How to describe your workday in English

Daily tasks at work can vary greatly, but there are some common tasks that almost every office worker faces. This article will help you understand what a typical workday in an office looks like and familiarize you with basic English terms and expressions that can be useful in everyday work communication.

Typical Tasks at Work

Checking Email

Every morning, the first thing most employees do is check their email. Emails may include new tasks from the manager, requests from colleagues, or important messages.

Planning the Day

After reviewing the email, it’s important to plan the day. This helps organize work time more effectively. Planning includes setting priorities and creating a to-do list.

Completing Tasks

Throughout the day, it’s necessary to complete various tasks. This may include preparing reports, creating presentations, working with documents, or data analysis.

Attending Meetings

Depending on the type of work, meetings can be a regular occurrence. During meetings, plans, issues, and achievements are discussed. Key terms include agenda, minutes, and action items.

Communicating with Colleagues

Communication is an essential part of any job. It’s important to discuss current tasks, solve problems, and exchange ideas. English expressions include team meeting, brainstorming session, and feedback.

Lunch Break

The lunch break is a chance to rest and recharge for the second half of the day. It’s also a time for informal chat with colleagues.

Solving Problems

Problems can arise at any moment, and it’s important to be able to resolve them quickly. This might include a technical issue, a team conflict, or an urgent matter that needs immediate attention.

Wrapping Up the Day

After completing all the tasks, it’s important to summarize the day. This includes completing ongoing projects, preparing for the next day, and logging off.

Possible Work Issues

Technical Issues

For example, the computer might stop working, or there could be software issues. It’s important to know how to solve such problems or who to contact.

Conflicts with Colleagues

Misunderstandings or conflicts can sometimes arise. It’s important to resolve them peacefully by discussing the problem and finding a compromise.

Missing Deadlines

Sometimes it can be difficult to meet all the deadlines. In such cases, it’s important to inform the manager and find a solution to complete the task on time.

Useful English phrases for work

• Follow up – to check on the progress of a task.
  • “I will follow up on this task later.”
• Touch base – to contact someone to clarify details.
  • “Let’s touch base tomorrow morning.”
• Circle back – to return to a topic later.
  • “We can circle back to this discussion next week.”
• Take ownership – to take responsibility for something.
  • “She will take ownership of this project.”
• On the same page – to have the same understanding of something.
  • “We need to ensure everyone is on the same page.”
• Touch base with someone – to contact someone for clarification.
  • “I need to touch base with Tom about the project.”
• Get back to someone – to reply to someone with more information.
  • “I will get back to you with more information.”
• Run this by you – to get someone’s opinion on something.
  • “Can I run this by you quickly?”
• Keep me posted – to keep someone updated.
  • “Please keep me posted on any updates.”
• Go the extra mile – to make a special effort.
  • “She always goes the extra mile for the team.”
• In the loop – to be informed about something.
  • “Make sure to keep me in the loop.”
• Touch base on a regular basis – to contact regularly for updates.
  • “We need to touch base on a regular basis to stay updated.”
• In the pipeline – to be in progress or preparation.
  • “We have several new projects in the pipeline.”
• On track – to proceed as planned.
  • “The project is on track for completion by next month.”
• Ahead of the curve – to be more advanced than others.
  • “Our company is ahead of the curve in adopting new technology.”
• Brainstorm ideas – to generate ideas.
  • “Let’s brainstorm some ideas for the new campaign.”
• Get the ball rolling – to start something.
  • “We need to get the ball rolling on this project soon.”
• Take the lead – to take charge of something.
  • “John will take the lead on this project.”
• Put something on hold – to postpone something.
  • “We will put this project on hold for now.”
• Follow through – to complete something.
  • “It is important to follow through with our plans.”

Listening and Quiz – “Daily tasks at work”

Listen to the audio of “Daily Tasks at Work,” try to understand the content, and then answer the quiz questions.

Time's up

Reading – Essay on My working day: “Daily tasks at work”

Hello! Today, I will share what my typical day at work looks like in an office. This will be useful for those who want to improve their English skills, especially in a professional context.

Every morning when I arrive at work, the first thing I do is check my email. I go through all new messages from my manager, colleagues, and other important messages.

After reading my emails, I plan my day. This helps me organize my time and set priority tasks. I create a to-do list to make sure I know what needs to be done throughout the day.

Next, I start working on my tasks. These can be various tasks, such as preparing reports, creating presentations, working with documents, or data analysis.

In the middle of the day, I usually have a meeting with my colleagues. We discuss our plans, problems that have arisen, and achievements we have reached. Common terms used in meetings include agenda, minutes, and action items.

Throughout the day, I often communicate with colleagues. We discuss current tasks, solve problems, and share ideas. This is an essential part of any job. It is very important to have effective communication to achieve good results.

The lunch break is a time to rest and recharge. It’s also a great opportunity for informal chat with colleagues.

Sometimes, problems arise at work. For example, there may be technical issues like a computer malfunction or software problems. It is important to quickly resolve these issues or know who to turn to for help.

At the end of the workday, I wrap up by completing ongoing projects, preparing for the next day, and logging off.

If you need to learn about the morning routine, read the article: How to talk about your morning in English.