Speaking Boost · B1 · Lesson 15 of 50
Speaking Boost B1 · Block 3: Work and Career

Would you quit your job to start a business?

Half of new businesses close within five years, and money is not the main reason. Learn why start-ups fail, choose which idea to invest in, and pitch your own business to a tough investor.

1

Warm-up

5 min
1.1

Business dreams

Answer and give a real example for each one.

  1. Have you ever wanted to start your own business? What kind?
  2. Do you know anyone who runs their own business? How is it going?
  3. What is the best and worst thing about being your own boss?
  4. Which small business in your town do you love? Why?
  5. Are you a risk-taker or do you prefer security?
  6. If you had €10,000 to invest, what would you do with it?
2

Words and phrases

10 min
2.1

New words

For each word or phrase, think of a real business or person and say one sentence.

2.2

Which word?

Choose the word or phrase that fits.

  1. Elon Musk is probably the most famous in the world.
  2. She left the bank to join a small tech .
  3. Would you your savings in a friend's business?
  4. After costs, the shop made a of €2,000 this month.
  5. The company lost all its money and .
  6. Our biggest has just opened a shop across the street.
  7. There are no good Ukrainian restaurants in this city. It's a !
  8. The bank won't give you money without a .
2.3

Word partners

Choose the word that goes together, then press Check answers.

  1. to
    a profit
  2. to
    a risk
  3. to go
  4. to be your own
  5. to
    an idea to investors
  6. to invest
    a company
2.4

Useful phrases

Use each phrase to talk about a business idea (real or imagined).

  • My idea is to...Моя ідея полягає в тому, щоб...My idea is to open a café for people who work remotely.
  • There's a gap in the market for...На ринку є ніша для...There's a gap in the market for healthy fast food.
  • Our target customers are...Наші цільові клієнти — це...Our target customers are young parents.
  • What makes us different is...Що нас вирізняє, так це...What makes us different is our 24-hour delivery.
  • If it goes well, we'll...Якщо все піде добре, ми...If it goes well, we'll open a second shop.
  • The biggest risk is...Найбільший ризик у тому, що...The biggest risk is that a big competitor copies us.
  • We'll break even after...Ми вийдемо в нуль через...We'll break even after about 18 months.
  • We're looking for... to...Ми шукаємо..., щоб...We're looking for €50,000 to launch the app.
3

Read and react

8 min
3.1

Why businesses fail

Read the article. Hover over the dotted words for help.

Most new businesses fail. Here's why.

Starting a business is a popular dream. Being your own boss, doing what you love, and maybe getting rich. But the numbers are sobering. In the USA, official statistics show that about one in five new businesses closes in its first year, and about half close within five years.

Why? Many people think the main reason is money. But when the research company CB Insights studied more than a hundred failed start-ups, the most common reason was something else: there was no market need. In other words, the founders built a product that not enough people actually wanted.

Other common reasons were running out of cash, having the wrong team, being beaten by competitors, and getting the price wrong. Many founders also admitted they had not listened to their customers early enough.

Successful entrepreneurs often say the same thing: start small and test your idea before you invest everything. Talk to possible customers. Sell to ten people before you build for ten thousand. If customers don't want it, change the idea fast, which start-up people call a "pivot".

Failure is not always the end. Many famous entrepreneurs failed with their first or second business. What matters is learning quickly, and not betting your whole life on an idea nobody has tested.

3.2

True or false?

  1. About half of new US businesses close within five years.
  2. The most common reason for failure in the CB Insights study was a lack of money.
  3. Many founders didn't listen to customers early enough.
  4. Experts recommend investing everything at the start.
  5. A "pivot" means changing your idea when it doesn't work.
3.3

What do you think?

  1. Do you know a business that failed? Why do you think it failed?
  2. Which reason for failure surprises you most?
  3. How could you test a business idea cheaply?
  4. Would failing in business stop you from trying again?
4

Grammar for speaking

10 min
4.1

Grammar for speaking

First Conditional

Real, possible future: If + Present Simple, will + verb.

If we launch in May, we'll catch the summer season.

unless = if ... not

Unless + positive verb.

We won't make a profit unless we cut costs. (= if we don't cut costs)

when / as soon as / before / after / provided that

Future time and conditions: Present Simple after them, NOT will.

As soon as we get the money, we'll hire two people.

First vs Second Conditional (Lesson 11): If we get the loan, we'll open in May. (real plan) vs If we had a million, we'd open ten shops. (dream). ✗ If we will get the money... ✗ As soon as we will open...

4.2

Choose the right form

  1. If we
    the loan, we'll open in June.
  2. We won't succeed
    we listen to our customers.
  3. As soon as the app
    we'll start advertising.
  4. If the price is too high, customers
    it.
  5. We'll hire more staff when we
    a profit.
  6. If I
    a million euros, I'd start ten businesses.
  7. I'll invest
    you show me a business plan.
  8. we find an investor, we'll have to close.
4.3

Fix the mistake

Each sentence has one mistake. Type the correct words.

  1. If we will open in May, we'll get more customers. →
  2. We'll call you as soon as we will know. →
  3. Unless we don't cut costs, we'll lose money. →
  4. When the shop will open, I'll buy a cake. →
  5. If the idea works, we make a lot of money. →
  6. I'll invest unless you show me a plan. →
4.4

Talk about it

Answer in detail. Use First Conditional, unless, when and as soon as.

  1. If you started a business next year, what would it be? What will you need to do first if you really try?
  2. What will happen to your town if a big supermarket opens in the centre?
  3. Complete and explain: "Unless young people..., they won't..."
  4. What will you do as soon as you have some free time and money?
  5. Talk about a business idea: If it goes well, what will happen? If it goes badly, what will happen?
  6. When will you feel ready to take a big risk in your career?
5

The pitch

8 min
5.1

Which idea would you invest in?

You have €100,000 to invest. Which idea would you choose and why? What will happen if it succeeds? What are the risks? What questions would you ask the founders?

Idea 1

DogDesk

  • A coworking space where you can bring your dog
  • €25 a day per person
  • Dog-sitters on site
  • Two coworking spaces already in the city
Idea 2

GrannyCook

  • An app where grandmothers sell home-cooked meals
  • Delivery in your area
  • 10% fee on each order
  • No similar app yet
Idea 3

Lingo Lift

  • English lessons in a lift
  • 5-minute lessons on your way to the office
  • Screens in business centres
  • Paid by companies
5.2

Your two-minute pitch

This is the final speaking task of Block 3. Your teacher is an investor and will time you.

  1. Plan for one minute, then pitch your own business idea for two minutes.
  2. The problem and the gap in the market.
  3. Your product and your target customers.
  4. What makes you different from competitors.
  5. How much money you need and what will happen if you get it.
2:00
6

Personal questions

10 min
6.1

Part I: Me

  1. Would you rather be your own boss or work for a big company? Why?
  2. What skills do you have that would help you in business?
  3. Have you ever sold anything yourself (online, at a market, as a child)?
  4. What is the biggest risk you've ever taken with money?
  5. What kind of business would you never start?
  6. What would you do if your business failed?
  7. Who would you choose as your business partner? Why?
  8. How much would you be ready to invest in your own idea?
6.2

Part II: Other people

  1. Which Ukrainian businesses do you admire? Why?
  2. Should friends start businesses together?
  3. Is it harder for women to start businesses?
  4. What do customers care about most today: price, quality or values?
  5. Should young people start a business before going to university?
  6. What businesses are growing in your city right now?
6.3

Part III: Thinking deeper

  1. Is it a good idea to start a business during a crisis?
  2. Should schools teach children how to run a business?
  3. Do entrepreneurs make the world better?
  4. Is it fair that some founders become billionaires?
  5. Will AI make it easier or harder to start a business?
  6. Is failure more accepted in some countries than others?
7

Roleplay

10 min
7.1

The investor meeting

You

Founder

You are pitching your business idea (from section 5 or a new one) to an investor. After the pitch, answer all their questions confidently:
  • the problem and your solution
  • your customers and competitors
  • your numbers: costs, price, when you'll make a profit
  • what you will do if things go wrong
Speak for at least 4 minutes in total. Use the First Conditional, unless and as soon as.
Your teacher

Investor

Is tough and asks, for example:
  1. Why would anyone pay for this?
  2. What will you do if a big company copies you?
  3. When will I get my money back?
  4. Why are you the right person for this?
7.2

The business adviser

You

Business adviser

A friend wants to put all their savings into opening a café. You are their business adviser. Help them think it through:
  • ask about their plan, location and customers
  • point out the risks
  • suggest how to test the idea first
  • give your honest final advice
You do most of the talking. Use: If you..., you'll... · Unless you..., you won't... · As soon as... · If I were you, I'd...
Your teacher

Excited friend

Has big dreams and says things like:
  1. Everybody loves coffee!
  2. I don't need a business plan.
  3. I'll put all my savings into it.
  4. My café will be different because... it will be beautiful!
8

Debate

7 min
8.1

Agree or disagree?

"Everyone should try to start their own business at least once."

Ideas for

You learn more in one year as an entrepreneur than in ten years as an employee. It builds confidence and creativity. Even if it fails, you gain experience.

Ideas against

Not everyone is suited to business. It's risky — people can lose their savings and homes. Society also needs great employees, teachers and doctors. Stability is valuable.

Round 1: give your real opinion for 1–2 minutes. Round 2: defend the opposite side for 1 minute. Use: If everyone did that, ... · Unless you..., ... · I'd rather... · From what I've seen...

9

Homework

at home

Your homework score

Do all four exercises, then press Check all homework. Correct answers will appear next to your mistakes.

– / 30
H1

Complete with a word

entrepreneurstart-upprofitlossbankruptcompetitorslaunchrisk
  1. He opened his first company at 19. He's a born .
  2. She works for a small that makes medical apps.
  3. The bakery made a in its first year.
  4. We made a because of high rents.
  5. The company went after the crisis.
  6. We have three big in this city.
  7. We're going to the new product in spring.
  8. Starting a business means taking a .
H2

First Conditional: choose the correct form

  1. If we an investor, we'll open a second shop.
  2. We won't make money we find more customers.
  3. As soon as we the money, we'll start.
  4. If the price is too high, nobody it.
  5. I'll call you when the shop .
  6. If I a million, I'd invest in start-ups.
  7. we cut costs, we'll lose money.
  8. I'll lend you the money provided that you it back in a year.
H3

Correct or incorrect? (Block 3 review)

Decide if each sentence is grammatically correct.

  1. If we open in May, we'll get more customers.
  2. As soon as we will have the money, we'll start.
  3. We won't succeed unless we work hard.
  4. Unless we don't hurry, we'll be late.
  5. If the app works, we will hire more people.
  6. When the shop will open, I'll visit it.
  7. If I were rich, I'd buy a hotel.
H4

Match the two halves

  1. My idea is to
  2. There's a gap in the market for
  3. Our target customers are
  4. What makes us different is
  5. If it goes well,
  6. The biggest risk is that
  7. We're looking for €50,000

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© Yevheniia Kolesnykova, Academy of Languages. All rights reserved. No copying or reuse without written permission.