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How Do Native Speakers Talk at Work? | Podcast by MrB | YouTubeToText
YouTube Transcript: How Do Native Speakers Talk at Work?
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Summary
Core Theme
This podcast episode focuses on practical English communication skills for the workplace, specifically covering email etiquette, polite phrasing for requests, and useful expressions for meetings.
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Hello everyone and welcome back to
podcast by Mr. B. I'm Mr. B and I'm so
happy to be here with you all today.
>> Morning Mr. B. How are you today?
>> Morning Anna. I'm good, thanks. Little
sleepy though. I stayed up late last
night reading a report.
Oh no, another long night.
>> Yeah, the monthly report was so long,
but I learned some new words from it, so
that's good.
>> That's a nice way to see it. Well, let's
get some coffee first.
>> Good idea. I can't start work without coffee.
coffee.
>> Me, too. Oh, by the way, happy Monday. [laughter]
[laughter]
>> Happy Monday indeed. Another busy week ahead.
ahead.
>> Yes, but we can do it one task at a time.
time.
>> Right. So, what's your plan for today?
>> I'll check my emails first, then review
the new project proposal. You
>> same here. I need to reply to a few
emails and prepare for our team meeting.
>> Perfect. Let's do that together. We can
talk about useful English phrases for
emails while we work.
>> Sounds great. typing sounds fade in.
>> Okay, let's start with this. How do you
usually begin a professional email in English?
English?
>> I usually write hi and the person's name
like hi John.
>> That's good. Hi John or hello Sarah are
both friendly and professional.
>> What about dear? I see that sometimes too.
too.
Dear is more formal. You can use it when
writing to someone you don't know well
or to your boss or a client. For
example, dear Mr. Smith or dear Miss Lee.
Lee.
>> Got it. So, hi is friendly. Dear is formal.
formal. >> Exactly.
>> Exactly.
>> And what if I don't know the person's name?
name?
>> You can say dear sir or madam or to whom
it may concern. But that's very formal.
If you can, it's always better to find
the name of the person you are writing to.
to.
>> Makes sense.
>> Now, after the greeting, you should
start with a short polite sentence.
Something like, I hope you are well. Or,
I hope you are having a good day.
>> Oh, yes. I've seen that before. I hope
you are doing well.
>> Exactly. It's friendly and polite.
>> So, for example, hi Anna, I hope you're
doing well. I wanted to ask about the
new project schedule.
>> Perfect. That sounds natural.
>> Great. What about ending the email?
>> At the end, you can say things like best
regards, kind regards, thanks, or thank you.
you.
>> I usually write thanks.
>> That's fine for most situations,
especially if you know the person. But
if it's formal, kind regards is better.
Okay, I'll remember that. Sometimes I
don't know how to ask something
politely, like how do I say, "Send me
the file without sounding rude."
>> Good question. Instead of send me the
file, you can say, "Could you please
send me the file?" Or, "Would you mind
sending me the file?"
>> Ah, that sounds more polite.
>> Yes. Using could you please or would you
mind makes it sound gentle.
>> So instead of check this report, I can
say could you please check this report?
>> Exactly. That's perfect English for work.
work.
>> Thanks Anna. You're a great teacher even
at work. [laughter]
>> I'm just sharing what I learned from my emails.
emails.
>> Oh look, I just got a new email from our
manager. What does it say?
>> H it says, "Team, please review the
attached report and share your feedback
by end of day. Regards, David."
>> That's a short, clear message.
>> Yeah. So, I should reply something like,
"Hi, David. Thanks for sharing the
report. I'll review it and send my
feedback soon."
>> Perfect reply. Polite and clear. I like
simple messages like that.
>> Me, too. Clear English is always best.
Short sentences, no big words.
>> You know, sometimes I worry my emails
sound too short.
>> Don't worry. As long as you're polite
and clear, it's fine.
>> Okay. Maybe you can help me check one of
my drafts.
>> Sure. Show me.
>> Here's one I wrote. Hi, Lisa. Send the
sales report today. Thanks, Mr. B.
>> Um, that's clear, but a little too
direct. Let's make it softer. Try this.
Hi, Lisa. Could you please send me the
sales report today? Thanks a lot, Mr. B. [laughter]
[laughter]
>> Okay. Oh, yes, that sounds friendlier.
>> Always remember, could you please is
your magic phrase at work.
>> Got it. My magic phrase. [laughter]
Okay, let's take a short coffee break.
>> Good idea. You want sugar?
>> Just a little. Thank you.
>> So, how long have you been working here, Anna?
Anna?
>> 2 years now. Time flies.
>> Wow. Really? You must know everyone by now.
now.
>> Almost. I love the people here.
Everyone's friendly.
>> Yeah, the team is nice. Sometimes I'm
still shy to talk in English, though.
That's normal, but the more you talk,
the easier it gets. You don't need
perfect grammar. Just be friendly and clear.
clear.
>> That's true. I'll try to speak more with co-workers.
co-workers.
>> Good plan.
>> Speaking of co-workers, do you have some
useful phrases for small talk at work?
>> Sure. We often start with something
simple like, "How was your weekend?" or
"Did you watch the game last night?" or
"How's your day going?"
>> Ah, yes. People ask me that sometimes. I
usually just say good.
>> That's fine. You can also say pretty
good. Not bad. Busy, but good.
>> Busy, but good. That's my favorite.
>> Yeah, that's the truth for most of us.
>> How do I keep the conversation going
after that?
>> You can ask back and you or how about
you? Or say something about work. I'm
working on the new report today or what
are you working on?
>> Oh, okay. So, if you say, "How's your
day?" I can answer, "It's good. I'm
working on the project plan. How about you?"
you?"
>> Perfect. That's exactly how native
speakers talk at work.
>> You know, sometimes I just say, "Hi,"
and walk away because I don't know what
to add.
>> That's okay. Just add one short question
or comment. For example, hi, it's cold
today, isn't it? Or, "Hi, you look busy today."
today."
>> Oh, yeah. Weather always a safe topic.
>> Exactly. Everyone loves talking about weather.
weather.
>> Okay, let's do a quick practice. Pretend
we meet near the coffee machine. >> All right.
>> All right.
>> Acting. Hi, Anna.
>> Hey, Mr. B. How's your morning so far?
>> Pretty good. Just checking emails. How
about you?
>> Busy, but good.
>> Busy, but good. We sound like real
co-workers now.
>> Because we are.
Speaking of emails again, do you know
how to write a polite reminder? Like
when someone doesn't reply to my email?
>> Oh, yes. That's very common. You can
say, "Hi, name. Just following up on my
previous email. Could you please share
an update when you have time?"
>> Oh, that's nice. Not pushy, just polite.
>> Exactly. You're not demanding. You're
just checking politely.
>> And if it's urgent,
>> then you can say, "Hi, name. I just
wanted to check if you had a chance to
look at my previous email. We need the
information by date.
>> That's useful. I'll write that down.
>> Remember, polite, clear, short.
>> What about when we send attachments? I
never know what to write.
>> Easy. Just say, "Please find attached
the report." Or, "I've attached the file
for your reference."
>> Oh, I always wrote, "I send you the
file." [laughter]
>> That's okay. But in business English, we
usually say attached.
>> Got it? Please find attached. Sounds
more natural. You know what? I'll try to
write an example now.
>> Go ahead.
>> Okay. Hi, Anna. I hope you're doing
well. Please find attached the new
report. Could you please review it?
Thanks and kind regards, Mr. B.
>> That's perfect, Mr. B. Clear, polite,
and professional.
>> Yay. Huh? My first professional email in
perfect English.
>> You're doing great.
All right. I think we have our team
meeting in 10 minutes.
>> Oh, yes. The Monday catchup,
>> right? Are you ready for it?
>> Kind of. I still get nervous speaking in meetings.
meetings.
>> Don't worry. Today, let's practice some
easy English you can use in meetings.
>> Good idea.
>> When the meeting starts, the leader
usually says something like, "Good
morning, everyone." or let's get started.
started.
>> Okay. And what can I say when it's my
turn to speak?
>> You can say today I'd like to talk about
or I have an update on
>> Oh, that's useful. I have an update on
the project plan.
>> Perfect. Simple and clear. What if I
want to agree with someone in the meeting?
meeting?
>> You can say, "I agree. That's a good
point." Or, "I think you're right."
>> Easy. And if I don't agree,
>> be polite. You can say, "I see your
point, but or I understand, but I think
>> that sounds very polite."
>> Yes. Always polite, never too strong.
>> Okay, I'll try that in today's meeting.
>> Great. You'll do fine. By the way,
sometimes I don't understand what people
say in meetings. What should I do?
>> Don't worry, that's normal. You can say,
"Sorry, could you repeat that?" Or could
you please speak a bit slower?
>> Oh, good. I always just nod and pretend
I understand. [laughter]
>> Yeah, I used to do that, too. But it's
Betty to ask. People are happy to help.
>> True. I'll remember that. Okay, quick
question. What do you say when you want
to leave a meeting early?
>> H maybe I have to go.
>> That's okay. But at work, it's better to
say, "Sorry, I have another meeting
now." or sorry, I have to leave early
for another task.
>> Ah, yes, that sounds more professional. >> Exactly.
>> Exactly.
>> Wow, we already learned a lot this
morning. Greetings, emails, and even meetings.
meetings.
>> And it's only 10:00 a.m. [laughter]
>> Busy, but good.
>> There's your new favorite phrase again. Always.
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