55 - To show you the ropes
Language for telling someone what to do
Denise is back at Tip Top Trading and she's negotiated some new conditions with Paul. She's going to learn how to be a Sales Executive, which means Anna will need to help her with all the new tasks that go with this role. Will she be able to show Denise the ropes and teach her about being a top executive?
Intermediate · 170719 · 2017-07-19
Denise is back at Tip Top Trading and she's negotiated some new conditions with Paul. She's going to learn how to be a Sales Executive, which means Anna will need to help her with all the new tasks that go with this role. Will she be able to show Denise the ropes and teach her about being a top executive? Language for telling someone what to do This episode focuses on the language that you might use when you are teaching a new colleague how to do your job. Let me show you the ropes. Watch what I do for a while. Why don't you make a start on this? I'm here to help, so please ask me if you need to know what to do.
No key phrases available.
1. Tom
Quick, gather round, here she comes.
BBC UK: Quick, gather round, here she comes.
2. Anna
Welcome back Denise, we just couldn't survive without you.
BBC UK: Welcome back Denise, we just couldn't survive without you.
3. Denise
Oh bless you.
BBC UK: Oh bless you.
4. Narrator
Yes welcome back to Tip Top Trading Denise. Paul, the boss, was a little hasty in getting rid of her so now he's asked her back but negotiated some new conditions which include learning how to be a Sales Executive, like Anna. But who's going to show her what to do?
BBC UK: Yes welcome back to Tip Top Trading Denise. Paul, the boss, was a little hasty in getting rid of her so now he's asked her back but negotiated some new conditions which include learning how to be a Sales Executive, like Anna. But who's going to show her what to do?
5. Paul
Oh, hello Denise. Nice to have you back. I suppose I had to eat my words didn't I?
BBC UK: Oh, hello Denise. Nice to have you back. I suppose I had to eat my words didn't I?
6. Denise
Yes, well it makes a change from cookies! Now, where have you put my stapler and my red pens?
BBC UK: Yes, well it makes a change from biscuits! Now, where have you put my stapler and my red pens?
7. Paul
Don't worry about that, I've got you a new stapler and a new desk, right here next to Anna.
BBC UK: Don't worry about that, I've got you a new stapler and a new desk, right here next to Anna.
8. Denise
Oh lovely.
BBC UK: Oh lovely.
9. Paul
Well you wanted some experience in sales, so I thought Anna could show you the ropes.
BBC UK: Well you wanted some experience in sales, so I thought Anna could show you the ropes.
10. Anna
Ropes? I don't have any ropes!
BBC UK: Ropes? I don't have any ropes!
11. Narrator
Anna, if you 'show someone the ropes' it means you explain to someone how to do the job. You'll be great at that.
BBC UK: Anna, if you 'show someone the ropes' it means you explain to someone how to do the job. You'll be great at that.
12. Anna
Oh I see. Well I might know what to do but I'm no good at explaining it to someone else.
BBC UK: Oh I see. Well I might know what to do but I'm no good at explaining it to someone else.
13. Narrator
Well the best way is to start at the beginning. Why not suggest to her to 'watch what I do', or give her some of your tasks and say 'please could you make a start on these?' and then reassure her by saying 'I'm here to help so please ask me if you need to know what to do.' Good luck.
BBC UK: Well the best way is to start at the beginning. Why not suggest to her to 'watch what I do', or give her some of your tasks and say 'please could you make a start on these?' and then reassure her by saying 'I'm here to help so please ask me if you need to know what to do.' Good luck.
14. Anna
Thanks! So Denise, it's nice to have you back, how's your new desk?
BBC UK: Thanks! So Denise, it's nice to have you back, how's your new desk?
15. Denise
Much bigger than my old one - and look, it goes up....and down.
BBC UK: Much bigger than my old one – and look, it goes up….and down.
16. Anna
Yes it does. Okay, should we make a start then and I'll show you the ropes.
BBC UK: Yes it does. OK, shall we make a start then and I'll show you the ropes.
17. Denise
Oh yes Anna, of course Anna. Do I need to use the phone?
BBC UK: Oh yes Anna, of course Anna. Do I need to use the phone?
18. Tom
I reckon you're quite experienced with the phone already Denise!
BBC UK: I reckon you're quite experienced with the phone already Denise!
19. Anna
Thank you Tom. We won't make any calls yet, just watch what I do for a while. Look, I'm just checking our database so see who we haven't called for a while.
BBC UK: Thank you Tom. We won't make any calls yet, just watch what I do for a while. Look, I'm just checking our database so see who we haven't called for a while.
20. Denise
Oh yes.
BBC UK: Oh yes.
21. Anna
I'm just checking the dates here...in fact Denise, why don't you make a start on this.
BBC UK: I'm just checking the dates here…in fact Denise, why don't you make a start on this.
22. Denise
Of course...oh look, my phone's ringing.
BBC UK: Of course…oh look, my phone's ringing.
23. Tom
Are you going to answer it then?
BBC UK: Are you going to answer it then?
24. Denise
Oh right. Hello, Tip Top Trading, Denise speaking...oh hello Marge! (To Anna) It's Marge, Anna!
BBC UK: Oh right. Hello, Tip Top Trading, Denise speaking…oh hello Marge! (To Anna) It's Marge, Anna!
25. Anna
Oh right. I'll leave you to it - I'm here to help, so please ask me if you need to know what to do.
BBC UK: Oh right. I'll leave you to it – I'm here to help, so please ask me if you need to know what to do.
26. Denise
Okay Anna, I won't be long. So Marge, how did it go the other night? Really? Really! Well, I'm sitting at my new desk...
BBC UK: OK Anna, I won't be long. So Marge, how did it go the other night? Really? Really! Well, I'm sitting at my new desk…
27. Tom
Nice to have her back hey?! Some Sales Exec she's going to be!
BBC UK: Nice to have her back hey?! Some Sales Exec she's going to be!
28. Narrator
Everyone has to start somewhere Tom! Now Anna is helping - or coaching - Denise I'm sure she'll become an excellent worker. Here are some of the phrases Anna used to help her: Let me show you the ropes. Watch what I do for a while. Why don't you make a start on this? I'm here to help, so please ask me if you need to know what to do.
BBC UK: Everyone has to start somewhere Tom! Now Anna is helping – or coaching - Denise I'm sure she'll become an excellent worker. Here are some of the phrases Anna used to help her: Let me show you the ropes. Watch what I do for a while. Why don't you make a start on this? I'm here to help, so please ask me if you need to know what to do.
29. Narrator
Let's find out how Denise is getting on.
BBC UK: Let's find out how Denise is getting on.
30. Denise
So I said to him, it's just not my color...yes exactly...hold on Marge, everyone's looking at me. I'd better call you back. Yes, tonight. Bye!
BBC UK: So I said to him, it's just not my colour…yes exactly…hold on Marge, everyone's looking at me. I'd better call you back. Yes, tonight. Bye!
31. Tom
Hmm, you've certainly got a good phone manner. Do you think you could order some pens now, we've run out.
BBC UK: Hmm, you've certainly got a good phone manner. Do you think you could order some pens now, we've run out.
32. Denise
That's not my responsibility anymore.
BBC UK: That's not my responsibility anymore.
33. Tom
Uh, I think it is.
BBC UK: Err, I think it is.
34. Denise
Isn't!
BBC UK: Isn't!
35. Tom
Is.
BBC UK: Is.
36. Denise
Isn't!
BBC UK: Isn't!
37. Anna
You two, please!
BBC UK: You two, please!
38. Tom
Well, she's got time for personal calls but not to order pens. Oh hold on....Oh Hi Jim, how's things? Yeah! Did you catch the match last night? What a goal!
BBC UK: Well, she's got time for personal calls but not to order pens. Oh hold on….Oh Hi Jim, how's things? Yeah! Did you catch the match last night? What a goal!
39. Denise
Really!
BBC UK: Really!
40. Narrator
Oh dear Anna. Things aren't going well. It's time to sort things out again but what are you going to do? Join us again next time to find out. Bye!
BBC UK: Oh dear Anna. Things aren't going well. It's time to sort things out again but what are you going to do? Join us again next time to find out. Bye!
Question
What task does Anna give Denise to do first?
Answer
Checking the database of clients to see who hasn't been called for a while.