🔥 Warm-Up (5 minutes)
- What professional development opportunities has your company offered you?
- What new skill would you like to learn for your career?
📖 Key Vocabulary
| English | Type | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| workshop | n. | The company organized a workshop on public speaking. |
| certification | n. | She earned a certification in project management. |
| mentor | n./v. | New employees are paired with a mentor during onboarding. |
| skill set | n. | The training program helps employees expand their skill set. |
| e-learning | n. | Employees can complete e-learning modules at their own pace. |
| tuition reimbursement | n. | The company offers tuition reimbursement for approved courses. |
| career path | n. | Her manager helped her plan a clear career path. |
| onboarding | n. | Onboarding for new hires takes about two weeks. |
| upskilling | n. | Upskilling programs prepare employees for new technology. |
| facilitator | n. | The workshop facilitator encouraged group discussion. |
🧠 Grammar / Strategy Focus
Correlative conjunctions come in pairs and must match grammatically. Either...or and neither...nor present two choices or negatives (“Employees can either attend in person or join online”). Not only...but also adds emphasis to a second item (“The workshop was not only informative but also enjoyable”). Both...and links two equal items (“The program covers both technical skills and soft skills”). A common error is mismatching the pair, such as using either...nor instead of either...or.
✏️ Part 5 Practice
Incomplete Sentences
📝 Part 6 Practice
Text Completion (Subject: New Professional Development Program)
Dear Team,
We are pleased to announce a new professional development program that will be available to (1) full-time and part-time employees. Participants can choose to complete the training (2) online through e-learning modules (3) in person at our training center. The program covers (4) technical skills and leadership development, and all participants who complete it will receive a certification.
Human Resources
📰 Part 7 Practice
Reading Comprehension
Starting next month, the company will launch a mentorship program designed to support both new and mid-career employees. Each participant will be paired with a mentor from a different department, allowing them to build connections and gain insight into other areas of the business. The program is not only intended to help employees develop new skills but also to improve retention across the company.
Employees interested in becoming a mentor or mentee should complete the sign-up form on the HR portal by the end of the month. Matches will be announced two weeks later, and the first mentorship sessions will begin in early next quarter.
🎧 Listening Practice
Conversation (Part 3 style)
Teacher: read the script aloud twice (or record it) at natural speed, then ask students the questions below.
Man: I heard the company is offering tuition reimbursement for employees who want to take courses outside of work. Do you know how it works?
Woman: Yes, actually — I applied last month. You submit a request before the course starts, and if it's approved, the company covers up to 80% of the cost.
Man: That's great. Does it have to be related to my current job?
Woman: Not necessarily, but it should be either related to your current role or your future career path within the company.
Man: That makes sense. I'll talk to my manager about a project management course I've been considering.