Batch 5_HW 5.2 _Speaking Topics

​Outline your ideas
Problems, Causes, Effects and Solutions

By Maggie

How to deliver a talk within 2 minutes when it comes to
Problems, Causes, Effects and Solutions topics?

What is Problems, Causes, Effects and Solutions?

Describe a problem that happened at work or during a project and how it was solved.

You should talk about:

• what the problem was

• what caused it

• what the effects were

• what action was taken

• what you learned from the experience!

Outline for
Problems, Causes, Effects and Solutions

1. Opening: Rephrase the topic

2. Body:

• Problem 1 --> Cause 1 --> Example 1 --> Effect 1 --> Solution 1

• Problem 2 --> Cause 2 --> Example 2 --> Effect 2 --> Solution 2

3. Conclusion: Lessons learnt

Sample Talk

Describe a problem that happened at work or during a project and how it was solved.

Opening (rephrase the topic)

Today I’m going to describe a work problem that happened during a project, what caused it, what effects it had, and how we solved it. I’ll also share what I learned from the experience.

Sample Talk

Describe a problem that happened at work or during a project and how it was solved.

Body 1

Problem 1 → Cause 1 → Example 1 → Effect 1 → Solution 1

The first problem was we realised our progress was slower than expected and tasks were not clearly owned.
The reason was that roles and priorities weren’t clarified early enough.
For example, two people worked on the same part, while another important task was missed because everyone thought someone else was handling it.
As the result, we lost time, had to redo some work, and the deadline became stressful.
To overcome this problem, We had a short meeting, divided responsibilities clearly, and created a simple task list with owners and deadlines. After that, we checked the list every day for 10 minutes.

Sample Talk

Describe a problem that happened at work or during a project and how it was solved.

Body 2

Problem 2 → Cause 2 → Example 2 → Effect 2 → Solution 2

Later, we had a quality issue because some information was inconsistent.
People were using different versions of the same document.
To illustrate, one teammate updated a file, but another teammate still used an older version and followed the old requirements.
As the consequence, This created confusion, more revisions, and we had to spend extra time checking everything again.
In order to solve this issue, we agreed on one “official” folder, a clear file-naming rule, and a rule that any change must be announced in the group chat. We also added a quick final check before submission.

Sample Talk

Describe a problem that happened at work or during a project and how it was solved.

Conclusion (lessons learnt)

From this experience, I learned two key lessons: first, clear ownership saves a lot of time; and second, version control is essential in teamwork. Next time, I will confirm roles and the latest documents at the start, and I’ll make sure we follow one shared process to avoid repeating the same mistakes.

Audio Response

Describe a travel disruption. Use the hints given.

Problem: Missed a flight connection / transport cancellation

Cause: delay + unrealistic transfer time

Effect: stress, extra costs

Solution: rebook, plan buffer time, travel insurance

Lesson: build flexibility into travel

Open Audio Recorder

Audio Response

Describe a phone / tech failure. Use the hints given.

Problem: Phone died / data lost

Cause: no backup + storage full

Effect: lost photos/contacts, wasted time

Solution: cloud backup, storage cleanup, repair plan

Lesson: prevention is easier than recovery

Open Audio Recorder

Audio Response

Describe an online shopping disappointment. Use the hints given.

Problem: Item not as described

Cause: misleading photos + unclear reviews

Effect: refund process, wasted money/time

Solution: return, check verified reviews, compare sellers

Lesson: slow down before buying

Open Audio Recorder

Audio Response

Describe a household conflict. Use the hints given.

Problem: Argument with family/roommate about chores

Cause: unequal workload + unclear expectations

Effect: tension at home

Solution: agree a schedule + fair rules

Lesson: boundaries + communication matter

Open Audio Recorder

Audio Response

Describe a health habit breakdown. Use the hints given.

Problem: Can’t keep a healthy routine

Cause: unrealistic goals + inconsistent sleep

Effect: low energy, guilt

Solution: smaller goals, plan meals, fixed bedtime

Lesson: consistency beats intensity

Open Audio Recorder

Audio Response

Describe a money management mistake. Use the hints given.

Problem: Overspent in a month

Cause: impulse buying + no budget tracking

Effect: stress, fewer savings

Solution: budget app, spending limits, “24-hour rule”

Lesson: awareness changes behaviour

Open Audio Recorder

Audio Response

Describe a cooking/food mistake. Use the hints given.

Problem: Meal failed before guests arrived

Cause: poor timing + new recipe

Effect: panic, late dinner

Solution: quick backup meal, plan prep earlier

Lesson: test new recipes in advance

Open Audio Recorder

Audio Response

Describe a problem with time-management overload . Use the hints given.

Problem: Too many commitments in one week

Cause: saying “yes” too easily

Effect: burnout, poor performance

Solution: prioritise, cancel, block time

Lesson: “no” is a skill

Open Audio Recorder

Audio Response

Describe a misunderstanding with a friend . Use the hints given.

Problem: Friendship tension after a message

Cause: unclear tone in texting

Effect: distance, awkwardness

Solution: call in person, clarify intentions

Lesson: sensitive topics need real conversation

Open Audio Recorder

Audio Response

Describe a neighbourhood noise issue. Use the hints given.

Problem: Can’t sleep due to noise

Cause: lack of rules / misunderstanding

Effect: tiredness, irritation

Solution: polite talk, agree quiet hours, earplugs

Lesson: calm communication solves more

Open Audio Recorder

Audio Response

Describe a Gym / exercise injury. Use the hints given.

Problem: Minor injury from training

Cause: poor form + no warm-up

Effect: pain, break from exercise

Solution: rest, learn technique, gradual load

Lesson: progress safely, not quickly

Open Audio Recorder

Audio Response

Describe a public service problem. Use the hints given.

Problem: Bank/clinic appointment confusion

Cause: unclear instructions + missing documents

Effect: wasted trip, extra waiting

Solution: checklist, confirm ahead

Lesson: preparation saves time

Open Audio Recorder

Audio Response

Describe a problem when you lost item in public. Use the hints given.

Problem: Lost wallet/keys

Cause: distracted, rushed

Effect: replacement cost, stress

Solution: retrace steps, contact lost-and-found, use tracker

Lesson: routines prevent mistakes

Open Audio Recorder