Investigating a Problem

Theme:
Business Communication
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Lesson objectives

In this lesson, you will:

• revise phrases related to work problems that you

studied in the Practice stage

• work together with your colleagues to find solutions

to different work problems, information storage and
security

• practise stressing the key word in questions for

emphasis.

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Lead-in: Discuss

Bad behaviour
at work

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 Lead-in
Taking stationery home from the office.

Transferring money from the company into your account. Calling in sick when you are not.

Selling information about your company Surfing the internet during work time.

Bad behaviour
at work
Parking in another employee’s assigned spot.

Taking food from the staff fridge that does not belong to you.

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Language focus: Work Collocations (Review)
1. important a. data

2. password b. device

3. storage c. the computer

4. update d. protected

5. serious e. incident

6. financial f. information

7. public g. drive

8. flash h. transport

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Language focus: Answers (use some in a sentence)
1. important f. Information/ data

2. password d. protected

3. storage b. device

4. update c. the computer

5. serious e. incident

6. financial f. Data/ Information

7. public h. transport

8. flash g. drive

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Speaking Skills:
Work with a partner what would you do in this situation.

1. The photocopier doesn’t work.

2. The employees are very unhappy.
3. The computer network has been hacked.
4. Someone stole four laptops from the office.
5. The profits have dropped by 50%.
6. You have to find a new office in three days.

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 Task
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Pre-task – Student A and B

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Task

Talk to your partner – see if you can solve the problems

• find out how the problems happened

• the reasons for the problems

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Feedback

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Extra: speaking

• Explain a problem at your current or past workplace

• Explain the reasons for this problem
• Talk with your partner about possible solutions

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Review

What have you learned from today’s lesson?

What was easy? What was difficult? Why?

How can you practise more outside of class?

Did you participate fully?

Did you achieve your aims for this lesson?

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What’s next?

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