201d<\/p>\n
Here is an example of small talk at the office.<\/span><\/p>\n Bob:<\/strong> Good morning.<\/span><\/p>\n Jane:<\/strong> Good morning. Are you new? I haven\u2019t seen you around the office before.<\/span><\/p>\n Bob:<\/strong> No, I\u2019m not new. I\u2019ve been working here for four months.<\/span><\/p>\n Jane:<\/strong> Which department do you work in?<\/span><\/p>\n Bob:<\/strong> I\u2019m in the IT department.<\/span><\/p>\n Jane<\/strong>:<\/strong> IT sounds like an interesting job.<\/span><\/p>\n Bob:<\/strong> It is. It can also be technical and requires long hours.<\/span><\/p>\n Jane:<\/strong> With such long hours, were you able to watch the game this weekend?<\/span><\/p>\n Bob:<\/strong> Unfortunately, not. I was working overtime. But I heard it was a great match.<\/span><\/p>\n Jane:<\/strong> It was. And the weather was great too. Would you like a cup of coffee?<\/span><\/p>\n Bob:<\/strong> Yes, please. I\u2019d love a cup of coffee.<\/span><\/p>\n This short and <\/span>basic conversation<\/span><\/a> between Jane and Bob covers three light topics: work, sports, and the weather. <\/span>As you learn more English, you can talk about the game in more detail, like who played well or what strategies they used.<\/span><\/p>\n If you need help with something at work, you can ask a co-worker for help. Be clear about the problem. For example, you can talk to a co-worker from the IT department: \u201cMy laptop screen is frozen. Can you help me?\u201d Here is an example:<\/p>\n Jane:<\/strong> Hi, Bob. How are you today?<\/span><\/p>\n Bob:<\/strong> I am doing well, thank you. How can I help you today?<\/span><\/p>\n Jane:<\/strong> I\u2019m having a problem with my laptop. Will you be able to help?<\/span><\/p>\n Bob:<\/strong> Sure, what seems to be the problem?<\/span><\/p>\n Jane:<\/strong> My laptop screen is frozen. I powered it on and off to reboot, but now the screen is black and won\u2019t switch on.<\/span><\/p>\n Bob<\/strong>:<\/strong> Sure, no problem. I will come to your desk and assess what the problem could be.<\/span><\/p>\n Jane\u2019s English skills<\/a> have passed the beginner stage, and she can describe the problem in some detail, using phrases such as \u2018powered\u2019 and \u2018reboot\u2019 in the proper context.<\/p>\n Meetings are important at work. You can schedule meetings with co-workers to discuss things. You might want to find a time that works for everyone.<\/p>\n Sarah:<\/strong> Hi Jane, how are you today?<\/span><\/p>\n Jane:<\/strong> I\u2019m doing well, thanks, Sarah. How are you?<\/span><\/p>\n Sarah:<\/strong> Great, thanks for asking. How\u2019s your schedule this week?<\/span><\/p>\n Jane:<\/strong> I have several meetings and a few tasks to complete this week.<\/span><\/p>\n Sarah:<\/strong> Okay, please check your schedule and my calendar availability, and when you find a gap, book the time for us.<\/span><\/p>\n Jane:<\/strong> I have a hybrid schedule, so I\u2019m not in the office every day. Does it have to be in person?<\/span><\/p>\n Sarah:<\/strong> Ideally, yes. I\u2019m in the office all week, and I\u2019d like to meet next time you\u2019re here as well.<\/span><\/p>\n Jane:<\/strong> Sure. Have I done anything wrong?<\/span><\/p>\n Sarah<\/strong>:<\/strong> We need to discuss a few matters regarding the presentation you gave earlier today.<\/span><\/p>\n Giving and receiving feedback is important at work. It can help you do your job better. If you get feedback, listen carefully. Ask questions if you don\u2019t understand something. Alison\u2019s free course on Speaking and Writing English Effectively<\/a> can help you practice workplace communication techniques.<\/p>\n Sarah:<\/strong> Jane, thanks for making time to come and see me. As I mentioned, I\u2019d like to talk to you about the presentation you gave to the team and client earlier.<\/span><\/p>\n Jane:<\/strong> Okay.<\/span><\/p>\n Sarah:<\/strong> Your contribution to the presentation seemed disorganised and rushed. Many of the team members could not follow what you were saying.<\/span><\/p>\n Jane:<\/strong> What do you mean? Was I unclear about anything?<\/span><\/p>\n Sarah:<\/strong> You are an eloquent speaker and know your work very well. However, the client has expressed their dissatisfaction with your presentation and said that the strategies you presented were unclear, and you provided no research to support your strategies and plan going forward.<\/span><\/p>\n Jane:<\/strong> It\u2019s just that there\u2019s a lot going on, and I worked late all week to meet my deadlines. This was too much for me to do in time.<\/span><\/p>\n Sarah:<\/strong> Okay, I understand. Next time, please let the team know if you are under pressure and unable to prepare a presentation. We are a team that supports each other.<\/span><\/p>\n Jane:<\/strong> I know everyone is busy, and I wasn\u2019t sure they\u2019d be able to help.<\/span><\/p>\n Sarah:<\/strong> I understand that, but it\u2019s always better to ask than assume. Doing otherwise makes the team look unprofessional.<\/span><\/p>\n Jane:<\/strong> Will I receive any disciplinary action?<\/span><\/p>\n Sarah:<\/strong> No, not disciplinary, but Peter will be taking the lead on the project going forward, and you will take on a more supportive role. This will allow you to focus your attention on less demanding tasks and give you the opportunity to find time management tools and presentation skills for future projects.<\/span><\/p>\n Jane:<\/strong> I understand Sarah. Thank you for letting me know.<\/span><\/p>\n The text discusses how to give and receive feedback positively. However, the <\/span>advanced use of English phrases and sentence structure<\/span><\/a> can make the conversation difficult to understand. You can click on <\/span>how to give and receive feedback<\/span><\/a> for more business English conversation practice. Alison offers a wide range of free online English courses that can help you learn English for work by improving your speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills.<\/span><\/p>\n Want to know how good your English is before you begin Alison\u2019s free online English courses? Click the link for <\/span>our free English assessment<\/span><\/a> and join the millions of learners who have learned the English Language with Alison. <\/span><\/p>\n These courses follow the best English teaching methods used by Cambridge, TOEFL, and TOEIC, so you can improve your English for work or fun.<\/span><\/p>\n Don’t wait! Learn today with <\/span>Alison\u2019s English Vertical<\/span><\/a>. You’ll learn useful expressions, grammar rules, and interesting sentence structures. Start your English learning adventure now!<\/span><\/p>\n Follow Alison on Facebook<\/a>, X<\/a>, LinkedIn<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, Quora<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\nGetting Help From IT<\/strong>
<\/b><\/h2>\nSetting up a Meeting <\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/b><\/h2>\nHow to Give and Receive Feedback<\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n