Office Feedback Meeting
Listen to the Summary
Thanks for joining today’s feedback meeting. I wanted to take a few minutes to reflect on our last project and discuss how we can improve moving forward. Overall, the outcome was good, but there are a few areas that need attention. Some of us have been burning the candle at both ends, working late nights and early mornings to meet deadlines, and that’s not sustainable in the long run. I’d rather see everyone work smarter, not harder—planning tasks efficiently instead of pushing until exhaustion.
Another thing I noticed is that some reports were submitted without final checks. Let’s make sure to touch base with one another before turning in any shared documents so we can stay consistent and avoid confusion. And if something isn’t clear, please speak up right away instead of waiting until the last minute. Remember, no one can help if we don’t communicate. Open dialogue is what keeps this team strong, and I trust everyone to make these small adjustments so we can perform even better next time.
Friend’s Text Message
Can you help me out? I missed the meeting today. What did the boss say about everyone working too much? Why did she tell people to “work smarter, not harder”? And what did she mean by “touch base”?
Student Writing Tasks
Write a text reply to your friend’s message.
Use clear, polite sentences.
Summarize what the speaker said in your own words.
Use in Your Daily Life
What do the following idioms and phrasal verbs mean in these sentences from everyday life?
I’ve been burning the candle at both ends studying for exams and helping at home.
If we plan ahead, we can work smarter, not harder.
Let’s touch base tomorrow to see how your project is going.
If you’re confused, it’s always okay to speak up and ask for help.
