Pre-listening Questions
1. What are some common problems you face at work?
2. How do you usually solve them?
3. How do you feel working directly with people?
Listening
Post-listening activity
Answer the questions.
What are some common reasons why projects get delayed at work or school?
➤ Can you share an example from your own experience?How do you think a manager should respond when a team reports a delay?
➤ Should they be strict, understanding, or something in between?Have you ever had to explain a mistake or delay to someone in authority?
➤ How did you feel? What language did you use?What’s the best way to keep people updated when a project is behind schedule?
➤ Email, phone, text, meetings? Why?Do you think it’s better to give a late but perfect result, or an on-time but unfinished one?
➤ Why?
Additional Activities
Role-Play
Give students two different situations where a project was delayed (e.g. “Client changed the design,” “Team member was sick”). Each student explains their delay using the key phrases.
Then, they switch and role-play the manager responding.
Role-Play 1
Role A: Office Intern
You were supposed to submit a report today, but you misunderstood the deadline and haven’t finished.
Role B: Office Supervisor
You need that report for a meeting in one hour. Ask what’s going on and if they can finish on time.
Role A: Event Planner
You didn’t confirm the catering on time and had to switch vendors. The food will now arrive late.
Role B: Event Director
You’re responsible for the company’s reputation. Ask what the plan is and how they’ll avoid this issue next time.
