Stories for English Learners

Unit 1 – Connections 02

In this English conversation, Johanna and Peter discuss their recent trip to Krakow and the potential location for a project site. Discover how they use the English language to communicate and problem-solve in a business setting.

Uriel Benitez
April 14, 2023
Everyday Idioms 2
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Everyday Idioms 2

Warm Up

What factors do you think influence the choice of a location for setting up a business?
Do you believe that investment in the development of an area can have a positive impact on the economic growth of a city?
What skills are important for an entrepreneur or business owner to have in order to succeed in today’s market?

Vocabulary for the Exercise

UP-AND-COMING

"Krakow is an UP-AND-COMING tourist destination with plenty of attractions to offer."
CATERING

"The hotel is CATERING for a conference with over 500 attendees."
PRONOUNCE

"I had trouble PRONOUNCING the name of the mountain peak I climbed in Krakow."
VIBE

"The city centre of Krakow has a unique VIBE that's hard to describe but easy to feel."
BUZZING

"The local market was BUZZING with activity when I visited Krakow."
DEVELOPED

"Krakow has DEVELOPED rapidly in recent years, becoming a hub for business and tourism."
GATHERED

"From the information I GATHERED, there are several potential locations for the project site in the mountainous regions around Krakow."
RESEARCH

"I conducted extensive RESEARCH on the local market before deciding to invest in Krakow."
KRAKOW

"KRAKOW is a vibrant and dynamic city with a rich cultural heritage."
DOABLE

"I believe it's DOABLE to find a suitable location for the project site in Krakow."
RESEARCH TRIP

"I went on a RESEARCH TRIP to Krakow to gather information about potential business opportunities."
BUSINESS MARKET

"The BUSINESS MARKET in Krakow is highly competitive, but there are still opportunities for growth."

Exercise A.1

Are you confident in your ability to speak English like a native? Share your skills with us here!

Press the button below and read the following paragraph:

"I started off my research trip in the city centre, which I have to say is absolutely beautiful and buzzing with life. There’s so much going on there and there’s a great vibe. Let’s see. According to the local tourist office, they’re really investing in developing the area; however, from what I could see, there are already a number of hotels catering for the business market."

Speaking...

Audio

Audio 1.2

PART 1

Johanna Hi, Peter, how are you? How was your trip?
Peter Not bad at all. I hadn’t been before, so definitely interesting, thanks.
Johanna I’ve had a look through what you’ve sent me so far, and well, it all sounds very promising.
Peter Good, I was looking forward to hearing what you’d have to say. And the experience was great. I had lots of help, and I’m really pretty excited about what I saw.
Johanna OK, well, before you start, can I just fill you in on what the client has said while you were away?
Peter Sure.
Johanna Well, the thing is, because Krakow is such an up-and-coming place, they’ve told us that they definitely want the site to be somewhere in that area. So, do you think that’s doable?
Peter I don’t see why not. Krakow is a fantastic place. In fact, I started off my research trip in the city centre, which I have to say is absolutely beautiful and buzzing with life. There’s so much going on there and there’s a great vibe. Let’s see. According to the local tourist office, they’re really investing in developing the area; however, from what I could see, there are already a number of hotels catering for the business market. But I gathered from the locals I met, that there could be several interesting sites worth considering in the mountains outside the city.
Johanna OK, like where?
Peter Well, I can’t pronounce them! But they wrote the names down for me and I cut my stay in Krakow short and headed for the hills …
Johanna … and what did you find?

Exercise B

Comprehension

Questions about the story
What are some challenges that businesses might face when establishing a presence in an up-and-coming destination like Krakow?
How might a company catering to a business market differ in its operations compared to a company catering to a consumer market?
What are some strategies that businesses can use to conduct effective research on a new market or location?
How might cultural differences impact business operations in a foreign location like Krakow?
What are some potential benefits of conducting a research trip to a new location before making business decisions?

Exercise C - Writing

Write an email to a colleague or supervisor in another department or location, describing a recent project you worked on and the results you achieved.

Use business vocabulary related to project management, such as “deliverables,” “milestones,” and “budget,” to describe the project and its outcomes. Additionally, use some of the less common words from the conversation to describe your approach to the project or the skills you used to complete it.

Conclude by asking for feedback or suggestions for future projects.

Tips:

Be clear and concise in your writing, using bullet points or headings to organize your thoughts and make them easier to follow.
Use specific data or metrics to illustrate the success of your project, such as cost savings, increased revenue, or customer satisfaction ratings.
Use vocabulary related to teamwork and collaboration to describe the role of others in the project, such as “cross-functional team” or “stakeholders.”
Be open to constructive feedback or suggestions for improvement, and demonstrate a willingness to learn and grow from your experiences.

EXAMPLE:

Dear [Colleague/Supervisor],

I wanted to provide you with an update on the recent project I worked on to launch our new product line. As the project manager, I was responsible for overseeing all aspects of the launch from start to finish. I am pleased to report that the project was completed on time, within budget, and with excellent results.

To ensure the success of the launch, our cross-functional team identified several key deliverables and milestones to track progress. We also established a comprehensive budget to ensure that all resources were utilized effectively. Throughout the project, we held regular meetings with stakeholders to ensure that everyone was aligned on the project goals and timelines.

I am proud to report that the launch of the new product line was met with great success. We exceeded our initial revenue targets by 25% and received excellent feedback from customers about the quality and value of the new products. Our team worked collaboratively to ensure that every detail was taken care of, from product design and manufacturing to marketing and sales.

Throughout the project, I used my down-to-earth approach to leadership to build strong relationships with team members and stakeholders. I believe this approach helped foster a sense of trust and collaboration among the team, which was essential to our success.

Moving forward, I am eager to hear any feedback or suggestions you may have for future projects. I appreciate your support throughout this process.

Best regards