Cambridge English for HR Additional Activities Unit+3

Professional English

Cambridge English for

Human Resources UNIT 3 additional activities

Indirect questions

a Managing potential conflict is an important skill in the workplace and in HR especially. In pairs, discuss the following questions.

1 What do you think causes conflict at work? Think of some examples to illustrate your answers. 2 What is the difference between direct and indirect language? 3 When do you think it is appropriate to use more direct language in the workplace? When it is more appropriate to use indirect language? 4 Think about how your own language compares to English. Do you feel that English seems to be too indirect (e.g. it seems to take a lot of words to say something very simple)? Or do you feel that it is too direct (and possibly a little rude)?

b Use the direct interview questions (1–12) to complete an indirect version of each one. Then say which type of question (direct or indirect) would be more suitable for an interview. 1 What can you bring to this position? Could you tell us 2 Why should we hire you? Would you mind telling us 3 Where do you see yourself in five years’ time? We’d like to know 4 What do you consider to be the key skills necessary for this position? Could you tell us 5 Why did you leave your last job? Would you mind 6 Tell us something about yourself. Could 7 Do you prefer to work with people or with information? Can you tell us 8 Tell me about your ability to work under pressure. Would you mind 9 Do you have any plans for further education? Could 10 What motivates you in terms of work? We’d like to know 11 What are your weaknesses? Would you mind 12 When have you been happiest at work? Could

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Cambridge English for Human Resources www.cambridge.org/elt/englishforhr

Cambridge University Press 2011  

Photocopiable

Professional English

Cambridge English for

Human Resources UNIT 3 additional activities

Teacher’s Notes

a Students discuss the questions in pairs. Then ask them to make groups of four to

compare ideas. Finally, feed back to the whole class. For question 2, you may need to explain some of the rules (e.g. we use –ing after Would you mind …?; we use if or whether when there is an auxiliary, such as do, and not a wh- question word). Suggested answers 1 being tired, stressed and overworked; not taking the time to explain things properly; making assumptions about what the other person knows or doesn’t know; different personal or cultural styles; shyness being mistaken for arrogance 2 Indirect language tends to be more polite than direct language in English. Indirect questions usually includes a phrase which requests the answer (Do you think …? Would you mind …?). 3 In general, the bigger the request or the less familiar the person, the more indirect language will be appropriate. When you know the person quite well and you do not have much time, direct language may be acceptable. In the context of a job interview, if you are too direct you can make the interview too stressful for the candidate and create a negative impression of the company. You may also fail to recruit the best candidate. If you are too indirect, you may be perceived as weak or indecisive, especially in some cultures. Note: Answers to this question may vary widely according to the culture of the students, but it is worth opening up this debate with students as different nationalities tend to perceive directness and indirectness differently.

b Check that students understand the task by completing the first one or two

questions on the board as a class. Then ask students to complete the rest on their own. They then check their answers in pairs and discuss whether direct or indirect questions would be better. Answers 1 2 3 4

Could you tell us what you can bring to this position? Would you mind telling us why we should hire you? We’d like to know where you see yourself in five years’ time. Could you tell us what you consider to be the key skills necessary for this position? 5 Would you mind telling us why you left your last job? 6 Could you tell us something about yourself? 7 Can you tell us if/whether you prefer to work with people or with information? 8 Would you mind telling me about your ability to work under pressure? 9 Could you tell us if/whether you have any plans for further education? 10 We’d like to know what motivates you in terms of work. 11 Would you mind telling us what your weaknesses are? 12 Could you tell us when you have been happiest at work?

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Cambridge English for Human Resources www.cambridge.org/elt/englishforhr

Cambridge University Press 2011  

Photocopiable