B1 · Work Progress and Priorities
Requesting Scope Reduction to Protect Quality
- CEFR level:
- B1
- Sentences:
- 12
- Duration:
- 1 min
- Speakers:
- Tom & Emma
"Requesting Scope Reduction to Protect Quality" is a B1-level English conversation about work progress and priorities, 12 lines long (about 1 minute) between Tom & Emma. Read the full script below with the translation next to each line, then try speaking one of the roles out loud.
Dialogue script
Each entry shows the English sentence first, with the translation on the line below it. To practise speaking, cover the translation and repeat after the audio.
- Line 1Tom 0:00
We're behind schedule, and current scope threatens release quality.
- Line 2Emma 0:04
Which features are essential, and which can move post-release?
- Line 3Tom 0:08
Core workflow is stable, but advanced filters and themes aren't.
- Line 4Emma 0:12
Then propose scope reduction as quality protection, not retreat.
- Line 5Tom 0:17
Stakeholders might see cuts as broken promises.
- Line 6Emma 0:20
Show risk matrix and user impact to support the trade-off.
- Line 7Tom 0:25
I'll suggest releasing core features now and staging extras later.
- Line 8Emma 0:29
Include exact dates for deferred items to maintain confidence.
- Line 9Tom 0:34
I'll present two release plans in tomorrow's review meeting.
- Line 10Emma 0:37
I'll prepare customer communication wording for whichever plan wins.
- Line 11Tom 0:42
If scope stays full, we'll need explicit quality risk acceptance.
- Line 12Emma 0:46
Strong framing. Decision-makers should own the trade-off openly.
Native audio, line-by-line recording and pronunciation scoring for this dialogue are in the EngTalk app.
Key vocabulary
Content words from this dialogue, ranked by the CEFR level at which they appear across the whole 500-dialogue library. Function words and proper nouns are excluded.
- features /ˈfitʃɚz/ plural noun
important qualities or functions
- retreat /rɪˈtrit/ noun/verb
a withdrawal or quiet place; to move back
- broken /ˈbroʊkən/ adjective
damaged and no longer in one piece or working order
- promises /ˈprɑməsɪz/ noun, verb
plural of promise; makes a promise
- risk /rɪsk/ noun/verb
a chance of harm; to take a chance
- user /ˈjuzər/ noun
a person who uses something
- impact /ˈɪmˌpækt/ noun/verb
a strong effect, or to affect strongly
- extras /ˈɛkstrəz/ plural noun
additional items or services
- confidence /ˈkɑnfədəns/ noun
the feeling or belief that one can rely on someone or something; self-assurance
- present /ˈprɛzənt/ (adjective); /prɪˈzɛnt/ (verb) adjective; verb
existing or being in a place now; to give, show, or offer something formally
- communication /kəˌmjunəˈkeɪʃən/ noun
the imparting or exchanging of information
- explicit /ɪkˈsplɪsɪt/ adjective
clear and directly stated