Use constructive, acknowledge, improvement, strength accurately in context
Read and discuss a topic-specific article at B1 level
Practise speaking fluently on feedback and performance
Complete written exercises with vocabulary in context
Teaching Notes
Warm-up: allow 8-10 min, let personal answers develop
Article: read together or have students read silently first
Vocabulary match: good for pair work
Speaking: encourage full sentences, not one-word answers
Exit questions: 5-min closer, no prep needed
Timing Guide
Warm-up: 8 min
Article + comprehension: 12 min
Vocabulary + match: 10 min
Exercises: 10 min
Speaking + discussion: 15 min
Exit + recap: 5 min
Teacher Question Bank
Click Next Question to begin
B1 · Lesson 16 · Feedback and Performance
Giving Feedback
Feedback and Performanceconstructiveacknowledgeimprovement
Getting started
Warm-Up Questions
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Read & Understand
Article
Giving Feedback
Giving feedback is one of the most important skills in the workplace. Good feedback is specific, honest, and constructive. It acknowledges what is working well before identifying areas for development. A common structure is the 'sandwich method': start with a positive point, give the area for improvement, then end with encouragement. For example: 'Your presentation was very well structured. The data could be explained more clearly for a non-technical audience. Overall, you are making excellent progress.' The tone matters as much as the content. Feedback that sounds harsh or personal can damage relationships and reduce motivation.
💡 Did you know? Research shows that employees who receive regular feedback are 3.6 times more likely to be engaged at work. Yet 65% of employees say they want more feedback than they currently receive.
Topic: Feedback and Performance
Key words
Vocabulary
01
constructive
helpful and aimed at improvement rather than criticism
02
acknowledge
to recognise or admit something
03
improvement
the process of getting better
04
strength
a quality or skill someone is particularly good at
05
area for development
a polite way of saying something needs to improve
06
appraisal
a formal review of someone's performance
07
objective
a specific goal or target to achieve
08
tone
the style or manner of communication
09
praise
to express approval or admiration
010
balance
giving equal weight to positive and negative points
Match the Words
Click a word on the left, then click its definition on the right.
constructive
acknowledge
improvement
strength
area for development
appraisal
objective
tone
praise
balance
the style or manner of communication
a quality or skill someone is particularly good at
the process of getting better
to express approval or admiration
a formal review of someone's performance
a specific goal or target to achieve
giving equal weight to positive and negative points
a polite way of saying something needs to improve
helpful and aimed at improvement rather than criticism
to recognise or admit something
Say it right
Pronunciation
constructive
CONS-truc-tive
acknowledge
ACK-now-ledge
improvement
IMP-rov-ement
strength
ST-re-ngth
area for development
AREA for development
appraisal
APP-rai-sal
Read & Discuss
Short Dialogue
A:
I've been thinking a lot about constructive recently.
B:
Really? What's your take on it?
A:
I think the issue of acknowledge is often misunderstood.
B:
I agree. Most people don't consider the impact of improvement.
A:
Exactly. And when you add strength into the mix, it gets complicated.
B:
So what do you think the solution is?
A:
Honestly? It requires both individual action and systemic change.
B:
That's a fair point. It's never just one or the other.
Comprehension
What topic are they discussing?
What does person B agree with?
What does person A say the solution requires?
Practice
Exercises
Gap Fill
Complete each sentence using vocabulary from today's lesson.
1. Please give feedback, not just complaints.
2. She d that the report had errors.
3. There is clear in your presentations.
4. Communication is one of her main s.
5. Time management is an .
Error Correction
Find and correct the mistake in each sentence.
She is very experience in acknowledge.
The improvement of the project were not meet.
He gave us many advices about strength.
Despite of the pressure, she succeeded.
Speaking practice
Speaking Prompts
Discuss with your partner
Give your partner feedback on their English using the sandwich method.
Describe a time you received feedback at work. Was it helpful? Why or why not?
How do you prefer to receive feedback — written or face to face? Why?
Summarise today's topic in 3 sentences using vocabulary from this lesson.
Grammar focus: Softening language for feedback: Instead of 'This is wrong' → 'You might want to... — can you give an example?
Open discussion
Discussion Generator
More Questions
Use with pairs or whole class · Encourage full answers
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End of lesson
Exit Questions
Discuss in pairs — 5 minutes
Recap
Vocabulary
constructive, acknowledge, improvement, strength, area for development, appraisal, objective, tone, praise, balance
Article
Giving Feedback — reading & comprehension
Practice
Gap fill, error correction, vocabulary matching
Speaking
Prompts, discussion generator
Homework
Write a short performance feedback email (8-10 sentences) to a colleague or team member. Use the sandwich method and softening language.
