Warm-up
Feedback & Performance Reviews
Feedback & Performance Reviews
After this lesson you'll be able to...
- Use key feedback and performance review vocabulary
- Give praise and constructive criticism politely
- Use the correct verb pattern: -ing or to + infinitive
- Respond to feedback and agree on goals
Get to know each other (3 minutes)
- What is the best feedback you have ever received?
- How do you feel when someone criticises your work?
- Do you prefer feedback in writing or face to face?
- Have you ever had to give difficult feedback to someone?
Say it out loud
Practise giving praise. → You've done a great job on the presentation. I really appreciate your effort.
Fact worth knowing
Vocabulary
Feedback vocabulary
Useful feedback phrases
| You've done a great job on… | Ви чудово впоралися з… |
| One thing that could be improved is… | Одне, що можна покращити, — це… |
| Have you thought about trying…? | Чи не думали ви спробувати…? |
| I'd suggest focusing on… | Я б запропонував зосередитися на… |
| How do you feel about…? | Що ви думаєте щодо…? |
| What support do you need from me? | Яка підтримка вам потрібна від мене? |
| I really appreciate your effort. | Я дуже ціную ваші зусилля. |
| Let's set a goal for next quarter. | Давайте поставимо ціль на наступний квартал. |
Try out the new words
Name one of your strengths at work. → One of my strengths is …
Name one area for improvement. → An area for improvement for me is …
Which word is it?
Fill in the missing word
Choose the correct word
Translate the phrase
Write each phrase in English. Several answers are possible.
Grammar
Verb patterns: -ing or to + infinitive?
| verb + -ing | enjoy, avoid, suggest, recommend, consider, keep, finish, mind, practise, admit, delay: I suggest focusing on clients. She avoids giving feedback. |
| verb + to + infinitive | want, need, plan, decide, agree, hope, promise, would like, manage, refuse, offer, expect: We decided to change the plan. I hope to finish soon. |
| verb + object + to + infinitive | ask, tell, advise, remind, want, expect, encourage someone to do: I advise you to prepare. She asked him to follow through. |
| preposition + -ing | After a preposition use -ing: good at presenting, thank you for coming, interested in joining, worried about missing. |
| Two meanings | stop doing = finish a habit: He stopped giving feedback. stop to do = pause in order to do: He stopped to give feedback. Also: remember doing (a memory) vs remember to do (do not forget). |
| Careful! | NOT "I suggest to focus", NOT "I decided focusing", NOT "I look forward to see you" (it is look forward to seeing — to is a preposition here). |
-ing or to + infinitive?
Open the brackets
Choose the correct meaning
Make a sentence
Make a correct sentence from the words (add words if needed).
Correcting mistakes
Each sentence has one mistake. Write the correct sentence.
Put the words in order
Put the words in the right order and write the full sentence.
Say it about your own work
Say one thing you enjoy doing, one thing you avoid doing and one thing you hope to do. → I enjoy …ing, I avoid …ing, and I hope to …
Reading
Read: a performance review
Manager (Ivan): "Thanks for coming, Dana. I'd like to start by saying that you've done a great job this year. You exceeded your sales target by 12%, and I really appreciate your effort on the Lviv project."
Dana: "Thank you. I enjoyed working with that client — I think it taught me a lot."
Ivan: "One thing that could be improved is communication within the team. On the Lviv project, two colleagues found out about changes only after the client call. I'd suggest sending a short update every Friday. How do you feel about trying that?"
Dana: "That's fair. I was so busy that I forgot to update people. I'll set a reminder and promise to follow through."
Ivan: "Good. What do you hope to achieve next year?" — Dana: "I'd like to lead a small team, and I'm interested in learning more about project management." — Ivan: "Let's set two goals: complete a project management course by June and manage one small project by September. What support do you need from me?" — Dana: "Could you coach me for the first project?" — Ivan: "Of course. I'll also ask HR to consider you for a promotion in the autumn."
True or false?
Dana missed her sales target.
Ivan only criticised Dana.
Two colleagues learned about changes late.
Dana disagreed with the feedback.
Dana wants to lead a small team.
Ivan refused to coach Dana.
Answer the questions
What did Ivan praise first?
What was the area for improvement?
What does Ivan suggest?
What two goals do they set?
Find the verb patterns
Write the phrase from the text.
Fill in from the text
Why is this a good review?
Your own opinion
- Would you like to receive a review like this? Why or why not?
- What would you add to Ivan's feedback?
- Are the goals realistic? Would you change them?
Practice
Picture the conversation
Praise → Improve → Set goals → Follow through. Good feedback is specific, kind and ends with a plan.
Match the phrase to its function
Put the words in order
Put the words in the right order and write the full sentence.
Fill in the missing phrase
Make criticism constructive
Rewrite the criticism so that it is polite and constructive.
Translate into English
Write each sentence in English. Several answers are possible.
A feedback fact
Speaking — Grow the Team
How to use this section
Your tutor plays your manager or an employee. React in real time — give praise, give constructive criticism, respond to feedback and agree on goals. Stay specific, stay kind, and use the correct verb patterns.
Giving praise
Task: praise a colleague for a specific piece of work.
Starter: "You've done a great job on the client report. I especially liked the way you explained the numbers. I really appreciate your effort."
Giving constructive criticism
Task: give feedback about a colleague who interrupts others in meetings.
Starter: "In yesterday's meeting, you interrupted Anna twice. One thing that could be improved is letting people finish. How do you feel about that?"
Receiving criticism
Manager: "Your reports are often late."
Starter: "Thank you for telling me. I understand. I'll try to start earlier — would it help if I sent you a draft on Wednesday?"
Disagreeing with feedback politely
Manager: "You don't take enough initiative."
Starter: "I see your point, but I'm not sure I agree. For example, last month I suggested changing the process, and we decided to do it. Could we look at it together?"
Setting goals
Task: agree two goals for the next quarter with a colleague and decide how to measure them.
Starter: "Let's set two goals for next quarter: I'd like to improve my presentation skills and manage one small project. What support do I need? Maybe some coaching."
Asking for a raise or promotion
Task: ask your manager for a raise or promotion with two reasons.
Starter: "I'd like to talk about my role. This year I exceeded my targets, and I took ownership of the Lviv project. I hope to move into a team lead position."
Coaching a colleague
Task: coach a new colleague who is nervous about presenting.
Starter: "What are you worried about? Have you thought about practising with me first? I suggest starting with the first two slides."
Full performance review — no stopping
Run a full review with your tutor: praise, one area for improvement, the employee's reaction, two goals and next steps — entirely in English, even when it feels awkward.
Let's talk — reflection
- Which feedback phrase would you use again?
- Did you choose the right verb pattern (-ing or to + infinitive)?
- What is the hardest part of giving feedback?
Cool down
Now I can...
- Use key feedback and performance review vocabulary
- Give praise and constructive criticism politely
- Use the correct verb pattern: -ing or to + infinitive
- Respond to feedback and agree on goals
Quick self-check
What follows "suggest"?
What follows "decide"?
What form follows a preposition?
One more thing before you go
Tell your tutor one piece of feedback you would like to receive this year. → I would like feedback on …
Homework
- Do the exercises below and press Check in each one. Green = correct. Red shows what was expected.
- Do the writing and speaking tasks and tick them when they are done.
- Write your name and press Copy my result, then send the text to your tutor.
Words to remember
| feedback | зворотний зв'язок |
| constructive criticism | конструктивна критика |
| a performance review | оцінювання ефективності |
| strengths | сильні сторони |
| an area for improvement | сфера для покращення |
| to meet expectations | відповідати очікуванням |
| to exceed expectations | перевершувати очікування |
| a target | цільовий показник |
| to praise | хвалити |
| to take ownership | брати на себе відповідальність |
| to give credit | віддати належне |
| a promotion | підвищення на посаді |
| a raise | підвищення зарплати |
| to coach | наставляти, тренувати |
| to set goals | ставити цілі |
| to follow through | довести справу до кінця |
Fill in the missing word
-ing or to + infinitive?
Open the brackets
Correct the mistake
Each sentence has one mistake. Write the correct sentence.
Translate the phrase
Write each phrase in English. Several answers are possible.
Write it yourself
Write a short feedback message (6–8 sentences) to a colleague: one specific praise, one area for improvement with a suggestion, and one goal. Use at least three verb patterns.
Practise out loud
Say your feedback message aloud as if you were speaking to the colleague. Keep it kind and specific.
Read aloud
Read the performance review from the Reading section aloud twice, playing both parts.
- 8.7 I wrote a feedback message (6–8 sentences)
- 8.8 I said my feedback aloud
- 8.9 I read the performance review aloud twice