Hello! Welcome to your next lesson in our course.
In our last lesson, you learned how to acquire and use vocabulary for describing technical problems. Today, we will move to the next logical step: proposing and describing technical solutions. This is a crucial skill for you as a satellite technical consultant, as your job involves not just identifying issues but also recommending how to fix them.
This lesson will help you achieve the learning outcome: Acquire vocabulary for proposing and describing technical solutions. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to confidently suggest a course of action and explain its benefits in a professional meeting.
1. Key Verbs for Finding Solutions
Before we propose a solution, we often need to think of one. In English, there are some very common phrasal verbs for this process. Since you have a background in computer science, you are already an expert at the process of solving problems; these verbs will help you talk about that process.
6 phrasal verbs to talk about problems & solutions!
This video from POC English explains several useful phrasal verbs. We will focus on two that are perfect for discussing solutions.
Please watch the following two segments: To come up with (07:03 - 08:55): This means to think of an idea or solution. To sort something out (02:30 - 03:44): This means to successfully deal with and solve a problem. Listen to the examples and try repeating them. This will help with your pronunciation and confidence.
To summarize:
- To come up with (an idea/a solution): This is the creative part of finding a solution.
- Example: "My manager asked me to come up with a new plan."
- To sort (a problem) out: This refers to the action of fixing the problem.
- Example: "Don't worry, we will sort this connection issue out."
2. How to Structure Your Proposal
When you are in a meeting, you need simple, clear phrases to introduce your idea. The phrase you choose can show how confident you are in your suggestion.
Here are some common ways to propose a solution, from a gentle suggestion to a strong recommendation. These are drawn from the resources "BUSINESS ENGLISH PHRASES" and "120+ Useful English Phrases for Business Meetings."
Making a Suggestion (Neutral/Polite)
These are great for brainstorming or when you want to be collaborative.
- "Perhaps we could..."
- Example: "Perhaps we could try restarting the main server."
- "What if we...?" / "How about we...?"
- Example: "What if we updated the firmware?"
- "I suggest that..."
- Example: "I suggest that we schedule a meeting with the IT team."
Making a Recommendation (Stronger)
Use these when you are more confident that your idea is the right solution.
- "I think we should..."
- Example: "I think we should upgrade the network infrastructure."
- "I strongly recommend that..."
- Example: "I strongly recommend that we implement a new security protocol."
- "The best option is to..."
- Example: "The best option is to migrate the data to a new server."
A quick note on pronunciation: Many of these key words, like propose, perhaps, implement, and upgrade, use the /p/ sound. As this can be a challenge for Arabic speakers, remember to make a clear, sharp "p" sound by pressing your lips together and releasing a puff of air.
3. Vocabulary for Describing Technical Solutions
Now that you have phrases to start your proposal, let's learn the specific vocabulary to describe the solution itself. Your technical background will make these concepts familiar; our focus is on the English words.
The following video contains dialogues between IT professionals discussing new technical solutions. It is full of excellent, relevant vocabulary.
Business English Dialogues in IT "Speak like a Professional!" | Business English Learning
The video 'Business English Dialogues in IT' shows professionals discussing technical upgrades. Listen for the words they use to describe the solutions and their benefits.
Please watch the following two conversations: Upgrading Network Infrastructure (05:43 - 11:50): The speakers discuss implementing an SD-WAN solution to fix slow connections. Pay attention to words like implement, upgrade, optimize, and enhance performance. Enhancing Cybersecurity (18:19 - 24:57): The speakers propose solutions for security problems. Listen for phrases like mandatory training, user-friendly solution, and enforce security policies. Don't worry about understanding every word. Focus on the language used to propose and describe the solutions.
Here is a table of some of the most important vocabulary from the video and other common terms you will use as a technical consultant.
| Verb / Noun | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| To implement | To put a decision, plan, or system into effect. | "We need to implement a new CRM system." |
| To upgrade | To replace a product or system with a newer or better version. | "It seems we're due for an upgrade." |
| To optimize | To make something as effective or functional as possible. | "It's designed to optimize traffic routing." |
| To enhance | To improve the quality, value, or extent of something. | "It should enhance our security posture." |
| A phased rollout | Introducing a new system in stages, rather than all at once. | "We're planning a phased rollout to minimize disruption." |
| Scalability | The ability of a system to handle a growing amount of work. | "We should prioritize scalability even if it means a higher upfront cost." |
| To integrate | To combine one thing with another so they become a whole. | "We should think about how this will integrate with our existing software." |
| A contingency plan | A plan for what to do if something unexpected or bad happens. | "Is there a contingency plan in case of any issues during the transition?" |
Test your understanding!
Your company's data storage is almost full, and performance is getting slow. Which of the following sentences is the best way to propose a solution?
- "We can sort this out. We must come up with a better thing."
- "I suggest we upgrade our storage system. We could implement a cloud-based solution to enhance performance and improve scalability."
- "I have a contingency plan. We will integrate a better hard drive."
Show answer
Option 2 is the best answer. It uses a clear phrase to make a suggestion ("I suggest..."), uses precise technical vocabulary ("upgrade," "implement," "cloud-based solution"), and explains the benefits ("enhance performance," "improve scalability"). Option 1 is too general. Option 3 uses the vocabulary incorrectly; a contingency plan is for emergencies, not for a known, ongoing problem.
4. Speaking Practice
Now, let's put it all together. In the last lesson, one of the problems you saw on the "bug tracker" was "Passwordless login creates loop."
Your Task:
Imagine you are in a team meeting. Your manager asks for ideas to fix this.
- Think of a possible solution. (e.g., disable the feature, fix the code, roll back to the previous version).
- Formulate 1-2 sentences to propose your solution. Use one phrase from Part 2 and at least one vocabulary word from Part 3.
- Say your proposal out loud. Speaking is the goal, so practice saying the words.
See a sample answer
Here is one possible way to propose a solution:
"I think we should temporarily disable the passwordless login feature. Then, the development team can troubleshoot the code loop. Once they sort it out, we can plan a phased rollout to re-introduce it safely."
This response uses "I think we should..." to propose, and the verbs "disable," "troubleshoot," and "sort out," along with the phrase "phased rollout."
Conclusion
Great work today! You have learned how to move from describing a problem to proposing a solution—a key communication skill in any technical role.
Key Takeaways:
- Start your proposal with clear phrases like "I suggest...", "Perhaps we could...", or "I strongly recommend...".
- Use powerful verbs like implement, upgrade, optimize, and enhance to describe the actions and benefits of your solution.
- Remember key phrasal verbs like "come up with" a solution and "sort out" a problem.
Preview of the Next Lesson:
In the next two lessons, we will combine the skills of describing problems and proposing solutions. Your next learning outcome is: Practice explaining a simple technical problem to a colleague. This will be a practical exercise to help you build fluency and confidence in a conversational setting.