Asking Questions Politely at Work: Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives:
Asking Questions Politely At Work

Level 1 –Workplace Communication
Integrated Skills Development
Listening
Students will: There are different ways to ask a question. For example, when a
 Understand how the customer (顧客) is looking at a food menu (菜單), we could ask
English language the customer, “What do you want?” This question is clear (清楚)
functions in work-related and direct (直接). However, it is not very polite (有禮貌).
contexts
 Develop the vocabulary,
There are more polite ways to ask the same question. We could
language, formats,
ask, “What would you like to have, sir?” or “Would you like
styles and conventions
something to eat?”
used in spoken and
Asking a question using “would you” is often (經常) more polite
written communication
than asking a question using “do you.”
in the workplace
 Learn to use a variety of Would you like to ask questions in a polite way? If you do, try
tenses, prepositions, asking questions using “would you”.
formulaic expressions,
adjectives, adverb
phrases, adverbial
clauses, the passive
voice, etc., to express
factual information
Did you know?

Chinese students often ask
questions in English by
translating a Chinese
question into English.
Sometimes, these translated
questions can sound rude.
Try to ask questions in
English without first thinking
in Chinese!
Keywords: Workplace Communication; Getting Along With Others Level 1
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Listening Questions
Explanation: This is a 1. There are different ways to ask a question. True or
factual question. Refer to False?
paragraph 1: “There are  true
different ways to ask a  false
question.”
Explanation: This is a 2. When a customer is looking at a food menu, which

factual question. Refer to would be the best question to ask?
paragraph 2: “There are  What would you like to have, sir?
more polite ways to ask the  What do you want?
same question. We could  How are you?
ask, „What would you like  How much money do you have?
to have, sir?‟”
Explanation: This is a 3. The question “What do you want?” is not very polite.
factual question. Refer to True or False?
paragraph 1: “we could ask  true
the customer, „What do you  false
want?‟ This question is
clear (清楚) and direct (直
接). However, it is not very
polite (有禮貌).”
Vocabulary Vocabulary Exercise

Integrative use of listening, spelling and written structures
cus‧tom‧er (顧客) 1. This customer comes to our shop every week.
noun
2. He often plays football with his friends.
someone who buys goods
or services from a shop, 3. I need to take a look at the food menu first before I would
company etc know what to eat.
Ex. He's a regular customer.
4. It is not very polite to ask people how old they are.
clear (清楚) adjective
5. This exam question is not very clear/direct. I do not
expressed in a simple and
understand it.
direct way so that people
understand 6. A question that is too direct may not be polite.
Ex. The question wasn't very
clear.

Reading Comprehension
di‧rect (直接) adjective
saying exactly what you There are different ways to ask a question. For example, when a
mean in an honest clear customer (顧客) is looking at a food menu (菜單), we could ask
way the customer, “What do you want?” This question is clear (清楚)
Ex. Now, let me ask you a direct and direct (直接). However, it is not very polite (有禮貌).
question, and I expect a direct
answer. There are more polite ways to ask the same question. We could
ask, “What would you like to have, sir?” or “Would you like
men‧u (菜單) noun something to eat?”
a list of all the kinds of food Asking a question using “would you” is often (經常) more polite
that are available for a
than asking a question using “do you.”
meal, especially in a
restaurant Would you like to ask questions in a polite way? If you do, try
Ex. Is there any fish on the asking questions using “would you”.
menu?
of‧ten (經常) adverb

if something happens
often, it happens regularly
or many times
Ex. She often works at the
weekend.
po‧lite (有禮貌)
adjective
behaving or speaking in a
way that is correct for the
social situation you are in,
and showing that you are
careful to consider other
people's needs and feelings
Ex. She's always very polite.

Reading Comprehension Questions
Explanation: This is an 1. Which is a more polite question?
inference question. Refer  What would you like to have, sir?
to paragraph 2: “There are  What do you want?
more polite ways to ask the
same question. We could
ask, „What would you like
to have, sir?‟”
Explanation: This is a 2. Which of the following words means “someone who

vocabulary question. Refer buys goods or services from a shop”?
to the word “customer.”  customer
 menu
 clear
 direct
Explanation: This is a 3. What should we do if we would like to ask questions in

factual question. Refer to a polite way?
paragraph 4: “Would you  try asking questions using “would you”
like to ask questions in a  try asking direct questions
polite way? If you do, try  try asking clear questions
asking questions using  try asking questions using “do you”
„would you!‟”
Guided Speaking
Integrative use of listening and speaking
1. Would you like something to drink?
2. What would you like to have?
3. Would you like to be polite?
Guided Writing – The Customer

1. This customer just came in.
2. He needs a food menu.
3. He often comes with friends.


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