TIp #11 CELPIP Speaking Task 6 (Dealing with a Difficult Situation) structure response, concentrate on tone, focus on condition/consequence grammar

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.Pre-Speaking Tips
1. Structure Your Response
✔ Greeting + Context: "Hi Alex, I wanted to talk about your shift-swap request..."
✔ Announcement with Regret: "I’d love to help, but I’m afraid I can’t this time."
✔ Explanation:

• Principle: "I made a family commitment first."
• Conditional: "If I changed shifts, I’d miss my nephew’s birthday."
• Consequence: "This might also upset our manager."
  ✔ Compensation: "Maybe we can find another coworker?"
  ✔ Friendly Close: "I hope you understand—let me know if I can help another way!"
  

2. Tone & Language
✔ Empathetic but firm: "I know this is disappointing, but..."
✔ Avoid blame: "It’s just bad timing" (not "You asked too late").
✔ Use conditionals: "If I could, I would."

3. Grammar Focus
✔ Second conditional: "If I switched, I’d let you down."
✔ Conjunctions: "Unfortunately, given my family plans, I can’t."

Model Answer

CELPIP Speaking Task 6: Dealing with a Difficult Situation
Preparation: 60 seconds | Recording: 60 seconds

Task Prompt
"Your coworker, Alex, has asked to switch shifts with you next week so they can attend a concert. However, you’ve already promised your family you’ll attend your nephew’s birthday party that day. Your manager also discourages last-minute shift changes.
Choose ONE:

• Talk to Alex. Explain why you can’t switch shifts.

Talk to your manager. Explain why you need to approve the shift change for Alex."

"Hi Alex, I wanted to talk about your request to swap shifts next Saturday. I really wish I could help you out, but I’m afraid I can’t make it work this time. You see, I promised my family weeks ago that I’d be at my nephew’s birthday party, and if I back out now, it would cause a lot of disappointment—especially since I’ve missed a few family events already because of work.

There’s another issue too—our manager has been really strict about last-minute shift changes lately. If we try to swap shifts now without proper notice, it could create problems with scheduling. The boss might even reject the change, which would leave us both in a tough spot. And honestly, if word gets around that we’re bending the rules, other team members might start expecting the same flexibility, which could make things harder for everyone.
I feel terrible saying no because I know how much this concert means to you. Maybe we can ask Sam or Jordan if they’re available? I’d be happy to help you find someone else to cover. And if there’s another way I can support you—like taking one of your future shifts—just let me know. I really hope you understand, and I’m sorry I can’t make it work this time!"

Post-Speaking Assessment & Reflection Self-Checklist
✔ Did I greet and state the issue clearly?
✔ Did I use regret + explanation (principle, conditional, consequence)?
✔ Did I offer compensation (alternative solution)?
✔ Did I avoid blame and stay empathetic?
✔ Did I close politely?

Reflection Questions

1. Did my explanation sound logical but kind?
2. Did I balance firmness and empathy?
3. How could I improve compromise ideas (e.g., "Next time, I’ll check my calendar first")?

Practice Tip: Role-play refusing requests (e.g., loaning money, extending deadlines) to build fluency.