Intermediate Speaking Check-in: The Business Pitch

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Intermediate Speaking Check-in: The Business Pitch

Testing Lessons 1–12 — persuading, requesting, and communicating professionally in Korean

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Iru Challenge Note

This check-in puts you in a workplace scenario: you have an idea to pitch, a favor to ask, and colleagues to persuade. Everything you've built in this section comes together here — opinions, agreement, adding information, softening, and the full persuasion and request toolkit.

번거로우시겠지만, 이 방법이 더 효과적인 것 같아요. 왜냐하면 게다가 비용도 줄어들거든요.

(I know it's an inconvenience, but I think this approach seems more effective. Because furthermore, it also reduces costs.)

💼 What This Check-in Tests

Pitching, persuading, and making requests are some of the most practically valuable things you can do in a Korean workplace. This check-in tests Lessons 11 and 12 (persuasion, workplace requests) in a cumulative setting that also draws on Lessons 1–10. You'll pitch a new idea, handle pushback, ask for help, and close gracefully.

📋 The Scenario

You're presenting a new project idea to your team: switching from your current reporting system to a simpler weekly summary format. Some colleagues are interested; others are skeptical. Your team leader is senior to you. Navigate the pitch, the questions, and the requests — all in Korean.

Primary expressions being tested:

왜냐하면 / 예를 들어 / 이렇게 생각해보면 어떨까요? (Lesson 11)

이 방법이 더 효과적인 것 같아요 / 한번 해봐도 나쁘지 않을 것 같아요 (Lesson 11)

번거로우시겠지만 / ~해 주실 수 있을까요? / 급한 건 아닌데요 (Lesson 12)

Plus Lessons 1–10 expressions where natural

🗣️ Speaking Challenge

A. Open your pitch. Introduce your idea and give your initial opinion.

<summary>Sample Answer

제 생각에는 지금 보고 방식을 좀 바꾸면 더 효율적일 것 같아요. 왜냐하면 현재 방식이 너무 많은 시간이 걸리거든요. 이렇게 생각해보면 어떨까요? (I think changing our current reporting method slightly could be more efficient. Because the current method takes too much time. How about thinking about it this way?)

B. A colleague says: "현재 방식이 익숙해서 바꾸기 싫어요." Acknowledge this and stay on course.

<summary>Sample Answer

맞는 말이에요. 익숙한 게 편하죠. 그런데 이렇게 생각해보면 어떨까요? 왜냐하면 익숙함보다 효율성이 결국에는 더 도움이 될 수 있거든요. (That's true. What's familiar is comfortable. But how about thinking about it this way? Because ultimately, efficiency can be more helpful than familiarity.)

C. Give two strong reasons for your proposal using 왜냐하면 and 게다가.

<summary>Sample Answer

왜냐하면 주간 요약 방식은 핵심 내용만 담아서 읽는 시간이 줄어들거든요. 게다가 팀 전체가 같은 형식을 쓰면 비교하기도 훨씬 쉬워요. (Because the weekly summary format only includes the key content, which reduces reading time. Furthermore, if the whole team uses the same format, comparison becomes much easier.)

D. A senior colleague looks uncertain. Give a concrete example to support your case.

<summary>Sample Answer

예를 들어, 지난 달에 비슷한 방식을 한 팀이 써봤는데 회의 시간이 20% 줄었다고 해요. 한번 해봐도 나쁘지 않을 것 같아요. (For example, last month one team tried a similar approach and their meeting time reportedly decreased by 20%. I don't think it would hurt to try.)

E. A colleague partially agrees but has a concern. Acknowledge them and respond: "어느 정도는 맞는 말이에요, 그런데 새 형식 배우는 게 오래 걸릴 것 같아요."

<summary>Sample Answer

어느 정도는 동의해요. 처음에는 시간이 걸릴 수 있어요. 다만 별로 오래 걸리지 않을 것 같아요. 왜냐하면 형식 자체가 정말 간단하거든요. (I partly agree. It might take time at first. But I don't think it'll take very long. Because the format itself is really simple.)

F. Ask your team leader to review a draft of the new format you've prepared. Be appropriately humble.

<summary>Sample Answer

번거로우시겠지만, 혹시 제가 만든 초안을 검토해 주실 수 있을까요? 급한 건 아닌데요, 시간이 되실 때 봐 주시면 감사하겠습니다. (I know it's an inconvenience, but could you possibly review the draft I've made? It's not urgent — whenever you have time would be great.)

G. Ask a colleague to help you prepare a short demonstration for the next meeting.

<summary>Sample Answer

혹시 시간이 괜찮으시면, 다음 회의를 위해 짧은 시연을 같이 준비해 주실 수 있을까요? 별로 오래 걸리지 않을 거예요. (If it's convenient, could you possibly help me prepare a short demonstration together for the next meeting? It won't take very long.)

H. The team seems hesitant. Make one final low-pressure appeal.

<summary>Sample Answer

한번 생각해봐요. 저도 처음에는 확신이 없었어요. 그렇지만 이 방법이 더 효과적인 것 같아요. 한번 해봐도 나쁘지 않을 것 같아요. (Think about it for a moment. I wasn't sure at first myself. But I think this approach seems more effective. I don't think it would hurt to try.)

I. Your team leader says: "좋은 아이디어인 것 같아요. 고맙습니다." Respond to the compliment modestly.

<summary>Sample Answer

별말씀을요. 과찬이세요. 팀 덕분에 더 좋은 아이디어가 나온 것 같아요. 감사합니다. (Not at all. You're too kind. I think better ideas came out thanks to the team. Thank you.)

J. Close the pitch. Summarize your key point and express genuine enthusiasm.

<summary>Sample Answer

제 생각에는 이 작은 변화가 팀 전체에 보람 있는 결과를 가져올 수 있을 것 같아요. 뿐만 아니라 시간도 절약되고, 게다가 더 명확한 커뮤니케이션도 가능해질 거예요. 함께 해봐요! (I think this small change can bring rewarding results for the whole team. Not only that, it saves time, and furthermore, clearer communication will become possible. Let's try it together!)

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Target Expressions — Lessons 11–12

Expression	Lesson
왜냐하면 ~거든요	11
예를 들어	11
이렇게 생각해보면 어떨까요?	11
이 방법이 더 효과적인 것 같아요	11
한번 해봐도 나쁘지 않을 것 같아요	11
한번 생각해봐요	11
번거로우시겠지만	12
~해 주실 수 있을까요?	12
~부탁드려도 될까요?	12
급한 건 아닌데요	12
별로 오래 걸리지 않을 거예요	12

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Self-Check

After each response, ask:

Did I use the persuasion formula (acknowledge → reason → example → soft close)?

Did I soften my workplace requests appropriately?

Did I layer expressions naturally rather than listing them robotically?

A pitch that flows is more impressive than one with perfect vocabulary recall.

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Pitch Tip

The strongest Korean pitches balance confidence with humility. Using 제 생각에는 (my opinion) keeps you from sounding overconfident, while 왜냐하면 and 예를 들어 back up your view with substance. Combine them with soft requests and you'll sound genuinely professional.

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Keep Going!

If this check-in felt manageable, try pitching a real idea you have — in Korean — to yourself out loud. The more you practice the full persuasion arc under realistic conditions, the more natural it becomes. You're ready for Check-in 4: The Social Trend Discussion.