Asking Questions at Work in English: Formal vs. Informal & Email Tips 📧 | Business English Talk

Practical English for real workplace conversations that help you speak with confidence at work. This episode is designed for learners of Business English and workplace English who want to improve their professional communication skills at work

In this Episode of Daily Business English Talk, Anna and Jack focus on one essential workplace skill: asking questions the right way.
In this episode, you will learn:
The Formal vs. Informal Divide: How to adjust your language based on who you are talking to (from the CEO to your desk neighbor).
Email Etiquette: Why you should never just send a one-word question and how to structure a professional inquiry email.
Asking for Help: How to show you’re proactive and respectful of someone’s time when you're "stuck."
Challenging Ideas Respectfully: How to focus on the idea, not the person, using collaborative language.
Sentence Softeners: Using "Would you mind..." and "I was wondering if..." to make difficult questions easier to answer.

Key Phrases from Today:
"I apologize, but I didn't quite catch that." (Formal clarification)
"I want to ensure I have a clear understanding before proceeding." (Professional email phrase)
"What’s the rationale behind this decision?" (Polite way to ask "why?")
"Would you have a few minutes to offer some guidance?" (Asking for help)

Question of the Day:
Think about a situation at work where you needed to ask a question recently. How did you ask it? Was it formal or informal? Did you get the answer you needed?

Business English Talk is dedicated to helping English learners communicate clearly and confidently in professional and workplace situations.

In each episode, you’ll listen to natural, podcast-style conversations focused on real Business English — the kind of English used in offices, meetings, emails, teamwork, and daily work routines. These conversations help you understand how English is actually spoken at work, not how it appears in textbooks.

We focus on practical Business English phrases, useful vocabulary, and clear explanations to help you:
• Talk about your job and responsibilities
• Participate confidently in meetings and discussions
• Describe your daily work routine
• Sound more natural and professional in English

🎯 This is ideal for:
• Beginners who want to learn how English is really spoken at work
• Intermediate learners aiming for more natural, fluent communication
• Professionals working in international environments
• Job seekers preparing for English-speaking workplaces

🎧 Episodes are slow, clear, and easy to follow, making them perfect for listening and speaking practice.

📌 New episodes are uploaded regularly.
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🔔 Business English Talk
Build your confidence in English — one workplace conversation at a time.

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