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Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
- Offer simple ideas and suggestions clearly and politely in a team meeting.
Exercise 1
Situation
Direction: Read the situation for today's lesson
Alex joins a team brainstorming session with Mr. Miller and Sarah to improve customer communication. Mr. Miller wants quick, practical ideas and asks for the bottom line. Alex feels more confident now and decides to share a few simple suggestions. Omar is listening carefully to learn how to speak up politely and professionally in meetings.
Exercise 2
Vocabulary
Direction: Listen and repeat after your tutor
Suggest
Verb
/səˈdʒest/
Meaning:
To offer an idea or plan for others to consider.
- Alex suggests sending a short weekly update to clients.
Throw an idea out there
Idiom
/θroʊ ən aɪˈdɪə aʊt ðer/
Meaning:
To share an idea casually for discussion.
- Alex decides to throw an idea out there during the meeting.
Build on
Phrasal Verb
/bɪld ɑn/
Meaning:
To improve or add to someone else’s idea.
- Sarah builds on Alex’s idea with a creative suggestion.
It might help to…
Phrase
IPA
Meaning:
A polite way to introduce a suggestion.
- Alex says, 'It might help to create a short FAQ for clients.'
Exercise 3
Office Conversation
Direction: Read the conversation aloud with your teacher.
Situation:
Alex, Mr. Miller, and Sarah are in a brainstorming meeting.
Let’s keep this short. Any ideas to improve client communication?
Mr. Miller
It might help to send quick follow-up emails after meetings.
Alex
That’s good. We could build on that with short templates.
Sarah
I’ll throw an idea out there—a weekly update email.
Alex
I like that. Clear and simple.
Mr. Miller
We can also suggest a shared document for key updates.
Alex
That would save time.
Sarah
Great. Let’s move forward with those ideas.
Mr. Miller
Check Understanding
Direction: Answer the questions about the conversation.
1. What does Alex suggest to improve communication?
2. How does Sarah build on Alex’s idea?
3. What does Mr. Miller think about the ideas?
Exercise 4
Study Guide
Direction: Read the study manual aloud.
Offering suggestions at work shows confidence and teamwork. Start by listening carefully to the topic. When it is your turn, use polite phrases such as “It might help to…” or “I’d like to suggest…” to sound respectful. Keep your ideas short and practical, especially in meetings with busy managers. If someone
shares an idea, try to build on it instead of changing the topic.
This shows collaboration and support. You can also throw an idea out there if you are not fully sure, just to start discussion. Speak clearly and calmly, and focus on how your idea helps the team or the project. Remember, good suggestions do not have to be perfect; they just need to be helpful and easy to understand. Over time, sharing ideas will make you more confident and more involved in your workplace.
Exercise 5
Choose the Correct Answer
Direction: Direction: Select the correct answer from the options A, B, or C.
- 1. Alex shares his idea ___ the meeting.
A. at
B. in
C. on
2. He offers ___ simple suggestion to the team.
A. a
B. an
C. the
3. Sarah ___ happy to build on Alex’s idea.
A. is
B. are
C. be
4. Yesterday, Alex ___ an idea in the meeting.
A. suggest
B. suggested
C. will suggest
5. Omar listens so ___ can learn from the discussion.
A. he
B. him
C. his
6. Alex explains his idea ___ and clearly.
A. calm
B. calmly
C. calmness
7. Mr. Miller wants ___ clear plan, not long explanations.
A. a
B. an
C. the
8. Alex decides to ___ an idea out there.
A. throw
B. take
C. make
Exercise 6
Discussion
Direction: Discuss these questions to practice speaking and share experiences.
- 1. How do you usually share ideas in a meeting?
2. When do you feel comfortable offering suggestions at work?
3. What phrases do you use to sound polite when you suggest something?
4. How do you build on someone else’s idea?
5. Where do brainstorming meetings usually happen in your workplace?
6. What makes a suggestion clear and useful?
7. How do you react when your idea is accepted or rejected?
8. Why is it important to speak up and share ideas at work?
