How to Use English at Work (When You’re Still Not 100% Fluent)

That native speaker chatting effortlessly in meetings? They’re not smarter—just playing a different game. Here’s the secret:

✅ Clarity > Perfection: Simple, well-structured English beats fancy-but-confusing sentences
✅ Strategic Preparation: 80% of workplace conversations follow predictable patterns
✅ The 3-Second Rule: Pausing briefly makes you sound thoughtful, not hesitant

Pro Tip: Most native speakers only use 3,000 words daily—master these and you’re golden.

5 Lifesaving Tactics for Workplace English

1. The Email Template Hack
Save these go-to structures:
📧 "Following up on [topic]..." (gentle reminder)
📧 "To clarify [point]..." (professional way to say "I didn’t understand")

2. Meeting Magic Words
Use these to buy thinking time:
🗣️ "That’s an interesting perspective. Building on that..."
🗣️ "Let me summarize to ensure I understood..."

3. The Confidence Loop

• Speak 10% slower → Sounds more authoritative
• Use short pauses → Projects confidence (not uncertainty)

4. The "Oops" Recovery Phrases
When you mess up:
😅 "Let me rephrase that more clearly..."
😅 "What I mean to say is..."

5. The Listening Power Move
Repeat key points with "So you’re saying [summary]?" → Ensures understanding + shows engagement.

Industry-Specific Survival Phrases

Vocabulary Builder (B1/B2 Level)

1. Contraindication (n.) – A reason not to use something (medical)
   Example: "The doctor checked for medication contraindications."
2. Debug (v.) – To fix technical problems
   Example: "We need to debug the software before launch."
3. ROI (n.) – Return on investment (business term)
   Example: "The marketing team analyzed the campaign’s ROI."
4. Inventory (n.) – Stock of goods
   Example: "The store takes inventory every month."
5. Rephrase (v.) – To say something differently
   Example: "Let me rephrase that for clarity."

Activity: Pick 3 work-related vocabulary words and create example sentences for your industry.