Explaining Delays and Problems — English Shadowing Practice
Practice the professional English for explaining delays and problems. In this lesson you shadow real lines like “There's been a slight delay.”, “We ran into a technical issue.”, and “We need more time to fix this.”. Delivering bad news clearly and calmly is a key skill, and this lesson drills it. You listen and speak along, copying the natural, polite tone so the phrases come out smoothly at work.
More lessons from this course
b1Professional Self-Introduction at Work — English Shadowing Practice
Shadow professional English for introducing yourself at work — “Hi, I'm Anna from the marketing team.”. Speak along to introduce yourself professionally.
b2Starting a Work Chat Politely — English Shadowing Practice
Shadow professional English for starting a work chat politely — “Hi, do you have a minute?”, “Sorry to bother you.”. Speak along to start a work chat politely.
b1Asking Quick Questions on Chat — English Shadowing Practice
Shadow professional English for asking quick questions on chat — “Did you send the file already?”, “Is this the final draft?”. Speak along to ask quick work questions clearly.
b2Confirming Tasks and Responsibilities — English Shadowing Practice
Shadow professional English for confirming tasks and responsibilities — “I'll take care of this.”, “You can leave this part to me.”. Speak along to confirm who does what.
b1Talking About Deadlines — English Shadowing Practice
Shadow professional English for talking about deadlines — “When is this due?”, “The deadline is Friday afternoon.”. Speak along to talk about deadlines confidently.
b2Scheduling a Meeting — English Shadowing Practice
Shadow professional English for scheduling a meeting — “Can we schedule a meeting for tomorrow?”, “Does 3 p.m. work for you?”. Speak along to schedule a meeting.
b1Rescheduling a Meeting — English Shadowing Practice
Shadow professional English for rescheduling a meeting — “Sorry, I need to reschedule.”, “Something urgent came up.”. Speak along to reschedule a meeting politely.
b2Joining and Starting a Meeting — English Shadowing Practice
Shadow professional English for joining and starting a meeting — “Hi everyone, thanks for joining.”, “Can you hear me clearly?”. Speak along to open a meeting smoothly.
What this lesson trains
Make these phrases automatic: “There's been a slight delay.”, “We ran into a technical issue.”, “We need more time to fix this.”, “I'll keep you updated on the situation.”.
Language in focus: Explaining causes (“We ran into…,” “The task took longer than expected”) politely.
Own this workplace vocabulary: delay, technical issue, resource problem, fix, inconvenience.
Copy the polite, professional tone on lines like “I'll keep you updated on the situation.” — at work, tone matters as much as words.
Learning goals
- Handle explaining delays and problems in English clearly and professionally.
- Use natural phrasing for explaining delays and problems without sounding blunt.
- Contribute and respond with a polite, confident tone.
- Say key workplace vocabulary clearly the first time.
About this practice
The lesson is built from a real workplace exchange of short, professional lines you'd use when explaining delays and problems.
At B1 level it focuses on the tone and phrasing that make workplace English sound natural.
Practice tips
- 1Shadow the softening phrases — they carry the professional tone.
- 2Drill the vocabulary (delay, technical issue, resource problem) until it's automatic.
- 3Rehearse the lines aloud before a real meeting or message.
Frequently asked questions
What will I be able to do after this lesson?
You'll be able to handle explaining delays and problems in English — explain a delay professionally — with natural, professional phrasing.
Will it help me sound more professional?
Yes. You shadow polite, natural phrasing so you sound clear and confident instead of blunt or unsure.
How do I explain a delay without sounding bad?
You practice calm, clear lines like “There's been a slight delay” and “Sorry for the inconvenience.”
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