B2 · Module 07 · Class 28 — The Full Range

It is July. The Singapore partnership with DataBridge is six months old. Raymond Tan has requested a partnership review — his first formal one. It comes with a surprise: Raymond is unhappy with one aspect of the arrangement. Not the commercial terms. The service model.

DataBridge's clients are complaining that Meridian's onboarding process is too fast, too British, and too transactional. "My clients need to feel trusted," Raymond says in his advance note. "Right now they feel processed."

Brian has three things to do in the next 48 hours:

  1. Write a pre-review email to Raymond (written register + cultural sensitivity)

  2. Have the review conversation itself (difficult conversation framework)

  3. Write a summary email to the board after the call (register adaptation)

All the language from Module 7 is now required at once.

Language area

Key expressions

Class

High-context / indirect communication

"I wonder if..." / "That's an interesting direction" / wait; don't fill the silence

C25

Low-context / direct communication

State facts clearly; name the outcome; give a deadline

C25

Cross-cultural pitfalls

Blunt refusal / vague affirmative / filling silence / humour mistranslation / title errors

C25

Written register — formal

"I am writing to..." / "I would be grateful if..." / "I remain at your disposal"

C26

Written register — relational

"I hope this finds you well" / "With warm regards" / narrative structure, no bullets

C26

Register adaptation

Same content; different tone, length, structure for each audience

C26

Difficult conversation — opening

State purpose; name observation; separate fact from interpretation

C27

Difficult conversation — listening

Invite explanation before proposing; hold silence; don't fill it prematurely

C27

Difficult conversation — closing

Agree milestones; name consequence without threatening; confirm in writing

C27