35 Practical Business English Conversations: One Working Day, from Small Talk to Saying Goodbye
Emily opens with a question that many learners who work in English can answer with a small, sad smile: “Have you ever understood everything at work, and still only said OK?” (00:00) Paul does not even need a second to reply: “Guilty. For one whole week, OK was my only word.” (00:06)
This episode follows one working day, from nine in the morning until half past five, and gives you thirty-five short conversations that two colleagues could really have. After each one, the hosts pull out one line that you can use the next day. At the end you speak too: the last two conversations and a one-minute task are yours.
Watch the episode: Watch the episode on YouTube
Time: about 47 minutes to listen. The practice below takes about 25 minutes. The chapter list at the bottom lets you jump to the part of the day you need.
Before you listen: think of one moment this week when someone at work asked you something and you gave only the first word: yes, OK, fine. What could the second sentence have been? Keep that moment in mind, because the whole episode is about that second sentence.
How to use this page: listen once and follow the day from the coffee machine to the desk lamp. Then play the quiz and the last two conversations again (39:53) and say every answer out loud before the hosts do. After many lines the hosts count One, two. so that you can repeat, so listen where you can speak.
What You’ll Learn
- The one idea of the day: Yes is a start. Add one more line.
- Meeting people: Have you been with the company long?, I’m in accounting., Welcome to the team., I could show you around if you like.
- Lunch and small talk: Mind if I join you?, Do you know any good places near the office?, Maybe I should join you sometime.
- Changing a meeting time without a closed door: Monday works, but can we do it at eleven instead?
- Progress updates like a weather forecast: The design phase is complete., One thing might slow us down., I’ll keep you posted.
- Asking for help by pointing to the place that hurts: Do you have a minute? I’m stuck on one small thing.
- Feedback as a shopping list: This one could use a bit more detail., For example…, What would that look like?
- Emails and promises to suppliers and clients: Could you please give us an update on the delivery date?, Let me find out and get back to you by Thursday.
- A small negotiation: What budget are you working with?, We could offer a smaller package., We can be flexible on the price, but not on the quality.
- Ending the day: I managed to finish that report., I’m all set for tomorrow., I’m calling it a day.
- Short forms that sound relaxed (I’ll, I’d, I’m), a six-question quiz and a one-minute speaking task
Key Idea
Yes is a start. Add one more line.
The hosts give you this sentence in the first two minutes and bring it back at the very end: “Yes is a start. Add one more line.” (01:15) The idea is small on purpose. You do not need a long speech. You need one more line after yes: one detail, one day or one next step.
The task for today is just as small: “The next time someone asks you something at work, say yes, and then add one more line.” (45:32) The hosts give three examples: Yes, and I’ll send it by Friday. Yes, but can we do it at eleven instead? Yes, I’m in IT, on the second floor.
Have You Ever Only Said OK at Work? (00:00)
Emily and Paul start with a moment that every learner knows: your boss asks something, you know the answer, and out comes Yes. OK. Sure. Paul explains why this is a problem even when the English is correct: “It is not wrong. But people think you are not interested.” (00:19) Emily adds the second cost: people may think your English is weaker than it really is.
Then the hosts say what the episode is. It is for B1 and B2 learners who use English at work, or who will start a job in English soon. It is an English speaking podcast, so Emily and Paul talk like two colleagues, not like a textbook. They promise one working day, thirty-five conversations and one line to take away from each. The one idea of the day comes at 01:15, with a short pause to repeat it.
Paul’s Story: A Very Quiet First Week (01:33)
Emily asks Paul about his week of saying only OK, and Paul tells the story of his first job in an English-speaking office, five years ago: a small software company, a fourth-floor window and a very loud coffee machine.
The week goes like this. On Monday a woman called Rosa stops at his desk and says hello. Paul says one word and looks at his screen: “I said, Hi. And then I looked at my screen.” (02:04) At lunch everybody goes to the kitchen together, and Paul stays behind: “I ate my sandwich at my desk. Alone.” (02:26) On Wednesday a colleague wants to move a meeting to a time Paul cannot make. He says OK, and then he misses it, because he is at the dentist. On Thursday his manager asks how his task is going, and he says: “I said, Fine. And the task was not fine at all.” (02:59) On Friday the manager calls him in and says that he is very quiet.
Emily says what the story is really about: the problem was not his English. Paul agrees: he says it was terrible, “Because I understood everything all week.” (03:18) The problem was something smaller: “The problem was the second sentence. I had the first word, but nothing after it.” (03:26) So the hosts decide to walk through that week again, this time with the right lines at every stop of the day.
9 AM and Lunch: Meeting People and Small Talk (04:01)
The first picture of the episode is a coat hook: “A good answer is like a coat hook.” (04:04) When somebody comes into a room they need a place to hang their coat, and when you say only Hi, the other person has nowhere to hang the next sentence. A small detail works as a hook.
Conversation 1 shows it in the office kitchen: two people from different teams meet, and one of them says how long he has been there, which team he is in and which floor. Emily asks you to listen for the hooks (about two years, accounting, third floor) and to notice the question that opens the talk: Have you been with the company long? (04:39) It is friendly and safe, and the answer gives you the next topic. For the answer, Paul likes the short form: I’m in accounting.
Paul also tells you what not to ask. He once said, What is your job here? (05:42) and his colleague laughed and asked if she was in trouble. Emily explains why: the grammar is fine, but “it sounds a little like a police officer” (05:46). The softer questions are Which team are you in? (06:00) and What do you work on? (06:02).
Conversation 2 is at a business event, and the useful line is the promise at the end: I’ll send you a short email this week. (06:37) Conversation 3 welcomes a new colleague, and Emily points out that Welcome to the team is nice but the second line is the useful one: say what your team does for the new person. Conversation 4 is only a few lines long, and Paul says what it would have meant to him: “I could show you around if you like. Nobody said that to me in my first week.” (07:48)
At lunch, conversation 5 gives you four words for the table: Mind if I join you? (08:18) Emily explains the answer, which sounds strange to learners: Of course not means please sit down, because the question is do you mind? and the answer is no, I do not mind. Conversation 6 asks for a good lunch place near the office, and conversation 7 is Monday lunch, which means the weekend. The hooks are by the lake, on Saturday and four hours, and the line that invites yourself in a friendly way is: “Maybe I should join you sometime.” (09:43)
At the end of the chapter, Paul tries again with Rosa: “Hi, Rosa. I’m Paul. I just started in the software team. Have you been with the company long?” (10:25) Emily says: that is a big coat hook.
Planning a Meeting and Changing the Time (10:33)
The picture for this part is a puzzle piece: “Changing a meeting time is like moving a puzzle piece.” (10:46) You do not throw the piece away. You keep the part that fits and move only the part that does not. If Monday is good but ten o’clock is bad, you keep Monday.
Conversation 8 sets up the meeting: How about next Monday at ten? (11:11) gives a day and a time, and Let me check my calendar. (11:12) gives you a few seconds when your brain is still translating. Conversation 9 is the key one: “Monday works, but can we do it at eleven instead?” (11:38) with a short reason, I have a call at ten. (11:41), and no long story.
Paul and Emily then talk about the version many learners say: I can’t Monday ten. (12:26) People understand it, but Emily says it is “a closed door” (12:30): there is a no and nothing after it, so the other person has to find a new time alone. Two softer options follow: Could we make it eleven instead? (12:53) and, when the whole day is bad, Monday is busy for me. Does Tuesday work for you? (13:01)
Conversation 10 decides who comes, and the hosts like the promise with a time: I’ll send the invite this afternoon. (13:21) They also like names instead of the team, because “the team” means everyone and then nobody comes. Conversation 11 asks where you are on the agenda: When do I speak tomorrow? and the answer I’m on right after the budget discussion. (14:01) Conversation 12 is a video call, and it begins with the line almost every call begins with: Can you hear me okay? (14:17) The hosts add Let’s keep it short. (14:24) as a polite way to respect everybody’s time.
Progress Updates and Asking for Help (14:53)
Now it is two o’clock and the boss walks past your desk. Paul calls it the Thursday moment, and he explains why Fine is a problem: “Because it closes the door.” (15:03) The boss stops asking, and nobody helps you. The picture is a weather forecast: “A progress update is like a weather forecast.” (15:12) You say what is done, what is next and where the clouds are, and people can bring an umbrella.
Conversation 13 is the sunny part: The design phase is complete. (15:33) and Now we move into development. (15:35) You can change the words: The first draft is complete. Now we move into testing. Conversation 14 has the cloud: One thing might slow us down. (16:13) Emily says this is the line “my Thursday Paul” did not have, because your manager cannot fix a problem she does not know about. Her answer is the one managers give: Thanks for telling me early. (16:24) Conversation 15 closes the update with I’ll keep you posted. (16:53), which means I will tell you when something changes.
Then the hosts put the old Paul and the new Paul side by side. The old Paul says Fine. The new Paul says three short lines (the first part is complete, one thing might slow us down, I’ll keep you posted) that take about ten seconds. Emily says why they work: “Not because their English is perfect. Because nobody has to guess.” (17:44)
The second half of this chapter is about being stuck on a spreadsheet. The picture is a doctor: “Asking for help is like visiting a doctor.” (18:06) If you say everything hurts, the doctor cannot help much; if you point to the place, the doctor knows where to look. Conversation 16 walks to a colleague’s desk: Do you have a minute? I’m stuck on one small thing. (18:31) Conversation 17 points to the place that hurts: Does that go under travel, or under office costs? (19:15) Two choices are easy to answer, and the thank-you at the end has a reason: That saved me a lot of time.
Giving and Getting Feedback (19:58)
The picture for feedback is a shopping list: “Feedback is like a shopping list.” (20:14) If your list says Buy food, you do not know what to buy. If it says Two eggs, bread, and green apples, you can do it in ten minutes.
Conversation 18 shows the order of good feedback: first something true and good (Your reports are usually very well structured. (20:40)), then the small problem: This one could use a bit more detail, though. (20:47) Emily points out two details: could use is soft, and this one is about one report, not about the person. Conversation 19 adds the shopping list with For example (21:25): last year’s numbers and one small chart.
Then Paul tells a story about the first feedback he ever got in English. His manager said, This could be clearer, and he answered OK, sorry. He went home and rewrote the whole report, twenty pages, and a week later he found out that she wanted one paragraph clearer. Conversation 20 gives you the line that would have saved him: What would that look like? (22:23) Then you check, with So, a short list instead of the long paragraph? In conversation 21, you do not say sorry; you say what you will do: I’ll try that in the next one. (23:11)
Emily adds a warning for the person who gives feedback: the nice part must be real and specific, and the hard part must be small, one thing with one example. “Nobody can carry thirty bags,” says Paul.
Suppliers and Clients: Emails and Promises (23:59)
At four o’clock the day moves outside the company. Paul says many learners get nervous because a client feels bigger than a colleague, and the hosts start with a problem: something you ordered did not arrive. The conversations in this chapter are partly emails, read out loud like a conversation on paper.
Conversation 22 opens the email: I’m writing regarding order number 4471. (24:22) The first line says what the email is about, and the facts come next with no feelings: it was due on Monday and it has not arrived. Conversation 23 makes the request: Could you please give us an update on the delivery date? (24:54) Paul says learners often write Where is my order?, which sounds angry, and Emily likes the calm version that still needs an answer. In conversation 24, you explain the result and not the blame: This delay is affecting our schedule. (25:36) The whole email has four parts: what it is about, the facts, what you need and a thank-you. The same four parts work on the phone.
Then Emily tells a story she says she is not proud of. A client at a printing company asked whether brochures could be on recycled paper, and she did not know. She said I’ll check and went back to her emails. The client called on Wednesday, and again on Thursday: “On Thursday he called a third time, and his voice was very cold.” (27:30) Emily names the problem: I’ll check has no day, “a promise with no end” (27:39). Her picture is a ticket from the dry cleaner: “A good promise is like a ticket from the dry cleaner.” (27:47) You get a ticket with a day on it, and you know when to come back.
Conversation 25 gives you the fix: That’s a good question. Let me find out and get back to you by Thursday. (28:14) The first sentence is honest and gives you a moment, the second does not guess, and the day is the ticket. Conversation 26 is about a visit, with a soft way to say what you want: I’d prefer to walk. (29:08) Conversation 27 is Thursday, and the two words that tell the client that you keep your word are: As promised. (29:35) Then comes the answer, with the good part and the hard part: same price, two extra days.
A Small Negotiation (30:07)
Paul says that many learners think negotiation is only for people in suits, but you negotiate when you sell an old bike, and at work it is often small. The picture is a coffee shop: you have two dollars, the big coffee costs four, so the barista offers a small cup. Same coffee, less of it, and a good deal for both people.
Conversation 28 starts before the price: Before we talk numbers, what budget are you working with? (30:52) It sounds professional, and now you know the size of the cup. In conversation 29 you offer choices: We could offer a smaller package. (31:14) and a longer deal for a better price. Conversation 30 is the hard one, because the client asks for cheaper materials: We can be flexible on the price, but not on the quality. (31:59) Paul calls it a clear line said in a kind voice. In conversation 31 there is no deal today, and the line is: Let’s look at this again in March. (32:30) You do not push, you do not close the door, and March is another ticket from the dry cleaner.
Then the hosts add one more idea about clients: talk about them, not about you. Paul’s example is Here’s how this saves your team two hours a week. (32:57) because “People buy the hours, not the features.” Emily tells a story about a bakery whose owner looked tired when she listed the features. When Emily changed to Here’s how this helps you (33:24) and said no more phone orders at six in the morning, the owner smiled and said Tell me more.
Ending the Day (33:42)
It is half past five, and the picture is the desk lamp: “Saying goodbye at the end of the day is like switching off your desk lamp.” (33:52) Two sentences do it: one about the work and one about your evening.
Conversation 32 is two colleagues near the door: I managed to finish that report. I’m all set for tomorrow. (34:11) Paul explains managed to (it was not easy, but I did it) and Emily explains all set (everything is ready), which your boss loves to hear. Conversation 33 is the personal part: I’m calling it a day. Any plans tonight? (34:48) The hosts say you can change one word on Friday (Any plans for the weekend?) and that the answer can be very small, because a small answer is a hook for Monday. They end the chapter with a thought about Paul’s Friday: if he had said two lines like these every day, his manager would have heard his voice every day.
Paul’s Week Again: Review (35:53)
Now the hosts walk through Paul’s first week one more time, slowly, and put the right line at every moment. You say each line with them, with a One, two. pause.
- Monday, ten to nine: Hi, Rosa. I’m Paul. Have you been with the company long?
- Monday, half past twelve: Mind if I join you?
- Wednesday: Wednesday works, but can we do it at four instead?
- Thursday, the manager’s question: The first part is complete. One thing might slow us down. and I’ll keep you posted.
- Thursday, the spreadsheet: Do you have a minute? I’m stuck on one small thing. and Does this go under travel, or under office costs?
- Friday, feedback: What would that look like?
- Friday, the client: That’s a good question. Let me find out and get back to you by Monday.
- Friday, half past five: It was busy, but I managed to finish that report. I’m all set for Monday.
Emily asks how it feels to hear the old week like this, and Paul answers: “He knew all the words. He just needed the next line.” (38:46)
The chapter ends with a short lesson about sound. In real offices people say I’ll keep you posted, not I will keep you posted. Paul says I’ll sounds almost like “aisle” (39:24) in a supermarket. The hosts practice I’ll, I’d (I’d prefer to walk.) and I’m (I’m on after the budget.), and say that the short forms make you sound relaxed, and relaxed sounds confident.
Quiz and Your Two Conversations (39:53)
The quiz has six situations, each with three seconds of silence before the hosts answer:
- A client asks something you do not know. The answer is That’s a good question. Let me find out and get back to you by Friday.
- A colleague proposes Tuesday at nine, but you are busy at nine: Tuesday works, but can we do it at ten instead?
- Your boss asks how the project is going: The first part is complete. One thing might slow us down. We’re still waiting for the data.
- Which is better: Where is my order? or Could you please give us an update on the delivery date? The answer is the second one.
- A person in the kitchen asks which team you are in: I’m in marketing. I just started last week.
- Your manager says the report needs more work: What would that look like? Can you show me one part?
Emily says that six out of six is great (41:47) and that three or four is also good, because you are learning the moments.
Then comes the part that is yours. In conversation 34, you are the person in the kitchen and Emily plays a new colleague, Hi, I’m Lena. I just joined the design team. (42:18) You welcome her, say your team and offer to help. In conversation 35, Paul is a client and you work for a training company. You have to say that you will find out and call back, offer a smaller package and keep your line on quality. The hosts say that if it felt hard, you should do it again tomorrow, because the second time is easier.
Your One-Minute Speaking Task (44:05)
This is the biggest practice of the day: speak for about one minute. Paul gives a simple plan: “First, say your team.” (44:21) Then one thing you finished, one thing that might slow you down and your plan for tonight. Use at least three lines from today. Paul gives a short example, only an example so that yours can be longer, and Emily says it is short but every line has a hook.
Pause the video, speak, and then try once more with one detail that you forgot the first time. If you want a challenge, record yourself on your phone and listen tomorrow. If you are a student, talk about your school day, because the same lines work.
Today’s Action and Your Challenge (45:25)
The action is the sentence that opened the episode: “The next time someone asks you something at work, say yes, and then add one more line.” (45:32) The hosts also finish Paul’s story. On the Monday after that Friday he came in early, met Rosa at the coffee machine and asked her the question. “She talked for ten minutes.” (46:07) They are still friends today, all from one more line.
The challenge for the comments is: “Which line will you use first at work this week?” (46:25) You can choose Mind if I join you? or Let me find out and get back to you, and the hosts also ask you to say where you work. In the next episode they keep practicing real English for real days.
Useful Language from the Episode
| Expression | Meaning | From the episode |
|---|---|---|
| Yes is a start. Add one more line. | give a detail, a day or a next step after yes | “Yes is a start. Add one more line.” |
| Have you been with the company long? | a friendly first question to a new colleague | “Have you been with the company long?” |
| Mind if I join you? | ask to sit with a group | “Mind if I join you?” |
| Of course not. | the answer to Mind if…? when you do not mind | “Of course not. Sit down.” |
| I could show you around if you like. | offer help to a new person | “I could show you around if you like.” |
| Maybe I should join you sometime. | friendly, not pushy | “Maybe I should join you sometime.” |
| Let me check my calendar. | buy a few seconds to think | “Let me check my calendar. One second.” |
| Monday works, but can we do it at eleven instead? | keep the day, move the time | “Monday works, but can we do it at eleven instead?” |
| I’m on right after the budget discussion. | it is my turn after that item | “You’re on right after the budget discussion.” |
| The design phase is complete. | say what is done | “The design phase is complete.” |
| One thing might slow us down. | name the risk early | “One thing might slow us down.” |
| I’ll keep you posted. | I will tell you when something changes | “I’ll keep you posted.” |
| Do you have a minute? | ask for a colleague’s time | “Do you have a minute? I’m stuck on one small thing.” |
| This one could use a bit more detail. | soft feedback about one thing | “This one could use a bit more detail, though.” |
| What would that look like? | ask for an example of the feedback | “What would that look like? Can you show me one part?” |
| I’m writing regarding order number… | start a work email | “I’m writing regarding order number 4471.” |
| This delay is affecting our schedule. | explain the result, not the blame | “This delay is affecting our schedule.” |
| Let me find out and get back to you by Thursday. | honest answer with a day | “Let me find out and get back to you by Thursday.” |
| As promised, … | tell a client you kept your word | “As promised, here’s the answer about the paper.” |
| What budget are you working with? | ask about money before you offer a price | “Before we talk numbers, what budget are you working with?” |
| We could offer a smaller package. | give a choice | “We could offer a smaller package.” |
| flexible on the price, but not on the quality | say what can move and what cannot | “We can be flexible on the price, but not on the quality.” |
| Let’s look at this again in March. | no deal today, no pressure | “Let’s look at this again in March.” |
| I managed to finish that report. | it was not easy, but I did it | “I managed to finish that report.” |
| I’m all set for tomorrow. | everything is ready | “I’m all set for tomorrow.” |
| I’m calling it a day. | I am stopping work now | “I’m calling it a day.” |
Mistake and Repair
The table is written for this page. It puts moves from Paul’s and Emily’s stories next to the line that the hosts give in their place.
| A common move | Why it stops the talk | The line from the episode |
|---|---|---|
| Hi. (and then silence) | the other person has nowhere to hang the next sentence | Hi, Rosa. I’m Paul. Have you been with the company long? |
| What is your job here? | sounds like a police officer | Which team are you in? |
| OK. to a time you cannot make | you miss the meeting | Monday works, but can we do it at eleven instead? |
| I can’t Monday ten. | a closed door with no next step | Could we make it eleven instead? |
| Fine. | the boss stops asking | The first part is complete. One thing might slow us down. |
| Everything hurts. (I don’t understand the report.) | the colleague does not know where to look | Does that go under travel, or under office costs? |
| OK, sorry. to feedback | you may rewrite twenty pages | What would that look like? |
| Where is my order? | sounds angry | Could you please give us an update on the delivery date? |
| I’ll check. | a promise with no end | Let me find out and get back to you by Thursday. |
| a list of features | the listener gets tired | Here’s how this helps you. |
Practice with the Episode
1. Add one more line
Each answer below is only the first word. Add one more line: a detail, a day or a next step.
- Your colleague asks, Can you send me the file? You say, Yes.
- Your boss asks, Are you free for a quick call? You say, Sure.
- A new person asks, Do you work in this team? You say, Yes.
- A client asks, Can you start next week? You say, OK.
Sample answers (written for this page)
- Yes, I’ll send it this afternoon.
- Sure. Can we do it at three? I have a call at two.
- Yes, I’m in sales. I just started last week.
- OK, Monday works. I’ll send you a short plan on Friday.
2. Which picture?
Match each picture from the episode to the moment.
- a coat hook
- a puzzle piece
- a weather forecast
- a doctor
- a shopping list
- a ticket from the dry cleaner
- a small cup of coffee
- a desk lamp
A. a progress update; B. changing a meeting time; C. a promise to a client; D. asking for help; E. a small negotiation; F. saying goodbye at the end of the day; G. a good answer to Hi; H. feedback.
Answers (from the episode)
1 G, 2 B, 3 A, 4 D, 5 H, 6 C, 7 E, 8 F.
3. Open the closed door
Rewrite each sentence so that the other person has a next step.
- I can’t Monday ten.
- Fine. (your boss asks how the task is going; the first part is done and you are waiting for new laptops)
- Where is my order?
- I’ll check. (a client asks something you do not know)
Sample answers (use the lines from the episode)
- Monday works, but can we do it at eleven instead?
- The first part is complete. One thing might slow us down. We’re still waiting for the new laptops.
- Could you please give us an update on the delivery date?
- That’s a good question. Let me find out and get back to you by Thursday.
4. Say the quiz before the hosts
Play the quiz at 39:53, pause after each situation and say your answer out loud. Then compare it with the hosts’ answer. Count your answers: six is great, three or four is also good.
5. Your one minute
Write four short sentences: your team, one thing you finished, one thing that might slow you down and your plan for tonight. Use at least three lines from the episode. Then say them out loud for one minute, and once more with one more detail.
A model answer (written for this page)
I’m in finance, on the third floor. This week I managed to finish the budget report. One thing might slow us down: we’re still waiting for the numbers from sales. I’ll keep you posted. Tonight, I’m calling it a day at six and going for a walk.
Keep Practicing
Do you want to look closer at the moment when someone asks you to move a meeting, or when you need to ask for a new time yourself? Read Monday Works, but Can We Do It at Eleven Instead? How to Change a Meeting Time in English. It shows you the common replies that close the door, the calm replacements, a short reason and how to confirm the new time.
Chapters
- 00:00 Have You Ever Only Said OK at Work?
- 01:33 Paul’s Story: A Very Quiet First Week
- 04:01 9 AM and Lunch: Meeting People and Small Talk
- 10:33 Planning a Meeting and Changing the Time
- 14:53 Progress Updates and Asking for Help
- 19:58 Giving and Getting Feedback
- 23:59 Suppliers and Clients: Emails and Promises
- 30:07 A Small Negotiation
- 33:42 Ending the Day
- 35:53 Paul’s Week Again: Review
- 39:53 Quiz and Your Two Conversations
- 44:05 Your One-Minute Speaking Task
- 45:25 Today’s Action and Your Challenge
Full Transcript
Emily: Have you ever understood everything at work, and still only said OK?
Paul: Guilty. For one whole week, OK was my only word.
Emily: Your boss asks a question. You know the answer. And out comes, Yes. OK. Sure.
Paul: It is not wrong. But people think you are not interested.
Emily: Or that your English is weaker than it really is.
Paul: Welcome to English Practice Daily. I’m Paul.
Emily: And I’m Emily. This episode is for B1 and B2 learners who use English at work.
Paul: Or for people who will start a job in English soon.
Emily: This is an English speaking podcast, so we talk like two colleagues, not like a textbook.
Paul: And you can listen on the bus, in the kitchen, or on your way to work.
Emily: Today we follow one working day, from nine in the morning until half past five.
Paul: And in that day, you will hear thirty five short conversations.
Emily: Real ones. Two people, a few lines, a normal moment at work.
Paul: After each one, we pull out one line you can use tomorrow.
Emily: And at the end, it is your turn to speak.
Paul: Here is the one idea for today. Yes is a start. Add one more line.
Emily: Yes is a start. Add one more line. If you want, repeat after us.
Paul: Yes is a start.
Emily: Add one more line.
Paul: Good. Keep that sentence in your pocket. We will come back to it.
Emily: Paul, you said one whole week. I want to hear about that week.
Paul: All right. It was five years ago. My first job in an English speaking office.
Emily: Tell me about the company.
Paul: A small software company. Fourth floor, a big window, a very loud coffee machine.
Emily: I can already hear the machine.
Paul: On Monday, at ten to nine, a woman stopped at my desk. She smiled and said, Hi, I’m Rosa.
Emily: A nice start. And you said…
Paul: I said, Hi. And then I looked at my screen.
Emily: Just Hi. Nothing else.
Paul: Just Hi. She waited for two seconds, and then she walked away.
Emily: Oh, Paul. Two seconds is a long time.
Paul: It felt like a whole minute. At lunch, everybody went to the kitchen together.
Emily: And you stayed at your desk.
Paul: I ate my sandwich at my desk. Alone. I did not know how to join them.
Emily: That makes me a little sad.
Paul: On Wednesday, a colleague wanted to move our meeting. I could not make the new time.
Emily: So you told him the truth.
Paul: I said OK. Then I missed the meeting, because I was at the dentist.
Emily: No. You said OK to a time you could not make.
Paul: I did. On Thursday, my manager asked me how my task was going.
Emily: Let me guess. You said, Fine.
Paul: I said, Fine. And the task was not fine at all. I was stuck.
Emily: And then came Friday.
Paul: On Friday, my manager called me into her office. She was kind. She said, Paul, you are very quiet. Is everything all right?
Emily: That must have felt awful.
Paul: Terrible. Because I understood everything all week. Every email, every meeting.
Emily: So the problem was not your English.
Paul: Not really. The problem was the second sentence. I had the first word, but nothing after it.
Emily: Yes, but no next line.
Paul: Exactly that. One more line would change every moment of that week.
Emily: So today, we walk through that week again. But this time, we give you the lines.
Paul: Every stop of the day. Nine o’clock, lunch, a meeting, a report, a client, and going home.
Emily: Let’s start where your week started. Nine in the morning, near the coffee machine.
Paul: The loud one.
Emily: The loud one. Here is a picture for this first part. A good answer is like a coat hook.
Paul: A coat hook. Go on.
Emily: When somebody comes into a room, they need a place to hang their coat.
Paul: And if there is no hook, they stand there holding it.
Emily: That is what Hi does. The other person has nowhere to put the next sentence.
Paul: So I need to add a hook. A small detail they can use.
Emily: Yes. Listen to conversation one. Two people from different teams, in the office kitchen.
Paul: Morning. I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Ben.
Emily: Hi, Ben. I’m Clara. Have you been with the company long?
Paul: About two years now. I’m in accounting, on the third floor.
Emily: Oh, nice. I just joined the sales team last month.
Paul: Then we will see each other a lot. Sales sends us all the invoices.
Emily: Listen for the hooks in that one.
Paul: I heard a few. About two years. Accounting. Third floor.
Emily: Every small detail gives the other person something to say. And the question is the best part.
Paul: Have you been with the company long?
Emily: It is friendly, and it is safe. You are not asking about money or family.
Paul: Just time. And the answer opens the next topic.
Emily: Say it with us. Have you been with the company long?
Paul: One, two.
Emily: Have you been with the company long?
Paul: Notice the answer too. I’m in accounting. Not, I work in the department of accounting.
Emily: Short and normal. I’m in IT. I’m in sales. I’m in marketing.
Paul: I made a mistake here in my first year. I wanted to ask the same thing, and I said, What is your job here?
Emily: The grammar is fine. But it sounds a little like a police officer.
Paul: That is what my colleague said. She laughed and said, Am I in trouble?
Emily: Because the question is too direct for a first meeting. It feels like a test.
Paul: So a softer way is, Which team are you in? Or, What do you work on?
Emily: Those feel friendly. They ask about the work, and they leave space for a story.
Paul: And then the other person can say, I’m in sales, I work on the new clients.
Emily: Which gives you another hook. New clients. Now you can talk about that.
Paul: Conversation two. This time the person is not a colleague. It is a business event, and the man works for another company.
Emily: It was really nice talking to you. Your project sounds interesting.
Paul: Thanks. I think our teams could work together one day.
Emily: Me too. Let’s exchange contact information. Here is my card.
Paul: Great. I’ll send you a short email this week, so you have mine.
Emily: That last line is a strong hook. I’ll send you a short email this week.
Paul: Because exchanging cards is easy. The email is the part people forget.
Emily: Let’s exchange contact information. It sounds a little formal, but at events it is perfect.
Paul: Conversation three. A new person joins your team today. You are the one who says hello.
Emily: You must be Nora. Welcome to the team.
Paul: Thank you. Everybody is very friendly so far.
Emily: I’m Clara, I’m in IT. We help your team with the computers, so you will see me a lot.
Paul: Good to know. I already have a question about my password.
Emily: Welcome to the team is nice. But the useful part is the second line.
Paul: We help your team with the computers. Now Nora knows why you matter to her.
Emily: Conversation four is very short. It is the line that changes a first day.
Paul: Is this your first day?
Emily: Yes, I’m still a bit lost.
Paul: I could show you around if you like. The kitchen, the printer, the quiet room.
Emily: That would be great, thank you.
Paul: I could show you around if you like. Nobody said that to me in my first week.
Emily: And I think you would remember that person for years.
Paul: I would. Say it with us. I could show you around if you like.
Emily: One, two.
Paul: I could show you around if you like.
Emily: Now, twelve thirty. Lunch. Paul, this is the moment you ate alone.
Paul: With my sad sandwich.
Emily: Conversation five. A group is at a table in the kitchen. You arrive with your food.
Paul: Hi, mind if I join you?
Emily: Of course not. Sit down. Are you the new person in design?
Paul: Yes, I’m Leo. I started on Monday.
Emily: Mind if I join you? Four words, and you are at the table.
Paul: That is all I needed. Mind if I join you?
Emily: The answer sounds strange to learners, so listen again. Of course not.
Paul: Because the question is, do you mind? And no, I do not mind. So, of course not, means come in.
Emily: If they say yes, you can relax. People almost always say, Of course not, or, Please do.
Paul: Conversation six. The team talks about where to eat tomorrow.
Emily: Do you know any good places near the office?
Paul: There’s a small cafe across the street. Their soups are really good.
Emily: Do they have vegetarian options? I don’t eat meat.
Paul: They do. The lentil soup is my favorite. We can go together tomorrow.
Emily: That is small talk with a purpose. Do you know any good places near the office?
Paul: New people can always ask this. And everyone has an opinion about lunch.
Emily: Conversation seven. Monday lunch, so of course, the weekend.
Paul: How was your weekend?
Emily: Really good. I went hiking by the lake on Saturday.
Paul: Oh, I love that area. How long was the walk?
Emily: About four hours. My legs still hurt a little.
Paul: Maybe I should join you sometime. I need more fresh air.
Emily: You should. We go almost every month.
Paul: Look at the hooks again. By the lake. On Saturday. Four hours.
Emily: And the follow up question. How long was the walk? That shows real interest.
Paul: And then, Maybe I should join you sometime. Friendly, but not pushy.
Emily: Say it with us. Maybe I should join you sometime.
Paul: One, two.
Emily: Maybe I should join you sometime.
Paul: Seven conversations, and we are only at lunch.
Emily: Paul, imagine Rosa comes back today, at ten to nine. Show us the new Paul.
Paul: Hi, Rosa. I’m Paul. I just started in the software team. Have you been with the company long?
Emily: Much better. That is a coat hook, a big one.
Paul: After lunch, the day gets busier. Eleven o’clock, or two o’clock. Time to plan a meeting.
Emily: And this is where you said OK to the dentist time.
Paul: Please do not remind me.
Emily: Here is the picture for this part. Changing a meeting time is like moving a puzzle piece.
Paul: You do not throw the piece away.
Emily: No. You keep the part that fits, and you move only the part that does not.
Paul: So if Monday is good, but ten is bad, I keep Monday.
Emily: Exactly. Conversation eight. Someone wants to set up a meeting.
Paul: We need to talk about the new website. How about next Monday at ten?
Emily: Let me check my calendar. One second.
Paul: Sure, take your time.
Emily: How about next Monday at ten? Simple and clear. A day and a time.
Paul: And, Let me check my calendar, gives you a few seconds to think.
Emily: Which is useful when your brain is still translating.
Paul: Very useful. Conversation nine. The same two people. Monday is fine, but ten is not.
Emily: Monday works, but can we do it at eleven instead? I have a call at ten.
Paul: Eleven is perfect. I’ll move it.
Emily: Thanks. See you on Monday.
Paul: Listen to the shape. Monday works. That is the piece that fits.
Emily: But can we do it at eleven instead? That is the piece you move.
Paul: And a short reason. I have a call at ten. No long story needed.
Emily: Say it with us. Monday works, but can we do it at eleven instead?
Paul: One, two.
Emily: Monday works, but can we do it at eleven instead?
Paul: That line would have saved me a trip to the dentist. Well, not the dentist. The meeting.
Emily: You still had to go to the dentist, Paul.
Paul: Fair. Many learners say this one in a different way. They say, I can’t Monday ten.
Emily: People understand it. But it sounds like a closed door. No, and nothing after it.
Paul: Then the other person has to do all the work. They have to find a new time alone.
Emily: With, Monday works, but can we do it at eleven instead, you already give them the answer.
Paul: And look where instead goes. At the end. Can we do it at eleven instead.
Emily: You can also say, Could we make it eleven instead? A little softer, same idea.
Paul: Or if the whole day is bad. Monday is busy for me. Does Tuesday work for you?
Emily: I like that one. It gives the choice back to the other person.
Paul: True. Conversation ten. Now we decide who comes to the meeting.
Emily: Should I invite Dan and Priya too? They know the website better than me.
Paul: Good idea. And please add the agenda, so people can prepare.
Emily: No problem. I’ll send the invite this afternoon.
Paul: I’ll send the invite this afternoon. That is a promise with a time.
Emily: And, Should I invite Dan and Priya too? Use names. Not, should I invite the team.
Paul: Because the team means everyone, and then nobody comes.
Emily: Conversation eleven. You have to present something in the meeting. You want to know your place.
Paul: When do I speak tomorrow?
Emily: You’re on right after the budget discussion. Around half past ten.
Paul: Great. How long do I have?
Emily: Fifteen minutes, and then five minutes for questions.
Paul: Perfect. I’ll keep it short.
Emily: Two small questions, and you feel calm. When do I speak? How long do I have?
Paul: I love, I’m on right after the budget discussion. I’m on means it is my turn.
Emily: Like on a stage. You’re on after the singer.
Paul: Conversation twelve. A video call with a colleague in another city. The time is short.
Emily: Hi, Sam. Can you hear me okay?
Paul: Yes, loud and clear. Can you see my screen?
Emily: I can. We only have thirty minutes, so let’s keep it short.
Paul: Agreed. I’ll start with the numbers.
Emily: Can you hear me okay? The first line of almost every video call.
Paul: And, Let’s keep it short. It is polite, because everybody’s time is short.
Emily: Five conversations about meetings. And notice. We did not stand inside the meeting today.
Paul: No. Before the meeting is where many problems start. The wrong time, the wrong people.
Emily: Now it is two o’clock. The boss walks past your desk.
Paul: The Thursday moment. Fine.
Emily: Paul, Fine is a real word. I don’t see the problem yet.
Paul: Because it closes the door. The boss hears Fine, and stops asking. Then nobody helps you.
Emily: So here is the picture. A progress update is like a weather forecast.
Paul: Sunny today, a little rain on Thursday.
Emily: Yes. What is done, what is next, and where the clouds are.
Paul: People like a forecast. They can bring an umbrella.
Emily: Conversation thirteen. The manager asks about the project.
Paul: How’s the new app going?
Emily: Pretty well. The design phase is complete. Now we move into development.
Paul: Great news. When will we see the first version?
Emily: If everything goes well, at the end of the month.
Paul: The design phase is complete. That is the sunny part.
Emily: Now we move into development. That is the next part of the forecast.
Paul: Two sentences, and the manager knows everything.
Emily: Say it with us. The design phase is complete.
Paul: One, two.
Emily: Now we move into development.
Paul: One, two.
Emily: You can change the words. The first draft is complete. Now we move into testing.
Paul: Conversation fourteen. Here come the clouds.
Emily: One thing might slow us down. We’re still waiting for the new laptops.
Paul: Okay. How long can you wait?
Emily: About a week. After that, we fall behind.
Paul: Thanks for telling me early. I’ll call the supplier today.
Emily: One thing might slow us down. This is the line my Thursday Paul did not have.
Paul: My Thursday Paul. I like that.
Emily: Your manager cannot fix a problem she does not know about.
Paul: And look at her answer. Thanks for telling me early. Managers like bad news early. They hate it late.
Emily: Conversation fifteen. The end of the update.
Paul: Okay, sounds like it’s under control.
Emily: It is. I’ll keep you posted.
Paul: Good. Let me know about the laptops.
Emily: I’ll keep you posted. It means, I will tell you when something changes.
Paul: Four words, and the manager can stop worrying. Say it with us. I’ll keep you posted.
Emily: One, two.
Paul: I’ll keep you posted.
Emily: Let’s put the old Paul and the new Paul side by side. The manager asks the same question.
Paul: The old Paul says, Fine.
Emily: And the manager walks away, and Paul stays stuck for two more days.
Paul: The new Paul says, The first part is complete. One thing might slow us down. I’ll keep you posted.
Emily: Three short lines. Maybe ten seconds. And the manager knows the sun, the cloud, and the next step.
Paul: It also sounds more senior. People who report like this get more trust.
Emily: Not because their English is perfect. Because nobody has to guess. Now, the other Thursday problem. You were stuck, Paul.
Paul: Completely stuck. A big spreadsheet, and I did not know where to put some numbers.
Emily: And you did not ask.
Paul: I thought asking was weak. And I did not know how to ask.
Emily: Here is a picture. Asking for help is like visiting a doctor.
Paul: The doctor asks, where does it hurt?
Emily: If you say, Everything hurts, the doctor cannot help much.
Paul: But if I point and say, Here, under my knee, the doctor knows where to look.
Emily: So when you ask a colleague, point to the exact place.
Paul: Conversation sixteen. You walk to a colleague’s desk.
Emily: Hi, Omar. Do you have a minute? I’m stuck on one small thing.
Paul: Sure. What’s up?
Emily: It’s the expense report. Only one line, I promise.
Paul: Do you have a minute? I’m stuck on one small thing.
Emily: Small thing is important. The other person relaxes. It will not take an hour.
Paul: And, Do you have a minute? gives them a chance to say, Not now, after lunch.
Emily: Say it with us. Do you have a minute? I’m stuck on one small thing.
Paul: One, two.
Emily: Do you have a minute? I’m stuck on one small thing.
Paul: Conversation seventeen. Now we point to the place that hurts.
Emily: I took a taxi to the client’s office. Does that go under travel, or under office costs?
Paul: Travel. Office costs are things like paper and printer ink.
Emily: Got it. And the coffee I bought for the client?
Paul: That one goes under client meetings. Third column.
Emily: Perfect, thank you. That saved me a lot of time.
Paul: Listen to the question. Does that go under travel, or under office costs?
Emily: She gives two choices. Omar only has to pick one.
Paul: Not, I don’t understand the report. That is the, everything hurts, answer.
Emily: And the thank you at the end has a reason. That saved me a lot of time.
Paul: My colleague in that first week sat two desks away. One question, and my Thursday was saved.
Emily: Three o’clock now. Someone reads your work and has an opinion.
Paul: Feedback. My favorite and least favorite word.
Emily: Let’s do both sides. Giving feedback, and getting it. Here is the picture.
Paul: I am ready.
Emily: Feedback is like a shopping list. If my list says, Buy food, what do you buy?
Paul: Everything. Or nothing. I have no idea.
Emily: But if it says, Two eggs, bread, and green apples, you can do it in ten minutes.
Paul: So good feedback is a list of small, clear things.
Emily: Yes. Conversation eighteen. A team leader talks to a colleague about a report.
Paul: Your reports are usually very well structured. I can always find what I need.
Emily: Oh, thank you. That’s nice to hear.
Paul: This one could use a bit more detail, though. Especially the sales part.
Emily: Notice the order. First, something true and good. Then, This one could use a bit more detail.
Paul: Could use is soft. It means, it would be better with.
Emily: And, This one, not, Your reports. The problem is one report, not the person.
Paul: Say it with us. This one could use a bit more detail.
Emily: One, two.
Paul: This one could use a bit more detail.
Emily: Conversation nineteen. Now the shopping list part.
Paul: For example, the sales part needs last year’s numbers, so we can compare.
Emily: Just one year, or more?
Paul: One year is enough. And maybe one small chart.
Emily: For example. Two words that make feedback useful.
Paul: Last year’s numbers, one small chart. Eggs and bread.
Emily: Now let’s switch. You are the one getting feedback.
Paul: Emily, let me tell a small story here. My first feedback in English.
Emily: Please.
Paul: My manager said, This could be clearer. And I said, OK, sorry.
Emily: Go on.
Paul: Then I went home and rewrote the whole thing. Twenty pages.
Emily: Oh no. And I bet she only wanted one part clearer.
Paul: One paragraph. I found out a week later.
Emily: That is why the next line is so important. Conversation twenty.
Paul: The report could be clearer.
Emily: What would that look like? Can you show me one part?
Paul: Sure. This paragraph is very long. A short list would be easier to read.
Emily: So, a short list instead of the long paragraph?
Paul: Exactly. Just that part.
Emily: What would that look like? Five words, and you get the shopping list.
Paul: Then you check. So, a short list instead of the long paragraph?
Emily: Now you know the real size of the job. One paragraph, not twenty pages.
Paul: Say it with us. What would that look like?
Emily: One, two.
Paul: What would that look like?
Emily: Conversation twenty one. The ending of a feedback talk.
Paul: Is that okay? I hope it’s useful.
Emily: It’s really useful, thanks. I’ll try that in the next one.
Paul: Great. Send it to me when it’s ready.
Emily: I’ll try that in the next one. You do not say sorry. You say what you will do.
Paul: Sorry closes the door again. This line opens it.
Emily: One small warning about giving feedback. Some people start with something nice that is not true.
Paul: Like, Wow, amazing report, and then ten problems.
Emily: Yes. People feel it. The nice part must be real and specific. I can always find what I need.
Paul: That is real, so the next part feels fair, not like a trick.
Emily: And keep the hard part small. One thing, with one example. Not ten things at once.
Paul: A shopping list, but a short one. Nobody can carry thirty bags.
Emily: Four o’clock. Now we talk to people outside the company. Suppliers and clients.
Paul: This is where many learners get nervous. A client feels bigger than a colleague.
Emily: Let’s start with a problem. You ordered something, and it did not arrive.
Paul: Conversation twenty two. It is an email, but we will read it out loud, like a conversation on paper.
Emily: Dear Ms. Grant. I’m writing regarding order number 4471. It was due on Monday, and it hasn’t arrived yet.
Paul: I’m writing regarding order number. That is the first line of many work emails.
Emily: It says, this email is about this one thing. The reader knows in two seconds.
Paul: And the facts come next. It was due on Monday. It hasn’t arrived yet. No feelings, only facts.
Emily: Conversation twenty three. The next line of the same email.
Paul: Could you please give us an update on the delivery date?
Emily: Polite, but clear. She has to answer with a date.
Paul: Learners often write, Where is my order? It is not rude exactly, but it sounds angry.
Emily: Could you please give us an update? It sounds calm, and it still asks for an answer.
Paul: Say it with us. Could you please give us an update on the delivery date?
Emily: One, two.
Paul: Could you please give us an update on the delivery date?
Emily: Conversation twenty four. Now the supplier calls you back, and you explain why it matters.
Paul: Hello, this is Ms. Grant. I’m so sorry about the delay.
Emily: Thanks for calling. This delay is affecting our schedule. Our team can’t start without the parts.
Paul: I understand. The parts will leave our warehouse tomorrow morning.
Emily: Thank you. Could you send me the tracking number when you have it?
Paul: This delay is affecting our schedule. That is the strongest line, and it is still calm.
Emily: You explain the result. You do not shout, and you do not blame.
Paul: Because next month, you will need this supplier again.
Emily: Yes. Calm today, good partner tomorrow.
Paul: And to finish the email, keep it simple. Thank you for your help. Best regards, and your name.
Emily: Many learners write very long endings. I hope this email finds you well and your family is well.
Paul: At work, short is kind. The other person reads fifty emails a day.
Emily: So the whole email has four parts. What it is about. The facts. What you need. Thank you.
Paul: And the same four parts work on the phone. Hi, I’m calling about order 4471. It was due Monday. Could you give me an update? Thanks. Emily, I think the next one is your story.
Emily: It is. And I am not proud of it. A few years ago, I worked with a printing company.
Paul: Printing brochures, I guess.
Emily: Yes, brochures for a big event. One Tuesday, a client called me with a question about paper.
Paul: About paper. Interesting.
Emily: Can the brochures be on recycled paper? And I did not know.
Paul: That is normal. Nobody knows everything.
Emily: Right. So I said, I’ll check. And then I hung up and went back to my emails.
Paul: Uh oh.
Emily: On Wednesday, he called again. Did you check? I said, Not yet, I’ll check.
Paul: And then Thursday came.
Emily: On Thursday he called a third time, and his voice was very cold. He said, When?
Paul: When. One word. That hurts.
Emily: And he was right. I’ll check, has no day. It is a promise with no end.
Paul: So there must be a fix.
Emily: Here is my picture. A good promise is like a ticket from the dry cleaner.
Paul: The shop where you leave your shirt.
Emily: Yes. You give them your shirt, and they give you a ticket. Ready on Friday.
Paul: So I don’t worry. I know when to come back.
Emily: That is what the client needs. A ticket with a day on it.
Paul: Conversation twenty five. A client asks something you don’t know.
Emily: Can the brochures be printed on recycled paper?
Paul: That’s a good question. Let me find out and get back to you by Thursday.
Emily: Great, thank you. Thursday is fine.
Paul: That’s a good question. It gives you a moment, and it is honest.
Emily: Let me find out. You are not guessing, and you are not giving the wrong answer.
Paul: And get back to you by Thursday. There is the ticket.
Emily: Say it with us. Let me find out and get back to you by Thursday.
Paul: One, two.
Emily: Let me find out and get back to you by Thursday.
Paul: You can change the day, of course. By tomorrow. By the end of the week. By three o’clock.
Emily: Just choose a day you can really keep.
Paul: Conversation twenty six. A client is coming to visit, and you help them plan.
Emily: We’re coming to your office in May. Do you have any advice for the hotel?
Paul: Sure. Do you want something close to the office, or close to the city center?
Emily: Close to the office, please. I’d prefer to walk in the morning.
Paul: Then I’d book the Park Hotel. It’s five minutes from us.
Emily: I’d prefer to walk. I’d prefer is a soft way to say what you want.
Paul: And again, the choice question. Close to the office, or close to the city center?
Emily: The same trick as the expense report. Two choices are easy to answer.
Paul: Conversation twenty seven. Thursday comes, and you call the client back.
Emily: Hello, Mr. Kim. As promised, here’s the answer about the paper.
Paul: Oh, thank you for calling.
Emily: Yes, we can use recycled paper. The price is the same, but it takes two extra days.
Paul: That’s fine. Let’s do it.
Emily: As promised. Two words, and the client knows you keep your word.
Paul: And then the answer, with the good part and the hard part. Same price, two extra days.
Emily: If I had said that to my client years ago, there would be no cold voice on Thursday.
Paul: Still at four o’clock. Now a talk about money. A small negotiation.
Emily: Paul, a lot of learners think negotiation is only for big business people in suits.
Paul: But you negotiate when you buy a car, or when you sell your old bike.
Emily: At work, it is often small. A client wants a lower price, and you need an answer.
Paul: Here is the picture. Imagine a coffee shop. You have only two dollars.
Emily: The big coffee costs four.
Paul: So the barista says, Here is a small cup. Same coffee, just less of it.
Emily: Smaller size, same quality. That is a good deal for both people.
Paul: Conversation twenty eight. Before you talk about price, you ask one question.
Emily: Before we talk numbers, what budget are you working with?
Paul: Around eight thousand. Your offer was twelve.
Emily: Thanks for being open. Let me see what we can do.
Paul: What budget are you working with? It sounds professional, and it saves a lot of time.
Emily: Because now you know the size of the cup they can pay for.
Paul: Conversation twenty nine. You offer choices.
Emily: We could offer a smaller package. Two training days instead of four.
Paul: Hmm. Is there another option?
Emily: If you sign for two years, the price goes down by ten percent.
Paul: That’s interesting. Let me talk to my team.
Emily: We could offer a smaller package. That is the small cup of coffee.
Paul: And, If you sign for two years, the price goes down. Longer deal, better price.
Emily: Say it with us. We could offer a smaller package.
Paul: One, two.
Emily: We could offer a smaller package.
Paul: Conversation thirty. The client asks for a cheaper product, but you will not lower the quality.
Emily: Could you use cheaper materials? Then the price would be lower.
Paul: We can be flexible on the price, but not on the quality. Our name is on every product.
Emily: I understand. That’s fair.
Paul: Flexible on the price, but not on the quality. A clear line, said in a kind voice.
Emily: You say what can move, and what cannot. Like the puzzle piece again.
Paul: Conversation thirty one. Sometimes there is no deal today. That is okay.
Emily: I’m sorry, eight thousand is still our limit this year.
Paul: I understand. Let’s look at this again in March, when your new budget starts.
Emily: That sounds good. I’ll put it in my calendar.
Paul: Let’s look at this again in March. You do not push, and you do not close the door.
Emily: And March is a real time. Another ticket from the dry cleaner.
Paul: One more thing about clients. When you present your product, talk about them, not about you.
Emily: Not, Our software has twelve features.
Paul: But, Here’s how this saves your team two hours a week. People buy the hours, not the features.
Emily: I tried this once with a small client. A bakery, actually.
Paul: A bakery with software. I like it.
Emily: For their orders. I started with the features, and the owner looked very tired.
Paul: I can imagine. Flour on her hands, and you talking about features.
Emily: So I stopped and said, Here’s how this helps you. No more phone orders at six in the morning.
Paul: And then she listened.
Emily: She smiled, and she said, Tell me more. That was the moment the meeting changed.
Paul: Here’s how this helps you. Say it with us.
Emily: One, two.
Paul: Here’s how this helps you.
Emily: Half past five. The office is getting quiet. Time to go home.
Paul: The Friday of my story.
Emily: Here is the last picture. Saying goodbye at the end of the day is like switching off your desk lamp.
Paul: A small click, and the day is finished.
Emily: Two sentences. One about the work, and one about your evening.
Paul: Conversation thirty two. Two colleagues near the door.
Emily: Long day?
Paul: It was busy, but I managed to finish that report. I’m all set for tomorrow.
Emily: Nice. I still have two emails, and then I’m done.
Paul: I managed to finish that report. Managed to means, it was not easy, but I did it.
Emily: And, I’m all set for tomorrow. Everything is ready. Your boss loves to hear that.
Paul: Say it with us. I managed to finish that report.
Emily: One, two.
Paul: I’m all set for tomorrow.
Emily: One, two.
Paul: Conversation thirty three. The personal part, short and light.
Emily: Okay, I’m calling it a day. Any plans tonight?
Paul: Probably just a quiet night at home. Maybe a movie.
Emily: Sounds perfect. See you tomorrow.
Paul: See you. Have a good evening.
Emily: I’m calling it a day. It means, I am stopping work now.
Paul: On Friday, you can change one word. Any plans for the weekend?
Emily: And the answer can be very small. Nothing big. Probably the market on Saturday.
Paul: That is a hook too. On Monday, someone can ask you about the market.
Emily: And now the Monday small talk is ready before the weekend even starts.
Paul: And, Any plans tonight? A small question, but it says, I see you as a person.
Emily: Paul, think about that Friday. Imagine you said these two lines every day that week.
Paul: I think the meeting with my manager would be very different. Or there would be no meeting.
Emily: Because she would hear your voice every day.
Paul: Yes. Not long speeches. Just one more line after yes.
Emily: That was thirty three conversations. A whole working day.
Paul: Two more are coming, and those two are for you.
Emily: But first, let’s go back to Paul’s first week. One more time, slowly.
Paul: This time, we put the right line in every moment. You say it with us.
Emily: Monday, ten to nine. Rosa stops at your desk and says, Hi, I’m Paul. Sorry, Rosa. Hi, I’m Rosa.
Paul: You can tell I am still a bit nervous about Rosa.
Emily: Now the new Paul speaks.
Paul: Hi, Rosa. I’m Paul. Have you been with the company long?
Emily: Your turn. Have you been with the company long?
Paul: One, two.
Emily: Good. Monday, half past twelve. Everyone goes to the kitchen. Paul has his sandwich.
Paul: Mind if I join you?
Emily: Mind if I join you?
Paul: One, two.
Emily: And the sandwich is not sad anymore.
Paul: It is a very happy sandwich. Wednesday. A colleague wants to move the meeting to a time I cannot make.
Emily: The puzzle piece. Keep the day, move the time.
Paul: Wednesday works, but can we do it at four instead?
Emily: Wednesday works, but can we do it at four instead?
Paul: One, two.
Emily: Thursday. The manager asks, How’s your task going?
Paul: The weather forecast. Sunny part first, then the clouds.
Emily: The first part is complete. One thing might slow us down.
Paul: One thing might slow us down.
Emily: One, two.
Paul: And I’ll keep you posted.
Emily: I’ll keep you posted.
Paul: One, two.
Emily: Still Thursday. Paul is stuck on the spreadsheet. Two desks away sits a helpful colleague.
Paul: Do you have a minute? I’m stuck on one small thing.
Emily: Do you have a minute? I’m stuck on one small thing.
Paul: One, two.
Emily: And then he points to where it hurts.
Paul: Does this go under travel, or under office costs?
Emily: Friday morning. The manager reads Paul’s report. She says, This could be clearer.
Paul: And the old Paul says, OK, sorry. The new Paul says, What would that look like?
Emily: What would that look like?
Paul: One, two.
Emily: And a client calls with a question nobody knows.
Paul: The dry cleaner ticket. That’s a good question. Let me find out and get back to you by Monday.
Emily: Let me find out and get back to you by Monday.
Paul: One, two.
Emily: Friday, half past five. The desk lamp.
Paul: It was busy, but I managed to finish that report. I’m all set for Monday.
Emily: I’m all set for Monday.
Paul: One, two.
Emily: Paul, tell me how it feels, hearing your old week like that.
Paul: Honestly? A little sad for the old Paul. He knew all the words. He just needed the next line.
Emily: And you said it yourself. Yes is a start.
Paul: Add one more line.
Emily: Before the practice, one small thing about sound. Many of today’s lines have a short form.
Paul: You mean I’ll, I’m, I’d.
Emily: Yes. In real offices, people almost never say, I will keep you posted. They say, I’ll keep you posted.
Paul: Listen slowly first. I will. I’ll. I’ll keep you posted.
Emily: Now the natural speed. I’ll keep you posted.
Paul: The I’ll sounds almost like the word aisle, in a supermarket.
Emily: Try it with us. I’ll keep you posted.
Paul: One, two.
Emily: Now I’d. I would prefer. I’d prefer. I’d prefer to walk.
Paul: I’d prefer to walk.
Emily: One, two.
Paul: And I’m. I am on after the budget. I’m on after the budget.
Emily: I’m on after the budget.
Paul: One, two.
Emily: The short forms make you sound relaxed. And relaxed sounds confident.
Paul: Now a quick game. Six situations. You choose the line, and you say it out loud.
Emily: We give you three seconds. Then we give our answer.
Paul: Number one. A client asks you a question, and you really do not know the answer.
Emily: One, two, three.
Paul: That’s a good question. Let me find out and get back to you by Friday.
Emily: Remember the day. Without the day, it is my old, I’ll check.
Paul: Number two. A colleague says, How about Tuesday at nine? Tuesday is fine, but at nine you are busy.
Emily: One, two, three.
Paul: Tuesday works, but can we do it at ten instead?
Emily: Keep the piece that fits, move the one that doesn’t.
Paul: Number three. Your boss asks, How’s the project going? The first part is done, but you are waiting for some data.
Emily: One, two, three.
Paul: The first part is complete. One thing might slow us down. We’re still waiting for the data.
Emily: Sunny, then a small cloud. Good forecast.
Paul: Number four. Which is better? A, Where is my order? B, Could you please give us an update on the delivery date?
Emily: One, two, three.
Paul: B. A is not wrong, but it can sound angry. B is calm and still clear.
Emily: Number five. You are new. A person in the kitchen asks, Which team are you in? You work in marketing.
Paul: One, two, three.
Emily: I’m in marketing. I just started last week.
Paul: And the hook. I just started last week. Now they can ask you how it’s going.
Emily: Number six. Your manager says, The report needs more work. You do not know what she means.
Paul: One, two, three.
Emily: What would that look like? Can you show me one part?
Paul: The shopping list question. Very good.
Emily: Count your answers. Six out of six is great. Three or four is also good. You are learning the moments.
Paul: Now the two last conversations. Number thirty four and number thirty five. And you are in both.
Emily: Conversation thirty four. It is your first week. I am a new colleague. You speak first.
Paul: You can pause the video if you need more time. Or just speak quickly, like real life.
Emily: I walk into the kitchen with my coffee. I look at you. Your turn.
Paul: One, two, three.
Emily: Hi, I’m Lena. I just joined the design team.
Paul: Your turn again. Welcome her, and say your team.
Emily: One, two, three.
Paul: Here is one possible answer. Welcome to the team. I’m in sales, so we will work together a lot.
Emily: Oh, great. I don’t really know anyone yet.
Paul: Your turn. Offer to help.
Emily: One, two, three.
Paul: I could show you around if you like. The printer is a bit difficult.
Emily: Ha, thank you. That would be great.
Paul: Well done. Three lines, and Lena has a friend at work.
Emily: Conversation thirty five. This time, Paul is a client, and you work for a training company.
Paul: Good afternoon. I have two questions. First, can your trainers come on Saturdays?
Emily: You do not know the answer. Your turn.
Paul: One, two, three.
Emily: A good answer. That’s a good question. Let me find out and get back to you by tomorrow.
Paul: Thank you. Second question. Your price is too high for us. We have about half.
Emily: Your turn. Offer something smaller, with the same quality.
Paul: One, two, three.
Emily: We could offer a smaller package. Two days instead of four.
Paul: Hmm. Could you make the course cheaper with fewer materials?
Emily: Your turn. Stay kind, but keep your line.
Paul: One, two, three.
Emily: We can be flexible on the price, but not on the quality.
Paul: That’s fair. Send me the smaller offer, and let’s talk next week.
Emily: That was thirty five conversations. A full working day, and the last two were yours.
Paul: If it felt hard, do it again tomorrow. The second time is always easier.
Emily: Now the biggest practice of the day. This time, you speak for about one minute.
Paul: Imagine a new colleague asks you to describe a normal day at your job.
Emily: Tell them about your working day, from the morning to the evening.
Paul: Here is a simple plan. First, say your team. Second, say one thing you finished. Third, one thing that might slow you down. Fourth, your plan for tonight.
Emily: Use at least three lines from today. I’m in. I managed to. One thing might slow us down. I’m all set for tomorrow.
Paul: Let me give you a short example first. Only an example, so yours can be longer.
Emily: Go ahead.
Paul: I’m in IT, on the second floor. This morning, I managed to fix the printer. One thing might slow us down this week. We’re still waiting for new laptops. But I’m all set for tomorrow. Tonight, probably a quiet dinner at home.
Emily: Nice. Short, but every line has a hook.
Paul: Now it is your turn. Pause the video, and speak for one minute. Use your real job, or a job you want.
Emily: If you are a student, talk about your school day. The same lines work.
Paul: Then try it one more time. Add one detail you forgot the first time.
Emily: And if you want a challenge, record yourself on your phone. Listen tomorrow. You will hear the difference. Now, one small thing to do today.
Paul: Today, try this. The next time someone asks you something at work, say yes, and then add one more line.
Emily: One detail. One day. Or one next step.
Paul: Yes, and I’ll send it by Friday. Yes, but can we do it at eleven instead? Yes, I’m in IT, on the second floor.
Emily: Just one more line. That is the whole task.
Paul: And I want to finish my story. The Monday after that Friday, I came in early.
Emily: I hope you saw Rosa.
Paul: I did. She was at the coffee machine. I said, Hi, Rosa. Have you been with the company long?
Emily: I want to hear the end.
Paul: She talked for ten minutes. About the company, the people, the best lunch place. We are still friends today.
Emily: All from one more line.
Paul: Yes is a start.
Emily: Add one more line. Remember that one.
Paul: Now a question for you. Which line will you use first at work this week? Mind if I join you? Or, Let me find out and get back to you?
Emily: Write it in the comments. And tell us your job. We love to read where you work.
Paul: In the next episode, we keep practicing real English for real days.
Emily: If this episode helped you, please subscribe. It helps more learners find us.
Paul: Thanks for spending your working day with us.
Emily: Goodbye for now, and see you in the next episode.
Paul: Yes is a start. Add one more line.