2026.05.06_Socializing with Colleagues
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Business English – Lesson 14
Socializing with Colleagues
Focus: starting and maintaining natural conversations with colleagues in a professional environment
Goal: by the end of this lesson, participants will be able to start conversations, ask follow-up questions, and keep a conversation going naturally at work.
1. Vocabulary Review (from previous lesson)
1. Let’s ______ the meeting for next week.
2. I’m afraid I need to ______ the meeting.
3. Please send me your ______ for next week.
4. I can’t attend — I have a scheduling ______.
5. Let’s ______ the time before sending the invite.
2. Useful Phrases (Starting & Continuing Conversations)
How’s your week going?
Example: How’s your week going so far?
What are you working on at the moment?
Example: What are you working on at the moment?
How did you get into this role?
Example: How did you get into this role?
3. Natural Reactions (More Native-Like)
I see what you mean.
Example: I see what you mean — that makes sense.
That’s a good point.
Example: That’s a good point — I hadn’t thought about it like that.
Fair enough.
Example: Fair enough, that sounds reasonable.
4. Roleplay (Real Situation)
Scenario: Talking to a Colleague You Don’t Know Well
Person A: Hi, how’s your week going?
Person B: (Respond naturally)
Person A: What are you working on at the moment?
Person B: (Respond with something simple)
Person A: That sounds interesting. How did you get into that?
Person B: (Explain briefly)
Person A: I see what you mean.
Person B: (Ask a question back)
Continue the conversation naturally for 2–3 minutes, then switch roles.
Vocabulary (B2 Level)
|
Word |
Pronunciation |
Meaning |
Slovak |
Example |
|
Colleague |
/ˈkɒl.iːɡ/ |
A person you work with |
kolega |
I spoke to a colleague about the project. |
|
Role |
/rəʊl/ |
Your job or position |
pozícia |
I recently changed my role. |
|
Department |
/dɪˈpɑːt.mənt/ |
A division within a company |
oddelenie |
She works in the marketing department. |
|
Background |
/ˈbæk.ɡraʊnd/ |
Your past experience |
zázemie |
He has a technical background. |
|
Experience |
/ɪkˈspɪə.ri.əns/ |
Knowledge or skill from work |
skúsenosť |
She has a lot of experience in sales. |
5. Discussion Questions
1. When do you usually have informal conversations with colleagues?
2. What are good topics to talk about at work?
3. Is it important to build relationships with colleagues? Why?
4. What questions help keep a conversation going?
5. What should you avoid talking about at work?
6. Do you prefer short or longer conversations with colleagues? Why?
7. How can you make conversations feel more natural in English?
6. Example Answers
1. I usually have informal conversations before meetings or during breaks.
2. Good topics include work, projects, or general experiences.
3. Yes, it helps build trust and teamwork.
4. Open questions like 'What are you working on?' help a lot.
5. It’s better to avoid very personal or sensitive topics.
6. I prefer short conversations because they are easier.
7. I try to react naturally and ask follow-up questions.