[0:08]hello and welcome back to Leo English Podcast. I'm Leo. and I'm Tina. On this channel, we help you learn conversational English through natural dialogue, useful examples, and real life topics. And today's topic is very useful for anyone who works, wants a better job or wants to grow in their career. Yes, today we're talking about how to talk about job promotions in English. This is such an important topic because promotions come up in many conversations. Maybe your coworker gets promoted, maybe you want a promotion, maybe your manager asks about your career goals, or maybe you just want to explain your new role, new responsibilities or new title in English. Exactly. You may want to say things like, I got promoted last month. I'm taking on more responsibility. I'm working toward a promotion, or I'd like to grow in this company. These are very useful phrases, and sometimes talking about promotions can feel a little uncomfortable too. That's true. People often feel nervous when they talk about money, job titles, leadership or career growth. So today, we're going to help you talk about these things in a simple and natural way. We'll talk about what a promotion is, how to describe it, how to talk about your new position, and even how to ask for one politely. So, if you enjoy learning with us, please give this video a big thumbs up. And subscribe to the channel and click the little bell. That way you won't miss our next lesson. Alright, I'm ready to sound professional. Good. Let's get started.
[1:47]Hi Tina, how are you today? I'm doing well. Thank you. I'm feeling focused today because I had a productive morning. I answered some emails, cleaned my desk and made a plan for the week. That sounds very organized. I try. What about you? I'm okay, but I'm laughing at myself a little. Why? This morning I opened my notebook and wrote, this is the week I become more professional. That sounds promising. Yes. Yes, but then 5 minutes later, I spilled coffee on the notebook. Oh, no. So now the page says this is the week I become more pro and then just coffee art. That is not the strongest start. No, but it feels very human. Very true. What did you do this weekend? This weekend I met a friend for lunch on Saturday and on Sunday, I stayed home and worked on some personal goals. I also updated my work planner for this month. You really do update planners for fun. I do. It helps me feel calm. That is amazing. My weekend was much less calm. What happened? I met an old coworker and we started talking about work. Then he told me he got promoted recently. Really? That's nice. Yes, it was nice. I was happy for him, but also I suddenly became very interested in my own career. That makes sense. Then I spent maybe 40 minutes asking him questions like what changed? Do you have more meetings now? And do you still get lunch breaks? Those are important questions. Extremely important. Did he seem happy about the promotion? Yes, but he also said it came with more pressure and more responsibility. That is very realistic. It really is. I think people often imagine promotions as only good news, but they bring new challenges too. Exactly. A promotion usually means more opportunity but also more expectations. And speaking of promotions, job growth and trying to sound more professional, today's topic is perfect. Yes. Today we're talking about how to discuss job promotions in English. We'll help you talk about getting promoted, wanting a promotion and explaining your new role, and we'll keep it simple, natural and useful. Good, because if I try to sound too formal, I start sounding like an email. So Leo, let's start with the most basic question. What is a promotion? A promotion is when someone moves to a higher position at work. Exactly. Usually, it means a better title, more responsibility and often more money. Often more money, that part is important. Yes, it is. So if my company gives me more work but not more pay, is that still a promotion? Not really in the best sense. A real promotion usually includes a higher role and recognition. In many cases, it also includes a pay raise. Wait, what does pay raise mean? A pay raise means an increase in salary, more money for your work. Ah, good. So promotion and pay raise are related, but not exactly the same, correct? Correct. A person can get a pay raise without a promotion, and a promotion usually brings a pay raise but not always in the same way. That's a very useful difference. Yes. Now let's talk about the most common phrase, get promoted. Right. People say she got promoted last month. Exactly. Or he was promoted to team leader. Both are common. So what is the difference between got promoted and was promoted? Got promoted sounds a little more casual and conversational. Was promoted sounds slightly more formal. Both are correct. So I can say I got promoted to senior assistant and that sounds natural. Yes. And in a more formal setting, you might say, I was recently promoted to senior assistant. That sounds very professional. Another useful phrase is I moved into a new role. Oh, I like that. Yes. For example, I recently moved into a management role, or I moved into a leadership position earlier this year. Leadership role. What does that mean exactly? A leadership role is a position where you guide or manage other people. So if I become a team leader or manager, that is a leadership role. Exactly. Let's imagine someone asks, have you been promoted recently? What is a good answer? A simple answer could be, yes, I was promoted a few months ago. I'm now working as a senior coordinator, so I have more responsibilities and I work more closely with my team. That's nice because it explains the old role and the new role a little. Yes, that makes the answer stronger. Let me try one. Yes, I got promoted earlier this year. Before I worked as a sales assistant, and now I'm a sales supervisor. I still help customers, but I also support the team and help with scheduling. Very good. That is clear and very natural. Thank you. I feel promoted already. Not yet. Fair. Now, if you want to describe your new role after a promotion, it helps to explain three things: your old job, your new job, and what changed. Old role, new role, and changes. That's easy to remember. Yes. For example, before I worked mainly on customer calls. Now I also train new team members and check the team's daily progress. That sounds very real. It is. Promotions usually change your daily tasks. So if someone gets promoted, they should be able to say, I still do some of my old tasks, but now I also... Exactly. That is a very useful structure. Like, I still work with clients, but now I also lead meetings. Perfect. Or I still handle reports, but now I also review other people's work. Excellent. Those are strong examples. What other words are useful when we talk about promotions? Words like responsibility, leadership, career growth, experience, performance, achievement, and opportunity. Performance, what does that mean here? Performance means how well you do your job. Ah, so if someone works hard and does good work, people may say they have strong performance. Yes, exactly. And strong performance often helps people get promoted. That makes sense. So if I want to sound professional, I can say, I got promoted because of my strong performance and my ability to work well with others. Yes, that sounds very good. Let's talk about another common question. Why did you get promoted? That feels a little awkward, but people ask it. They do. And a good answer is honest but simple. You can say I had been doing well in my role, and my manager felt I was ready for more responsibility. That sounds modest and clear. Exactly. You do not need to brag. What does brag mean? Brag means talk too proudly about yourself. Ah, yes, so we want to sound confident, not braggy, correct? Correct. Here is another good answer. I think I was promoted because I was consistent, reliable and ready to take on more work. Take on more work is a great phrase. Yes, it means accept more tasks or responsibility. So if I say I'm ready to take on more responsibility, that sounds promotion friendly. Very much so. I think interview English and promotion English are a little similar. That's true. In both situations, you need to talk about your strengths, your work and your goals. Let's talk about feelings too. How do people feel when they get promoted? Many things. Proud, excited, grateful, nervous, motivated, and sometimes stressed. Really? Excited and stressed at the same time? Yes, that's very common. A promotion is good news, but it often means a bigger workload and more pressure. Workload. What does that mean? Workload means the amount of work you have to do. Ah, okay. So if my workload increases, I have more tasks and more responsibility. Exactly. Then a natural answer could be, I'm happy about the promotion, but I'm also adjusting to the new workload. Excellent. That sounds mature and realistic. I like the word adjusting. Yes, adjusting means getting used to a change. So if a person gets promoted last month, they might say, I'm still adjusting to my new position. Perfect. What if someone wants to congratulate another person on a promotion? That happens a lot at work too. Good point. You can say congratulations on your promotion. That's great news. You really deserve it. Or I'm happy for you. You deserve it. You deserve it sounds warm. Yes, it means the promotion is fair because of the person's effort and skill. I like that phrase. It sounds kind and professional. Exactly. Let's talk about wanting a promotion. That is a very important part of this topic. Absolutely. Many people want to grow at work, but they do not know how to say it. Yes, and some people feel shy about it. That's true, but it is okay to talk about career goals. In fact, it is often a good thing. So how can someone say that naturally? They can say I'd like to grow in this company. I'm interested in taking on more responsibility. I'm working toward a promotion, or I'd like to move into a leadership role in the future. Those sound very strong. Yes, they show ambition in a polite way. Ambition, what does that mean? Ambition means a strong desire to succeed or achieve something. Oh, I like that word. So ambition is good in this situation. Yes, as long as it sounds balanced. You want to sound motivated, not impatient. That's a good difference. Motivated is good, impatient is less good. Exactly. If you say, I'm interested in growing in this role over time, it sounds thoughtful. If you say, I need a promotion now, it sounds too strong. Yes, that sounds like a threat, not a career conversation. Exactly. So if I want to speak to my manager about promotion, what should I say? A good way to begin is, I'd like to talk about my career development. Or I'm interested in growing in the company and I'd like to understand what steps I should take. That is very smart. It sounds open, not demanding. Yes. Another useful phrase is, I'd appreciate your feedback on how I can move to the next level. Feedback is such an important word. Very important. Feedback means comments or advice about your work. So if I ask for feedback, I'm asking what am I doing well and what should I improve? Exactly. Let me try a full example. I enjoy my current role and I'm interested in taking on more responsibility in the future. I'd appreciate your feedback on what I should improve if I want to grow in the company. That is excellent. Very professional and calm. Thank you. It feels much better than saying, so promotion. Much better. What should people do before asking for a promotion? They should prepare, think about achievements, recent projects, positive feedback and skills they have developed. So not just feelings, real examples too. Exactly. If you say I want a promotion because I work hard, that is okay, but not enough. It is stronger to say over the past six months, I completed three major projects, helped train two new team members and consistently met deadlines. That sounds much more convincing. Yes, because it is specific. Deadlines, projects, training, results, those things matter very much. Very much. What does consistently met deadlines mean? It means you finished your work on time again and again, not just once. Good. So consistency matters. Absolutely. Promotions often go to people who are not only talented, but also reliable over time. Reliable is one of my favorite work words. Mine too. Let's talk about title changes. When people get promoted, they often get a new title. Yes, for example, assistant to senior assistant, coordinator to senior coordinator, analyst to team lead or team lead to manager. How do you explain that naturally? You can say, my title changed from coordinator to senior coordinator, or I was promoted from assistant manager to manager. From and to, that seems like the easiest structure. Yes, very easy and useful. So if someone asks what changed after your promotion, you can talk about title, salary, responsibilities, and maybe recording structure. Exactly. Wait, reporting structure, what does that mean? It means who you report to and who reports to you. In other words, the work relationship between roles. Ah, I see. So before a promotion, I might report to a supervisor, and after a promotion, maybe I manage a small team. Yes, that is a big change. That also means you need new skills. Very true. Promotions often require communication, leadership, decision making, and time management. Decision making is a big one. Yes, it means making good choices, especially when you're responsible for people or projects. If I get promoted, I want people to say Leo makes calm decisions. That would be nice. More likely they'll say Leo needs more coffee before decisions. Also possible. Let's say someone does not get promoted. How can they talk about that in English without sounding too negative? That is an important topic. They can say I didn't get the promotion this time, but I'm trying to learn from the experience. Or I'm disappointed, but I'm focusing on improving my skills. That sounds healthy. Yes, another good sentence is, I asked for feedback so I can prepare better next time. That's a really strong response. It is. Not getting promoted can be hard, but it can still become a learning moment. I think that's helpful for viewers. Career growth is not always fast. Exactly. Promotions take time. What if someone wants to say they are ready for a promotion, but they do not want to sound arrogant? Then they can say, I feel ready to take on more responsibility. I believe I've developed the skills for the next step, or I think I'm ready for a new challenge. New challenge is such a good phrase. Yes, it sounds positive and professional. So instead of saying my current job is boring, say I'm ready for a new challenge. Exactly, much better. I think wording matters so much in these conversations. It really does. Small changes in language make a big difference in tone. Tone. What does that mean here? Tone means the feeling or attitude in your words, friendly, respectful, too strong, too negative, too proud. All of that is tone. Ah, so in promotion conversations, the tone should be calm, respectful, and confident. Yes, that is perfect. Let's give some full answer examples for viewers. If someone asks did you get promoted recently, what can they say? They could say, yes, I did. I was promoted to team supervisor 2 months ago. Before that I worked as a senior assistant. In my new role, I help manage daily tasks, support the team and communicate more closely with my manager. Great. Here's another one. Yes, I got promoted earlier this year. My new position includes more responsibility, especially in planning and team coordination. I'm excited about the opportunity, but I'm still learning. Excellent. That last part sounds very natural. What about are you hoping for a promotion? A strong answer could be, yes, I am. I enjoy my current role, but I'm also interested in growing professionally. I'd like to take on more responsibility and move into a leadership position in the future. Nice. Here's my version. Yes, I'm working toward a promotion right now. I'm focusing on improving my skills, taking initiative and showing that I can handle more responsibility. Very good. Initiative is another useful word. What does that mean? Initiative means doing helpful things without waiting for someone to tell you. It shows independence and motivation. Ah, that's such a promotion word. Yes, it really is. So if I want to sound strong, I can say, I try to show initiative by solving problems and helping with extra tasks. Exactly. I think managers like people who show initiative, stay calm and support others. Yes, those are all promotion friendly qualities. Let's talk about celebrating promotions too. That's the fun part. Yes, people often say we went out for dinner, my team surprised me with a cake, or we celebrated after work. Cake is a very important career word. Not exactly. It should be. If you want to sound more formal, you can say, I was grateful for the recognition. Or I appreciated the support for my team. Recognition, what does that mean? Recognition means being noticed and appreciated for your work. Oh, that's a really nice word. Yes, promotions often feel good, not only because of money or title, but because they show recognition. That makes sense. People want to feel that their effort matters. Exactly. Final question. If someone wants to talk about promotions naturally, what should they remember? I think they should remember 4 things: explain the promotion clearly, describe what changed, talk about responsibility and growth, and keep the tone calm and professional. That's a great summary. Thank you. Thank you. My advice is simpler. Use real examples. Say what your old role was, what your new role is, and what you do now. That is also excellent advice. Good. I feel much better now. If someone asks me about promotions, I won't just say it means more work and maybe more money. I'm very happy to hear that.
[19:57]You know Leo, while we were talking, we used many useful words. Let's go through them together. Yes, please. Promotion English has a lot of useful words. First word promotion. A promotion is when someone moves to a higher position at work. Right, that is today's main topic. Exactly. For example, she got a promotion last year, or he is hoping for a promotion soon. And you can also say a promotion usually brings more responsibility. Very good. A promotion often includes a better title, more tasks and sometimes more pay. My personal connection is easy. I think most people feel proud when they get a promotion. Next word, responsibility. Responsibility means a duty or task you must do. We use that one a lot. Yes. For example, my new role comes with more responsibility, or one of my responsibilities is leading team meetings. And you can also say, I'm ready to take on more responsibility. Perfect. That is a very strong phrase for career growth. I like this word because it sounds professional and serious. Next word, role. A role is your job position or your function in a company. So role is similar to position. Yes, very similar. For example, I moved into a new role last month, or my current role focuses on customer support. And you can also say, in my old role, I worked mostly on reports. Exactly. Role is very common when people talk about job changes. My favorite role is probably one that includes good people and clear tasks. Next word, leadership. Leadership means guiding or managing other people well. A very promotion related word. Yes. For example, the promotion gave her a leadership role, or he wants to develop his leadership skills. And you can also say, good leadership helps teams work better. Very good. Leadership is often connected to communication, support and decision making. I think leadership sounds powerful, but also a little scary. That is fair. Next word, performance. Performance means how well you do your job. Ah, yes, another important one. For example, her strong performance helped her get promoted, or the manager reviewed his performance at the end of the year. And you can also say, good performance is important if you want career growth. Excellent. Performance is often discussed in reviews and promotion conversations. I like this word because it helps explain results, not only effort. Next word, feedback. Feedback means comments or advice about your work. One of the best words for learning and improving. I agree. For example, I asked my manager for feedback, or constructive feedback helps people improve. And you can also say, I use feedback to prepare for the next step. Very good. Feedback can be positive, negative or mixed, but it should help you grow. I want honest feedback, but kind feedback too. That's a good preference. Next word, initiative. Initiative means doing something helpful without being told. I really like this one. Me too. For example, she shows initiative by solving problems early, or taking initiative can help you stand out at work. And you can also say, I try to show initiative by helping my team when I can. Exactly. Initiative is a very positive quality in most jobs. I think initiative shows maturity too. Yes, it does. Next word, workload. Workload means the amount of work you have. We talked about that after promotion. Yes. For example, my workload increased after I became manager, or her workload is heavy this month. And you can also say, I'm still adjusting to my new workload. Perfect. That's a very natural sentence. My favorite workload is a reasonable workload. I think everyone agrees. Next word, recognition. Recognition means being noticed and appreciated for your work. That's such a nice word. It is. For example, the promotion felt like recognition for years of hard work, or employees want recognition when they do well. And you can also say, a simple thank you is also a kind of recognition. Very good. Recognition does not always mean promotion, but promotion can be a form of recognition. I think recognition matters because people want to feel valued. Exactly. Next word, ambitious. Ambitious means wanting to achieve success and grow. This word can sound good or bad sometimes, right? Yes, that's an important point. In career conversations, ambitious is often positive. For example, she is ambitious and works hard, or he has ambitious career goals. And you can also say, I'm ambitious, but I also want to keep learning. Excellent. The tone matters. Ambitious is good when it sounds balanced and respectful. I like ambitious people if they are kind too. That's a good detail. Last word, deserve. Deserve means someone has earned something because of their effort or qualities. Like when we say you deserve that promotion. Exactly. For example, she deserves the promotion because she works very hard, or he deserves recognition for his effort. And you can also say, I believe she deserves more responsibility. Very nice. This is a warm and supportive word. I like using deserve when I really respect someone's work. Let's quickly review all the words. Promotion, moving to a higher job position. Responsibility, a duty or task. Role, your job position or function. Leadership, guiding other people. Performance, how well you do your job. Feedback, comments or advice about your work. Initiative, doing helpful things without being told. Workload, the amount of work you have. Recognition, appreciation for your work. Ambitious, wanting to succeed and grow. And deserve, earning something fairly through effort or skill. These are all great words for talking about promotions in a clear and natural way. Yes, and if you practice them in full sentences, they become much easier to use in real conversations. Okay Leo, that was a lot of talking about job promotions. Yes, I feel like I had a career meeting, a review and a celebration all at once. Let's think about what we learned. Good idea. First, we learned the basic language of promotions. We used phrases like get promoted, be promoted to, and move into a new role. Then we talked about how to describe a promotion clearly. We used structures like before I worked as, now I work as, and my new role includes. After that, we discussed what changes after a promotion. We talked about job titles, responsibilities, workload, leadership, and pay raises. Then we learned how to talk about wanting a promotion. We used phrases like I'd like to grow in the company, I'm interested in taking on more responsibility, and I'm working toward a promotion.
[27:39]Finally, we covered feelings and reactions. We learned how to say I'm proud, I'm still adjusting, congratulations on your promotion, and you really deserve it. Exactly. So viewers, talking about job promotions in English can be simple. You just need to explain the change, describe your role, and talk about growth in a clear and calm way. Yes, old role, new role, new responsibilities. That's a great simple pattern. And if you want to talk about your own career, be honest, specific, and professional. Also, don't ask for a promotion by just walking into a room and saying, so am I important now? Yes, please do not do that.
[28:25]Now we want to hear from you. This is our favorite part. Yes, we really enjoy reading your comments. Our question of the day is, what would you want to improve if you were working toward a promotion? I'll answer first. If I were working toward a promotion, I would want to improve my leadership skills even more. I think good leadership needs clear communication, patience and good decision making. My answer is time management. If I wanted a promotion, I would want to manage my time better and stay more consistent every day. See, we have different answers and that's okay. Exactly. Some people may want to improve communication, some may want to improve confidence, technical skills, leadership or teamwork. So viewers, we want to know about you. If you were working toward a promotion, what skill would you want to improve? You can write something simple like, if I wanted a promotion, I would improve my communication skills. Or I would like to improve my confidence because I want to lead a team, or my goal is to become more organized at work. Please tell us in the comments. Write if I were working toward a promotion, I would improve blank, because... It helps us make better videos and helps you practice writing. And if you already got promoted before, you can tell us what changed in your job after that. We'd love to read your answers. Thank you so much for spending this time with us today. We hope this lesson helps you talk about job promotions in English more clearly and confidently. Give this video a big thumbs up if you enjoyed it. Click the subscribe button and the little bell. That way you won't forget to join us for our next lesson. You are all great students and we're so happy you're learning with us. Keep practicing. Remember, professional English does not need to be complicated. Simple, clear and respectful language is very powerful. Yes, one good sentence can open one good conversation. And the more you talk about real life and real work, the more natural your English becomes. Have a wonderful day, evening and night. Take care. Keep practicing and good luck with your English and your career goals. Goodbye. Bye, everyone.
