Ear Practice 1

Carmela:   Today we’re looking at business socialising.   And as usual I’m joined by 

business English expert, David Evans.  David - how would you describe 

business socialising? 

David: Well I suppose business socialising really means any kind of communication 

between business people which doesn’t relate specifically to the job that they are 

doing at that time. So it could be some colleagues socialising after work, or it 

could be people entertaining their customers maybe over a meal or over drinks. 

It could be the kind of conversation that happens at a conference or at some 

kind of party or social event at which business people are meeting one another. 

In fact socialising is often one of the hardest things for business people to do. 

In a meeting or in a presentation there is a clear purpose to the business 

communication but when you are socialising there are just no rules.   

Carmela: But having said there are no rules there are certain expressions that you’ll often 

hear and we’ll be looking at those throughout today’s programme.  Let’s join 

our first scenario.  We’re going to a breakfast meeting of Business Network 

International - a group of people from all professions who regularly get together 

to make business contacts. 

CLIP 

Louise:  Oh Hello, you must be Darren Johnston. Darren: Yeah, hi there.  Nice to meet you.  You are ...? Louise:            I’m Louise Moore.  I think we met last time in Birmingham. Daren:  Right. Yes of course. Sorry I forgot all about it. That’s right, that was a couple  of years ago wasn’t it. Louise:  Actually Darren, I think there would be somebody that would be really useful  for you to meet. Let me introduce you to Kevin Hann later. He’s a financial  advisor. 

END OF CLIP          

Carmela: A very typical start to a conversation there.  David, can you talk us through 

some of the phrases those two people used.   

David: Yes, they used a lot of very good expressions for introducing people or meeting 

people. Right at the beginning we heard her say you must be Darren.  She’s 

using that phrase because she thinks she knows his name, she’s not certain of it 

but she thinks she does, so she says you must be. Then they remember the 

previous time that they met and if you think you’ve met someone before you 

might well say I think we met last time in…in Birmingham, in this case. And 

then finally when she wants to introduce the man to somebody else she uses 

again a standard phrase - let me introduce you to Kevin, she says. 

Carmela: Now let’s hear another conversation.  This next one is the kind you might have 

during a coffee break at a conference.    

CLIP 

Callum:      Hi I’m Callum.  I don’t think we’ve met before. John:         No, hello I’m John. C:        Pleased to meet you J:         So what line of work are you in? C:       I work in new media … mainly online projects, web design, that kind of thing.  And what about you?   J:       Well quite similar to you really.  I’m in new media too ... but more on the broadband technology side. C:        Oh broadband, do you know Alison Weaver?   She’s also here at the conference.  She’s in broadband too. J:         No, I don’t think I’ve met her. 

END OF CLIP          

Carmela: So some similar expressions to the ones we heard earlier.   David, can you pick 

some of them out?  

David: There was a very good way of introducing yourself to someone you don’t know 

there.  The phrase was I don’t think we’ve met before, to which the reply here 

was pleased to meet you, a very standard way of greeting someone. I think in 

the previous conversation we had the phrase nice to meet you, which again has 

exactly the same function. They then move the conversation on when the person 

asks, What line of work are you in?  It’s a very common, a very friendly way 

of asking, what’s your job? The other one replied I’m in new media, meaning I 

work in the new media industry.  He could have said I’m in sales / I’m in 

insurance. And he then returns the question by simply saying What  about 

you….? 

Carmela: Now let’s go beyond simple introductions and move on to some phrases that are 

useful for asking more detailed questions about people’s jobs.   

CLIP 

Male 1: So…. how long have you been in business? Male 2: I’ve been in this business for about four or five years now, providing IT solutions for companies. Male 1: So what exactly do you do? I mean I know you’ve mentioned IT solutions but what exactly do you do? 

Male 2: I used to only provide computer training and now I’m also providing database  solutions and internet solutions by way of web development and setting up  networks.   

END OF CLIP         

CLIP C:        Everyone’s talking about it. Broadband is a very interesting area at the  moment. How did you get into it? J:       Well to be honest it happened by accident. I was involved in a project with a  strong broadband element and I just sort of fell into it, really.  What about  you?  How long have you been in web design?  C:       Well not very long at all, actually. Only about a year. Before that I was a  teacher. END OF CLIP          

Carmela: Now in both conversations people are going into a lot more detail about their 

professions and there were lots of questions. Could you isolate some of the 

questions we heard there? 

David: Well yes, to ask someone to tell you in a little more detail about their job you 

can use the question  what exactly do you do? This will mean they won’t just 

say, I’m a teacher, I’m a web designer or I’m a policeman, they will tell you the 

way that they spend their working day. 

Carmela: And once you’ve actually got a few details about their duties, about the kind of 

things that they do at work, what would be the next logical question to ask 

them? 

David: Well there we heard the person ask How long have you been in web design? 

How long have you….. been in something, again is a good way of moving the 

conversation on. And the other question that they used to move the 

conversation on was how did you get into it? In other words how did you start 

in this particular profession or this particular career? 

 Carmela: And again we heard someone ask the same question back with that phrase 

What about you? Of course, often the whole point of business socialising is to 

network and make useful contacts for future possible business.  So knowing 

how to get people’s contact details is extremely important.   

CLIP 

Female: So what line of work are you in? Male: I’m actually a VAT consultant for a firm of chartered accountants. Female:          Oh really?  Do you have a business card I could take? Male:  Yes sure, hold on. Female: Oh thanks ever so much. Are you on email? Male: Yes, yeah, I do have email.  In fact, I do most of my work via email now.  So it’s actually on the bottom of the card. Female: Oh sorry. So I’ll be in touch.       Male:  OK, that would be great.  Female: Thanks… Male  Bye. END OF CLIP     

Ear Practice 2

Narrator: Welcome back to the chaotic offices of Tip Top Trading. Now Denise has left the company, the place is a mess and important phone messages are being lost.  What can be done to make things better?  I think we know the answer!  

(Door opens) 

Paul: Hi. Did anyone take a message for me while I was out?  I'm expecting an important call.   Tom: Err… no!  

Anna: Actually yes Paul. I wrote it on Tom's hand but he washed it off.  

Tom: Look, good hygiene's very important to me. 

Paul: Hmm. That's not very good is it? What's wrong with writing on a piece of paper? 

Anna: We've run out of paper… and pens. 

Tom: Everything really. Nobody's ordered any stationery or tidied up the office. 

Anna: It's since Denise left. 

Paul: Yes, maybe I was a bit hasty getting rid of her. It was really just to save money. 

Tom: Yeah, but look, if we can't take messages from possible clients we're going to lose even more money. 

Paul: Yes… I suppose you have a point. Maybe I will to have reinstate her. 

Anna: You mean, get her back? 

Narrator: Yes Anna, he does. Another way of saying reinstate is he's got to 'reverse his decision'. It means Paul has got to make an awkward call to Denise.  

Tom: Look Paul, you're going to have to call her and tell her you've made an error… a huge one actually. 

Paul: It wasn't that huge? Actually… Anna, you're her good friend, would you like to call her? 

Anna: Me?! B-b-but I can't. 

Narrator: What a coward! I think it's time to stand your ground Anna. Tell him "You're the boss, I think it's better coming from you", and remind him "it was your decision so you need to explain the situation", and remind him "this is your responsibility". You could suggest he says "I'm sorry, I made a mistake and we would love to have you back." 

Anna: OK. Do you know what Paul, I think the news is better coming from you… just to make it official.  

Tom: Yeah Paul, you are the boss after all. 

Anna: And it was your decision in the first place so you need to explain that the situation has changed. 

Paul: Well, maybe you're right but I can't tell her I'm wrong can I? 

Anna: Look, just say you're sorry. Tell her you made a mistake and I would love to have you back… we all would. 

Paul: Yes, you're right. I should do it. I'll just have a quick biscuit. Here goes (Dials number) 

Denise: Hello? 

Paul: Ah... h-h-h-ello Denise. It's me… Paul…your boss… your ex-boss from Tip Top Trading. 

Denise: Oh. 

Paul: How are you… getting on? 

Denise: Well… 

Paul: Good, good. Actually, I've been rethinking our staffing situation in the office… 

Denise: Yes? 

Paul: And…well… I'm sorry Denise… I… miscalculated my staffing numbers. 

Denise: You mean you made a mistake? 

Paul: Well, I suppose so. So... I would love to have you back in the office as soon as possible. What do you say? 

Denise: Hmm, let me think about it… hmmm… errr… well… hmmm… 

  Narrator: What will Denise decide? It was a hard phone call for Paul to make, but not one Anna should have made as it wasn't her mistake. She stood her ground with Paul and used the following phrases: 

You're the boss and I think the news is better coming from you. It was your decision in the first place so you need to explain that the situation has changed. This is your responsibility. 

Narrator:  And here is a reminder of the phrases Paul used to try and apologise: 

I've been rethinking our staffing situation in the office. Sorry, I made a mistake. I miscalculated my staffing numbers. I would love to have you back in the office. 

Denise: Hmmm… well… OK then. I'll start back tomorrow. 

Paul: Oh wonderful. I'm so pleased. We'll get your old chair back in position. 

Denise: Actually Paul, if you want me back I'll need a new chair… and a new phone… 

Paul: OK Denise! See you tomorrow. 

Denise: And a pay rise!  

Tom: So, is she coming back then? 

Paul: Yes, first thing tomorrow. 

Tom: That's good because we've just had a call from Nice'n'Cheesy – they said nobody returned their call yesterday and they if we don't contact them by the end of tomorrow they will go elsewhere for their plastic grapes. 

Paul:  Right, we must act… and act fast. 

Narrator: Let's hope they don't lose that contract. At least with Denise returning to work, things will be a little more organised but for how long? Join us again next time on English at Work. Bye! 

Listening Challenge:  

What does Paul tell Denise he has been rethinking? (