Here is a simple guide for a new employee to communicate effectively in English with foreign colleagues at work:
Start with greetings
Learn common greetings to begin conversations:
“Good morning!”
“Hello, how are you?”
“Nice to meet you!”
Introduce yourself
Practice a short introduction:
“Hi, I’m [your name]. I’m the new [job title] here.”
“I’m excited to work with you.”
Use simple and clear language
Speak slowly and use common vocabulary. Avoid complicated words.
Example: Instead of saying “I’m cognizant of the matter,” say “I understand the situation.”
Learn common workplace phrases
“Could you please explain this to me?”
“How can I help with this task?”
“Let’s schedule a meeting to discuss this.”
Ask questions politely
If you don’t understand something, ask:
“I’m sorry, could you repeat that?”
“What does that mean?”
Practice teamwork phrases
“Great job!”
“Let’s work on this together.”
“What do you think about this idea?”
Be positive and friendly
Smile and use polite phrases:
“Thank you for your help.”
“I appreciate it.”
Write down key vocabulary
Keep a notebook of useful words or phrases your colleagues often use.
Practice active listening
Focus on what others are saying.
Nod, smile, and say “I see” or “That makes sense” to show you understand.
Keep improving your English
Watch videos, read articles, or take a short English course.
Practice speaking every day, even if it’s for 10 minutes.
With time and practice, you’ll feel more confident speaking English at work.
Grammar
Subject + has/have + been + verb(-ing)
I/You/We/They + have + been + working
He/She/It has + been + working
Questions
Has/Have + subject + been + verb(-ing)?
Example:
“Have you been working on the report?”
“Has she been preparing for the presentation?”
Negatives
Subject + has/have + not + been + verb(-ing)
Example:
“I have not been attending meetings regularly.”
“He has not been finishing tasks on time.”
Usage in work context
a) To show actions continuing until now:
“I have been working on this project since last week.”
“We have been waiting for the client’s feedback.”
b) To explain the cause of something in the present:
“She is tired because she has been working overtime.”
“They have been discussing the new strategy all morning.”
c) To describe repeated actions over time:
“He has been sending weekly reports to the team.”
“We have been reviewing applications for the new position.”
Examples
Positive:
“I have been preparing for the team meeting.”
“She has been managing multiple projects successfully.”
Negative:
“I have not been meeting my deadlines this week.”
“They have not been checking their emails regularly.”
Question:
“Have you been collaborating with the new team?”
“Has he been updating the project status?”
The Present Perfect Continuous tense is useful for talking about ongoing work-related tasks and activities. Practice using it in real-life conversations to improve your understanding.
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