Workplace Skills & Competency Levels
CEFR: B2
Read/Listen first
At the weekly production meeting, Nadia reviewed her team’s skills matrix and realised that several key operators had left in the past year. New staff had joined the factory, but their competency levels were still uneven. She has already created a training plan, yet some supervisors had not followed it, so quality dropped on the night shift. To fix this, Nadia proposed an 80/20 training approach: most sessions would be short refreshers on basic tasks, while a smaller number would focus on advanced problem‑solving. She explained that senior technicians would mentor juniors, and that each worker would set one concrete learning goal for the next month. If the team could show real progress in audits, management would support more training days. Although the budget was tight, Nadia felt they had to invest in skills now to avoid bigger problems later.⚡ Learning goals
- Can describe changes in team skills and staffing in a factory or office.
- Can explain a simple 80/20 training strategy to colleagues or managers.
- Can discuss how audits and mentoring help improve competency levels at work.
✨ Key language
- competency levels across the team “Our competency levels across the team are uneven.”
- an 80/20 training approach “We proposed an 80/20 training approach for the night shift.”
- invest in skills now to avoid problems later “We must invest in skills now to avoid problems later.”
⚙️ Rules & Grammar — 4 Structures
1️⃣ Present perfect for recent changes
Rule: Use the present perfect to describe changes connected to now in your team or company.Examples: Several key operators have left in the past year; New staff have joined the factory; She has already created a training plan.
Common pitfall + fix: Learners often use past simple with “already”; use the present perfect instead: “She has already created a training plan.”.
Choose the best option: New staff ______ the factory this year.
Tip: Use “have” + past participle for changes that affect the present.
Fill with the best answer: Nadia ______ a training plan for the team.
Tip: Remember to add “already” between “has” and the past participle.
2️⃣ Past simple for completed actions
Rule: Use the past simple to describe finished actions at a specific time in the past.Examples: Nadia proposed an 80/20 training approach; She explained the plan to the supervisors; Quality dropped on the night shift.
Common pitfall + fix: Do not mix present time markers with past simple; keep the time clearly in the past.
Choose the best option: Last week Nadia ______ an 80/20 training approach.
Tip: With a finished time like “last week”, choose the past simple.
Fill with the best answer: Quality ______ on the night shift.
Tip: Use a regular past form here: base verb + “-ed”.
3️⃣ Second conditional for improvement scenarios
Rule: Use “if” + past tense with “would” or “could” to talk about unreal or uncertain results.Examples: If the team could show real progress in audits, management would support more training days; If supervisors followed the plan, quality would improve; If budgets were higher, she would add more sessions.
Common pitfall + fix: Do not mix “will” with a past tense in this pattern; prefer “would” or “could”.
Choose the best option: If audits improved, management ______ more training days.
Tip: With “if” + past for a hypothetical situation, choose “would”.
Fill with the best answer: If the team ______ clear progress, everyone would feel more confident.
Tip: Combine “could” with the base verb to talk about ability in a hypothetical situation.
4️⃣ Modals of obligation (have to, need to)
Rule: Use “have to” or “need to” to talk about responsibility or obligation at work.Examples: Supervisors have to follow the training plan; Workers need to set concrete learning goals; Nadia felt they had to invest in skills now.
Common pitfall + fix: Do not use “must to”; use “must” + base verb or “have to” + base verb.
Choose the best option: Supervisors ______ follow the training plan.
Tip: Use “have to” plus the base verb for external obligations at work.
Fill with the best answer: We ______ in skills now to avoid future problems.
Tip: Combine “need to” with the base form to show a strong necessity.
✍️ Vocabulary
skills matrix
Meaning: a table that shows which employees have which skills.Synonyms: competency chart, capability map
Chunk/Idiom: update the skills matrix regularly
Example: We updated the skills matrix after several operators left.
Morphology: noun phrase; compound noun
Self-practice: Describe how a skills matrix could help your own team.
competency levels
Meaning: measured degrees of ability in a task or job role.Synonyms: skill levels, proficiency ratings
Chunk/Idiom: track competency levels over time
Example: Supervisors track competency levels for each new hire.
Morphology: noun phrase; plural noun
Self-practice: Write three sentences using different competency levels at work.
training plan
Meaning: a structured schedule of learning activities for staff.Synonyms: training programme, learning schedule
Chunk/Idiom: follow the training plan closely
Example: The new training plan focuses on night-shift quality checks.
Morphology: noun phrase; compound noun
Self-practice: Explain a simple training plan for a colleague in your company.
supervisor
Meaning: a person who manages and supports workers in a department.Synonyms: manager, team leader
Chunk/Idiom: your direct supervisor at work
Example: Each supervisor reviews learning goals with their operators.
Morphology: countable noun; job title
Self-practice: Write two questions you could ask your supervisor about training.
audit
Meaning: a formal check of processes, quality or compliance.Synonyms: inspection, review
Chunk/Idiom: pass the next internal audit
Example: If we fail the audit, we must increase training hours.
Morphology: countable noun; process noun
Self-practice: Describe one reason an audit can improve workplace quality.
mentor
Meaning: an experienced person who guides and advises a less experienced worker.Synonyms: coach, adviser
Chunk/Idiom: act as a mentor for juniors
Example: Senior technicians mentor juniors during complex problem solving.
Morphology: countable noun; verb form “to mentor”
Self-practice: Write one benefit of having a mentor in your own workplace.
☁️ Examples (+ audio)
Nadia has already created a detailed training plan.
Several key operators left, so competency levels dropped.
If audits improve, management would support more training.
Senior technicians mentor juniors during difficult night shifts.
✏️ Exercises
Grammar
Several key operators ______ in the past year.
Tip: Use “have” with a plural subject for recent changes.
Last month Nadia ______ an 80/20 training approach.
Tip: A finished time expression like “last month” usually takes the past simple.
Fill with the best answer:
If audits improved, management ______ more training days.Tip: Use “would” for a hypothetical result, not “will”.
Fill with the best answer:
Supervisors ______ the training plan on every shift.Tip: Combine “have to” with the base verb to talk about obligation.
Vocabulary & Comprehension
Which phrase means a table that shows who has which skills?
Tip: Think about which phrase describes a structured overview of abilities.
In the mini text, who supports juniors during complex tasks?
Tip: Remember which role gives guidance rather than checks performance.
Fill with the best answer:
Nadia created a detailed ______ for the new staff.Tip: Look back at the mini text for the exact collocation.
Fill with the best answer:
Some workers had very uneven ______ at the factory.Tip: Use the plural noun that describes measured ability.
✅ Guided practice
Mini-dialogue:
A: Our competency levels on the night shift have dropped a lot.B: I know. If we followed Nadia’s training plan, quality would improve.
A: Maybe senior technicians could mentor the new operators.
Why this matters:
Clear skills data helps you decide who needs training and support. It protects quality during staff changes. It also gives strong evidence when you ask management for more training days.Verb & Adjective Pack:
track competency levels — We track competency levels after every audit.mentor juniors — Experienced operators mentor juniors during problem solving.
uneven skills — Uneven skills on the line created delays.
proactive about training — Be proactive about training before audits start.
Try & compare:
Fill with the best answer: If mentors joined the night shift, competency levels ______ quickly.
Tip: Use “would” for a likely result in a second conditional sentence.
Self-correction: Fix the sentence: We must to invest in skills now to avoid more big problems.
Tip: Remove “to” after “must” and choose a more natural adjective.
Practice aloud: Listen, repeat, then type the sentence.
If the audit improves, management will support more training days.
Tip: Notice the rhythm of “audit improves” and “support more training days”.