language learning center · C1 · Lesson 1
Explaining what concerns you
Explain which part of a proposal you support, what worries you, and what would make it workable.
Step 1 of 8
Understand and learn
Understand and learn
Work from a natural example to useful language, one small pattern, a spoken attempt, and a response that is relevant to your life.
Maya
I'm happy to have a few days when we're all in the office. What worries me is having to be there at eight every morning.
Leo
Is that because of the school run, or would the earlier start be a problem anyway?
Maya
It's mainly the school run. I can be there by nine, but eight would mean arranging extra childcare. Couldn't we agree on a few hours when everyone needs to be there?
Leo
That sounds reasonable. We'd still have time together, and people could work the rest of their hours around other commitments.
Notice, try, and speak
Understand a natural example and learn a small set of useful words, phrases, and patterns.
Useful words and phrases
These items were selected by the lesson curriculum for practical use—not extracted as an every-word list.
What worries me is having to be there at eight every morning.
I'm happy to have a few days when we're all in the office. What worries me is having to be there at eight every morning.
Would the earlier start be a problem anyway?
Is that because of the school run, or would the earlier start be a problem anyway?
It's mainly the school run.
It's mainly the school run. I can be there by nine, but eight would mean arranging extra childcare. Couldn't we agree on a few hours when everyone needs to be there?
Couldn't we agree on a few hours when everyone needs to be there?
It's mainly the school run. I can be there by nine, but eight would mean arranging extra childcare. Couldn't we agree on a few hours when everyone needs to be there?
We'd still have time together.
That sounds reasonable. We'd still have time together, and people could work the rest of their hours around other commitments.
Notice, try, and speak
What would best address Maya’s concern while keeping time together in the office?
Notice, try, and speak
Work from a natural example to useful language, one small pattern, a spoken attempt, and a response that is relevant to your life.
Listening
Listen, then choose what you heard.
Writing
Write your own sentence using this item.
This is self-practice. It is not automatically scored as correct or incorrect.
Speaking
Answer in your own words. Record yourself, listen back, and then compare your response with the model answer.
Make it yours
Discuss a proposed change at work or in your study group. Explain what you support, describe one practical concern, and suggest an adjustment. Respond if your partner raises a different concern.
Think of a schedule change that would affect your commute, family, or other commitments. What could you adjust, and what would be difficult to change?
Use it with someone
Find an arrangement that works for both of you
Daily goal
0 / 3 activities
Each activity counts once a day. A correct answer, a completed writing task, or a positive speaking reflection counts toward your goal. One activity keeps your streak going.
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- 1. Suggest a time for your next practice session and explain why it suits you.
- 2. Ask whether that time causes any problems for your partner.
- 3. If your needs differ, suggest an adjustment and explain what it would solve.
- 4. Agree on a plan and check that you have understood each other.