It's me again. In today's post, I want to share something I learned during my English training at Dexty — how to ask better questions in English at work.
When we learn English, most of us start with WH questions. You know the ones:
Who, What, Where, When, Why, Which, Whom, Whose.
We practice the structure, repeat it in class, and get it right on paper. For a while, that feels like enough.
But then you show up to a real meeting.
Suddenly, you need to ask something that actually matters — a question that gets you information, helps your team make a decision, or identifies a risk. That is a completely different skill, and most English courses do not teach it.
So here are four common workplace situations and the questions that can help you in each one.
Situation 1 — Skipping the final review
Your team wants to skip the final review to save time.
- Are we prioritizing speed over quality?
- What could go wrong if we skip the review?
- How would this affect the client experience?
- What do we need to confirm before deciding?
Situation 2 — Choosing the cheapest option
The team is considering the lowest-cost solution.
- Are we choosing cost over quality?
- What risks do we take if we go with the cheapest option?
- How could this affect the client experience?
- What do we still need to know before making this decision?
Situation 3 — An extra client request
A client asks for work that was not part of the original scope.
- How urgent is this request for the client?
- How would this affect our timeline and budget?
- What happens if we accept this without adjusting the scope?
- What do we need to confirm before saying yes?
Situation 4 — A tight deadline
Your manager asks if the team can deliver by Friday.
- Are we prioritizing speed or quality for this delivery?
- How would this affect the review process?
- What risk do we take if we commit without checking capacity first?
- What do we need to know before giving an answer?
These questions follow a simple pattern, but they work in real situations. They help slow down decisions when needed, bring up risks, and show that you are thinking — not just executing tasks.
You do not need perfect English to ask a good question. You just need the right one.
If you want to improve your English skills in the workplace, Dexty offers one-on-one personalized programs designed for your needs. Reach out at dexty.mx