CELPIP vocabulary: work and the workplace

A person you work with.

CELPIP tip Stress the first syllable: KOL-eeg. More professional than "co-worker" in Writing Task 1 emails.

The person in charge of your work.

CELPIP tip In Speaking Task 6, explaining a problem to your supervisor politely is a common scenario.

A set period of work.

CELPIP tip Common verbs: work, cover or swap a shift. "Cover my shift" is very common in workplace tasks.

Extra hours beyond your normal work.

CELPIP tip Usually no article: "work overtime", "paid overtime". Do not say "an overtime".

The latest time to finish something.

CELPIP tip Common verbs: meet, miss or extend a deadline. Useful in Writing Task 1 when asking for more time.

The amount of work you have.

CELPIP tip Pairs with "heavy" or "manageable", not "big". A good reason to give when requesting help.

A meeting about how well you work.

CELPIP tip "Have" or "receive" a performance review; often mentioned before asking for a raise.

A move to a higher position.

CELPIP tip Pattern: a promotion to a role. The verb is passive: "She was promoted to manager."

Days when you don't work.

CELPIP tip Pattern: request time off, take time off. Always give the dates in a Writing Task 1 request.

Paid or unpaid days off for illness.

CELPIP tip Use "on sick leave" for the state; "take sick leave" for the action.

A meeting to learn a new skill.

CELPIP tip Use "attend" a training session, not "join to". Common topic in Listening Part 3 announcements.

The process of starting a new job.

CELPIP tip Modern office word; in Speaking Task 2, describe how your onboarding helped or did not help.

Working from home or away from the office.

CELPIP tip A classic Writing Task 2 topic: give a clear benefit and a drawback before choosing.

A list of topics for a meeting.

CELPIP tip Pattern: "on the agenda". Asking for the agenda is a polite, practical line in a work email.

The written record of a meeting.

CELPIP tip Always plural in this meaning. You "take" the minutes, not "write" them.

Comments on how something was done.

CELPIP tip Uncountable: say "some feedback" or "a piece of feedback", never "a feedback" or "feedbacks".

A situation where there are not enough workers.

CELPIP tip Canadian spelling: "labour". A staff shortage is a realistic excuse or problem in Listening Part 1.

The system that pays employees.

CELPIP tip Often used without "the" for the department: "Contact payroll". Reading Part 3 uses it in office texts.

The department that handles staff matters.

CELPIP tip Usually shortened to HR in speech. Contacting HR is a reasonable step in Speaking Task 6.

An official rule or plan.

CELPIP tip Pattern: a policy on something. Quoting a company policy makes a Writing Task 1 request stronger.

How much work gets done.

CELPIP tip Pairs with "improve", "boost" or "lower". A persuasive word for Writing Task 2 on work changes.

Partly in the office and partly at home.

CELPIP tip Use it before a noun: "a hybrid schedule", "hybrid work". Also describes cars with two engines.

To give part of your work to someone else.

CELPIP tip As a verb it ends in -gate (/-ɡeɪt/); as a noun meaning a representative, it ends in /-ɡət/.

To work together with others.

CELPIP tip Pattern: collaborate with someone on something. A stronger choice than "work together" in Writing.

To decide what is most important and deal with it first.

CELPIP tip Canadian spelling uses -ize. In Speaking Task 6, say which problem you would prioritize and why.