Speak English Confidently at Workplace | Business English Conversation for Beginners

Good morning, Lucy! I'm William, Head of Human Resources Department, and also your interviewer. Good morning.

William. Thank you for inviting me. So, Lucy, can you tell me a bit about yourself?

I graduated in Marketing, and I’ve been working as an assistant for two years. Why are you interested in this role? I really enjoy social media, and I want to work in a bigger company.

I feel like I can learn a lot here. That's a good answer. We love passionate people!

Thank you. I'm very excited about this opportunity. And what would you say are your strengths?

I’m a quick learner, and I love to make new relationships. I also have strong leadership skills. And what do you think is your weakness?

My biggest weakness is that I can’t keep calm. Sometimes I lose control over my reactions. But I'm working on it.

Alright! Finally, why should we hire you? I love challenges and I’m able to work under pressure.

Wonderful. Thank you for your time, Lucy. We'll be in touch soon.

Thank you so much. I look forward to hearing from you. Hello, Anthony!

Welcome to the team. How are you feeling? Thank you, John!

I’m a bit nervous… but I'm excited. There’s a lot to take in! That’s normal.

On the first day, everyone feels that way. I hope that I don't make any mistakes. Don't worry.

Just ask if you're not sure about anything. We’re all here to help, and no one wants you to know everything right away. Thanks.

That makes me feel a lot better. By the way, where is the meeting room? Oh, it's right down the hall.

You’ll see a big sign above the door, so you can’t miss it. Thanks! And what does “down the hall” mean exactly?

It just means to walk straight down this hallway. The meeting room will be at the end on your left. Got it.

Thank you. John. I’ll try to remember all this and do my best!

Just take it one step at a time. Hi, everyone! I’m Alex, and I just joined our marketing team.

Hope I can bring some good ideas to the table. Welcome, Alex. Where are you from?

I'm from Vinton, a village in Texas. This is my first time working in a big city. That's a big move.

What do you like to do outside of work? I love hiking and photography. Hiking?

Nice! We've got some great trails nearby. But, wait… are you someone who hikes really early in the morning?

Not really! But I can get up early if I want to. Besides, I didn’t move here to stay indoors.

We all like hiking, so you’re in good company! We usually go on weekends when you have free time. You can join us.

I’d love to! Just not too early, okay? Alright!

Just let us know when you can join. That sounds awesome. I'm really happy to be here with all of you.

We’re glad to have you, Alex! We're looking forward to working with you. Hey, Tony.

Could you help me with this report? I'm not sure about some of the terms. Sure, Vivian!

Which parts are confusing? This one says “client feedback analysis. ” What does that mean?

It means we listen to what customers say about our services and try to understand it. Oh, I see! And this term “benchmarking”?

Benchmarking means comparing our results with other companies to see how we’re doing. Thanks, Tony. I was really lost.

No problem, Vivian! It's always confusing at first, but you'll get the hang of it. I hope so.

Thanks again. Excuse me, can you help me? I don't understand the email you sent.

What is "ASAP"? Oh, "ASAP" means "as soon as possible. " It's just a way to say something needs to be done quickly.

Ah, I see! Thank you. I'm still learning some phrases.

No problem. If you ever don’t understand something, just ask. Thank you.

And what does "CC" mean in emails? "CC" stands for "Carbon Copy. " It’s when you send an email to more than one person.

If you get an email that has “CC”, it means you’re getting the email, but you don’t have to reply. Wow. The more I work, the more I need to learn.

Thank you for explaining! Anytime, Carlos! Oh no!

I can't believe I sent the wrong file to the client! It was the draft, not the final version. Oops, that’s tough.

But, hey, don't stress too much. These things happen to everyone. I'm so embarrassed.

I’ve never made a mistake like this before. Trust me, it's not the end of the world. Just send them the correct file and say sorry for the mix-up.

They'll understand. Just fix it and be honest. I guess so.

I feel so awful. I hate the idea of giving a bad impression. I don't want them to think I'm careless.

I get it, but this doesn’t really say who you are. I know you are normally careful with your work. One mistake like this doesn’t change who you are.

Take a deep breath, okay? You're right. I'm probably overthinking it.

I’ll send them a quick message, apologize, and send the right file. I just hope they won't be too upset. Exactly.

They'll accept that it's a mistake. Clients deal with this stuff all the time. They know things like this happen.

Thanks for calming me down. No problem! Now let's have a cup of coffee, shall we?

Lisa, I’m sorry for bothering you, but I really need your help! Of course, Jake! What do you need help with?

So, Mr Spencer asked me to set up for a meeting. But I’ve never done it before. .

. No worries! When is the meeting?

Tomorrow afternoon. What is it about? It's about the government project.

How many people will be attending? 10 people. Alright!

So, the first thing you need to do is to book a meeting room. Ask Sasha. Tell her you need a room for 10 people.

Got it. Anything else? The handouts.

Do you have them yet? I haven't printed them out yet. Make sure to print enough copies for everyone.

It helps them follow along during the meeting. Good point! I’ll do that.

What else do I need to do? Did Mr Spencer mention a break? Yes.

He said there would be a 15-minute break. In that case, you should have some light snacks and drinks ready. Where can I buy them?

Just tell Sasha. She will take care of them. Got it.

Oh, I almost forgot. Make sure you have a list of the participants' allergies. We don’t want to serve any allergic food!

Good point! I’ll do that. What time should I arrive?

Arrive at least 15 minutes early to set everything up. You want to be ready before people come in. You’re right!

Thank you so much! You’re welcome! Why are you guys here?

Because it's coffee time! Do you want to grab a cup? Sure.

So, did you hear about the new promotion? No I didn't. What promotion?

They are promoting Sarah to team leader. I heard she did a great job on the last project. That’s awesome!

Sarah worked really hard. She deserves it. Yes, she does!

I remember how she stayed late to finish that report. Exactly! She always goes the extra mile.

I think she will be a great leader. I agree. I’m excited to see how she will lead the team.

Do you think she will change anything in our meetings? Maybe! I hope she keeps it fun and light.

Our meetings can be a bit boring sometimes. Right! A little more energy would be nice.

Yes, I hope she brings new ideas too. I think she will. May I come in?

Oh, Jake! Sure, please sit down! I’ve been looking forward to seeing you.

So may I know why you want to see me? Of course. I want to talk to you.

What's on your mind? So, Jake, I’ve noticed you haven’t been collaborating well. Me?

Why do you think so? You haven’t been sharing your ideas with the team. I thought I was doing my part.

Yes, I know. But Jake, this is a group project. .

. So? I sent out my part!

What I want to say is. . .

collaborating on a group project is also important! What do you mean by "important"? We need your input on the whole project, not just your section.

I see. I didn’t realize it was an issue. I thought I could just work alone.

Working alone can be hard. We can help each other and come up with better ideas. I see your point.

Well, I’ll try to communicate more with my team from now on! That sounds good! You can discuss everything together.

I appreciate the feedback. I’ll be more open to collaborating. Great!

We all want to succeed as a team. Thank you. Have you heard?

We’re getting a new boss today. Really? I just started last week, so I didn’t know!

What’s he like? Have you heard anything about him? I heard a few things.

His name is Mark, and he has a lot of experience. He worked in management for over ten years at a big tech company before coming here. I think he might be strict.

You know how it is with new bosses. They always want to make a strong impression. Oh, I see.

That makes me a little nervous. I hope he’s easy to work with. Yeah, same here.

I’ve had my share of difficult managers. Some of them act like they need to change everything right away. Even if things are going well.

Exactly. I mean, we all know things can get better, but changing everything? That’s stressful.

I hope so. Here he comes now. He looks busy!

But who knows? Maybe he'll be really nice about it. Good morning, team!

I’m Mark, your new manager. I’m excited to work with all of you and hear your ideas on how we can make things better. Let's work together to achieve even greater things for this department.

Nice to meet you, sir. I’m Emily. I just joined the company last week.

Nice to meet you, Emily. I hope you're getting comfortable here. And you must be Sam.

The managers have said good things about you. Thank you, Mark. I've been with the company for five years now, and I’m looking forward to working with you.

That’s fantastic to hear. It's amazing to learn more about the team and how we can make things run even smoother. I’d love to have a one-on-one meeting with everyone soon, so we can talk about your thoughts and ideas.

Let's set a schedule sometime this week. That sounds great. We’re happy to have you.

Hey, Jessica! What’s for lunch today? Oh, just the usual stuff, a turkey sandwich and an apple.

I didn’t have much time to prepare anything fancy this morning. How about you? I ordered sushi from that new place around the corner.

You know the one everyone’s talking about? Oh, I think I know the place. The one with all the great reviews?

How is it? It's really good. Fresh fish, nice presentation, and they deliver pretty fast.

It's becoming my favorite lunch when I don't bring anything from home. Oh. Sounds good.

I want to try it. Maybe we can order together tomorrow. That's a great idea.

I'll send you the menu later today and we can find out what to get. Perfect. Oh, by the way, have you heard about the office event next week?

They're planning a team building activity. Yeah, I heard about that. I think this day is supposed to be a game day or something.

It should be fun, right? I hope so! I like the idea of getting out of the office and doing something different.

It's always good to bond with the team outside of work. Hey Alex! How’s your day going so far?

It’s been. . .

busy, to say the least. I had back to back meetings all morning, and I'm still catching up on emails. You know how it is.

Oh, I feel you. I've had one of those days, too. My inbox just keeps filling up, and every time I clear it, ten more emails show up.

It's like a never ending cycle. I just keep reminding myself that the weekend is coming. Haha, that’s what I keep telling myself, too.

Do you have any fun plans for the weekend? Yeah, actually. I'm going hiking with a couple of friends.

We're heading to that trail just outside the city. It's supposed to have amazing views. Have you ever been there?

I think I know that one. I haven't been, but I've heard it's beautiful. Definitely.

I love getting out in nature and just disconnecting for a while. No phones, no emails, just fresh air. Oh, that sounds amazing.

So, what's the plan for lunch? Should we go together, or is that too risky? I think it might be too risky today.

Karen’s been watching us like a hawk lately. I don't want to give her anything to gossip about. Okay.

We’ve been careful so far, but I’ve noticed she’s been getting more nosy. Maybe we should take a break for a while at least when we're at work. Yeah, it's a good idea.

I mean, I love spending time with you, but we don't want the whole office talking about us before we're ready to go public. I agree. I just hate feeling like we have to hide it.

But I guess that's a smart move for now. Hey, guys, what's going on here? You two seem to be spending a lot of time together lately.

Oh, just talking about the new project. You know, deadlines and all that. Uh-huh.

. . sure.

Oh my God. She actually may know something. Yeah, we really need to be more careful.

Hi everyone! We need to plan a team event for next month. I have some ideas, but I want to hear yours too.

It's important that everyone has fun. I think a cooking class would be great! Everyone loves food, and we can all work together to make something.

It will help us bond as a team. That’s a good idea! Cooking classes are a fun way to learn new skills together.

But what if we do something outside? Getting fresh air can be nice for everyone. Oh great point, David.

What if we do the cooking class one day and have an outdoor activity the next day? That way, we can enjoy both cooking and nature. I like that!

The cooking class will be exciting and the outdoor event can be a good break from the office. For the cooking class, I know a fun place downtown that has great classes. They have an awesome chef who can teach us For outdoor activity, we can go to the park or nature reserve nearby.

This is perfect. Let's book the cooking class and I'll check the budget. Hi, Mr Matt.

Do you have a moment? I need to talk to you about something important. Sure, Sophia!

What’s on your mind? You look a bit worried. I'd like to take next Friday off.

I've been really busy lately, and I think a day off would help me relax and feel better. Hmm. .

. Okay! We all need a break sometimes.

Are you feeling okay? I want to make sure you're doing well. Yes, I’m fine.

I just. . .

I just have a lot to handle at work, and I want to avoid feeling too stressed out. A day off will help me recharge. That makes sense.

You've been working very hard, and I really appreciate all your effort. Just make sure to finish your tasks before you leave. Is there anything urgent coming up?

I have a report due on Thursday, but I’m almost finished. I'll make sure everything is ready for the team before I go. I can also let them know how to reach me if they need anything.

That sounds great. I trust you will handle it. Enjoy your day off and remember to take some time for yourself.

If you need anything, just ask. Oh, thank you so much, Matt. I really appreciate your support.

No problem at all. Taking care of yourself is important. I’m really excited about the hiking trip we’re planning for next week!

It will be a great way for the team to spend time together outside the office. Have you hiked this trail before, Katie? Yes, I went there with friends last summer!

The trail is beautiful and the view from the top is amazing. It’s not too hard, so I think most people can handle it. That’s good to know!

We want everyone to have fun. Do you think we should bring anything special for the hike, like food or drinks? Yes.

Everyone should bring a lot of water and sunscreen. It can get hot out there. We could also bring some snacks to share when we take a break.

Good idea. I'll send a reminder to everyone about what to bring. What if we make the hike a bit more fun with a game, like a finding items?

That sounds awesome! We could split everyone into teams and see who can find the most items on the list. Oh, I love that idea.

It'll make the hike more exciting, especially for those who don't hike much. It’s a great way to encourage teamwork. Thank you for meeting with me, Brian!

I just wanted to say how grateful I am for the promotion. It really means a lot to me. You’re very welcome, Emma!

You've worked hard for this, and you deserve it. I'm glad to see you moving up in the company. I’m excited to take on more responsibilities and grow in this new role.

I really want to do my best. That’s great! You’ll be leading more projects now, and it’s important to guide the team.

You're ready for this challenge. I'm ready for that. I feel good relationships with the team and I want to help everyone succeed.

I believe we can achieve more together. That’s the right mindset! I'm here if you need advice or support.

It’s a big change, but I’m confident you’ll do well. Thank you! I really appreciate your trust in me.

I’ll work hard to make sure this promotion benefits the whole team. Hi, everyone! Can I have your attention, please?

What’s up, boss? Are you ready? Ready for what?

Ready to meet our new colleagues. Oh, we have newcomers today? Yes!

I want to introduce our new developers, David and Ian. Hi, everyone! I’m excited to be here!

I’m David. And I’m Ian. Nice to join the team!

Nice to meet you, David and Ian. Welcome to the team! So, this is Wilson.

He’s a senior. If you ever need help, go find him! Yes, I’m here if you have any questions!

And this lady is Sara. She’s been working here for more than 2 years. 3 years by this October.

Nice to meet you! Well, where is Alan? He's working from home today.

Ah, I remember. Alright, let’s save Alan for later. Now, follow me, David, Ian!

I'll show you to your desks.