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06 - Double-booked

Language for offering help

It's chaos at Tip Top Trading. Tom is in a panic and needs help! He has arranged more meetings than he can cope with and is going to have to face some unhappy clients. Anna decides to step in and help.

Intermediate · 160810 · 2016-08-10

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Context

It's chaos at Tip Top Trading. Tom is in a panic and needs help! He has arranged more meetings than he can cope with and is going to have to face some unhappy clients. Anna decides to step in and help. Language for offering help This episode explores language for offering help.

Vocabulary Cards
Phrase, meaning, example, and common mistakes with personal flags.
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  • 1. Is there anything I can do?

    BBC UK: Is there anything I can do?

  • 2. Let me help.

    BBC UK: Let me help.

  • 3. Can I give you a hand?

    BBC UK: Can I give you a hand?

  • 4. Give me a shout if you need anything.

    BBC UK: Give me a shout if you need anything.

  • 5. I have an idea!

    BBC UK: I have an idea!

Transcript
Speakers: Anna, Denise, Paul, Narrator, Tom, Mr. Lime

1. Anna

‘Look forward to hearing from you soon. Kind regards, Anna.’

BBC UK: ‘Look forward to hearing from you soon. Kind regards, Anna.’

2. Denise

(on the phone) ... And Margery said: 'I don't think I've ever seen a vegetable quite that size before...'

BBC UK: (on the phone) ... And Margery said: 'I don't think I've ever seen a vegetable quite that size before...'

3. Paul

Where's that hole-punch?!

BBC UK: Where's that hole-punch?!

4. Narrator

Ah, business as usual in the offices of Tip Top Trading.

BBC UK: Ah, business as usual in the offices of Tip Top Trading.

5. Tom

Oh for goodness sake! What a disaster! I can't believe it!

BBC UK: Oh for goodness sake! What a disaster! I can't believe it!

6. Narrator

But one member of the team seems bothered.

BBC UK: But one member of the team seems bothered.

7. Tom

Arrgh!

BBC UK: Arrgh!

8. Narrator

Anna, this is the moment to show you’re willing to help.

BBC UK: Anna, this is the moment to show you’re willing to help.

9. Anna

Yes!

BBC UK: Yes!

10. Narrator

Use phrases like 'Is there anything I can do?' 'Let me help!' or, to be more informal, you can say, 'Can I give you a hand?' or 'Give me a shout if you need anything!'

BBC UK: Use phrases like 'Is there anything I can do?' 'Let me help!' or, to be more informal, you can say, 'Can I give you a hand?' or 'Give me a shout if you need anything!'

11. Anna

Right.

BBC UK: Right.

12. Narrator

Go on!

BBC UK: Go on!

13. Anna

Are you okay Tom?

BBC UK: Are you okay Tom?

14. Tom

(grumpily) No.

BBC UK: (grumpily) No.

15. Anna

Is there anything I can do?

BBC UK: Is there anything I can do?

16. Tom

(grumpily) No.

BBC UK: (grumpily) No.

17. Anna

Oh. What's wrong?

BBC UK: Oh. What's wrong?

18. Tom

Everything.

BBC UK: Everything.

19. Anna

I see. Can I give you a hand?

BBC UK: I see. Can I give you a hand?

20. Tom

My computer has crashed. I've lost my phone. And there's a big, big problem with my schedule. I’ve got two meetings scheduled at the same time with two extremely important clients. I can't do them both at once!

BBC UK: My computer has crashed. I've lost my phone. And there's a big, big problem with my timetable. I’ve got two meetings scheduled at the same time with two extremely important clients. I can't do them both at once!

21. Anna

Let me help.

BBC UK: Let me help.

22. Tom

Thanks Anna, but these are big, big clients. They need someone of experience.

BBC UK: Thanks Anna, but these are big, big clients. They need someone of experience.

23. Anna

Well, give me a shout if you need anything!

BBC UK: Well, give me a shout if you need anything!

24. Tom

I can handle this, alright?

BBC UK: I can handle this, alright?

25. Narrator

'I can handle this'... ungrateful idiot. But you used all the right phrases Anna, well done. Anyway, I bet he'll change his mind.

BBC UK: 'I can handle this'... ungrateful idiot. But you used all the right phrases Anna, well done. Anyway, I bet he'll change his mind.

26. Denise

Oooh, I know, and the purple ones are so much more powerful...

BBC UK: Oooh, I know, and the purple ones are so much more powerful...

27. Tom

Anna? Could you help me?

BBC UK: Anna? Could you help me?

28. Narrator

Ha! I told you so!

BBC UK: Ha! I told you so!

29. Tom

They've both arrived at once! Oh god! I'll deal with Mrs. Kumquat...

BBC UK: They've both arrived at once! Oh god! I'll deal with Mrs Kumquat...

30. Anna

Okay.

BBC UK: Okay.

31. Tom

You talk to Mr. Lime, he's from a company called Citrus Ventures. They own hundreds of juice bars.

BBC UK: You talk to Mr Lime, he's from a company called Citrus Ventures. They own hundreds of juice bars.

32. Denise

Are you sure that's a good idea Tom?

BBC UK: Are you sure that's a good idea Tom?

33. Tom

I don't have much choice, do I?

BBC UK: I don't have much choice, do I?

34. Denise

Well I could

BBC UK: Well I could

35. Tom

Just keep him occupied Anna, tell him how great he is... no, no, tell him how great I am. Find out what he wants. If it's about the - well, never mind, just be nice.

BBC UK: Just keep him occupied Anna, tell him how great he is... no, no, tell him how great I am. Find out what he wants. If it's about the - well, never mind, just be nice.

36. Anna

Understood.

BBC UK: Understood.

37. Tom

Mr. Lime! Are you well?

BBC UK: Mr Lime! Are you well?

38. Mr. Lime

Yes, but I'm actually rather angry too.

BBC UK: Yes, but I'm actually rather angry too.

39. Tom

Ah, well let me introduce you to Anna!

BBC UK: Ah, well let me introduce you to Anna!

40. Anna

Mr. Lime, it's a pleasure to meet you! Let me help with your coat.

BBC UK: Mr Lime, it's a pleasure to meet you! Let me help with your coat.

41. Mr. Lime

Oh er... Thank you.

BBC UK: Oh er... Thank you.

42. Anna

Can I give you a hand with your scarf too, Mr. Lime?

BBC UK: Can I give you a hand with your scarf too, Mr Lime?

43. Mr. Lime

Oh... Thanks.

BBC UK: Oh... Thanks.

44. Anna

Now, please come this way and you can tell me what's wrong.

BBC UK: Now, please come this way and you can tell me what's wrong.

45. Narrator

Well done! Anna used some good phrases to step in and help with this mess. Let's hear them again: Is there anything I can do? Let me help. Can I give you a hand? Give me a shout if you need anything. But Mr. Lime is obviously upset about something. What is it? And how will Anna deal with the problem? Let's hope it doesn't end in disaster!

BBC UK: Well done! Anna used some good phrases to step in and help with this mess. Let's hear them again: Is there anything I can do? Let me help. Can I give you a hand? Give me a shout if you need anything. But Mr Lime is obviously upset about something. What is it? And how will Anna deal with the problem? Let's hope it doesn't end in disaster!

Listening Challenge
Check your understanding before looking at the answer.

Question

What does the company Citrus Ventures do?

Answer

It runs juice bars.