THE BLUE TREE
Business English

CEFR B2
Upper
Intermediate
warm up
Answer the questions below. Listen to sample answers. Report back what you heard.
| How would you describe the company culture of the firm you work for? |
TRANSCRIPT
The company I work for has a collaborative and supportive culture. Teamwork is highly valued, and there’s a strong emphasis on innovation and continuous learning. People are approachable, and it’s easy to share ideas or concerns. It feels like an environment where personal growth and professional goals align.
| Do you think companies should be run tightly or rather more liberally? |
TRANSCRIPT
I think it depends on the nature of the business. Tight management works well in industries where precision and consistency are essential, like manufacturing or healthcare. On the other hand, a more liberal approach fosters creativity and innovation, especially in fields like tech or marketing. Balance is key.
| Can the rules of democracy be implemented in the business setting? |
TRANSCRIPT
Implementing the rules of democracy in business could work to an extent, like allowing employees to have a voice in major decisions. But businesses also need leadership that can act decisively. A fully democratic model might slow down processes, but a mix of consultation and leadership could be effective.
part one
KEY LANGUAGE
Go through the flashcards below. Make sure you understand all the words and expressions.
VIDEO
Watch the video. It’s a fragment of a series “For All Mankind” from Apple TV. A woman comes to an office of Helios. She talks to the boss of this company. They discuss a candidate for a job. Later a decision is made.
When you watch this video, focus on how the office looks like and what the decision making process is like.
COMPREHENSION
Answer these questions. Refer to the information from the video.
- ⌚ 0:19 Has Karen been in this office before?
- ⌚ 0:32 What are some of the things Karen is surprised about?
- ⌚ 0:43 Why does Karen begin with the question: “Is this your office?”?
- ⌚ 0:54 How did Dev describe the work culture at Helios?
- ⌚ 1:26 What drink does Dev offer Karen?
- ⌚ 2:25 Who did Karen recommend for the position of Mars expedition leader?
- ⌚ 2:35 Why doesn’t Ed want to work for NASA anymore?
- ⌚ 2:55 What happens when Dev says: “Hey, everybody, bring it in.”
- ⌚ 3:23 How do people react to the idea of Ed Baldwin becoming the leader of their expedition?
- ⌚ 4:04 How is the decision finally made?
part two
When talking about company culture you can use many different adjectives. Go through this poll. Listen to and read the short description of each pair of adjectives. Check any new language if necessary.
Use your answers to create a description of company culture of your current or former employer.
DISCUSSION
Discuss these questions. Refer to the video fragment you have just seen and your own experience.
- What do you think of the open office plan of modern offices?
- How would you feel working for Helios?
- Should companies take care of employees wellbeeing?
- What do you think of Dev sitting together with everybody else?
- What do you think of the democratic decision making process shown in this clip?
- What are the pros and cons of adopting democracy in a business context?






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