BBC 6 minute English-New colleagues&visitors

Transcript of the podcast

NB: This is not a word-for-word transcript

Feifei: Hello, I’m Feifei and this is 6 Minute English

Neil: And I’m Neil

Feifei: How are you Neil and do you have a business fact for us today

Neil: I’m very well, thank you, and today, I am going to tell you the number of different jobs the average person has in their whole lifetime

Feifei: The number of different jobs the average person has in their lifetime: Come on then… how many

Neil: Well, it’s a bit tricky to find a number that everyone agrees on, but most sources seem to say it’s between 10 and 15 jobs. How many jobs have you had so far in your life Feifei

Feifei: I’ve only had three

Neil: Only three – that’s not many for someone as old as you

Feifei: What! You know I’m not old

Neil: Only joking! But with so much job-hopping

Feifei: ‘Job-hopping’ means moving from job to job

Neil: Yes, it does – with so much job-hopping, it’s important to know what to say when you’re showing new colleagues around the office

Feifei: Yes, showing them where everything is and how everything works and stuff like that. That’s important not just for colleagues but for visitors too

Neil: Yes and I’ve got a clip for you of our friend Derm showing a new colleague round their new office. Have a listen to this

Derm: OK, so this is the main entrance, and you just have to swipe in here and just go through, and we’ll just go up to the third floor… right so here we are, now, we sit just over here, and the lockers are on the left, the loos are over there and your desk is this one. This is your computer, and the printer’s just in the far corner. Let me show you how the coffee machine works. OK? Right, well, I’ll leave you to it. I’m just over here if you need anything, just give me a shout, OK

Feifei: Well, there’s quite a lot of language there Neil

Neil: I know

Feifei: So we really need to hear from the expert

Neil / FF: It’s Business Betty

BB: Hello Neil, hello Feifei! What can I do for you today

Feifei: Hello Betty, we’re talking about showing new colleagues and visitors around the office. Can you give us some tips

BB: I most certainly can! When you’re showing someone round your workplace, it’s important to tell them the main things they need to know, but don’t confuse them with too much information. Just tell them the basics. So, they’ll need to know how to get into the building

Neil: You just have to swipe in here and just go through

BB: Good. Tell them where exactly they’ll be working

Neil: Right, so here we are, now we sit just over here, BB: Tell them where everything is

Neil: The lockers are on the left, the loos are over there and your desk is this one. BB: Tell them where their equipment is

Neil: This is your computer, and the printer’s just in the far corner… BB: And tell them how things work

Neil: Let me show you how the coffee machine works. BB: And don’t forget to tell them how to get help if they need it

Neil: I’m just over here if you need anything, just give me a shout, OK

BB: Very good Neil! English speakers use the word ‘just’ a lot in situations like this. It helps keep the conversation light. Here are some examples

Neil: You just have to swipe in here and just go through; we’ll just go up to the third floor; now we sit just over here; the printer’s just in the far corner

BB: So: that’s how you show a visitor or new colleague round the workplace. Tell them the basics, use the word ‘just’ to keep things relaxed and tell them how to get help if they need it

Neil: Thanks Betty

Feifei: Yes, thanks Betty

BB: You’re welcome. Bye for now

Neil / FF: Bye

Neil: Business Betty. Brilliant

Feifei: I know! So Neil should we practise that

Neil: I think you should practise that

Feifei: Me

Neil: Most definitely. Let’s imagine that we’ve never met before, and I’ve come here to the BBC Learning English offices. You have to show me around and tell me where everything is, ok

Feifei: OK, let’s give it a go. Are you ready

Neil: I’m ready

Role-play

Feifei: Right, so, welcome, err… What did you say your name was? Neil: It’s Neil

Feifei: Oh yes, Neil. Welcome Neil to the BBC Learning English offices and as you can see we’re on the fifth floor. And our desks are just over here, OK

Neil: OK

Feifei: And you can use this desk here if you like, and if you look to your left the photocopier is just over there, can you see it

Neil: Yes, I can see it, it’s just over there

Feifei: And the loos are over there and the canteen is on the ground floor. Is that OK

Neil: Yes, lovely, thank you. Can I get a cup of coffee

Feifei: Oh yes, of course, let me show you how the coffee machine works

Neil: Thanks very much

Feifei: And if you need anything else, just ask

Neil: If I need anything else, I’ll just ask

Feifei: Oh yes, and welcome to the BBC

Neil: Thank you

Feifei: So that was today’s role-play – how did I do

Neil: I think you were pretty good Feifei. You told me where everything is and you kept it light. And you said ‘welcome’ which was very friendly surprisingly

Feifei: It was good fun actually Neil. I enjoyed it and that word ‘just’ is very useful

Neil: Yes, it is very useful but we’ll just have to finish there

Feifei: Yes it’s goodbye and good luck to you if you’re showing any visitors or new colleagues round your workplace. Join us again for more 6 Minute English

Neil / FF: Bye