Client-Ready English · Verisk Nepal
Session 1
Status updates that land with US stakeholders
90 minutes · one cohort, taught in three tiers
Speaker notes
Open by naming the pain: a status update no US lead can act on. Frame today as one repeatable structure. Keep energy light — this is a confidence problem as much as a language one.
Today's objectives
By the end, each of you can…
- B1Write a short status update a US colleague can act on.
- B2Lead with the key point and flag risk early.
- C1Make a precise ‘decision needed’ ask that gets a one-line reply.
Speaker notes
Read the room: most will self-place around their writing band. Reassure that everyone works the same task — the bar just shifts. Don't announce tiers aloud; the phones handle it.
The task · rewrite it
From vague to client-ready
Before
“Hi team, I've been working on the claims API this week. There were some issues with the test environment… mostly going okay but a few things still pending. Will keep you posted.”
After
“Claims API is on track for Friday. One risk: test environment down Tue–Wed (resolved). Decision needed: confirm staging dataset for UAT, or I need one more day.”
Speaker notes
Elicit, don't tell: ask “where's the actual point?” Have B1s use the frames on their phone; push C1s to tighten the ask to a one-word reply. Circulate; the phones already scaffold each learner.
Language to use
Three moves, every update
Flag a blockerOne blocker:…
I'm blocked on… until…
This is at risk because…
Give an ETAOn track for [day].
Now expecting [day] because…
Slipping to [day] — here's why:
Make the askDecision needed:…
Could you confirm… by [time]?
I need [X] to stay on schedule.
Speaker notes
Drill orally first, then in writing. Pair same-level learners for speed; mix levels for the coaching round. The bank lives on their phones for the speaking task.
Wrap
Can you do it?
- I can put the key point in the first line.
- I can flag a risk without burying it.
- I can write an ask that gets a one-line reply.
Homework on each phone · bring one real rewrite next session.
Speaker notes
Close by having two volunteers read a real rewrite aloud. Name the shift you saw. Set homework from the phone — one genuine update, rewritten impact-first.