Workplace English with Daria Shtorm

Exercise 5: Grammar – Present Perfect and Past Simple in a Business Context Choose the correct form of the verb in brackets to complete each sentence. Write the whole verb phrase (e.g. has finished, started). 1. Our sales team __ (just / sign) a contract with a new overseas client. 2. I __ (not / receive) the minutes from last Thursday’s meeting yet. 3. She __ (work) in the London office for three years before she transferred to Manchester. 4. We __ (already / meet) the quarterly targets, so the team can relax a little now. 5. The CEO __ (announce) the restructuring plan at the beginning of this month. 6. you (ever / deal) with a complaint like this before? Answer Key 1. has just signed 2. have not received (or haven’t received) 3. worked (past simple because “before she transferred” indicates a finished past period) 4. have already met 5. announced (past simple with specific time “at the beginning of this month”) 6. Have … ever dealt

I believe with all my heart that you have something beautiful to say in English, and I want to help you say it. This 14-day challenge is like a daily hand on your back – supportive, kind, and never pushing. You’ll receive speaking tasks that feel like conversations with a friend, all while building the professional English skills you really need. Let’s take this step together, gently. Join the challenge for €6: https://web.tribute.tg/p/zdi

Exercise 4: Speaking – Work and Workplaces Practise answering these IELTS-style questions out loud. Afterwards, read the sample answers to compare. Part 1 1. Where do you work? 2. Do you get on well with your colleagues? 3. How do you usually spend your lunch break at work? Part 2 Describe a piece of equipment you use at work or for your studies. You should say: • what it is • what you use it for • how often you use it and explain why it is important to your work. Sample Answers (B1 level) Part 1 1. I work for a small insurance company in the city centre. I’m part of the customer service team. 2. Yes, I do. Everyone is very supportive and we often help each other during busy periods. 3. I usually eat my lunch in the staff kitchen and then go for a short walk outside. It helps me feel fresh for the afternoon. Part 2 The piece of equipment I use the most is my laptop. I use it for almost everything: answering emails, writing reports and entering customer information into the database. I also use it for video calls with clients and colleagues who are working from home. I use it every day, usually from the moment I start work until I finish. It’s very important because nearly all my work is digital. If I didn’t have my laptop, I wouldn’t be able to access my files, communicate with my team or complete my daily tasks. I also like that I can take it with me when I need to work from another location.

Big changes often start with small, consistent acts of self-care. For your English, that could mean a short voice message every day. The Workplace Speaking Challenge is here to build that loving habit with you. Two daily tasks, a private bot, and a whole lot of gentle encouragement. You don’t need to be perfect – you just need to show up as you are. I’ll take care of the rest. Join the challenge for €6: https://web.tribute.tg/p/zdi

I used to feel nervous speaking in a second language at work too, and I know how much courage it takes. That’s why I filled this challenge with patience and care. In 28 simple voice tasks, you’ll practise introductions, phone calls, problem-solving and more. You’ll make mistakes – wonderful, human mistakes – and slowly, you’ll notice your voice becoming braver. I can’t wait to hear you. Join the challenge for €6: https://web.tribute.tg/p/zdi

Exercise 2: Reading – Workplace Notice Read the notice from a company intranet and decide if the statements below are True (T), False (F) or Not Given (NG). Notice: Annual Health and Safety Training All employees must complete the online health and safety course by 30th September. This is a legal requirement and will take about 45 minutes. The course is available 24 hours a day through the staff portal. After finishing all modules, you need to answer a short quiz. A score of at least 80% is required to pass. If you do not pass on your first try, you may retake the quiz after 24 hours. Line managers are expected to check that their team members have completed the training by the deadline. There will be no classroom sessions this year. For anyone who does not have a computer at home, a limited number of office computers will be available in Room 12 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., but you must book a time slot in advance. The health and safety team is also offering two voluntary workshops in October on stress management and desk ergonomics. Please check the portal for dates. Statements 1. The online course is compulsory for all staff. 2. Employees need to get a minimum score of 80% on the quiz. 3. The company will provide lunch during the classroom training. 4. If you fail the quiz, you can try again immediately. 5. The stress management workshop is something all employees must attend. Answer Key 1. T (all employees must complete it, a legal requirement) 2. T (score of at least 80% is required to pass) 3. F (no classroom sessions this year; it’s entirely online) 4. F (you may retake the quiz after 24 hours, not immediately) 5. NG (the workshops are voluntary, but it doesn’t say all employees must attend, only that they are being offered; the statement "must attend" is false because they are voluntary, but careful: the statement says "must attend", which is not true based on the text; the text says "voluntary workshops", so no one must attend; therefore False. The answer is F.)

Your voice carries your ideas, your warmth and your professionalism, and it deserves to be nurtured. The Workplace Speaking Challenge is a kind and supportive 14-day journey where you practise expressing yourself in English at work. You’ll talk about your routine, handle tricky situations and even celebrate small wins. Everything happens privately through the bot, so you can relax and be yourself. Join the challenge for €6: https://web.tribute.tg/p/zdi

Exercise 1: Vocabulary – Office Phrasal Verbs Match each phrasal verb on the left (1–8) with its correct meaning on the right (a–h). Write your answers as number and letter (for example, 1 – e). 1. draw up 2. follow up 3. hold off 4. point out 5. run through 6. step down 7. work out 8. note down a. to mention or show something important b. to calculate or find a solution c. to quickly explain or practise something d. to prepare a written document, plan or contract e. to delay doing something f. to contact someone again about a previous matter g. to write something quickly so you remember it h. to leave an official position or job Answer Key 1 – d (draw up = prepare a document) 2 – f (follow up = contact again about a matter) 3 – e (hold off = delay) 4 – a (point out = mention something important) 5 – c (run through = quickly explain/practise) 6 – h (step down = leave an official position) 7 – b (work out = calculate/solve) 8 – g (note down = write quickly to remember) Dreaming of working abroad? Nail your English interview and open the door to new opportunities. I've put together a course to help you prepare – check it out: https://dshtorm.tilda.ws/jobcourse

Sometimes the hardest part is simply pressing record for the first time. Let me gently guide you through that. Over the next two weeks, I’ll send you little speaking invitations about everyday work situations. You can speak in whispers, stumble, pause, try again – it all counts. This is your personal practice diary for business English, and I’m cheering you on with every message. Join the challenge for €6: https://web.tribute.tg/p/zdi

Exercise 7: Vocabulary – Word Families Complete the table with the missing word forms. The first one is done for you. 1. Verb: employ Noun (person): employer / employee Noun (activity/idea): employment Adjective: employed 2. Verb: promote Noun (person): __ Noun (activity/idea): promotion Adjective: promotional 3. Verb: negotiate Noun (person): negotiator Noun (activity/idea): __ Adjective: negotiable 4. Verb: solve Noun (person): (not common – use problem solver) Noun (activity/idea): __ Adjective: solvable 5. Verb: organise Noun (person): organiser Noun (activity/idea): __ Adjective: organised 6. Verb: communicate Noun (person): communicator Noun (activity/idea): communication Adjective: __ Answer Key 2. Noun (person): promoter (but in business, the person is often just “promoter” or “someone who promotes”; accept “promoter”) 3. Noun (activity/idea): negotiation 4. Noun (activity/idea): solution 5. Noun (activity/idea): organisation (also acceptable: organization) 6. Adjective: communicative (also acceptable: communicable in some contexts, but “communicative” is the typical business adjective) Landing a job abroad starts with a great interview. My course gives you the skills and confidence to succeed. Learn more here: https://dshtorm.tilda.ws/jobcourse

You deserve a learning space that feels warm, patient, and completely free of pressure. That is exactly what the Workplace Speaking Challenge is. For 14 days, you’ll find two short voice tasks waiting for you. Talk about your job, solve problems, present ideas – all while building the confidence that lives in your voice. It’s your safe little corner of the internet to grow. Join the challenge for €6: https://web.tribute.tg/p/zdi

Exercise 5: Grammar – Prepositions in Business Contexts Complete each sentence with the correct preposition: in, on, at, for, with, about. 1. Sarah works __ the Human Resources department. 2. The staff meeting is __ Tuesday 2:30 p.m. 3. Are you interested __ learning about our new supplier? 4. He is responsible __ organising the annual conference. 5. We need to talk __ the budget before we make a decision. 6. I usually check my emails first thing __ the morning. 7. Please speak __ your line manager if you have a problem. Answer Key 1. in 2. on, at 3. in (interested in) 4. for (responsible for) 5. about 6. in (in the morning) 7. to/with (speak to / speak with – both are correct) Job interview in English coming up? Don't leave it to chance. Get ready with my preparation course: https://dshtorm.tilda.ws/jobcourse

Imagine walking into your next meeting, picking up the phone, or chatting with a colleague and feeling your words flow just a little more smoothly. That confidence doesn’t come overnight, but it starts with tiny, consistent moments of practice. This 14-day challenge sends two speaking prompts to your bot each day – safe, private, and designed for learners who want real workplace progress. Join the challenge for €6: https://web.tribute.tg/p/zdi

Exercise 4: Speaking – Work and Career Practise answering these IELTS-style questions aloud. Then read the sample answers to help you improve. Part 1 1. What kind of work do you do? 2. Do you prefer working on one task at a time or multitasking? Why? 3. How do you usually get updates about what is happening in your company? Part 2 Describe a time when you helped a colleague at work. You should say: • who the colleague was • what problem they had • how you helped them and explain what the result was. Sample Answers (B1 level) Part 1 1. I work as a junior accountant in a medium-sized company. I mostly deal with invoices and monthly financial reports. 2. I prefer multitasking because my job often involves small, urgent tasks that need immediate attention while I work on longer projects. 3. In my company, we have a weekly email newsletter and a short team meeting every Monday morning. Those keep me well informed. Part 2 Last year, a new colleague named Marco joined our team. He was very friendly, but he had trouble with our internal software for client records. He was afraid of making mistakes, so he often worked slowly. I offered to sit with him for two afternoons and showed him the shortcuts I use daily. I also gave him a simple checklist I had made for my own work. After that, Marco became much faster and more confident. He finished his first client project ahead of the deadline, and our manager noticed the improvement. I felt really good about helping a teammate settle in. Want to work in another country? The interview is often the hardest part. My course will help you prepare and feel confident. Check it out: https://dshtorm.tilda.ws/jobcourse

I know that opening your mouth to speak a new language at work can feel really vulnerable. You’re not alone, and I’m here to walk alongside you. The Workplace Speaking Challenge gives you 28 simple speaking tasks over two weeks, all in a private and supportive corner. You record your answer whenever you feel ready. Think of it as a daily cup of encouragement for your English. Join the challenge for €6: https://web.tribute.tg/p/zdi

Have you ever wished speaking English at work felt a little easier and a little lighter? I’ve created a gentle 14-day practice space just for that. Every day you’ll get two short voice tasks inspired by real office life. There’s no group, no pressure, and no judgment – just you and a friendly bot. Take your time, make mistakes, and find your voice step by step. Join the challenge for €6: https://web.tribute.tg/p/zdi

Exercise 2: Reading – Staff Notice Read the staff notice about a professional development course and decide if the statements below are True (T), False (F) or Not Given (NG). Notice To all team members, We are pleased to offer an Advanced Communication Skills workshop on Friday, 15th July from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in Room 4B. The workshop is free of charge and open to all permanent staff. It will cover topics such as handling difficult conversations, professional email writing and active listening. Participants will receive a digital certificate of attendance by email one week after the course. Lunch is not provided, but tea and coffee will be available during the break. If you are interested, please sign up using the online form before 8th July. Places are limited to 20 people. This workshop is particularly useful for those in customer-facing roles, but any employee is welcome. Statements 1. The workshop will last a full working day. 2. Only employees in customer service can attend. 3. There will be a coffee break during the training. 4. Employees have to pay a small fee for the certificate. 5. People who complete the course will receive a paper certificate on the same day. Answer Key 1. F (it runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., so a half day) 2. F (any employee is welcome, though it is especially useful for customer-facing roles) 3. T (tea and coffee will be available during the break) 4. F (the workshop is free of charge, and the certificate is digital and included) 5. F (it is a digital certificate sent by email one week later) Want to find a job abroad or at an international company? Join my Career English Club for weekly tasks in IELTS, Workplace, and Business English. Practice all skills: reading, writing, listening, speaking, grammar, and vocabulary. Two plans: Self-study – €27/month Guided – €52/month (teacher checks one written and one speaking task per week) Join here: https://t.me/tribute/app?startapp=ees

Exercise 1: Vocabulary – Work Phrasal Verbs Match each phrasal verb (1–8) on the left with the correct meaning (a–h) on the right. Write the answers as number and letter (for example, 1 – c). 1. carry out 2. call off 3. look into 4. take over 5. set up 6. cut back on 7. fill in for 8. come up with a. to replace someone temporarily b. to investigate a situation c. to perform or complete a task d. to cancel something that was planned e. to reduce the amount of money or resources used f. to think of an idea or a plan g. to gain control of a company or a role h. to create or establish a business, system or meeting Answer Key 1 – c (carry out = perform/complete a task) 2 – d (call off = cancel) 3 – b (look into = investigate) 4 – g (take over = gain control) 5 – h (set up = create/establish) 6 – e (cut back on = reduce spending/resources) 7 – a (fill in for = replace temporarily) 8 – f (come up with = think of an idea/plan) Want to find a job abroad or at an international company? Join my Career English Club for weekly tasks in IELTS, Workplace, and Business English. Practice all skills: reading, writing, listening, speaking, grammar, and vocabulary. Two plans: ▪️ Self-study – €27/month ▪️ Guided – €52/month (teacher checks one written and one speaking task per week) Join here: https://t.me/tribute/app?startapp=ees