Levels & career tracks
Curso básico · A1–A2
Nivel A1.1 — IdentidadNivel A1.2 — Rutinas y entornoNivel A2.1 — Contando el mundoNivel A2.2 — Comparando y proyectandoIntermedio · B1–B2
Level B1.1 — Connecting experiencesLevel B1.2 — Narrating and describingLevel B2.1 — ArguingLevel B2.2 — NuanceProfesional / Avanzado · C1–C2
Level C1.1 — PrecisionLevel C1.2 — Register and discourseLevel C2.1 — StyleLevel C2.2 — Native masteryInglés técnico y especialización
Career Track BusinessCareer Track Economics and FinanceCareer Track Business AdministrationCareer Track Information Systems EngineeringCareer Track Educational SciencesCareer Track Medicine and Health SciencesCareer Track Tourism and HospitalityCareer Track Occupational Health and SafetyCareer Track Legal EnglishEnglish for Work Current courseEnglish for Work
Memos, executive reports, purchase orders, invoices, contracts, and manuals — the formal written register of the workplace.
Why this matters This module covers memos and executive reports; purchase orders, quotes, invoices, and contracts; and manuals, procedures, and meeting minutes, all in the formal written register used across industries.
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The goals of this lesson.
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You've handled your own career conversations well. Now let's focus on the formal documents that circulate constantly in any workplace.
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The formal register used for internal company communication.
Examples
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Standard commercial and legal documents used in business.
Examples
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Formal documents that record processes and decisions.
Examples
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Read the text and answer the questions. You can try as many times as you want.
"This memo outlines the new remote work policy," the HR director wrote. "Please distribute this memo to all department heads by Friday." The executive summary highlighted the key changes for the board.
The full report was prepared for the board of directors and included quarterly financial projections. "Please review the report before the board meeting," the director requested.
1. What did the memo outline?
2. Who should receive the memo?
3. What did the executive summary highlight?
4. What did the full report include?
5. What did the director ask for?
💪 You can now read and write formal business documents! Review this lesson, or continue to the next module.
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A second reading, a bit longer. Read it and answer the questions below.
"Please find enclosed our formal quote for the project," the vendor wrote. "The purchase order was issued on the fifteenth, and the contract stipulates a two-year term."
The legal team reviewed the agreement carefully. "Payment terms are outlined in section three," they noted. "Both parties must sign the agreement below before we proceed."
1. What did the vendor send?
2. When was the purchase order issued?
3. How long does the contract last?
4. Where are the payment terms outlined?
5. What must both parties do?
08
Tap a term on the left, then tap its matching definition on the right. Ungraded — repeat as many times as you like.
Term
Definition
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Usa las pistas para completar cada palabra en inglés. Sin calificar — repite las veces que quieras.
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The essentials of this lesson, summarized.
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Key terms to remember.
a short written message circulated within an organization
Memos favor brevity and directness over the more elaborate framing typical of external correspondence, since the audience already shares context.
Formal / internalCollocations: internal memo, issue a memo, memo to staff
Synonyms: internal note, circular
a brief overview of a longer report's key points, for senior readers
Written for readers who may not read the full report, it must stand alone and convey the core conclusions without requiring the supporting detail.
Formal / businessCollocations: write an executive summary, concise executive summary, executive summary highlights
Synonyms: summary, overview
a formal document requesting goods or services from a supplier
Serves as a legally binding offer to buy once accepted, distinct from a mere inquiry or quote request.
Formal / commercialCollocations: issue a purchase order, purchase order number, pending purchase order
Synonyms: PO, order form
a document requesting payment for goods or services provided
Distinct from a quote (an estimate before the sale) — an invoice is issued after delivery and creates a payment obligation.
Formal / commercialCollocations: issue an invoice, outstanding invoice, invoice due date
Synonyms: bill, statement
to state as a required condition in a formal agreement
A precise, legalistic verb — used almost exclusively in contracts and formal agreements rather than everyday speech.
Formal / legalCollocations: the contract stipulates, as stipulated, stipulate terms
Synonyms: specify, require
included along with a letter or document
A formal, slightly dated register marker common in business correspondence, roughly equivalent to 'attached' in email.
Formal / writtenCollocations: please find enclosed, enclosed herewith, document enclosed
Synonyms: attached, included
an established, formal way of carrying out a process
Emphasizes an official, often mandatory sequence of steps, distinct from an informal 'process' that may vary case by case.
Formal / operationalCollocations: follow the procedure, standard procedure, procedure manual
Synonyms: protocol, method
the official written record of what was discussed and decided at a meeting
A formal document with legal and organizational weight — it can be referenced later as evidence of what was agreed.
Formal / administrativeCollocations: take the minutes, approve the minutes, circulate the minutes
Synonyms: meeting record, official notes
a specific section or provision within a formal document
Contracts are built from individual clauses, each addressing a distinct obligation, right, or condition.
Formal / legalCollocations: confidentiality clause, clause states, include a clause
Synonyms: provision, term
to distribute a document to a group of people
Common in describing the formal internal distribution of memos, minutes, or reports within an organization.
Formal / administrativeCollocations: circulate a memo, widely circulated, circulate for approval
Synonyms: distribute, disseminate
to describe the main points of something without full detail
Signals a high-level summary rather than an exhaustive account — common in memos and executive documents.
FormalCollocations: outline a policy, briefly outline, outline the steps
Synonyms: summarize, sketch out
adherence to rules, laws, or contractual obligations
A central concern in formal business documents, especially contracts and procedures, where non-compliance carries consequences.
Formal / legalCollocations: ensure compliance, compliance with the contract, compliance department
Synonyms: adherence, conformity
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The formal fixed expressions used specifically in written workplace documents.
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Tap the words in the correct order to form the sentence. Ungraded — repeat as many times as you like.
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Tap the correct verb form to complete each sentence. The other options are conjugations from other tenses — on purpose, so you learn to tell them apart.
This memo the new remote work policy
The contract a two-year term
The minutes were to all attendees
The purchase order was on the fifteenth
The minutes all decisions made
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Listen to the full dialogue with the speaker buttons first, then fill in the missing words from this lesson's real conversation. Ungraded — repeat as many times as you like.
This outlines what the contract .
Please find the with this letter.
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You need at least 80% to unlock the next lesson. You can retake it as many times as you want — your best score is saved.
1. What does this mean: "This memo outlines the new remote work policy."?
2. Choose the equivalent of: "The executive summary highlights our key findings."
3. What does this mean: "The purchase order was issued on the fifteenth."?
4. What does this mean: "This invoice is due within thirty days."?
5. Which option matches: "The contract stipulates a two-year term."?
6. "Refer to the manual for detailed instructions." — which one is correct?
7. Choose the equivalent of: "This procedure must be followed exactly."
8. Select the correct match for: "The minutes reflect all decisions made during the meeting."
9. "Please find enclosed our formal quote for the project." — which one is correct?
10. Which option matches: "Both parties must sign the agreement below."?
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You can now read and write formal workplace documents confidently. Next module: working across cultures.
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Practice this lesson's vocabulary with a word search and flashcards. Ungraded — play as many times as you like.
Tap the first and last letter of a hidden word to find it. Los términos de varias palabras van sin espacios en el tablero (ej. "give up" aparece como GIVEUP).
Elige la respuesta correcta. Si aciertas, la tarjeta queda lista por hoy; si fallas, vuelve a aparecer pronto para reforzarla. Tu progreso se guarda en este dispositivo.