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08 - Room 301

Language for giving praise

The boss isn't happy with Tom! But Anna is told 'Well done!' Find out what words he uses to give Anna the praise she deserves...

Intermediate · 160824 · 2016-08-24

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The boss isn't happy with Tom! But Anna is told 'Well done!' Find out what words he uses to give Anna the praise she deserves... Language for giving praise This episode explores language for giving praise.

Vocabulary Cards
Phrase, meaning, example, and common mistakes with personal flags.
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  • 1. Well done.

    BBC UK: Well done.

  • 2. You were in a difficult situation and you handled it well.

    BBC UK: You were in a difficult situation and you handled it well.

  • 3. Great job. I'm really impressed.

    BBC UK: Great job. I'm really impressed.

Transcript
Speakers: Paul, Narrator, Anna, Tom

1. Paul

Good afternoon. Anna & Tom Hi, good afternoon.

BBC UK: Good afternoon. Anna & Tom Hi, good afternoon.

2. Paul

Anna, Tom, room 301 please. Now.

BBC UK: Anna, Tom, room 301 please. Now.

3. Narrator

Welcome back to Tip Top Trading, where things are a teeny bit tense today. Paul has called Tom and Anna into room 301, the place where difficult conversations happen. Perhaps Paul has found out about yesterday's unhappy clients.

BBC UK: Welcome back to Tip Top Trading, where things are a teeny bit tense today. Paul has called Tom and Anna into room 301, the place where difficult conversations happen. Perhaps Paul has found out about yesterday's unhappy clients.

4. Anna

Oh dear.

BBC UK: Oh dear.

5. Narrator

You should be okay Anna. After the way you coped with Mr. Lime, you should be praised.

BBC UK: You should be okay Anna. After the way you coped with Mr Lime, you should be praised.

6. Anna

Really? What do you think Paul will say?

BBC UK: Really? What do you think Paul will say?

7. Narrator

Well, if he is pleased, he'll say things like: Well done. You handled it well. Great job. I'm really impressed.

BBC UK: Well, if he is pleased, he'll say things like: Well done. You handled it well. Great job. I'm really impressed.

8. Anna

And if he's not?

BBC UK: And if he's not?

9. Narrator

Well, I suppose - oop. Here’s Paul now!

BBC UK: Well, I suppose – oop. Here’s Paul now!

10. Paul

Well, Tom, Anna... Yesterday was not a great day. Two clients came in with serious complaints. Mrs. Kumquat received a delivery of imitation bananas that were purple, not very convincing. And Mr. Lime ordered grapefruits, but got pineapples. Tom.

BBC UK: Well, Tom, Anna... Yesterday was not a great day. Two clients came in with serious complaints. Mrs Kumquat received a delivery of imitation bananas that were purple, not very convincing. And Mr Lime ordered grapefruits, but got pineapples. Tom.

11. Tom

Yes.

BBC UK: Yes.

12. Paul

Were you responsible for these errors?

BBC UK: Were you responsible for these errors?

13. Tom

Well... yes, but...

BBC UK: Well... yes, but…

14. Paul

Look, mistakes happen. But it seems that Mrs. Kumquat left our offices even angrier than when she came in and she says she will never use Tip Top Trading again.

BBC UK: Look, mistakes happen. But it seems that Mrs Kumquat left our offices even angrier than when she came in and she says she will never use Tip Top Trading again.

15. Tom

I tried my best.

BBC UK: I tried my best.

16. Paul

Hmmm. I understand you told her to spray-paint the bananas and to 'stop being such a miserable old witch'.

BBC UK: Hmmm. I understand you told her to spray-paint the bananas and to 'stop being such a miserable old witch'.

17. Tom

Yeah, well look, she'd been very rude to me.

BBC UK: Yeah, well look, she'd been very rude to me.

18. Paul

If you weren't such a good salesman I would fire you for that. Anna.

BBC UK: If you weren't such a good salesman I would fire you for that. Anna.

19. Anna

Yes.

BBC UK: Yes.

20. Paul

Well done. Not only was Mr. Lime satisfied that his problem would be resolved, but we might even get some extra business from him, thanks to your Imperial Lemon proposal.

BBC UK: Well done. Not only was Mr Lime satisfied that his problem would be resolved, but we might even get some extra business from him, thanks to your Imperial Lemon proposal.

21. Anna

I hope so.

BBC UK: I hope so.

22. Paul

You were in a difficult situation and you handled it well. You remained calm, friendly and professional. So, great job. I'm really impressed. I'm going to... (phone rings)

BBC UK: You were in a difficult situation and you handled it well. You remained calm, friendly and professional. So, great job. I'm really impressed. I'm going to… (phone rings)

23. Paul

Who's that? Oh no. It's a call from the USA.

BBC UK: Who's that? Oh no. It's a call from the USA.

24. Tom

Oh god!

BBC UK: Oh god!

25. Anna

What?

BBC UK: What?

26. Tom

It's the boss!

BBC UK: It's the boss!

27. Anna

Whose boss?

BBC UK: Whose boss?

28. Tom

Ours! The big, big boss, based in America.

BBC UK: Ours! The big, big boss, based in America.

29. Paul

Shhhh! (on the phone) Hellooo? Ah, good afternoon Mr. Socrates, I mean, er- morning, ha ha, where you are it's ... yes, no, n-yes .... I'm not sure. Mrs. Kumquat ... did she? ... well, it was very unfortunate .... purple, yes .... totally unacceptable .... I will. If you'd like I could .... Mr. Socrates? Hello? Mr. Socrates? Oh, he's gone. Right where was I? Tom, great work. Anna, I'm disappointed. No, no, Anna, great work, I want you to take charge of the Imperial Lemon presentation. Tom, if you speak to a client like that again there will be disciplinary action. Mrs. Kumquat was so angry she even emailed Mr. Socrates. Ok, that’s it.

BBC UK: Shhhh! (on the phone) Hellooo? Ah, good afternoon Mr Socrates, I mean, er- morning, ha ha, where you are it's … yes, no, n-yes …. I'm not sure. Mrs Kumquat … did she? … well, it was very unfortunate …. purple, yes …. totally unacceptable …. I will. If you'd like I could …. Mr Socrates? Hello? Mr Socrates? Oh, he's gone. Right where was I? Tom, great work. Anna, I'm disappointed. No, no, Anna, great work, I want you to take charge of the Imperial Lemon presentation. Tom, if you speak to a client like that again there will be disciplinary action. Mrs Kumquat was so angry she even emailed Mr Socrates. Ok, that’s it.

30. Narrator

Phew! What a relief for Anna. Let's listen again to some of the phrases Paul used to praise her: Well done. You were in a difficult situation and you handled it well. So, great job. I'm really impressed. He also explained why he thought Anna had done a good job: You remained calm, friendly and professional. Excellent work Anna. But Tom's mistakes have given everyone a lot of work to do tomorrow.

BBC UK: Phew! What a relief for Anna. Let's listen again to some of the phrases Paul used to praise her: Well done. You were in a difficult situation and you handled it well. So, great job. I'm really impressed. He also explained why he thought Anna had done a good job: You remained calm, friendly and professional. Excellent work Anna. But Tom's mistakes have given everyone a lot of work to do tomorrow.

31. Paul

First thing tomorrow we need to sort this mess out. Tom, I want you to phone every single client and check the orders. Anna, you can go to the warehouse and find out what's going on in there!

BBC UK: First thing tomorrow we need to sort this mess out. Tom, I want you to phone every single client and check the orders. Anna, you can go to the warehouse and find out what's going on in there!

Listening Challenge
Check your understanding before looking at the answer.

Question

In which country is the big boss of Tip Top Trading based?

Answer

America / United States