Describe an observable communication issue and request a useful change.
Your situation
The design draft is ready, but the client has not approved the final copy. The launch depends on that approval.
Known detail: the draft is ready on Tuesday, while the review meeting is on Thursday. Your communication task is to confirm who will obtain approval and by when. Keep that task in mind while practising the language; accuracy matters more than sounding elaborate.
| Your role | a project lead |
|---|---|
| Other person | a colleague responsible for delivery |
| What is unresolved | the launch date depends on copy approval |
| Possible agreed outcome | the account owner will request approval by Wednesday afternoon |
A useful language pattern
When …, it was difficult to … Could we …?
Feedback about an observable action is more useful than a judgement about someone’s character.
Example: “When the next step was left unclear, it was difficult to plan. Could we confirm who will obtain approval and by when before we finish?” This is one way to express the idea. Change the wording when the actual situation calls for a different level of formality.
| Less useful wording | You are bad at communicating. |
|---|---|
| Clearer follow-up | The owner and the timing would help most. That would make the action easier to follow. |
Example exchange
An illustrative exchange. Real conversations will take a different path.
YouWhen the next step was left unclear, it was difficult to plan. Could we confirm who will obtain approval and by when before we finish?
PartnerYes. Which detail would be most helpful to clarify?
YouThe owner and the timing would help most. That would make the action easier to follow.
PartnerLet us confirm what we have agreed and what still needs checking.
Vocabulary for this conversation
| dependency | something that must happen before another task can proceed |
|---|---|
| on track | progressing according to the agreed plan |
| revised date | a new date replacing an earlier one |
An eight-minute practice
- Minute 1: read the situation and identify what is known, what is uncertain and what you need to confirm who will obtain approval and by when.
- Minutes 2–3: Give feedback using an observation, its effect and a specific request.
- Minutes 4–5: ask a partner to reply differently from the example. Respond to their meaning rather than restarting your prepared answer.
- Minutes 6–7: review the three criteria below. Rewrite one unclear sentence using shorter, more specific words.
- Minute 8: repeat the difficult exchange without looking at the model. Finish by confirming the next step.
Make the exercise easier or harder
You do not need an idiom or a complicated sentence to sound professional. Check that the listener understands the message, can ask a question and knows which action follows. This exercise does not assess your accent or certify a language level.
| More support | Keep this pattern visible: When …, it was difficult to … Could we …? Practise one exchange at a time and ask the other person to speak more slowly when needed. |
|---|---|
| More challenge | Add a new constraint: the other person cannot answer immediately. Keep the discussion accurate while you confirm who will obtain approval and by when. |
| For your actual work | Replace the fictional detail “the draft is ready on Tuesday, while the review meeting is on Thursday” with an appropriate, non-confidential example from your work. |
Your working sheet
Write your own version below. Notes are saved on this browser when local storage is available. Use Download to keep a separate copy; avoid adding confidential information on a shared device.
Example: When the next step was left unclear, it was difficult to plan. Could we confirm who will obtain approval and by when before we finish?
Example: Yes. Which detail would be most helpful to clarify?
Example: The owner and the timing would help most. That would make the action easier to follow.
Example: Let us confirm: the account owner will request approval by Wednesday afternoon. Have I understood correctly?
Review your work
Tick only what you can support with your answer or practice. This is a reflection checklist, not an automated assessment.
Questions about this resource
Do I need advanced English for this exercise?
Start with the sentence pattern and a short exchange. If that is comfortable, use the harder variation. The exercise can be adapted to your ability and does not assign a formal language level.
What should I focus on in project updates?
The practical task is to confirm who will obtain approval and by when. Check that your language helps the other person understand the facts and respond to the request.
Can I use this dialogue at work?
Adapt it to the real situation. Do not repeat fictional details or commitments. The useful part is the communication pattern: When …, it was difficult to … Could we …?
Original fictional language practice. Model answers are examples, not the only correct wording. The self-review is not a formal language assessment. About these resources.