Many people say that replying to

emails with "done" or saying

"thanks" will make you more
What is the one word that will make you rich?
successful if used habitually. What
is one word I should use more often
if I want to be successful?

1. Do you agree that

replying to emails with

done or saying
thanks would change
anything in your life?
2. This was a question
asked on Quora, a
Question-and-answer
website. Predict what
words that will make
you rich people came
up with in their replies:
*
*

3. Student A: read this reply. Prepare to retell it to Student B.

No. Say no to anyone or anything that will waste your time. Say no to anyone
who is negative. Say no to all the vampires who want to suck you dry and dump
their problems on you. Say no to anyone who wants you to work for free. Say
no to excess leisure time and instant gratification. Say no to fear.
4. Work with Student B. Retell the piece of advice youve read. Which piece of
advice do you agree with? Why?

Source: http://www.quora.com/What-is-the-one-word-that-will-make-you-rich

Olya Sergeeva

eltgeek.wordpress.com
Page 1 | 5

Many people say that replying to

emails with "done" or saying
"thanks" will make you more
successful if used habitually. What
What
is the
one Iword
that use
will make
you
rich?
is one
word
should
more
often
if I want to be successful?

1. Do you agree that

replying to emails
with done or
saying thanks
would change
anything in your
life?
2. This was a question
asked on Quora, a
Question-andanswer website.
Predict what words
that will make you
rich people came
up with in their
replies:
*
*

3. Student B: read this reply. Prepare to retell it to Student A.

Yes. Say yes. People respond positively to yes, even when you're using it
conditionally.
Yes, I'd love to work for you, I just need $5,000 more.
Yes, we can get the project done in that time line, we just need 5 more people.
Yes, that sounds like a good idea, I just would like to go over some details where
I have a few concerns.
Saying no makes you seem difficult even if you're not trying to be.
Also saying yes keeps the lines of communication open. If there is a situation
where you can agree, it telegraphs your implicit agreement once your
conditions are met. It says "I'm on board in spirit, heres what I need to make it
happen".
Yes creates opportunities you may never have had otherwise. No shuts down
the conversation, but yes let you continue to explore options. And sometimes
surprising things emerge from that.
Yes creates opportunities. No ends them.
Olya Sergeeva

eltgeek.wordpress.com
Page 2 | 5

4. Work with student A. Retell the piece of advice youve read. Which piece of
advice do you agree with? Why?

Source: http://www.quora.com/What-is-the-one-word-that-will-make-you-rich
1. Read the situations and finish the requests. Would you reply
positively or negatively? What would you say?

Listen, it looks like were going

to miss the deadline. We need
you to _________.

_________________

Could you help me? I heard you

work at an IT firm. The thing is,
theres this virus and its blocking
my files. Could you __________?

_________________

2. Who do you deal with in your work? Fill the spidergram with roles
from the box and your own ideas.
your Business Analyst
HR managers
suppliers

other team members

your project manager
accountant(s)

Olya Sergeeva

customer(s)
your team leader
trainers

eltgeek.wordpress.com
Page 3 | 5

What requests that you might want to refuse could these people
make?
3. Avoiding saying no
Here are some ways to say no indirectly. How would you fill the gaps in these
replies?
1
2
3
4

Sorry, Ill be ______________ [then/when you need me].

Listen, Im afraid I dont have a lot of time ___________.
__________ help, but I'm ____________ at the moment. Can this wait?
It may be ____________. The thing is, I'm ____________ in these reports.
___________ Peter?
5 _________ again when [Ive finished the report / Im back from holiday].
6 I suppose I _______________ it.
Adapted from Business Result Upper-Intermediate
Use the following expressions to fill the gaps :
a bit problematic
at the moment
away on [business/holiday]
could look into
have you tried

Olya Sergeeva

Id love to
really snowed under
too much on
try me
up to my neck

eltgeek.wordpress.com
Page 4 | 5

4. Pronunciation focus.
When a word ends in a consonant sound (b/d/m and so on) and the next word
starts with a vowel sound (a/o/e and so on), very often theyre pronounced
together (linked):
I m_afraid // I dont have_a lot_of time // at the moment.
Find more examples in the expressions and mark them like_this.
1
2
3
4
5
6

Sorry, Ill be away on [business/holiday] [then/when you need me].

Listen, Im afraid I dont have a lot of time at the moment.
Id love to help, but I'm really snowed under at the moment. Can this
wait?
It may be a bit problematic. The thing is, I'm up to my neck in these
reports. Have you tried Peter?
Try me again when [Ive finished the report / Im back from holiday].
I suppose I could look into it.

5. Practice!
With your partner, take turns to make requests and say no (Pick six of the
roles that you brainstormed in task 2 and number them 1-6. Each turn, roll the
dice. The student making the request takes on that role, the student saying no
plays their current role in the company.)