Eating out with team
Today’s lesson covers new words, benefits, tips, and challenges of eating out with the team, and includes a discussion on planning.
Part 1
Warm-up
Answer the questions
What did we discuss in the last lesson?
Do you usually invite colleagues in your company to eat out?
Part 2
Vocabulary
Read the word, its’ meaning, and the examples
Then make up your own sentences using the word.
Student can skip the words they already know.
bond
/bɑːnd/
a close connection joining two or more people
Their friendship is built on a strong bond of trust and mutual respect.
The team developed a close bond after working on several projects together.
cater
/ˈkeɪ.tər/
to provide food and drinks for an occasion or event
The restaurant can cater to various dietary needs, including vegan and gluten-free options.
The hotel staff will cater to all your requests to ensure a comfortable stay.
dietary restrictions
/ˈdaɪ.ə.ter.i rɪˈstrɪk.ʃənz/
limitations on food consumption due to health, ethical, or personal reasons
The menu offers options for various dietary restrictions.
His dietary restrictions include avoiding dairy and nuts.
lunch rush
/lʌntʃ rʌʃ/
A busy period during lunchtime when many people are eating out or getting food.
We should go early to avoid the lunch rush.
The lunch rush starts at around noon.
carpool
/ˈkɑːrˌpuːl/
An arrangement where multiple people share a vehicle to travel together, typically to reduce costs and environmental impact.
They decided to carpool to the conference. (v)
She joined a carpool group from her neighborhood. (n)
Make up your own sentences using the words.
Part 3
Reading
The student has 60 seconds to prepare and then read text aloud.
Teacher helps student correct their pronunciation.
Benefits and tips of eating out with the team.
Eating out with your team offers many benefits. It helps build stronger relationships and improves teamwork. When you share a meal, you get to know each other better outside the work environment. This can lead to better communication and collaboration at work. To make the most of eating out with your team, choose a place that everyone likes. Make sure the restaurant has a variety of food options to cater to different tastes and dietary needs. It’s also a good idea to plan the outing at a convenient time for everyone, such as during lunch breaks or after work hours. Remember to keep the conversation light and enjoyable, avoiding work-related topics. This way, everyone can relax and enjoy the time together. Eating out with your team can be a simple yet effective way to strengthen bonds and boost team morale.
Check your understanding
Based on the paragraph, can you share the benefits and tips of eating out with the team? Explain why?
Note: Students can list points from the paragraph and also come up with their own ideas.
Do you think we have any challenges when eating out with the team?
Ideas/example answer (the teacher can share it for the student)
1.
a. Benefit:
- Improves relationships and work dynamics.
- Provides a relaxed setting for free conversations.
- Enhances communication and strengthens bonds.
- Boosts morale by offering a break from the usual work routine.
- Makes team members feel appreciated and valued.
- Encourages team bonding outside the office.
- Creates a sense of unity and shared purpose.
- Increases team motivation and productivity.
- Provides an opportunity for informal brainstorming and idea sharing.
- Helps new team members integrate more quickly.
b. Tips
- Plan ahead.
- Choose a restaurant with a variety of dishes.
- Set a clear budget beforehand.
- Schedule the outing at a convenient time for everyone.
- Encourage participation and consider everyone's preferences.
- Rotate the responsibility of choosing the venue to involve everyone.
- Consider casual and comfortable settings to reduce formality.
- Use the outing as a chance to celebrate team achievements.
- Ensure the location is easily accessible for all team members.
- Follow up with a thank-you note or message to show appreciation for participation.
2. Challenges
- Scheduling conflicts
- Dietary restrictions
- Cost and budget constraints
- Restaurant selection
- Inclusivity and participation
- Transportation logistics
- Cultural differences
- Managing group dynamics
- Noise and privacy issues
- Handling the bill fairly
Part 4
Listening
Listen to the conversation between John and Emma as they plan the team lunch, and answer the following questions based on the information provided in the conversation.
Click to play the Audio
Why is it important to check the menu for dietary restrictions?
What transportation arrangement is suggested?
Why does Emma suggest making a reservation?
Sample answer
- It is important because some team members are vegetarian
- They suggest arranging a carpool for those who might not have their own transportation.
- Emma suggests making a reservation to avoid waiting for a table since it’s a popular place.
Listen the conversation again and fill out the blank.
Click to play the Audio
Emma: Hey John, do you have a minute to talk about the team lunch for (1) ________?
John: Sure, Emma. I think it’s a great idea. Have you thought about where we should go?
Emma: I was thinking about that new (2) _______ place downtown, La Bella Cucina. It has good reviews. What do you think?
John: Sounds good. I’ve heard their (3) ______ is really tasty. Do they have options for people with dietary restrictions? Some of the team are (4) ________.
Emma: Yes, they do. I checked their (5) ________, and they have a lot of vegetarian dishes. It should be fine for everyone.
John: Perfect. What time were you thinking?
Emma: How about 1 PM? That way, we can avoid the (6) _________ and still make it back for afternoon meetings. Does that work for you?
John: 1 PM is good for me. Should we send out a calendar invite so everyone knows?
Emma: Yes, I’ll do that once we finalize everything. Also, do you think we should make a (7) _________? It’s a popular place, and I don’t want us to wait for a table.
John: Definitely. How many people are we expecting?
Emma: Let’s count. There’s you, me, Lily, Mark, Sarah, and James. So, six of us. Should we book for (8) _______ just in case?
John: Good idea. It’s better to have an extra seat. Do we need to think about anything else?
Emma: Maybe transportation. Some people might not have a (9) ______. Should we arrange a (10) ________?
John: That’s a good idea. I can drive and take a couple of people. We can ask around to see who else can help.
Emma: Great, thanks for that. I’ll mention it in the invite. Anything else?
John: I think we’ve covered it all. Thanks for (11) ________ this, Emma. It’s going to be a nice break.
Emma: I hope so. It’s good to relax and bond outside of work. I’ll handle the (12) _______ and the invite. Thanks for your help, John!
John: Anytime. Looking forward to it!
Answer
- Friday
- Italian
- pasta
- vegetarian
- menu online
- lunch rush
- reservation
- seven
- ride
- carpool
- organizing
- reservation
Transcript
Emma: Hey John, do you have a minute to talk about the team lunch for Friday?
John: Sure, Emma. I think it’s a great idea. Have you thought about where we should go?
Emma: I was thinking about that new Italian place downtown, La Bella Cucina. It has good reviews. What do you think?
John: Sounds good. I’ve heard their pasta is really tasty. Do they have options for people with dietary restrictions? Some of the team are vegetarian.
Emma: Yes, they do. I checked their menu online, and they have a lot of vegetarian dishes. It should be fine for everyone.
John: Perfect. What time were you thinking?
Emma: How about 1 PM? That way, we can avoid the lunch rush and still make it back for afternoon meetings. Does that work for you?
John: 1 PM is good for me. Should we send out a calendar invite so everyone knows?
Emma: Yes, I’ll do that once we finalize everything. Also, do you think we should make a reservation? It’s a popular place, and I don’t want us to wait for a table.
John: Definitely. How many people are we expecting?
Emma: Let’s count. There’s you, me, Lily, Mark, Sarah, and James. So, six of us. Should we book for seven just in case?
John: Good idea. It’s better to have an extra seat. Do we need to think about anything else?
Emma: Maybe transportation. Some people might not have a ride. Should we arrange a carpool?
John: That’s a good idea. I can drive and take a couple of people. We can ask around to see who else can help.
Emma: Great, thanks for that. I’ll mention it in the invite. Anything else?
John: I think we’ve covered it all. Thanks for organizing this, Emma. It’s going to be a nice break.
Emma: I hope so. It’s good to relax and bond outside of work. I’ll handle the reservation and the invite. Thanks for your help, John!
John: Anytime. Looking forward to it!
Part 5
Speaking practice
Teacher and Student will pair up to create your own conversation about planning a team lunch.
Use the useful sentences and words below to help you structure your conversation
Please read the whole guide below in advance.
Scenarios:
One of you will take the role of the organizer, and the other will respond to the plans. Discuss details such as the restaurant, dietary restrictions, timing, transportation, and reservations.
Useful phrases:
- Starting the conversation:
- I wanted to discuss our plans for the team lunch.
- Hey [Name], do you have a minute to talk about the team lunch?
- Suggesting a place:
- How about we go to [Restaurant Name]?
- I was thinking of [Restaurant Name]. It has good reviews.
- Checking dietary restrictions: Do they have options for vegetarians?
- Deciding on a time: What time works best for you?
- Making a reservation: How many people should we book for?
- Arranging transportation: Does everyone have a ride?
- Italian, Chinese, Thai, Vegetarian, French, Vietnamese restaurant…
- Time: Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, Evening, After work,…
- Transportation: Motorbike, carpool, walk, Taxi, Grab,…
- Reservation: Book a table, Confirm, …
Part 6
Discussion
Let’s use the vocabulary you’ve learned during the lesson and talk about the following topics/questions freely!
Teacher helps student expand and correct the answers
How often do you go out to eat with your colleagues?
How do you decide on a restaurant for a team outing?
How do you accommodate different dietary restrictions and preferences within your team?
Ideas:
- Survey team needs
- Diverse menu
- Buffet style
- Flexible ordering
- …
How do you handle scheduling conflicts when planning a team outing?
Ideas:
- Poll
- Plan well in advance (everyone can adjust their schedules)
- Priority voting
- Partial attendance: Organize multiple outings
Are there any new restaurants or activities you’d like to try for future team outings?
Can you share a memorable experience from a team meal?
Do you enjoy giving tips to waiting staff? Do you tip generously?
Smoking is now banned in many restaurants around the world. Is this a good thing?
Review
Let’s review the lesson with teacher
New words
Discuss about benefits, tips and challenges of eating out with team
Listening & comprehension.
See you next lesson
Homework
Benefits, Tips, and Challenges
Write a short paragraph (5-7 sentences) about one of the following:
- The benefits of eating out with your team.
- Tips for planning a successful team lunch.
- Challenges you might face when organizing a team outing.
