General English:6-Elementary
Unit 1 Communicating at work
1 Vocabulary Thoughts and feelings
Describing our mental processes
It's useful to refer to your mental processes, or your guesses about others' mental processes when passing information between groups of people:
A: I was wondering when we'll move to a new office. I was wondering when we'll move to a new office.
B: As you know, we need to move pretty soon. As you know, we need to move pretty soon.
A: We expect big changes in the next months. We expect big changes in the next months.
B: Got it. Got it.
It is also useful to be able to explain how you and other people are feeling.
A: People are worrying about job cuts. People are worrying about job cuts.
B: It doesn't surprise me. It doesn't surprise me.
dialogue
TODD:So,I'm meeting with my team tomorrow,and I'm wondering what to say.Some people already know we're buying another
computer company.
JOAN:It doesn't surprise me.News travels fast.
TODD:Sally says that some employees are worried about losing their jobs.
JOAN:Well,they shouldn't worry.the deal is final,and it'll be good for the company.Sales will increase,and there will be
no job cuts.
TODD:That's good news,what can I tell Sally and Harry?
JOAN:It's best to be honest.They probably know a lot already.You can confirm that we're buying Sunset computers.
TODD:okay.
JOAN:If I were you,I'd tell them that we're going to be a stronger company,and that they shouldn't worry.The
outlook's good,We don't expect any job cuts.
TODD:great
JOAN:But,Todd,you have to tell them this information is confidential.it cannot leave the office.
TODD:Got it,Thanks,JOAN.
sentence:
i'm wondering what to say about the new office.
People are worrying about job cuts.
Ok,got it.
Can we expect better salaries?
2 Grammear Reporting what people say
Reporting in the past and present tense
When you report what someone said, your reporting verb, like say, can be in the past tense.
Hey, boss, I was wondering ... Brad said we're moving to a new office. Hey, boss, I was wondering ... Brad said we're moving to a new office.
But you can also report in the present tense. This emphasizes that what the person said is related to the present moment, even if it was said in the past.
Some people are saying that it's going to be really far from the center. Some people are saying that it's going to be really far from the center.
And Tanya says there's no subway station nearby. And Tanya says there's no subway station nearby.
sentence
Everyone is saying there will be a new manager.
People said there wouldn't be a new system.
Tanya says there will be job cuts.
Benny said we'd move to a new office.
3 Expressions Asking for giving advice
Permission to speak?
It's sometimes important to know what we can say to other people inside the company, and what we can't. Questions like these are helpful:
What can I tell people about the move? What can I tell people about the move?
Should I tell the guys? Should I tell the guys?
In return, you might expect replies like these:
A: What can I tell people about the move? What can I tell people about the move?
B: It's best to be honest. It will happen very soon. It's best to be honest. It will happen very soon.
A: Should I tell the guys? Should I tell the guys?
B: If I were you, I wouldn't say anything for now. If I were you, I wouldn't say anything for now.
sentence:
what should I say to Donna?
You should confirm that the deal is final.
What can I tell the team?
If i were you,I'd say there will be some job cuts.
It's best to be honest.
Should I tell our customers?
Yes,It's always good to talk with customers.
Got it,Thanks!
4 Final Task Passing on information
