This version is built for a full reading block: three short workplace texts, questions after each one, then vocabulary, skills practice, and homework.
Work through the readings and questions first. Use Show Teacher Answers only after you have written your own answers.
Read each text once for general meaning, then again slowly.
Write answers to the questions in full sentences when possible.
Compare with the hidden answer key only after your first attempt.
Finish the homework section before the next session and bring written work or a file to share.
Warm-Up
Before Reading A (optional notes)
What do you usually write down before you leave work?
Have you ever received a confusing handover? What was missing?
Reading A
A calm shift handover
Elena finishes her afternoon shift in a regional support team. Her colleague Mateo will take over the shared inbox
for the evening. Instead of a long chat at the door, Elena prepares a short written handover with three clear sections:
what is already done, what is still open, and what needs attention first.
She begins with a recap of the team meeting: two small process improvements were agreed, but nobody has claimed ownership of the follow-up yet.
She lists two action items with names and realistic dates. For open questions, she adds a single line that names the blocker:
“Finance still needs a clear yes or no on the exception rule—please ask them to clarify.”
Mateo reads the note in about two minutes and knows exactly where to begin. Elena believes that concise updates save time,
reduce mistakes, and help everyone stay aligned when shifts change. She also keeps a copy in the team folder so night staff can search for it later.
Comprehension · Reading A
Answer in your own words
Who takes over after Elena, and what is that person’s role in this story?
What three sections does Elena use in her written handover?
What is still missing after the team meeting?
What exactly does finance need to provide?
How long does Mateo need to understand the handover, according to the text?
Name two benefits of concise updates that the text gives, and add one benefit in your own words if you can.
Teacher answers · Reading A
Mateo takes over; he covers the evening shift and the shared inbox.
What is done, what is still open, and what needs attention first.
Clear ownership for the follow-up on two process improvements (nobody has claimed it yet).
A clear yes or no on the exception rule (they need to clarify).
About two minutes.
Stated: they save time and reduce mistakes, and they help people stay aligned. Accept any reasonable third benefit (e.g. less stress, fewer calls).
Reading B
A channel recap after a short sync
Jordan leads an operations pod for several countries. After a twenty-minute video call on Tuesday, Jordan posts the following message in the team chat:
Quick recap from our sync:
We moved the internal review deadline to Friday 17:00 so the legal team can comment.
Liwei owns the updated vendor contact list. Please send any corrections to Liwei by Thursday noon.
Everyone should add blockers to the shared document March handover—one short line per item, with a ticket number if you have one.
Priya was not on the call. Priya, please read this recap and message me if anything needs clarification before Thursday.
Jordan ends with a polite line thanking the group for staying focused. Several colleagues react with a simple “Thanks” emoji, which signals that they are aligned on the plan.
Comprehension · Reading B
Answer in your own words
Who wrote the message, and what is their general role?
What is the new deadline for the internal review?
What is Liwei responsible for, and by when must people send corrections?
Where should team members record blockers, and what should each line include?
Why does Jordan mention Priya separately?
In one sentence, explain what “aligned on the plan” means in this context.
Teacher answers · Reading B
Jordan wrote it; Jordan leads an operations pod.
Friday 17:00.
Liwei owns the updated vendor contact list; send corrections by Thursday noon.
In the shared document March handover; one short line per item, with a ticket number if possible.
Priya missed the call, so Jordan asks her to read the recap and ask for clarification if needed.
They share the same understanding of deadlines, owners, and next steps (accept close paraphrases).
Reading C
When the request is too vague
Sam works in a shared services team. On Tuesday morning he receives a short email from another department:
“We need the numbers fixed ASAP for leadership.” The message does not name a report, a time period, or an approver.
Sam knows that guessing could waste half a day and create incorrect figures for a senior meeting.
Instead of starting work immediately, Sam replies with three polite bullet points:
Which dashboard or report ID do you mean?
Which week or month should the correction cover?
Who on your side can confirm the final layout before we publish?
The sender answers the same afternoon. Later, Sam’s manager says quietly: “Short, polite questions like that save us from rework.”
The team adopts a simple rule: if a request is unclear, clarify before you build anything new.
Comprehension · Reading C
Answer in your own words
What information is missing from the first email Sam receives?
Why does Sam decide not to guess?
How many clarification questions does Sam ask, and what is the format of his reply?
What does Sam’s manager want to avoid?
What simple rule does the team adopt at the end?
Write one polite clarification question of your own that Sam could have added (different from the three in the text).
Teacher answers · Reading C
It does not name a report/dashboard, a time period, or an approver (accept “vague / incomplete”).
Guessing could waste time and produce wrong figures for leadership (accept paraphrases).
Three questions; he uses polite bullet points.
Rework (wasted repeated work).
If a request is unclear, clarify before building something new.
Open answer; accept any professional clarification question (e.g. “Could you confirm the currency we should use?”).
Vocabulary
New words (with Spanish)
These words appear in the readings and tasks. Light finance wording only.
clarify
To make something easier to understand.
Spanish: aclarar
follow up
To continue a conversation or task later.
Spanish: dar seguimiento
handover
Passing tasks and information to the next person.
Spanish: traspaso / entrega de turno
recap
A short summary of the main points.
Spanish: repaso / resumen breve
concise
Short and clear, without extra words.
Spanish: conciso
action items
Concrete tasks people must do after a meeting.
Spanish: puntos de acción / tareas acordadas
aligned
Sharing the same understanding or plan.
Spanish: alineados / en la misma línea
rework
Doing work again because the first version was wrong or incomplete.
Spanish: retrabajo / volver a hacer el trabajo
Practice
Use the new language
Drag and drop the best word
Complete each sentence with the most natural workplace word.
At the end of her shift, Ana posted a short Drop answer for the night team.
The Drop answer document lists open tasks and owners.
Could you Drop answer the deadline you mentioned?
Please keep the update Drop answer; bullet points are fine.
I will send a Drop answer message after the call.
We should stay Drop answer on priorities this week.
Answers: action, items; handover; clarify; rework; follow, up
Rewrite the tone
Make each line sound professional and calm.
You gave me zero details.
I have no idea what you want.
Read the note. It is obvious.
Teacher idea: invite clarification, offer a next step, and avoid blame.
Speaking (pairs or self)
Say it aloud
Scenario A
You leave in ten minutes. Explain three open tasks: one urgent, one waiting for a reply, one optional for tomorrow.
Record yourself on your phone if you are alone, or take turns with a partner.
Scenario B
Your teammate gave a vague update. Ask polite clarification questions until you know the owner, the deadline, and the next step.
Grammar
Polite requests
Choose the softer, more professional option and write it on paper if you are not typing here.
Send me the file. / Could you send me the file?
You must tell me today. / Would you mind telling me today?
Clarify this now. / Can we clarify this when you have a moment?
I want the list. / I would appreciate the updated list.
Teacher answers
Could you send me the file?
Would you mind telling me today?
Can we clarify this when you have a moment?
I would appreciate the updated list.
Homework
Complete before the next class
Do this on paper or in a document. Try every task before you reveal the answer key.
Homework reading: weekend coverage note
Weekend and evening teams often rely on a single paragraph left by the previous analyst. Carla closes her Friday afternoon shift at 4:00 p.m.
Two support tickets remain open in the queue: ticket 4481 is waiting for a customer to send a missing form, and ticket 4502
needs a manager approval that is expected by Saturday 10:00. Carla updates both tickets with clear status labels and writes one short paragraph for Ravi,
the weekend analyst. She states what is finished, what is still blocked, and what Ravi should do if the approval is late (contact the duty manager on the emergency line).
Ravi starts Saturday at 8:00 a.m. He says that Carla’s note is easy to scan: the ticket numbers are visible, the times are realistic, and the escalation path is explicit.
He finishes the morning with fewer phone calls than last week because he does not need to chase missing context.
Part 1 · Questions on the homework reading
What time does Carla finish on Friday?
Describe ticket 4481 and ticket 4502 in your own words (one sentence each).
What should Ravi do if the manager approval is late?
What time does Ravi’s weekend shift begin?
According to Ravi, what are two reasons Carla’s note works well?
True or false? Ticket 4502 is waiting for a customer form. Explain your answer with evidence from the text.
Teacher answers · Homework reading
4:00 p.m. (Friday afternoon).
4481: waiting for customer to send a missing form. 4502: needs manager approval expected by Saturday 10:00 (accept close paraphrases).
Contact the duty manager on the emergency line (accept “escalate to duty manager”).
8:00 a.m. Saturday.
Any two of: easy to scan, ticket numbers visible, realistic times, escalation path explicit, fewer phone calls / less chasing (accept paraphrases).
False. The customer form relates to 4481, not 4502.
Part 2 · Writing
Invent a simple handover for a fictional shift: use four bullet points. Include at least one action item with an owner,
one time or deadline, and one line that says what to do if something goes wrong.
Teacher idea · Part 2
Look for: clear structure, realistic workplace tone, named owner, time reference, and a sensible escalation or “if late” line.
Part 3 · Grammar and tone
Rewrite each blunt sentence into a polite professional version (one sentence each).
Your data is wrong. Fix it.
I am busy. Figure it out alone.
Send everything now.
Sample rewrites · Part 3
Could you please review the figures? I think there may be a mismatch we should correct together.
I have limited time today, but I can help at 15:00—would that work, or should we ask another colleague?
Could you send the remaining files when you have a moment? We need them before Friday 17:00 if possible.
Part 4 · Vocabulary (optional)
Write the Spanish equivalent for: recap, handover, clarify, aligned, rework. Use the vocabulary cards above if needed.
Teacher answers · Part 4
recap → repaso / resumen breve · handover → traspaso / entrega de turno · clarify → aclarar · aligned → alineados · rework → retrabajo (accept close equivalents).
Lesson 4: three in-class readings with questions, skills practice, and homework with its own reading and tasks.