Can you elaborate on

your thinking here?

ESL Brains
Let’s get started
with a warm-up

ESL Brains
Discuss the quote. Say to what extent you agree with it and give examples to
illustrate your opinion.

“ ”
Being polite and grateful will make
people more inclined to help you.
And if people are willing to help
you, you may accidentally get
something you want.
Jason Sudeikis

ESL Brains 3
Let’s think!

ESL Brains
Look at some common workplace issues. Discuss whether you have experienced
any of them and decide which are the most difficult to solve.

● getting unclear instructions

● being given unwelcome advice

● being asked to work to unreasonable deadlines

● being micromanaged

ESL Brains 5
In a moment, you’ll watch a video in
which:
an influencer suggests how to
politely convey some messages
But first…
ESL Brains
Discuss how you would politely convey these points.

● “That makes absolutely no sense. What are you talking about?”

● “You're stepping on my toes and it's annoying. Stay in your own lane.”

● “These deadlines are impossible to meet.”

● “Can you leave me alone so that I can get my work done?”

ESL Brains 7
 Watch the video and decide if you think your ideas are better than hers. Explain
why.

ESL
ESLBrains
Brains
Look at how the messages were conveyed in the video and complete the gaps with
the correct words. The first letter is provided.

A. “That makes absolutely no sense. What are you talking about?”

Can you e_____ on your thinking here?

B. “You're stepping on my toes and it's annoying. Stay in your own lane.”
I r_____ your eagerness to be involved in this. However, I feel as t_____ it is
resulting in duplicate work.

C. “These deadlines are impossible to meet.”

G_____ the current amount of work with competing timelines, I do not feel
as though this deadline is f_____.

D. “Can you leave me alone so that I can get my work done?”

I am c_____ with other work at the moment. Can you c_____ your thoughts
into a single email and I’ll review it when I have time?

ESL Brains 9
Watch the video again and check your answers.
A. “That makes absolutely no sense. What are you talking
about?”
Can you e______ on your thinking here?

B. “You're stepping on my toes and it's annoying. Stay in

your own lane.”
I r______ your eagerness to be involved in this. However,
I feel as t______ it is resulting in duplicate work.

C. “These deadlines are impossible to meet.”

G______ the current amount of work with competing
timelines, I do not feel as though this deadline is
f______.

D. “Can you leave me alone so that I can get my work done?”

I am c______ with other work at the moment. Can you
c______ your thoughts into a single email and I’ll review it
when I have time?
ESL Brains 10
Let’s check the answers.
A. “That makes absolutely no sense. What are you talking
about?”
Can you e______ on your thinking here? elaborate

B. “You're stepping on my toes and it's annoying. Stay in

your own lane.”
I r______ your eagerness to be involved in this. However, recognize
I feel as t______ it is resulting in duplicate work. though
C. “These deadlines are impossible to meet.”
G______ the current amount of work with competing Given
timelines, I do not feel as though this deadline is
f______. feasible

D. “Can you leave me alone so that I can get my work done?”

I am c______ with other work at the moment. Can you consumed
c______ your thoughts into a single email and I’ll review it consolidate
when I have time?
ESL Brains 11
Let’s talk!

ESL Brains
Discuss the questions.

● Would you use the language from the video with your coworkers?
Why/Why not?

● How does our choice of language influence our professional

relationships?

● Can you think of other polite phrases to use when we want to set
boundaries? In which situations would you use them?

ESL Brains 13
Let’s work with some phrases!

ESL Brains
part 1/2

Look at some of the phrases from the video with different endings and add one
more ending to each one.
A. Can you elaborate on...
○ your criticism?
○ your earlier remarks?
○ …
B. I recognize...
○ your eagerness to…
○ your reasons for…
○ …
C. I feel as though...
○ it is resulting in…
○ we should consider…
○ …
D. I do not feel as though…
○ this deadline is feasible.
○ we’ve given it enough thought.
○ …
ESL Brains 15
part 2/2

Look at some of the phrases from the video with different endings and add one
more ending to each one.
E. Can you consolidate...
○ your thoughts into a single message?
○ your report into an email?
○ …
F. I am consumed with...
○ other work.
○ several projects.
○ …
G. Given...
○ the amount of work ahead of us, I’d…
○ the fact that the deadline was yesterday, we…
○ …

ESL Brains 16
part 1/2

Let’s see some possible answers.

A. Can you elaborate on...

○ your criticism?
○ your earlier remarks?
○ … that statement?
B. I recognize...
○ your eagerness to…
○ your reasons for…
○ …your efforts to…
C. I feel as though...
○ it is resulting in…
○ we should consider…
○ …it might be better to…
D. I do not feel as though…
○ this deadline is feasible.
○ we’ve given it enough thought.
○ …we should pursue this approach.
ESL Brains 17
part 2/2

Let’s see some possible answers.

E. Can you consolidate...

○ your thoughts into a single message?
○ your report into an email?
○ … your ideas in writing?
F. I am consumed with...
○ other work.
○ several projects.
○ …more urgent priorities.
G. Given...
○ the amount of work ahead of us, I’d…
○ the fact that the deadline was yesterday, we…
○ …our current budget, I’d…

ESL Brains 18
Rewrite the sentences below in a more polite tone. Use ideas from the previous
task and your own.

A. This won’t work.

B. Your presentation is too confusing. Please explain it to me.

C. This idea simply doesn’t fit into our budget. Let’s change it.

D. There are more than enough people working on this project. Please don’t
interfere.

E. Don’t book me in to so many meetings. I have actual work to do.

F. Instead of having a meeting, why don’t you just email us?

ESL Brains 19
Let’s see some possible answers.
A. This won’t work.
I do not feel as though this will produce good results.
B. Your presentation is too confusing. Please explain it to me.
Your presentation isn’t very clear to me. Can you elaborate a bit more?
C. This idea simply doesn’t fit into our budget. Let’s change it.
Given our current budget, I’m not sure the idea is feasible. I suggest we look into alternatives.
D. There are more than enough people working on this project. Please don’t interfere.
I recognize your eagerness to help. However, I believe there is enough personnel to handle this.
E. Don’t book me in to so many meetings. I have actual work to do.
I feel as though the number of meetings I’m attending is rather excessive, and I am consumed
with other work at the moment.
F. Instead of having a meeting, why don’t you just email us?
I feel as though we can better consolidate our thoughts into one single email thread.

ESL Brains 20
Now, we’ll put it into practice!

ESL Brains
part 1/3

In pairs, create short conversations for the following situations. Use polite
language.

Situation 1 Situation 2

Student A Student B Student A Student B

You want your You are working to Your team is working You are working on
colleague to join a deliver several tasks on a project. As the a project with your
project because you at the moment and team lead, you want colleagues. You have
think it will be cannot take on any to get updates on the been updating
a great opportunity more work. project more often. your team lead on
for them. progress three times
a week.

ESL Brains 22
part 2/3

In pairs, create short conversations for the following situations. Use polite
language.

Situation 3 Situation 4

Student A Student B Student A Student B

You see you have You booked a You need to You have had a busy
been booked in to a meeting at lunchtime transcribe some day, you are tired and
meeting during your for Student A notes from a meeting just want to go home.
lunch hour. Politely because it is really but your shift is
decline. important. Explain ending now. You were
your reasons. supposed to have
done it today. Ask
your colleague
for help.

ESL Brains 23
part 3/3

In pairs, create short conversations for the following situations. Use polite
language.

Situation 5 Situation 6

Student A Student B Student A Student B

You have heard about You are a manager You are a manager. You have a task to
an interesting and there is an You just found out deliver by the end of
conference important deadline to you must attend a the day. You are
happening at the end meet by the end of last-minute meeting working to a short
of the week. You this week. You can’t but you already have deadline but it’s
would like to attend allow anyone to take some other tasks to feasible. You can’t
it. Request the day off time off at this point complete. Ask take on any more
from your manager. (except for a subordinate to do work, though.
emergencies). these tasks for you.

ESL Brains 24
Let’s revise!

ESL Brains
Write an email addressing the following situation. Remember to be polite.

It’s 8 a.m. on Monday morning and you’ve just arrived at the office. You see there
are four new emails on your inbox from someone asking for updates on a project.

● The emails were sent at the weekend and you don't work weekends.

● You only answer emails from Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

● Your team are the only people responsible for the project, and the sender is
not a part of it. Your team sends updates directly to management.

● Offer to help where appropriate.

ESL Brains 26
Let’s see a possible answer.
It’s 8 a.m. on Monday morning and you’ve just arrived Dear Rowan,
at the office. You see there are four new emails on
I recognize your eagerness to be involved in this.
your inbox from someone asking for updates on a
However, I am unable to answer emails over the
project.
weekend. I am happy to assist when appropriate, from
● The emails were sent at the weekend and you 9 a.m. to 5 a.m., Monday to Friday.
don't work weekends.
Given the fact that our team is responsible for the
● You only answer emails from Monday to Friday project and that updates on it should be sent directly
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to management, I feel as though sending you updates
as well might result in duplicate work.
● Your team are the only people responsible for
the project, and the sender is not a part of it. Feel free to contact me if you need any additional
Your team sends updates directly to help.
management.
Best,
● Offer to help where appropriate.
Nushi

ESL Brains 27
THANKS!

ESL Brains