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Category: Daily Business Communication

  • Business English: Risk and Decision-Making (PDF)

    Business English: Risk and Decision-Making (PDF)

    Risk and decision-making is the C1 senior-management communication skill. The worksheet covers the analytical-language toolkit for evaluating risks (the downside risk is, the worst-case scenario, the probability of, the potential impact), comparing options (on balance, all things considered, weighing the trade-offs), and committing to decisions (based on this analysis, our recommendation is, we should proceed with).

    This worksheet builds C1 fluency with risk-analysis and decision communication.

    What’s inside:

    • A phrase bank organised by analytical phase (identify, evaluate, compare, decide)
    • Case-study analysis: read a scenario and write a structured recommendation
    • Multiple-choice on hedging strength and commitment level
    • Strategic-summary writing task
    • Full Answer Key plus Teacher Notes

    Common challenges: Hedging precision at C1 — likely (60–70%), probable (70–80%), almost certain (90%+). Each modifier carries specific weight. Balancing analysis with decisiveness: thorough doesn’t mean indecisive. Avoiding over-qualification that hides the recommendation.

    For: Adult and teenage learners (14+) at CEFR C1, in advanced classes, 1:1 lessons, or self-study — particularly senior professionals and MBA candidates. Maps onto BEC Higher and C1 Advanced (CAE). Part of the Daily Business Communication collection — the natural next step is Handling Difficult Conversations.

  • Business English: Handling Difficult Conversations (PDF)

    Business English: Handling Difficult Conversations (PDF)

    Handling difficult conversations is the B2–C1 high-stakes communication skill — delivering bad news, addressing underperformance, managing conflict, declining requests firmly. The worksheet covers the diplomatic-language toolkit: setting tone (I appreciate this isn’t easy to hear), framing the issue without blame (from my perspective, what I’m observing is), inviting response (how do you see this?, what’s your perspective?), and reaching agreement on next steps.

    This worksheet builds B2–C1 fluency with difficult-conversation skills.

    What’s inside:

    • A phrase bank organised by conversation phase (opening, framing, listening, agreeing)
    • Role-play scenarios: performance feedback, declining a request, escalating an issue
    • Tone-shifting task: convert blunt statements into diplomatic alternatives
    • Self-assessment checklist for difficult-conversation performance
    • Full Answer Key plus Teacher Notes

    Common challenges: Hedging without weakening at B2–C1 — diplomatic doesn’t mean unclear. The message must be firm and the tone soft. Active listening cues: I hear what you’re saying, that’s a valid concern, I understand why you feel that way. Cultural variation in directness norms.

    For: Adult and teenage learners (14+) at CEFR B2–C1, in upper-intermediate and advanced classes, 1:1 lessons, or self-study — particularly managers and senior professionals. Maps onto BEC Higher and C1 Advanced (CAE). Part of the Daily Business Communication collection — the natural next step is Risk and Decision-Making.

  • Business English: Problem-Solving at Work (PDF)

    Business English: Problem-Solving at Work (PDF)

    Problem-solving at work is the B2 daily-business skill that runs through every meeting, email thread, and project update. The worksheet covers vocabulary for diagnosis (the root cause is, the issue stems from), proposal (I’d suggest, we could try, one option would be), and resolution (this should address, that would resolve). Learners build the structured-thinking communication that distinguishes B2 professional English.

    This worksheet builds B2 fluency with workplace problem-solving language.

    What’s inside:

    • A phrase bank organised by problem-solving phase (define, analyse, propose, decide)
    • Meeting-transcript gap-fill with workplace scenarios
    • Role-play scenarios: team meeting on a current challenge
    • Sentence-completion drill with structured-thinking phrases
    • Full Answer Key plus Teacher Notes

    Common challenges: Problem-vs-solution structure at B2 — clear professional communication separates problem definition from solution proposal. Diplomatic disagreement: That’s one view, but I think we should also consider. Modal verbs for hedging: we might want to, we could potentially, we should probably.

    For: Adult and teenage learners (14+) at CEFR B2, in upper-intermediate classes, 1:1 lessons, or self-study — particularly working professionals. Maps onto BEC Vantage. Part of the Daily Business Communication collection — the natural next step is Handling Difficult Conversations.

  • Business English: Describing Company Structure (PDF)

    Business English: Describing Company Structure (PDF)

    Describing company structure is the B2 daily-business skill every consultant, new hire, and stakeholder needs. The worksheet covers vocabulary for organisational layers (board, executive team, department, division, subsidiary, branch), reporting relationships (reports to, is responsible for, oversees, manages), and structural types (hierarchical, flat, matrix, decentralised). Learners build the productive vocabulary that workplace introductions and reorganisation discussions require.

    This worksheet builds B2 fluency with company-structure description.

    What’s inside:

    • A vocabulary box with 30+ structural terms
    • Organigram-reading task: describe the chart in prose
    • Workplace-introduction gap-fill: complete an onboarding briefing
    • Comparison task: contrast two different company structures
    • Full Answer Key plus Teacher Notes

    Common challenges: Structural vocabulary varies by industry — partner, principal, senior, director mean different things across firms. Reporting-relationship language: reports to (chain of command) vs works with (collaboration). Distinguishing roles from people: the role of CFO vs our CFO.

    For: Adult and teenage learners (14+) at CEFR B2, in upper-intermediate classes, 1:1 lessons, or self-study — particularly business professionals. Maps onto BEC Vantage. Part of the Daily Business Communication collection — the natural next step is Problem-Solving at Work.

  • Business English: Making and Responding to Requests (PDF)

    Business English: Making and Responding to Requests (PDF)

    Making and responding to requests is the central B1 daily-business skill. The worksheet covers polite request structures (Could you possibly, I was wondering if, Would it be possible to), responses (full agreement, qualified agreement, polite refusal), and the follow-up moves that resolve workplace coordination. Learners build the politeness-machinery fluency every professional context demands.

    This worksheet builds B1 fluency with workplace requests and responses.

    What’s inside:

    • A phrase bank organised by request strength and response type
    • Email-and-conversation gap-fill in workplace contexts
    • Role-play scenarios: deadline pushback, resource requests, scheduling
    • Multiple-choice on register and politeness levels
    • Full Answer Key plus Teacher Notes

    Common challenges: Bluntness at B1 — Send me the report is rude; Could you send me the report when you have a moment is professional. Polite refusal: I’m afraid I won’t be able to, unfortunately that won’t be possible. Hedging without losing clarity.

    For: Adult and teenage learners (14+) at CEFR B1, in intermediate classes, 1:1 lessons, or self-study — particularly working professionals. Maps onto BEC Preliminary. Part of the Daily Business Communication collection — the natural next step is Describing Company Structure.