Review &Careers Lab
Review Lab · mock interviews & professional speaking
CEFR Pathway · You are here
Review Lab
A checkpoint, not a test.
Fluency warm-up · Section 1
5 minGet talking — no pressure
Pitch yourself in 30 seconds — name, role, two strengths.
Share the best career advice you've ever received.
You want a pay rise. What's your opener in English?
Grammar recap · Section 2
8–10 minProfessional English — full toolkit recap
You now have: career COLLOCATIONS (work for / as / in / on); EDUCATION chunks (apply for / enrol on / graduate from); INTERVIEW frames (I'd say… / One example would be… / That experience taught me…); EMAIL register (Dear / Hi / Yours sincerely / Cheers).
→ I'd say my track record speaks for itself.
→ I work for a startup as a designer.
→ I graduated from Manchester in 2022.
→ I am writing to apply for the role.
More detail
Real professional English moves between all of these in a single conversation. Goal: switch register and frame fluidly, not perfectly.
Challenge 1.I work ____ a tech company ____ a product manager.
Challenge 2.I graduated ____ Edinburgh ____ Economics.
Challenge 3.I'd ____ my biggest strength is communication.
Challenge 4.I am ____ to apply for the role.
Challenge 5.Please find ____ my CV.
Vocabulary recap · Section 3
5–7 minRecycle your toolkit
Don't just read these — say one out loud, then use it about your life.
to play to your strengths
use what you're best at
"Choose roles that play to your strengths."
What plays to your strengths?
to hit the ground running
start strongly
"I want to hit the ground running."
Last time you hit the ground running?
a feather in your cap
an achievement
"That promotion was a real feather in her cap."
Name a feather in your cap.
to go the extra mile
do more than expected
"She always goes the extra mile."
When did you last go the extra mile?
to be a good fit
match the role/culture
"I'm a good fit for fast-moving teams."
What kind of team are you a good fit for?
to bring something to the table
offer specific value
"I bring 5 years of B2B experience to the table."
What do you bring to the table?
Discuss with a partner
- →What do you bring to the table that few others do?
- →Where could you genuinely hit the ground running?
Finish the sentence about you
- I play to my strengths when I… …
- I'd be a good fit for… …
- One feather in my cap is… …
Pronunciation polish · Section 4
3–4 minPitch contour in an elevator pitch — confidence + warmth
- • I'm SARah, a JUNior data ANalyst at a HEALTHtech STARTup.
- • I've been there for TWO years.
- • I'd LOVE to work in CLImate data next.
- • Could we GRAB a COFfee SOMEtime?
How to say it
An elevator pitch needs gentle pitch peaks on each key word. 'I'm MAR-ta, a PRO-duct DE-signer at a small STUD-io.' Each capital is a small rise. End with a clear fall on the closer: 'I'd love to chat ↘.' This sounds confident but not pushy.
Reading challenge · Section 5
8–10 minHow I prepared for my dream interview
Two months ago I applied for my dream role. The job description matched my track record almost perfectly — I'd graduated in marketing, worked for two startups, and led a B2B campaign that became a real feather in my cap. The night before the interview, I rewrote my 'tell me about yourself' answer in STAR-lite three times. I picked three stories where I'd taken initiative or gone the extra mile. I prepared two questions to ask back — 'What does success look like in the first 90 days?' and 'What's the biggest challenge facing the team?' On the day, I paused before each answer, opened with 'I'd say…' and finished each story with one sentence about what it taught me. The follow-up email went out two hours later — formal, short, with a clear next step. I got the offer on Friday. The single biggest factor wasn't the experience — it was preparation.
Challenge 1.How many STAR rewrites?
Challenge 2.How many questions back?
Challenge 3.When did the follow-up email go out?
Q1.The writer paused before answering each question.
Q2.The follow-up email was informal.
Q3.The writer says experience was the biggest factor.
Listening challenge · Section 6
8–10 minA polished elevator pitch
Listening audio
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
Show transcript
Pitcher:Hi, I'm Alex. I work for a small healthtech startup as a product designer.
Listener:How long have you been there?
Pitcher:Just over two years. Before that, I graduated from Bristol in design and worked in B2B agencies.
Listener:What are you looking for next?
Pitcher:I'd love to bring my product experience to a climate-tech team. I think I'd be a great fit.
Listener:What do you bring to the table?
Pitcher:A track record in fast launches, calm under pressure, and a real eye for detail. I'd hit the ground running.
Listener:Got it — let's circle back next week, I might know someone.
Challenge 1.Alex's current role?
Challenge 2.What sector does Alex want next?
Challenge 3.What does Alex offer?
Skills challenge · Section 7
5 minCambridge PET / BEC — Full professional speaking arc
Task
Deliver a 60-second elevator pitch + answer 3 interview questions + write a 100-word follow-up email.
Strategy
Hit ALL four toolkits: collocations, education chunks, interview frames, email register. Idioms add register; STAR-lite adds structure; formal email adds professionalism. The marker is listening for variety across all four.
Example
PITCH: 'Hi, I'm Marta — product designer at a small healthtech startup. I graduated from Edinburgh in design, worked in B2B agencies, and I'd love to bring my product experience to a climate team next.' INTERVIEW Q: 'Why us?' A: 'I've followed your team for over a year. The mission aligns with mine, and I'd say I'm a good fit for a fast-moving culture.' EMAIL: 'Dear Mr Lee, Thank you for taking the time to meet today. I am attaching the case study we discussed. Looking forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely, Marta.'
Fluency builder · Section 8
8–10 minQuick-fire practice
Challenge 1.I work ____ a startup ____ a designer.
Challenge 2.I'd say I'd ____ ____ ____ to fast teams.
Challenge 3.I want to hit the ____ ____.
Challenge 4.It was a real ____ ____ ____ ____.
Challenge 5.Please find ____ my CV.
Q1.Pitch line: 'I / designer / healthtech startup' →
Q2.Interview close: 'experience / teach / value of teamwork' →
Q3.Formal email open: 'I / apply / role / website' →
Writing challenge · Section 9
5 minShow what you can do
Your task
Write a full job application package: (1) 60-word elevator pitch, (2) 120-word formal cover letter, (3) 50-word informal text to a friend saying you applied. Mix register correctly.
Show model answer
PITCH: I'm Marta, a product designer with a B2B background and a strong track record in fast launches. I've spent the last three years at a healthtech startup. I'd love to bring my product experience to a climate-tech team. COVER LETTER: Dear Ms Lee, I am writing to apply for the Senior Product Designer position advertised on your website. I have five years' experience in product design, including two years leading user research at a small healthtech startup. I would be grateful if you could let me know the next steps at your earliest convenience. Looking forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely, Marta. TEXT: 'Hey! Just applied for the dream job!! Fingers crossed — I'll keep you posted. Coffee Friday to celebrate or commiserate? xx'
Communication lab · Section 10
10–15 minTalk it out
CAREERS LAB · Groups of 3. Round 1: 60-second elevator pitches. Round 2: mock interview (2 questions each). Round 3: pair off and arrange a follow-up coffee using the right register. Teacher gives final feedback on toolkit variety.
Useful phrases
- • I work for / as / in / on…
- • I'd say my track record is…
- • I bring … to the table.
- • I'd be a good fit because…
- • I'd love to hit the ground running.
- • Let's circle back / Let's pencil in coffee.
- ASo tell me — what brings you here today?
- B_______________
- AWhat would you bring to the team?
- B_______________
Optional · Teacher-led
Teacher Activities
Unit 9 consolidation — push for confident professional voice. ~35 min total
Keep it going · Section 11
Take-homeExtend it at home
Write a 60-word elevator pitch + 120-word cover letter for a real or invented role.
Record a 3-minute mock interview answering 4 standard questions.
Find one LinkedIn 'About me' you admire; note 8 phrases worth stealing.
Checkpoint reflection · Section 12
2–3 minWhat you've reviewed
- Career English mixes four toolkits: collocations, education chunks, interview frames, email register.
- Elevator pitch: name + role + company + track record + ask.
- STAR-lite turns vague answers into specific stories.
- Formal email: Dear / Yours sincerely; informal: Hi / Cheers.
- Idioms (good fit, ground running, feather in cap) score higher than plain language.