Reporting Progress & KPIs in Training
CEFR: B1
Read/Listen first
Yesterday I met my training manager to review my English course and our key performance indicators. We looked at how many sessions I have completed, how many are still planned, and how often I had to cancel at the last minute. So far, I have completed eighteen out of twenty‑four sessions, so we have already covered most of the programme. Last month I missed two classes because of urgent meetings, and my attendance rate fell below our target. My manager said this affected my progress chart, but it also showed where I could improve. We agreed that I am going to focus on preparation and homework so I can use the lesson time better. If I keep this pace, we will finish the package on time and maybe add more advanced work topics. I felt relieved, because the numbers proved that my effort is paying off and my confidence has really increased.⚡ Learning goals
- Report training progress using numbers and simple KPIs.
- Explain reasons for missed sessions and their impact on results.
- Discuss future actions to improve performance and reach targets.
✨ Key language
- We have completed X out of Y sessions. “We have completed 18 out of 24 sessions so far.”
- Our attendance rate fell below the target. “Our attendance rate fell below the target last month.”
- If we keep this pace, we will finish on time. “If we keep this pace, we will finish on time.”
⚙️ Rules & Grammar — 4 Structures
1️⃣ Present perfect for results
Rule: Use the present perfect to report results that are still important now.Examples: We have completed 18 sessions.; I have already covered this unit.; We have improved our attendance rate.
Common pitfall + fix: Learners use past simple for current results — Use present perfect when the period is not finished.
Choose the best option to report a current result.
Tip: Use present perfect to connect past work with the present result.
Fill with the best answer: We ______ 18 sessions so far.
Tip: Use “have” + past participle to show completed progress.
2️⃣ Past simple for finished periods
Rule: Use the past simple to describe finished time periods, such as last month or last quarter.Examples: Last month I missed two classes.; We cancelled one session last week.; Attendance fell in June.
Common pitfall + fix: Learners mix present perfect and past simple — Use past simple with clear finished time expressions.
Which verb completes the sentence? Last month I ______ two classes.
Tip: “Last month” is finished, so use the past simple.
Fill with the best answer: Last quarter we ______ three meetings.
Tip: Think of a finished period: yesterday, last week, last quarter.
3️⃣ Be going to for future plans
Rule: Use “be going to” to talk about future plans and intentions based on current information.Examples: I am going to focus on preparation.; We are going to track attendance more closely.; She is going to report KPIs every Friday.
Common pitfall + fix: Learners only use “will” — Use “going to” when the plan already exists now.
Choose the best option: From now on I ______ on homework.
Tip: Use “am going to” to show a real decision or plan.
Fill with the best answer: We are ______ review KPIs every month.
Tip: Use “going to” + base verb for planned future actions.
4️⃣ First conditional for forecasts
Rule: Use “if” + present simple and “will” to describe real future consequences of current behaviour.Examples: If I keep this pace, we will finish on time.; If attendance improves, KPIs will look better.; If we miss sessions, our results will fall.
Common pitfall + fix: Learners mix tenses after “if” — Use present after “if” and “will” in the main clause.
Complete the idea: If we keep this pace, we ______ on time.
Tip: Use “will” in the result, not after “if”.
Fill with the best answer: If you ______ cancelling, your KPIs will drop.
Tip: After “if” use the present simple to describe the situation.
✍️ Vocabulary
key performance indicators (KPIs)
Meaning: specific numbers used to measure progress and success over time.Synonyms: performance metrics, success indicators, measurable goals.
Chunk/Idiom: track key performance indicators.
Example: We track key performance indicators every month to show progress.
Morphology: noun phrase; key (adj.), performance (noun), indicator (noun).
Self-practice: Write one KPI for your own training and explain it.
attendance rate
Meaning: the percentage of planned sessions that a learner actually attends.Synonyms: participation rate, presence ratio, attendance percentage.
Chunk/Idiom: improve the attendance rate.
Example: Our attendance rate fell last month because of many cancellations.
Morphology: noun phrase; attendance (noun), rate (noun).
Self-practice: Calculate your attendance rate for the last ten sessions.
target
Meaning: a number or result that you want to reach by a deadline.Synonyms: goal, objective, aim, expected result.
Chunk/Idiom: reach the target.
Example: If we keep this pace, we will reach our training target.
Morphology: noun and verb; here mainly a noun.
Self-practice: Write one sentence about a KPI target you have at work.
progress chart
Meaning: a visual graph or table that shows improvement over time.Synonyms: progress graph, performance chart, KPI dashboard.
Chunk/Idiom: update the progress chart.
Example: The progress chart shows how many sessions I have completed.
Morphology: noun phrase; progress (noun), chart (noun).
Self-practice: Describe one KPI you could display on a progress chart.
training package
Meaning: a fixed group of sessions bought together, usually for one period.Synonyms: course bundle, learning package, session plan.
Chunk/Idiom: complete the training package.
Example: We will finish the training package if we avoid new cancellations.
Morphology: noun phrase; training (noun), package (noun).
Self-practice: Explain how your current training package is organised.
confidence
Meaning: the feeling that you can do something well without fear.Synonyms: self-belief, self-assurance, trust in yourself.
Chunk/Idiom: build confidence step by step.
Example: My confidence has increased because the numbers show real progress.
Morphology: noun; related adjective confident, adverb confidently.
Self-practice: Write one way your KPIs can help you build confidence.
☁️ Examples (+ audio)
We have completed eighteen out of twenty four sessions so far.
Last month I missed two classes because of urgent meetings.
Our attendance rate fell below the target last month.
If we keep this pace, we will finish on time.
✏️ Exercises
Grammar
We ______ 18 sessions so far this year.
Tip: Use present perfect to show progress up to now.
Last month I ______ two lessons because of meetings.
Tip: With “last month”, use the past simple form.
Fill with the best answer:
We are ______ review KPIs every Friday.Tip: Use “going to” for fixed plans based on current decisions.
Fill with the best answer:
If you ______ this pace, you will reach your target.Tip: In first conditional sentences, use present simple after “if”.
Vocabulary & Comprehension
Which KPI shows how often you join planned sessions?
Tip: Think of a percentage of sessions you actually attend.
What do we call the visual graph that shows your results?
Tip: It usually contains lines, bars, or percentages.
Fill with the best answer:
We review our main ______ every quarter.Tip: Use the full phrase, not just the abbreviation.
Fill with the best answer:
Clear KPIs help me see that my ______ is growing.Tip: Think of the feeling that you can speak more easily.
✅ Guided practice
Mini-dialogue:
A: How is your English training going compared to your KPIs?B: So far we have completed eighteen out of twenty four sessions.
A: Great. If you keep this pace, you will finish the package on time.
B: Yes, and I am going to focus more on preparation and homework.
Why this matters:
Clear KPIs make progress visible and concrete. They help you explain your results to a manager. They also show where small changes can create big improvements.Verb & Adjective Pack:
track KPIs — We track KPIs to see if training works.improve attendance — We improved attendance after changing the meeting time.
be on target — We are on target to finish the programme.
behind schedule — Last month we were behind schedule because of cancellations.
confident — I feel confident when the numbers show real progress.
Try & compare:
Fill with the best answer: We ______ 18 out of 24 sessions so far.
Tip: Use present perfect to describe your current progress.
Self-correction: Fix the sentence: Last month my attendance rate has fell under the target.
Tip: Use past simple “fell” with “last month”, and “below the target”.
Practice aloud: Listen, repeat, then type the sentence.
If we keep this pace, we will finish the package on time.
Tip: Notice the rhythm of “If we keep this pace, we will finish…”.