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Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
- Communicate workload concerns politely and ask for support when needed.
Exercise 1
Situation
Direction: Read the situation for today's lesson
Alex is managing several tasks and realizes he might miss deadlines. He talks to Sarah and Mr. Miller, saying things like “I’m feeling a bit overloaded” and “Could I get some support?” By communicating clearly and professionally, he gets help while keeping work on track.
Exercise 2
Vocabulary
Direction: Listen and repeat after your tutor
Overloaded
adjective
/ˌoʊvərˈloʊdɪd/
Meaning:
Having too much work or responsibility.
- Alex felt overloaded with multiple tasks and needed support.
Call it a day
idiom
/kɔːl ɪt ə deɪ/
Meaning:
To stop working for the day.
- After finishing the urgent tasks, Alex decided to call it a day.
Delegate
verb
/ˈdɛlɪɡeɪt/
Meaning:
To assign tasks or responsibilities to someone else.
- Alex decided to delegate some tasks to Omar to manage his workload.
Keep on top of
phrase
/kiːp ɑn tɑp əv/
Meaning:
To stay in control of tasks or responsibilities.
- Alex tries to keep on top of his projects by planning his day carefully.
Exercise 3
Office Conversation
Direction: Read the conversation aloud with your teacher.
Situation:
Anna introduces herself to a new colleague at work.
Hi Sarah, I wanted to touch base about my tasks.
Alex
Sure, what’s up?
Sarah
I’m feeling a bit overloaded with the report and emails.
Alex
I see. Maybe you can delegate some tasks?
Sarah
That’s what I was thinking. Omar could help with the data entry.
Alex
Keep on top of the main deadlines. Anything critical I should know?
Mr. Miller
Yes, the client report is priority, and I’ll delegate the rest.
Alex
Great plan! That should make things more manageable.
Sarah
Check Understanding
Direction: Answer the questions about the conversation.
1. Who is Alex asking for support?
2. What does 'delegate' mean in this context?
3. What is Alex prioritizing first?
Exercise 4
Study Guide
Direction: Read the study manual aloud.
Communicating workload concerns is an important skill in professional settings. When you have too many tasks, it’s better to speak up early rather than risk missing deadlines. Start by describing your workload clearly and professionally, using phrases like “I’m feeling overloaded” or “I want to make sure I meet the deadline.” Suggest practical solutions, such as delegating tasks to teammates, prioritizing urgent assignments, or asking for temporary support.
Make sure your tone is polite and collaborative, showing that your goal is team success, not complaining. Keep the conversation focused on tasks and results, not personal stress. After discussing, organize your workload, delegate where possible, and monitor deadlines to stay on track. Sharing workload concerns professionally demonstrates responsibility, fosters teamwork, and prevents burnout while maintaining productivity.
Exercise 5
Choose the Correct Answer
Direction: Direction: Select the correct answer from the options A, B, or C.
1. Alex asked Sarah ___ help with his workload.
A. for
B. to
C. in
2. He is feeling ___ too many tasks at once.
A. a
B. an
C. overloaded
3. Omar ___ help with the data entry tasks.
A. can
B. cans
C. is
4. Yesterday, Alex ___ delegated some tasks to Omar.
A. has
B. had
C. have
5. Sarah suggested that Alex should ___ some tasks.
A. delegate
B. delegates
C. delegating
6. Alex tried to stay ___ top of his deadlines.
A. on
B. in
C. at
7. He wants to finish ___ urgent report first.
A. a
B. the
C. an
8. “Call it a day” means ___ work for the day.
A. stopping
B. starting
C. continuing
Exercise 6
Discussion
Direction: Discuss these questions to practice speaking and share experiences.
1. How do you tell your manager when you have too much work?
2. When is it appropriate to delegate tasks?
3. What phrases can you use to express being overloaded politely?
4. How do you decide which tasks to prioritize?
5. Where can you document delegated tasks for clarity?
6. How does sharing workload concerns help teamwork?
7. What can you do if no one is available to help?
8. How do you stay on top of multiple responsibilities at once?
