Unit 1

Part 2: TWO - WAY CONVERSATION (Retention and motivating staff)

Your company wants to keep the employees and motivate the staff
to work harder. As the head of the office, talk with your boss for
about 2 minutes about some important things the company could do
to retain and motivate them.
Here are some ideas to help.
more training
bonus payment
holidays
flexible working hours
Promotion opportunities
OTHERS................
Part 3: FOLLOW - ON QUESTIONS
1. What is employee retention?
2. Why is employee retention important?
3. When the best employees leave a company, what would be the losses?
4. Have you ever experienced being treated unfairly at the workplace or
school? What was it? What did you do?
Part 2: TWO - WAY CONVERSATION
Your company has performed very well this year, and the managers want
to thank all the staff. You have heard about the plan of rewarding. Talk
together for about 2 minutes about ways you want to be rewarded and
decide which of the three are the best.
Here are some ideas to help.
● Holidays
● Free tickets to events
● Party
● Bonuses
● Wall clock with company’s logo
● free company transport
● a short training course abroad
Part 3: FOLLOW - ON QUESTIONS
1. How important is motivation in your daily activities? What are the
effects lacking motivation?
2. What motivates you to do well on your job? Or on studying English?
3. What do you think is the difference between internal and external
motivation?
4. Which of the two is more influential to you?
Part 2: TWO - WAY CONVERSATION (WORKPLACE CULTURE)
The employees in the company seem to be unhappy with the company’s
corporate culture. For about 2 minutes, discuss with your colleague how you
expect the company to treat the employees more fairly and equally
Here are some ideas to help.
• Treating everyone equally
• Rewarding each employee for his/ her accomplishments
• Promoting an employees who deserve it
• Listening to your employees
• Others
Part 3: FOLLOW - ON QUESTIONS
• Should employees be rewarded for their good performance at the
workplace or is doing the job well a part of what employees are
expected to do?
• How should salaries be based on? Employees’ performance or the
certificates they have got?
• Should a company raise salaries for employees as a reward for their
long time employment?
• How important is being treated fairly and equally at the workplace?
Part 2: TWO - WAY CONVERSATION (WORKPLACE CULTURE)
For about 2 minutes, you are going to discuss the factors affecting the
workplace culture with your colleague. What do you expect about the values
and practices of the company?
Here are ideas to help.
• How people feel about the hierarchy in the company
• The way people communicate
• How people are promoted
• How their salaries are decided
• How people should work together
 Part 3: FOLLOW - ON QUESTIONS
• Is there a particular company you would like to be a part of? Why?
• What is a business hierarchy? Is it important for the company’s
development?
• Would you prefer to work in a large international company or a small
local company? Why?
• What would you do, or how would you react if your contributions to
the company were not recognized?
Part 2: TWO - WAY CONVERSATION (WORKPLACE CULTURE)
As an old employee, you are talking with a new employee about the
company’s policies: its values or practices. Take turns to explain the
company’s policy and ask questions in 2 minute
Here are some ideas to help.
• Dress code
• Pay structure
• Promotion opportunities
• Shared beliefs
• Others…………..
 Part 3: FOLLOW - ON QUESTIONS
• Is it important for a company to treat all employees fairly and
equally?
• What can be done to treat all employees fairly and equally?
• How important do you think building trust is at the workplace?
• How should promotion be decided, in your opinion?
Unit 2
Part 2: TWO - WAY CONVERSATION (INDUCTION TO A NEW JOB)

A new employee is starting work in your department next week and you are
in charge of organizing or an induction day for him/ her. Decide what you will
arrange for the day and talk with him/ her about that for about 2 minutes
Here are some ideas to help.
• tour of company building
• meeting with Managing Director
• introduction to colleagues
• demonstration of photocopies
• explanation of office systems
Part 3: FOLLOW - ON QUESTIONS

• Do you think that development of general business skills benefits the employees, the company or
both? Both. Employee Benefits: Personal Growth: Developing general business skills enhances
employees' capabilities, allowing them to take on more responsibilities, expand their knowledge
base, and grow personally and professionally. For company: Innovation: Business skills enable
employees to think critically, solve problems, and innovate. They can come up with creative
solutions to challenges and drive innovation within the company.
• Is it better to have an external trainer for courses or can someone from the company take on this
role?
• What information do you think a new employee needs to know about the company he or she
intends to work for?
- Vision of their company
- Rules of their company
• What qualities do you think a mentor or a supervisor should have?
- Be equally
- Recognize the achivement
Part 2: TWO - WAY CONVERSATION (TEAM BUILDING)
You and your colleague have been asked to organize a team- building event
at your place of work or study. You are going to discuss what type of event
will be most successful in your department.
Here are some ideas to help.
• a weekend picnic with activities
• a dinner with karaoke
• a one- day team building event run by a specialist with competing activities
• Other................
Part 3: FOLLOW - ON QUESTIONS
• Have you ever attended a team-building event? What was it?
• Do you think it is necessary for every company to have team-building
events frequently?
• What are some benefits of team-building events?
• Which skills can people learn from these events?
Part 2: TWO - WAY CONVERSATION
You are working for a five-star hotel. The customer care department has
just recruited some new staff. However, they seem to work not very
efficiently. As the head leading of the department, discuss with the
resource human manager to recommend a training program for the new
staff. Decide which skills and knowledge need to be included in the
program.
Here are some ideas to help:
● Communication skills
● Problem solving skills
● Interpersonal skills
● Others…………………..
Part 3: FOLLOW - ON QUESTIONS
1. What could be challenges working in a hotel? Related to Customer Service : it means employees must be
prepared to handle customer inquiries, requests, and complaints at any time. High Workload during busy
periods. Managing increased require while maintaining service quality can be challenging.
2. Is communication skill important at the workplace generally? Why?
- Connect to the others, share ideas and our opinion, can communication or interact more effectively and
actively.
3. Are there any other skills necessary for your future work?
- Self – motivation and self-development: any area-> need to maintain motivation to do sth, avoid lacking of
inspire and always self-development to working actively and keep ourself move in long term.
4. How have you prepared for these skills?
- Set a clear schedule / work hard to find new things about our work to avoid boredom.
- Join activities actively
Part 2: TWO - WAY CONVERSATION
You are working for a travel agency. Recently, your agency has
experienced a downturn. Tour’s sales have dramatically dropped
and the customers shift to your rivals. You have been asked to
investigate the issues and propose solutions to the problems.
Here are things to help:
● poorly - qualified tours
● Bad services
● Not qualified staff
● Others………………….
Part 3: FOLLOW - ON QUESTIONS
1. Which qualities do you think a tour guide should have?
- Communication skill / problem solving
2. What are the criteria for a successful tour, in your opinion?
3. Should a government try to improve domestic tourism or attract
international tourists instead?
4. What’s the best way to travel when tourists visit your country?
Train, car, bicycle, bus…?
Part 2: TWO - WAY CONVERSATION
You are working for a primary school. There is a great demand for
learning English from young learners. However, their parents can not
afford high costs for their children’s extra learning. Discuss with the
principal to propose an English program for the children. Talk about
your plan action to take.
Here are things to help:
-who the staff will be
-which facilities can be used
-how to promote your program
-Others
Part 3: FOLLOW - ON QUESTIONS
1. Have you ever used English in real situations?
2. Why is it easy for children to learn languages and so difficult for
adults?
3. What skills do you think an English teacher needs?
4. What do you think about the suggestion that all school children
should learn English?
Part 2: TWO - WAY CONVERSATION
You are co-owners of a chain of restaurants. Decide on the profile of
your restaurant and customer base, e.g a spaghetti for young
professionals. Discuss with each other in 2 minutes about the
important things you need to prepare for your restaurant.
Here are ideas to help.
● A new logo
● The dessert menu
● Ways to advertise
● employing staff
● modernizing the interior
Part 3: FOLLOW - ON QUESTIONS
1. Do you think meetings are necessary for businesses and companies?
They provide a platform for sharing ideas, discussing progress. Face to face
communication more efficiency then the other ways.
2. Which criteria = tiêu chuẩn are needed for successful meetings?
3. Have you ever attended a meeting? What was it about? Was it effective?
4. Which qualities does a meeting chairman need?
- Be equally:
- Recognize employee’s achievement
Unit 3
Part 2: TWO - WAY CONVERSATION
Your company has started a branch in another town. As a requirement
of the new office, some of the staff has to move, which means they
have to live far away from their family or their family has to move with
them. Talk to an employee that is on the list of moving. Minimize the
negatives by telling him that he will be given a big role in the new place.
Here are things to help
● Changes and opportunities
● Financial benefits
● New working environment
● Others…………………..
Part 3: FOLLOW - ON QUESTIONS
1. If you could choose, would you like to move away from your family for promotion?

[Link] may be advantages of being transferred to working abroad?

- New friends, new culture, new work environment -> share knowledge, passion, new experiences
[Link] may be disadvantages of being transferred to working abroad?
- Culture shock
- Adapt to many new thing from habitat to eating habit in new country.
4. What factors are important when choosing a location for a business, in your opinion?
+ Community: Look for a location where you can become part of a supportive community. Building
relationships with other businesses and residents can be invaluable.
+ Future Growth: Consider the potential for future growth and development in the area. You want to
choose a location that will continue to be attractive to customers and investors in the long term.
Part 2: TWO - WAY CONVERSATION
Some employees in your office have quit their jobs. As the manager, you
don’t want to recruit new staff but intend to let the current staff take
over the work, which means they have to take more responsibilities and
work longer hours. However, they will be paid with extra money. Deliver
the news to your employees. Remember to balance the positives and
negatives.
Here are things to help.
● which responsibilities to take
● Hours to work
● Benefits
● others
Part 3: FOLLOW - ON QUESTIONS
When choosing a job, what is the most important for you: work-life
balance, high salary, friendly environment or quick promotion?
What makes an ideal workplace in your opinion?
What do you want to see yourself in the next 5 years in the company?
Over the next five years, I hope to keep progressing and taking on more
important roles in the company, I want to learn more about my job and
keep being useful to the company.
What do you do to prepare for your career goals?
Part 2: TWO - WAY CONVERSATION
Your company is facing economic problems. Tell your employee in office
that all staff will have to take a 10% pay cut as a policy of the company
to avoid redundancies and help the company to start making profits
again within a short time. Think about the way to communicate the
news.
Here are ideas to help.
● positive effects of the news
● negative effects of the news
● others………….
Part 3: FOLLOW - ON QUESTIONS
How do you understand the 2 terms “economic growth” or “economic
recession”?
How do you often react to bad news?
Was it often easy or hard for you to deliver bad news?
Have you ever had to deliver bad news to anyone? What was it about?
How did you do it?
Part 2: TWO - WAY CONVERSATION
You have recommended your friend to register a course with Mr. John, a
lecturer of Culture Course but then you find out useful information that
he is known to have been very strict with students, and have failed 50%
of students in most of his class, yet he knows what to teach with the
course. Decide what to tell your friend & raise your concerns with him/
her.
Here are some ideas to help.
● positive outcomes if your friend registers the course
● negative outcomes if your friend registers the course
● Your concerns & considerations
Part 3: FOLLOW - ON QUESTIONS
Do you think people need to be transparent, telling the truth and being
honest all the time?
Have you ever been in situations when you feel hard to manage the
news?
When crisis situations occur in a team, do you tend to have clear
conversations or avoid conflicts?
When choosing a lecture for your course, what are your criteria?
Part 2: TWO - WAY CONVERSATION
You have recommended a friend of yours to apply for a part-time job at
a coffee shop but then you find out some useful information that the
boss is known to pay very late salary, requiring the staff to do extra work
outside the responsibilities, yet, the customers at the coffee shop are
nice, and the tips are good. Decide what to tell your friend and raise
your concern with him/ her.
Here are some ideas to help.
● positive outcomes if your friend takes the job
● negative outcomes if your friend takes the job
● Your concerns & considerations
Part 3: FOLLOW - ON QUESTIONS
What criteria do you think a good boss needs?
What can a person or student learn from doing a part- time job?
How should a student choose an appropriate part-time job?
If you could choose a part-time job, what would it be?
Unit 4
Part 2: TWO - WAY CONVERSATION
Your team has been assigned to develop an app for mobile phone.
Think of an imaginary or real app. Which tasks that a digital personal
assistant could do, how it would make life easier? And who would be
your targeted customers? Consider their daily routines in order to
interact with them through marketing strategies. Get ready to talk
with the manager of product development department.
Here are some ideas to help.
● what the digital product is
● which features it has got
● How the product would make your life easier
● others……………
Part 3: FOLLOW - ON QUESTIONS
How does digital technology help you in your place of work/ study?
Do you like to bring a high-end device to a meeting?
Why do people like to buy new expensive devices?
Are you a digital native, a digital immigrant or a digital nomad? Explain
your answer.
Part 2: TWO - WAY CONVERSATION
To swift the teenage students’ entertainment from using digital
devices such as mobile phones, electronic tables and encourage them
to do more reading and do more physical exercises, as a teacher, you
have the duty to discuss with a group of parents on what need to do
Here are some ideas to help.
- reading book contest
- rule for using phone eg: time limit
- more outdoor activities at school
others
Part 3: FOLLOW - ON QUESTIONS
Which digital devices are you interested in? Talk about a digital gadget
or app that has just appeared in the market.
Why do people like to buy high-end devices?
Which app do you use for your work or learning?
Why do you think companies and businesses continuously manufacture
new gadgets such as smartphones almost every year?
Part 2: TWO - WAY CONVERSATION
Your company is planning to promote a new product, a household
robot for example or any other product. As a member of the
marketing team, talk with your colleague for about 2 minutes about
the 3 most important activities that the team needs to do before
launching the product.
Here are some ideas
● Sales targets
● Advertising campaign
● Market research
● Promotional offers
● People / Staff
Part 3: FOLLOW - ON QUESTIONS
1. How do companies advertise their products and services
today?
2. How do companies and businesses build brand loyalty
today?
3. Are commercials important in business and our life?
4. Are you loyal to any brand? Which image does it have?
How do you feel about the brand?
Part 2: TWO - WAY CONVERSATION
You are co-owners of a chain of restaurants. Decide on the profile of
your restaurant and customer base, e.g a spaghetti for young
professionals. Discuss with each other in 2 minutes about the
important things you need to prepare for your restaurant.
Here are ideas to help.
● A new logo
● The dessert menu
● Ways to advertise
● employing staff
● modernizing the interior
Part 3: FOLLOW - ON QUESTIONS

[Link] you think meetings are necessary for businesses and

companies?
[Link] criteria are needed for successful meetings?
[Link] you ever attended a meeting? What was it about?
Was it effective?
[Link] qualities does a meeting chairman need?
Unit 5
Part 2: TWO - WAY CONVERSATION
Your company has performed very well this year, and the managers want
to thank all the staff. You have heard about the plan of rewarding. Talk
together for about 2 minutes about ways you want to be rewarded and
decide which of the three are the best.
Here are some ideas to help.
● Holidays
● Free tickets to events
● Party
● Bonuses
● Wall clock with company’s logo
● free company transport
● a short training course abroad
Part 3: FOLLOW - ON QUESTIONS
1. How important is motivation in your daily activities? What are the
effects lacking motivation?
2. What motivates you to do well on your job? Or on studying English?
3. What do you think is the difference between internal and external
motivation?
4. Which of the two is more influential to you?
Part 2: TWO - WAY CONVERSATION
The restaurant you are working for is experiencing a downturn.
Customers complain about poor food quality and service. As the
head of the kitchen staff, you have been asked to explain the reasons
why and propose solution for improvement. In two minutes, prepare
to listen to the feedback from your manager and propose solutions to
the problems.
Here are some ideas to help:
-improve menu
-Look for new chef
-Offer discounts
-Train staff / Recruit more staff
Part 3: FOLLOW - ON QUESTIONS
[Link] you ever received negative feedback? What was it?
How did you react to that?
[Link] you always focus on protecting yourself when receiving
feedback or criticism? Or are you open to challenging
feedback and criticism?
[Link] your opinion, what is bad feedback?
[Link] your opinion, what is good feedback?
Part 2: TWO - WAY CONVERSATION
You have been in charge of an English class at a language center.
Feedback from learners seems to be not positive. Get ready to listen
to the feedback from the manager, and explain the situations.
Here are some ideas to help.
● delivery methods are hard to understand
● Being late at work
● Be off so many days
● Noisy students
● Students’ scores are good
Part 3: FOLLOW - ON QUESTIONS
1. How important is giving and receiving feedback at the workplace
and at school?
2. Have you ever received negative feedback? What was it about?
How did you react?
3. Have you ever given feedback to anyone? What was it about? Was
it easy or hard?
4. In what ways should we react when receiving bad feedback?
Part 2: TWO - WAY CONVERSATION
To swift the teenage students’ entertainment from using digital
devices such as mobile phones, electronic tables and encourage them
to do more reading and do more physical exercises, as a teacher, you
have the duty to discuss with a group of parents on what need to do
Here are some ideas to help.
- reading book contest
- rule for using phone eg: time limit
- more outdoor activities at school
others
Part 2: TWO - WAY CONVERSATION
You & your teammate have just completed a presentation on”
American working styles”, however, the feedback from classmates &
the lecture were not very positive. Discuss with your teammate the
reasons why and propose ways to improve the next presentation.
Here are some ideas to help.
● what went well/ not so well
● what could/ should have been done
● how you will do the same/ differently next time
● what you have learnt from the experience
Other:................
Part 3: FOLLOW - ON QUESTIONS
[Link] you always focus on protecting yourself whenever
receiving feedback?
[Link] you easily open to challenging feedback and criticism?
[Link] your opinion, what is constructive feedback?
[Link] giving and receiving feedback important at the workplace
Part 2: TWO - WAY CONVERSATION
You are working for a restaurant as a part- time staff member.
Recently your individual performance at the workplace has not been
very good. Your manager has just given you some feedback. Prepare
to respond to the feedback from your manager.
Here are some ideas to help.
● rule behavior to customers
● being late at work
● Be off so many days
● bring wrong orders to customers
Other................
Part 3: FOLLOW - ON QUESTIONS
[Link] could be some challenges for employees working in
restaurants and hotels?
[Link] skills are necessary for people working in restaurants
and hotels?
[Link] job satisfaction more important than salary when choosing a
job?
[Link] people say it’s better to work for yourself than to be
employed by a company. What’s your view?