Clear workplace updates
Say what happened, what matters now, and what comes next. Make the important words easy to hear.
Your goal
Give a 60-second update that a manager can follow easily.
How to work
Listen or read. Make your first attempt. Check. Then open the answer key.
British English neural voice
Text alternative, use instead of audio
In this lesson, you will listen for tense meaning, stress, rhythm, and intonation in workplace updates.
Use the controls below. On a keyboard, use the left and right arrow keys when focus is outside a control.
Which delivery day stands out?
Listen twice. Then choose the version that corrects the delivery day.
Listen for the stressed time word.
Text alternative, use instead of the listening task
Strong stress is shown in capitals. Version one: We'll send the report on Friday. Version two: Actually, we'll send the report on MONDAY.
Answer key: open after your first attempt
Version two. “Actually” signals the correction, and the strongest stress falls on MON-day.
Use the contraction we'll. Keep a falling tone for a settled update.
Audio transcript: Strong stress is shown in capitals. Version one: We'll send the report on Friday. Version two: Actually, we'll send the report on MONDAY.
Choose the responsibility handover
Choose one form in each line. Then read the four jobs aloud.
1. Leo ________ the loading screen. watch | watches | is watching
2. Priya ________ invoices before noon. review | reviews | is reviewing
3. The supervisor ________ the alarm system. check | checks | is checking
4. Our safety officer ________ the risk register. manage | manages | is managing
Then compare /s/, /z/, and /ɪz/.
Text alternative, use instead of the model audio
The supervisor checks the schedule. The coach organises the session. The receptionist watches the entrance. The manager approves each request.
Answer key: open after your first attempt
- Leo watches the loading screen.
- Priya reviews invoices before noon.
- The supervisor checks the alarm system.
- Our safety officer manages the risk register.
Watches and manages end /ɪz/. Reviews ends /z/. Checks ends /s/, often [ts] in careful speech.
Audio transcript: The supervisor checks the schedule. The coach organises the session. The receptionist watches the entrance. The manager approves each request.
What is happening now?
It is 10:05. Choose the action happening now. Then say the full update.
1. The analyst ________ the sales data. check | is checking | checked
2. Ben ________ the delivery date. confirm | is confirming | confirmed
3. We ________ the new dashboard. test | are testing | tested
Stress the activity, not the auxiliary.
Text alternative, use instead of the model audio
Right now, the support team is answering calls and updating the service board.
Answer key: open after your first attempt
- The analyst is checking the sales data.
- Ben is confirming the delivery date.
- We are testing the new dashboard.
Say line 3 as we're testing. Keep the main stress on testing.
Audio transcript: Right now, the support team is answering calls and updating the service board.
Complete yesterday's incident log
Each event is complete. Choose the matching action. Then read the log as one update.
1. At 10:15, the printer ________. stop | stopped | has stopped
2. Yesterday, the team ________ the urgent file. send | sent | have sent
3. At 09:00, we ________ the loading bay. check | checked | have checked
Then read the log as one update.
Text alternative, use instead of the model audio
Yesterday, the facilities team checked every door before the building opened.
Answer key: open after your first attempt
- The printer stopped at 10:15.
- The team sent the urgent file yesterday.
- We checked the loading bay at 09:00.
Stopped and checked end /t/. Sent is /sent/.
Audio transcript: Yesterday, the facilities team checked every door before the building opened.
What was already happening?
Choose the action that was already under way. Then read each report aloud.
1. While I ________ the quote, the client called. prepare | was preparing | prepared
2. The team ________ the budget when IT called. review | was reviewing | were reviewing
3. She ________ to a supplier when the alarm sounded. speak | spoke | was speaking
Make the interrupting event clearer.
Text alternative, use instead of the model audio
I was updating the rota when the client called with a question.
Answer key: open after your first attempt
- While I was preparing the quote, the client called.
- The team were reviewing the budget when IT called.
- She was speaking to a supplier when the alarm sounded.
Pause lightly before when. Make the interrupting event more prominent.
Audio transcript: I was updating the rota when the client called with a question.
What matters now?
Choose the result that matters now. Then say each result aloud.
1. Access works now. IT ________ it. restored | has restored | had restored
2. The quote is on my screen now. We ________ it. received | have received | had received
3. We can start today. The client ________ the price. approved | has approved | had approved
4. No action is needed now. She ________ the audit. finished | has finished | had finished
The auxiliary can be light.
Text alternative, use instead of the model audio
We've just approved the revised price, so the team can begin tomorrow.
Answer key: open after your first attempt
- IT has restored access to the shared drive.
- We have received the revised quote.
- The client has approved the price.
- She has finished the audit.
Natural forms include we've received and she's finished. Stress the result word.
Audio transcript: We've just approved the revised price, so the team can begin tomorrow.
Show the work in progress
Choose the process linked to the present. Then say one result for each item.
1. We ________ the report since 09:00. have worked | have been working | had been working
2. She ________ applications all morning. has reviewed | has been reviewing | had been reviewing
3. They ________ the system for two hours. have tested | have been testing | had been testing
Stress the result more than the process.
Text alternative, use instead of the model audio
I've been reviewing applications since nine, and I've found three strong candidates.
Answer key: open after your first attempt
- We have been working on the report since 09:00.
- She has been reviewing applications all morning.
- They have been testing the system for two hours.
Possible results: We've just finished the first draft. She has shortlisted three candidates. They've found a login error.
Audio transcript: I've been reviewing applications since nine, and I've found three strong candidates.
Put the earlier event first
Choose the event that was already true. Then read the time frames as separate groups.
1. By 09:30, the client ________ the budget, so the team started. approved | had approved | will approve
2. The manager called after we ________ the quote. submitted | had submitted | will submit
3. I couldn't open the file because IT ________ it in the old folder. saved | had saved | will save
Pause between the two time frames.
Text alternative, use instead of the model audio
By the time the manager called, the client had already approved the budget.
Answer key: open after your first attempt
- By 09:30, the client had approved the budget, so the team started.
- The manager called after we had submitted the quote.
- I couldn't open the file because IT had saved it in the old folder.
Reduce unstressed had when natural. Keep the earlier and later events in separate thought groups.
Audio transcript: By the time the manager called, the client had already approved the budget.
Explain what continued before the interruption
Choose the action that continued before the later event. Then read each explanation aloud with the duration clear.
1. They ________ the migration for nine hours when the error appeared. were working | had been working | have been working
2. The customer ________ for a replacement for three hours before we offered a refund. was waiting | had been waiting | has been waiting
3. I ________ to contact the supplier all morning before they replied. was trying | had been trying | have been trying
Keep the duration prominent.
Text alternative, use instead of the model audio
The support team had been testing the new system for two hours when the error appeared.
Answer key: open after your first attempt
- They had been working on the migration for nine hours when the error appeared.
- The customer had been waiting for a replacement for three hours before we offered a refund.
- I had been trying to contact the supplier all morning before they replied.
Natural reduction: they'd been WORK-ing. Link the auxiliary smoothly to the main verb.
Audio transcript: The support team had been testing the new system for two hours when the error appeared.
Match the plan to the moment
Choose the form that fits each moment. Then say each full update aloud.
1. A manager asks now: “Can you send the revised file?”
2. A plan was agreed yesterday: “Call the supplier after your shift.”
3. Calendar: “Client demo, 10:00 tomorrow. Presenter: Maya.”
Use a calm falling tone.
Text alternative, use instead of the model audio
I'll call you after this meeting. I'm going to see the new starter at two. I'm meeting the supplier at four.
Answer key: open after your first attempt
- I 'll send the file within ten minutes.
- I 'm going to call the supplier after my shift.
- Maya is presenting at the demo tomorrow at ten.
Spontaneous decision: will. Earlier intention: going to. Fixed arrangement: present continuous.
Audio transcript: I'll call you after this meeting. I'm going to see the new starter at two. I'm meeting the supplier at four.
At the future clock
What will you be doing at exactly 09:00 tomorrow?
- Present the results to the leadership team.
- Train the new team members.
- Lead the supplier call.
Start with the time clue in each sentence.
Then say your three sentences aloud.
Text alternative, use instead of the model audio
At nine tomorrow, I'll be presenting the results to the leadership team.
Answer key: open after your first attempt
- At nine tomorrow, I'll be presenting the results to the leadership team.
- At nine tomorrow, I'll be training the new team members.
- At nine tomorrow, I'll be leading the supplier call.
Rhythm: At nine tomorrow | I'll be preSENT-ing... Keep the action verb clear.
Audio transcript: At nine tomorrow, I'll be presenting the results to the leadership team.
What will be true by the deadline?
Choose what will be true at each deadline. Then say each commitment aloud.
1. By Wednesday, we ________ the supplier audit. complete | will complete | will have completed
2. By 12:00, the client ________ the service agreement. sign | will sign | will have signed
3. By Monday, IT ________ the security update. deploy | will deploy | will have deployed
Keep the checkpoint clear.
Text alternative, use instead of the model audio
By Friday, we'll have completed the first review of the supplier data.
Answer key: open after your first attempt
- By Wednesday, we will have completed the supplier audit.
- By 12:00, the client will have signed the service agreement.
- By Monday, IT will have deployed the security update.
Word stress: com-PLETED, SIGNED, de-PLOYED.
Audio transcript: By Friday, we'll have completed the first review of the supplier data.
How long will the work continue?
Report the process at each checkpoint. Include the duration.
1. Testing starts at 08:00. Checkpoint: 17:00 the same day.
2. Campaign starts Monday at 09:00. Checkpoint: Friday at 09:00.
3. Employee starts this January. Checkpoint: next January.
Checkpoint | process | duration
Text alternative, use instead of the model audio
By six o'clock, we will have been working on the report for eight hours.
Answer key: open after your first attempt
- By five, we 'll have been testing the app for nine hours.
- By Friday, we 'll have been running the campaign for four days.
- By next January, she will have been working here for one year.
Rhythm: By five | we'll have been | TEST-ing the APP | for NINE HOURS.
Audio transcript: By six o'clock, we will have been working on the report for eight hours.
Listen for the speaker's intention
Listen twice. Match each question to an update number.
Use the text alternative below if needed.
Text alternative, use instead of the listening task
Strong stress is shown in capitals. Slashes mark thought-group boundaries. Update one: I was preparing the quote / when the CLIENT called. Update two: We've JUST approved the revised PRICE. Update three: By FIVE, we will have completed the first test. Update four: If the server FAILS, / we'll move the team to the backup SITE.
Answer key: open after your first attempt
- Update one.
- Update two.
- Update three.
- Update four.
Audio transcript: Strong stress is shown in capitals. Slashes mark thought-group boundaries. Update one: I was preparing the quote / when the CLIENT called. Update two: We've JUST approved the revised PRICE. Update three: By FIVE, we will have completed the first test. Update four: If the server FAILS, / we'll move the team to the backup SITE.
Give a clear project update
Use a real or imagined workplace issue. Speak for 60 seconds.
Listen before you plan.
Text alternative, use instead of the final prompt audio
For the final update, explain what has finished, what matters now, what happened earlier, and what will happen next.
Plan in four short notes
- Finished:
- Now:
- Earlier:
- Next:
Challenge: add one earlier ongoing action and one future ongoing process.
Record your update
Recording is optional. You can also speak to your teacher or use another recording app.
Recorder ready.
Answer key: open after your first attempt
At eight o'clock, I was still checking the old inventory when the supplier called. We had been rolling out the new system since seven, so the latest file was not yet available. At ten, IT restored access. Since then, I have been checking the new stock list. We were preparing the budget when the urgent audit arrived, but the client approved the extra time yesterday. Tomorrow at nine, I'm meeting the supplier. By Friday, we will have completed the first review. If the delay happens again, I'll contact the backup supplier.
Optional challenge: “What had already been happening when the problem first appeared?” “What will have been happening by Friday?”
Use the forms that sound natural. Do not force every tense into one turn.
Audio transcript: For the final update, explain what has finished, what matters now, what happened earlier, and what will happen next.
You made the time reference clear.
I can give a clear workplace update.
Review next time
Say one sentence with a current result, one earlier event, and one deadline. No notes.
Then review again
Repeat the same task with a new workplace issue 24 to 48 hours later, then after about one week.
Use your own workplace context.
Text alternative, use instead of the final prompt audio
For the final update, explain what has finished, what matters now, what happened earlier, and what will happen next.