Unit 11: Assigning Action Points

Saying it accurately

Complete the conversation with questions

A.Can you take care of that?
B.Is anyone interested in doing this?
C.Who would like to take responsibility for this?
D.How do you feel about doing this?
E.When do you think the report will be ready by?
F.Will you deal with that for me?

Janette: OK, and we also need to decide who is going to prepare the financial statements that the auditors will need to see(1)……………………………………?
Fabian, (2) …………………………………………………………………?
Fabian: I suppose so.
J: Great, thanks. (3) ……………………………………………………… ?
F: Would first thing Monday morning be OK?
J: Perfect, so, moving on...


Saying it clearly

Listen to the following requests and note how the intonation goes up and down.

1.Would anyone like to put themselves forward for this?
2.Can I leave that with you, Jean?
3.Can you send me that by next Monday?
4.Could you take care of that, Kumiko?
5.How soon do you think you can finish that?
6.I'm looking for somebody to look after this.
7.Is anybody interested in doing this?
8.Could you deal with that?
9.Who would like to take responsibility for the minutes?
10.Is end February realistic as a deadline?
11.When will that be ready, do you think?
12.Could you handle that?
13.Will you be able to get that done by tomorrow?
14.Would you take responsibility for that, David?
15.Are there any volunteers to do this?

Saying it appropriately

When making a request, it Is Important to sound polite. Listen to the following sentences and decide if if the requests sound polite or Impolite.

1.Can you take care of that? (impolite/polite)
2.Is anyone interested in doing this? (impolite/polite)
3.Who would like to take responsibility for this? (impolite/polite)
4.How do you feel about doing this? (impolite/polite)
5.When do you think the report will be ready by? (impolite/polite)
6.Will you deal with that for me? (impolite/polite)

Get speaking

You are in a project team meeting with five colleagues. Ask your colleagues to do the following tasks. If possible, record yourself for review.

Task Person Completion date/time
1.Write the proposal for a new project Jessica By Friday
2.Source samples for the new company logo. Chris By the end of the month
3.Prepare a quotation for a potential new client, Millwood and Co. Ayisha By next Thursday
4.Write an advertisement to go in the paper for a new office manager. Dan By the end of the day
5.Organize the purchase and delivery of the new IT hardware. Sophie By November