English speaking lesson · Work & Career
Requesting time off
You've asked your manager for a moment to talk about taking some time off. You practise it as a real conversation, at whichever of the four levels fits you — the room and the steps stay the same, only the words get harder.
A chat with your manager · you talk to the manager
Free plan: 10 messages a day. No card needed.
What you have to do
Ask for time off, give your dates, say briefly what it's for, and get it approved. You finish the lesson by getting there in conversation — not by answering questions about it. Nothing is corrected while you talk; the corrections are collected and handed to you at the end.
How it opens
Hey, what did you want to chat about?
Spoken aloud by the tutor playing the manager.
The 5 steps that finish it
A step clears when you say the thing that clears it. The steps are identical at all four levels — only the example line fades, and at Natural there is none at all.
- 01
Ask for time off
Say you'd like to ask for some time off.
“I'd like some time off, please.”
- 02
Give your dates
Say what dates you had in mind.
“One week — here are the dates.”
- 03
Say what it's for
Say briefly what it's for, if you'd like to share.
“It's for a trip, something nice.”
- 04
Check the dates
Check the dates are right.
“Yes, that's right.”
- 05
Get it approved
Say if anything's needed to cover your work, and say thanks.
“Sam can cover for me. Thanks for approving it!”
The words, at all four levels
The same room and the same steps, four vocabularies. These are the words the lesson listens for and scores you on — with what each one means and how it sounds when you are talking to the manager.
Starter
A1 – A2Simple, everyday words with a full hint on every step.
- time
- the hours or days available
- “I'd like some time off.”
- off
- not working
- “I'd like some time off.”
- week
- seven days
- “One week, please.”
- dates
- the days something happens
- “Here are the dates.”
- trip
- a journey somewhere
- “It's for a trip.”
- nice
- pleasant, good
- “It's for something nice.”
- right
- correct
- “Yes, that's right.”
- cover
- to do someone's work while they're away
- “Sam can cover for me.”
- please
- a polite word when you ask
- “One week, please.”
- thanks
- a short way to say thank you
- “Thanks for approving it.”
Conversational
A2 – B1Common words at a natural pace, with hints to lean on.
- request
- to formally ask for something
- “I'd like to request some time off.”
- leave
- paid holiday time from work
- “I've got annual leave left to use.”
- dates
- the days something happens
- “The dates would be the 10th to the 17th.”
- upcoming
- happening soon
- “It's for an upcoming trip.”
- sounds
- used before saying how something seems
- “That sounds lovely.”
- arrange
- to plan and set up something
- “I'll arrange cover before I go.”
- correct
- right, with no mistakes
- “Yes, that's correct.”
- cover
- arrangements for your work while away
- “I'll arrange cover before I go.”
- appreciate
- to be grateful for something
- “I appreciate you approving it.”
- cheers
- informal thanks
- “Cheers for that!”
Confident
B1 – B2Richer, more specific words, with only light hints.
- leave
- time away from work
- “I'd like to book some leave.”
- coincide
- to happen at the same time as something else
- “It doesn't coincide with anything major.”
- deliverables
- pieces of work owed by a certain date
- “My deliverables would be covered beforehand.”
- delegate
- to pass a task to someone else
- “I'll delegate anything urgent.”
- coverage
- arrangements to keep things running
- “I'll sort coverage before I leave.”
- flexibility
- the ability to change plans
- “Is there flexibility on the exact dates?”
- buffer
- extra time built in for safety
- “I've built in a small buffer either side.”
- sorted
- arranged and settled
- “That's sorted, thanks.”
- appreciate
- to be grateful for
- “I'd appreciate that.”
- confirm
- to say something is definitely settled
- “Could you confirm that's approved?”
Natural
B2 – C1Advanced, idiomatic words — no hints at all.
- getaway
- a short trip away, especially for relaxation
- “It's just a quick getaway.”
- batteries
- your energy levels — 'recharge the batteries'
- “I need to recharge the batteries a bit.”
- grid
- away from contact — 'off the grid'
- “I'll be properly off the grid.”
- tie
- to finish or resolve — 'tie up'
- “I'll tie up any loose ends first.”
- ends
- small unfinished tasks — 'loose ends'
- “I'll tie up any loose ends first.”
- heads-up
- advance warning (informal)
- “Just wanted to give you a heads-up early.”
- sorted
- dealt with and settled
- “That's sorted, thanks.”
- obliged
- grateful for a favour
- “Much obliged, thank you.”
- cheers
- informal thanks
- “Cheers, appreciated.”
- buffer
- extra time built in for safety
- “I've left a decent buffer either side.”
More Work & Career lessons
- Give a meeting update
- Networking introduction
- Work phone / video call
- Small talk with colleagues
- One-on-one with your manager
- Presenting an idea
- Giving feedback
- Delegating a task
- Negotiating a deadline
- Onboarding a new hire
- Job interview
- Asking for a raise
- Resigning