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Learning Objectives

2 minutes reading
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Make polite requests using Would you mind...? and Could you...?
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Offer help diplomatically with Shall I...? and Would you like me to...?
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Use softening phrases for professional escalations
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Assign and accept meeting roles with appropriate language
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Key for this lesson

Would you mind + -ing = very polite request. Shall I...? = offering help. Add softeners like "I wonder if..." for extra diplomacy.

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Grammar Explanation

4 minutes reading
Polite Requests

Asking Someone to Do Something

Would you mind + verb-ing?

Very polite: "Would you mind sharing the screen?"

Polite: "Could you send me the file?"

With softener: "I wonder if you could help me."

Would you mind...?Could you...?I wonder if...
Offers

Offering Help

Shall I + base verb? / Would you like me to + verb?

Offer: "Shall I take notes?"

Formal offer: "Would you like me to prepare the agenda?"

Volunteering: "I'd be happy to help with that."

Shall I...?Would you like me to...?I'd be happy to...
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Mind the Response!

"Would you mind...?" expects a negative answer if agreeing: "No, not at all" = Yes, I'll do it. "Yes, I would mind" = No, I won't do it.

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Context & Professional Usage

5 minutes reading

Making Requests

📧Emails: "Would you mind sending me the report?"
🖥️Meetings: "Could you share your screen?"
⏰Deadlines: "I wonder if you could extend the deadline?"
📋Tasks: "Would you mind reviewing this draft?"

Offering Assistance

📝Notes: "Shall I take the minutes?"
☕Hospitality: "Would you like me to get you a coffee?"
🤝Support: "I'd be happy to assist with that."
📊Tasks: "Shall I prepare the slides?"
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Business English Examples

6 minutes reading
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Correct Professional Usage

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"Would you mind forwarding the email to the team?"

Very polite request

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"Shall I book the conference room?"

Offering to help

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"I wonder if you could clarify this point?"

Softened request

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"Would you like me to send the agenda in advance?"

Formal offer

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Common Business Mistakes

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"Would you mind to send the file?"

Use: "Would you mind sending..." (+ -ing form)

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"Send me the report." (to manager)

Use: "Could you send me the report?" (more polite)

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"Do you mind?" - "Yes." (meaning you'll do it)

Use: "No, not at all" to agree to do something

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Professional Listening Exercise

6 minutes

Listen to a meeting role assignment conversation:

🎵Audio: Meeting Preparation
Ready
0:00 / 0:00
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Speed:

Team Lead: Good morning, everyone. Before we start, shall I run through the meeting roles?

Sara: That would be helpful, thanks.

Team Lead: Great. Sara, would you mind taking notes today?

Sara: No, not at all. I'd be happy to.

Team Lead: Perfect. Tom, I wonder if you could manage the timekeeping?

Tom: Sure, no problem. Shall I give five-minute warnings before each section ends?

Team Lead: That would be great. And Maria, could you share your screen for the presentation?

Maria: Of course. Would you like me to prepare the slides beforehand?

Team Lead: Yes, please. Would you mind sending them to me for a quick review first?

Maria: Not at all. I'll send them by noon.

Team Lead: Excellent. Thank you all. Let's make this meeting efficient!

Question 1: What does Sara agree to do?

Question 2: What does Tom offer to do?

Question 3: Complete: "_____ I run through the meeting roles?"

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Quick Comprehension Quiz

4 minutes
1

Very polite way to ask someone to share a document:

AShare the document with me.
BWould you mind sharing the document?
CYou must share the document.
2

Offering to help with meeting preparation:

AShall I prepare the agenda?
BYou should prepare the agenda.
CPrepare the agenda.
3

Correct response to "Would you mind helping me?":

AYes, I would mind. (meaning I'll help)
BNo, not at all. (meaning I'll help)
CI don't think so.
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Professional Practice Exercises

7 minutes

Exercise A: Transform into polite requests or offers

1. Send me the report. → _______ you _______ sending me the report?

2. I can take notes. → _______ I take notes?

3. Can you help me? (softer) → I _______ if you could help me.

4. I can prepare the slides. → _______ you _______ me to prepare the slides?

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Speaking Preparation

4 minutes
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Preparation for Class

Practice making polite requests and offers in meeting contexts.

🙋 Task 1: Polite Requests (1 min)

Practice requesting help: Would you mind...? I wonder if you could...?

🤝 Task 2: Offering Help (2 min)

Offer to take on meeting roles using Shall I...? and Would you like me to...?

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Well Done!

Key structures: Would you mind + -ing, Shall I...?, I wonder if you could..., Would you like me to...?
Next: Lesson 4.2 - Telephone Skills

Module Overview
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