IT and digital products
English for software engineers
You can read any documentation. The hard part is saying, in a live call, why your PR is right, what is blocking you and what you need from whom.
Your working week
The conversations you have, in English.
- 01
Stand-up with a blocker
What makes it hard: Say what is blocked, since when and who can unblock it, in two sentences.
- 02
Code review pushback
What makes it hard: Defend a decision without sounding defensive, or accept a comment gracefully.
- 03
Blameless post-mortem
What makes it hard: Describe what went wrong as facts and actions, not as excuses.
- 04
System design interview
What makes it hard: Think aloud, state trade-offs and ask clarifying questions in English.
Sounds familiar?
You know English. These moments still catch you out.
“I know exactly what the problem is, but in the stand-up it comes out as a long, messy story.”
“When a senior challenges my PR in a call, I just agree, even when I am right.”
“My written English is fine. Speaking up under time pressure is not.”
Tasks in English
What your role asks you to do in English
- Report progress and blockers in stand-ups
- Discuss review comments and agree on changes
- Explain an incident and the follow-up actions
- Pass technical interviews with international companies
How you practise
From the situation to your own answer
The situation and the technique
What the moment needs, in a few steps, with phrases that work.
Four practice formats
Cards, read and write, listen and write, respond in English.
Your answer, reviewed
The AI coach reviews your written answer and shows a better version.
Progress you keep
Today’s practice and your saved progress, on phone or laptop.
Professional phrase packs for this role are in the app, in the Pro plan. Meetings and discussions are open on every plan.
Articles and terms for this role
- How to say it
How to answer Tell Me About Yourself in interviews
Hook interviewers with a concise two-minute present-past-future pitch.
- How to say it
How to defend your architectural decision in a PR
Explain technical trade-offs constructively without sounding defensive.
- How to say it
How to explain a blocker in a stand-up
Say what is blocked, since when and who can unblock it, in two clear sentences.
- How to say it
How to give a 45-second daily stand-up update
Deliver a structured yesterday-today-blockers update without rambling.
- How to say it
How to handle tough questions in a presentation
Buy time calmly, clarify assumptions, and commit to follow up with precision.
- How to say it
How to interrupt politely on Zoom meetings
Jump in without sounding rude when audio delays or fast discussions overlap.
Other roles in IT and digital products
Software engineer
Practise the moments of your role
Professional phrase packs for this role are in the app, in the Pro plan. Meetings and discussions are open on every plan.