BBC English at Work 完整台词 55-language-telling-someone-what-to-do

original url: 55-language-telling-someone-what-to-do

Denise is back at Tip Top Trading and she’s negotiated some new conditions with Paul. She’s going to learn how to be a Sales Executive, which means Anna will need to help her with all the new tasks that go with this role. Will she be able to show Denise the ropes and teach her about being a top executive?

Language for telling someone what to do

This episode focuses on the language that you might use when you are teaching a new colleague how to do your job.

• Let me show you the ropes.
• Watch what I do for a while.
• Why don’t you make a start on this?
• I’m here to help, so please ask me if you need to know what to do.

Listening Challenge

What task does Anna give Denise to do first?

The answer is at the bottom of the transcript below:

Transcript

__Tom
__Quick, gather round, here she comes.

Anna__
__Welcome back Denise, we just couldn’t survive without you.

Denise__
__Oh bless you.

Narrator__
__Yes welcome back to Tip Top Trading Denise. Paul, the boss, was a little hasty in getting rid of her so now he’s asked her back but negotiated some new conditions which include learning how to be a Sales Executive, like Anna. But who’s going to show her what to do?

Paul__
__Oh, hello Denise. Nice to have you back. I suppose I had to eat my words didn’t I?

Denise__
__Yes, well it makes a change from biscuits! Now, where have you put my stapler and my red pens?

Paul__
__Don’t worry about that, I’ve got you a new stapler and a new desk, right here next to Anna.

Denise__
__Oh lovely.

Paul__
__Well you wanted some experience in sales, so I thought Anna could show you the ropes.

Anna__
__Ropes? I don’t have any ropes!

Narrator__
__Anna, if you ‘show someone the ropes’ it means you explain to someone how to do the job. You’ll be great at that.

Anna__
__Oh I see. Well I might know what to do but I’m no good at explaining it to someone else.

Narrator__
__Well the best way is to start at the beginning. Why not suggest to her to ‘watch what I do’, or give her some of your tasks and say ‘please could you make a start on these?’ and then reassure her by saying ‘I’m here to help so please ask me if you need to know what to do.’ Good luck.

Anna__
__Thanks! So Denise, it’s nice to have you back, how’s your new desk?

Denise__
__Much bigger than my old one – and look, it goes up….and down.

Anna__
__Yes it does.  OK, shall we make a start then and I’ll show you the ropes.

Denise__
__Oh yes Anna, of course Anna. Do I need to use the phone?

Tom__
__I reckon you’re quite experienced with the phone already Denise!

Anna__
__Thank you Tom. We won’t make any calls yet, just watch what I do for a while.  Look, I’m just checking our database so see who we haven’t called for a while.

Denise__
__Oh yes.

Anna__
__I’m just checking the dates here…in fact Denise, why don’t you make a start on this.

Denise__
__Of course…oh look, my phone’s ringing.

Tom__
__Are you going to answer it then?

Denise__
__Oh right. Hello, Tip Top Trading, Denise speaking…oh hello Marge! (To Anna) It’s Marge, Anna!

Anna__
__Oh right. I’ll leave you to it – I’m here to help, so please ask me if you need to know what to do.

Denise__
__OK Anna, I won’t be long. So Marge, how did it go the other night? Really? Really! Well, I’m sitting at my new desk…

Tom__
__Nice to have her back hey?! Some Sales Exec she’s going to be!

Narrator__
__Everyone has to start somewhere Tom! Now Anna is helping – or coaching - Denise I’m sure she’ll become an excellent worker. Here are some of the phrases Anna used to help her:

Let me show you the ropes.

Watch what I do for a while.

Why don’t you make a start on this?

I’m here to help, so please ask me if you need to know what to do.

Narrator__
____ __Let’s find out how Denise is getting on.

Denise__
__So I said to him, it’s just not my colour…yes exactly…hold on Marge, everyone’s looking at me. I’d better call you back. Yes, tonight. Bye!

Tom__
__Hmm, you’ve certainly got a good phone manner. Do you think you could order some pens now, we’ve run out.

Denise__
__That’s not my responsibility anymore.

Tom__
__Err, I think it is.

Denise__
__Isn’t!

Tom__
__Is.

Denise__
__Isn’t!

Anna__
__You two, please!

Tom__
__Well, she’s got time for personal calls but not to order pens. Oh hold on….Oh Hi Jim, how’s things? Yeah! Did you catch the match last night? What a goal!

Denise__
__Really!

Narrator__
__Oh dear Anna. Things aren’t going well. It’s time to sort things out again but what are you going to do? Join us again next time to find out. Bye!

Listening challenge - answer

What task does Anna give Denise to do first?
Checking the database of clients to see who hasn’t been called for a while.

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