You got your assignment and you want to make sure you do it properly and successfully. This lesson will teach you how to talk about challenges using conditionals ("if" sentences).
Your team lead has told you that your draft is due at 6pm on Tuesday (tomorrow) and the presentation is this Friday. It is Monday morning, so the deadline is tight!
Imagine your week is busy, but you have some gaps. How will you plan out your time?
Think about a time you worked to a tight deadline. What were the problems? Tell your teacher.
Part A: Vocabulary
Look at the following key terms used when managing a project and match them to their definitions.
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| 1. Blocker | A. Needing something else to be done first. |
| 2. Bottleneck | B. Someone with a key interest or role in the success of a project. |
| 3. Dependent | C. A problem or issue that stops progress completely. |
| 4. Escalate | D. A person or team needs to be informed at a higher level (e.g., a manager). |
| 5. Raise | E. To officially bring up a concern or topic for discussion. |
| 6. Flag | F. To mark something for attention or further review. |
| 7. Stakeholder | G. A key goal, result, or product due at a specific point in a project. |
| 8. Deliverable | H. A required output, such as a document, report, or completed task. |
| 9. Milestone | I. A stage where workflow slows down due to limited capacity or resources. |
Part B: Collocations
Brainstorm some collocations with your teacher. Try to think of some verbs, adjectives and phrases for each of the following words:
- bottleneck;
- milestone; &
- deliverable.
Part C Grammar: If sentences (first conditionals)
We use the First Conditional to talk about real, possible situations in the future-and what will happen if they occur. It is often used in planning, project updates, risk management, and decision-making.
Rmember: The "if" clause always uses present tense, even though it's about the future!
| Condition (future possibility) | Result (future consequence) |
|---|---|
| If we don't resolve this blocker by Friday, | the go-live will be delayed. |
| If the client approves the proposal, | we will begin implementation next week. |
| If we complete the analysis early, | we can include it in the presentation. |
Complete the sentences using the First Conditional:
- If the data _______ (arrive) on time, we ______ (include) it in the report.
- If we don't _______ (test) the solution, it ______ (fail) in production.
- If he _______ (flag) the issue early, we ______ (fix) it before the review.
Now move on to the practice section, where you can test your first conditional skills!
Task 1
When we have too much on our plate, we may raise blockers or ask for support from our team lead. During the morning scrum, your team lead asks, "Does anyone have any blockers or need support?" You have a busy week and a tight deadline.
You raise your hand. Use "if" sentences to talk about situations and their consequences:
- You have lots to do and a full schedule. You are waiting for data from the client for your presentation. You are worried about meeting your deadline. "Can I flag a possible bottleneck? If..."
- You think you need help. It's too much work for one person. Ask for help. "This is a key deliverable. If..."
- You don't think you can meet the deadline and produce something that is good enough. Try to move the day of the presentation "Can I raise a concern? If..."
Task 2
You have a busy week ahead and you realize that you won't be able to finish the presentation and complete your other tasks. Your boss has said you cannot do overtime.
Role-play the conversation with your team lead. You (the Consultant) are meeting with your teacher (the Team Lead) to flag a workload issue.
- State the blocker
- Explain the impact
- Ask for advice or support
- Offer a possible solution
- Offer to provide more details
Your teacher will start.
We are all "time-poor" but being able to see blockers, barriers, obstacles, and hurdles in advance is a key leadership and project management skill. Have a think about the demands on your time and how you can reprioritise to make time for what matters.
See the links below for some more approaches and strategies:
https://theenglishfarm.com/english-fluency-business-success-tips
https://theenglishfarm.com/powerful-english-presentations
https://theenglishfarm.com/blog/consulting-jargon-low-hanging-fruit-and-granular