Activity 1: Let's Get Started! (Warm-up)
- Why do you think understanding idioms and phrasal verbs is particularly important in business conversations, meetings, or emails?
- Can you recall an English idiom or phrasal verb you've encountered in a business context that was confusing or unclear at first? What was it?
- In your opinion, how might misinterpreting an idiom or phrasal verb potentially impact a business interaction or relationship?
Activity 2: New Idioms and Phrasal Verbs
This section introduces common English idioms and phrasal verbs that are frequently used in business. Understanding their meanings will help you communicate more naturally and effectively.
1. Carry out (phrasal verb): To perform or complete a task, duty, or plan.
Example: The team was assigned to carry out market research before launching the new product.
2. Follow up (phrasal verb): To take further action related to something that has already been done or discussed, often to ensure progress or get more information.
Example: After the meeting, Sarah promised to follow up with an email summarizing the key decisions.
3. Draw up (phrasal verb): To prepare and write a formal document, such as a contract, proposal, or plan.
Example: The legal department will draw up the new employment contracts by next week.
4. Take on (phrasal verb): To accept new work, a new responsibility, or a challenge.
Example: Despite her busy schedule, Maria decided to take on the role of project leader for the new initiative.
5. On the same page (idiom): To have a shared understanding or agreement on a situation or plan.
Example: Before we present to the client, let's have a quick meeting to ensure we are all on the same page regarding the proposal details.
6. The bottom line (idiom): The most important fact in a situation, often related to profit or a final decision.
Example: We can discuss various marketing strategies, but the bottom line is that we need to increase sales by 15% this quarter.
7. Get the ball rolling (idiom): To start an activity, project, or process.
Example: Let's get the ball rolling on this project by brainstorming some initial ideas in our meeting tomorrow.
8. Think outside the box (idiom): To think in an original, creative, or unconventional way to find solutions.
Example: To solve this complex problem, we need to encourage our team to think outside the box and explore innovative approaches.
Activity 3: Reading - Project InnovateX Kick-off
Read the following passage about a team meeting. Notice how idioms and phrasal verbs from Activity 2 are used in context.
The project kick-off meeting started with Sarah, the team lead, keen to get the ball rolling on the new 'InnovateX' marketing campaign. 'Good morning, everyone. Before we dive into the specifics of execution,' she began, 'it's absolutely crucial that we're all on the same page regarding the campaign’s main objectives and our target audience.' Tom, from the design department, quickly chimed in, 'I can draw up a preliminary timeline and a detailed list of deliverables by the end of the day.' Sarah acknowledged him with a nod, 'Excellent, Tom, that would be very helpful. And remember, we'll need a dedicated sub-team to effectively carry out the comprehensive social media strategy we discussed.'
Later in the meeting, when discussing a potential challenge in reaching a younger demographic, Sarah encouraged the team to be creative. 'We really need to think outside the box for this one; traditional methods might not be enough.' Mark, a newer member of the team, after a moment of hesitation, volunteered, 'I'd be willing to take on the responsibility of researching emerging platforms and influencer collaborations if that contributes.' Sarah smiled warmly, 'That's the proactive spirit we need, Mark! We appreciate you offering to take on that task. This kind of collaborative and innovative approach is exactly what will lead us to success.'
Comprehension Questions:
After reading the passage, answer the following questions:
- What was Sarah's first priority at the beginning of the project meeting, expressed using an idiom?
- What task did Tom offer to do, and what did Sarah say needed to be done to carry out the social media strategy?
- Why did Sarah encourage the team to "think outside the box"?
- What responsibility did Mark volunteer to take on, and how did Sarah react to his offer?
Activity 4: Role Play - Client Proposal Follow-up
Read the following dialogue between two colleagues, Liam and Chloe. Pay attention to their use of idioms and phrasal verbs.
Liam: Chloe, did you get a chance to follow up with the client after our proposal presentation yesterday?
Chloe: Yes, I sent them an email this morning with the additional details they requested. Just waiting for their feedback now.
Liam: Great. I just want to make sure we're on the same page about the next steps if they approve the main terms.
Chloe: Definitely. If they agree, we'll need to draw up the formal agreement immediately. I’ve already got a template ready.
Liam: Perfect. And who is designated to carry out the initial phase of the project once it's greenlit?
Chloe: That will be a joint effort between our team and the tech department. We need to coordinate closely.
Liam: True. There are many components to consider. What do you think is the bottom line for the client at this stage?
Chloe: I believe the bottom line for them is seeing a clear projection of cost savings and efficiency gains within the first six months.
Liam: I agree. Our proposal highlighted that, so hopefully, they saw the value clearly.
Chloe: Fingers crossed! I'll let you know as soon as I hear anything back from them.
Discuss Together:
After reading or performing the dialogue, discuss the following with a partner:
- In the dialogue, Liam and Chloe are waiting for client feedback. What are some effective ways to follow up with a client without seeming too pushy?
Activity 5: Let's Practice - Improving a Process
Objective: Practice using the idioms and phrasal verbs in a guided conversation.
Scenario: Mr. Harrison (Manager) is discussing a project with Anna (Employee) to improve the client onboarding process. Fill in the blanks in Anna's lines using items from Activity 2.
Mr. Harrison: Anna, thanks for meeting. I want to discuss the new client onboarding process. We need to improve its efficiency.
Anna: Of course, Mr. Harrison. I agree it could be streamlined.
Mr. Harrison: Good. I'd like you to lead this initiative. Are you prepared to handle this important project?
Anna: Yes, I'm ready to the challenge and responsibility.
Mr. Harrison: Excellent. First, I need you to analyze the current process and identify bottlenecks. Can you complete that analysis by next week?
Anna: I can definitely the analysis and have a report ready for you.
Mr. Harrison: Great. For solutions, I want you to be innovative. Don't just suggest minor tweaks.
Anna: Understood. You want me to and propose some truly fresh ideas.
Mr. Harrison: Precisely. We need to significantly reduce onboarding time. That's the crucial factor for this project.
Anna: So, is a shorter, more efficient onboarding experience. I'll make that the priority.
Mr. Harrison: Perfect. Once you have some initial findings from your analysis, please contact me so we can discuss them.
Anna: I will certainly with you once I have the preliminary data.
Mr. Harrison: And to begin, what's the first thing you'll do to start this project?
Anna: To , I'll schedule meetings with the sales and support teams to understand their current procedures.
Try to fill in the blanks with the correct idioms or phrasal verbs from Activity 2.
Answer Key (Activity 5)
Suggested Answers:
- take on
- carry out
- think outside the box
- the bottom line
- follow up
- get the ball rolling