Asking the right questions
Watch the video to see some examples of how you can open a conversation and ask your colleagues for suggestions and ideas.
Speaker 1: Hey, there, good morning. Are you all right?
Speaker 2: Good morning.
Speaker 1: How can I help you?
Speaker 2: I'm looking to buy some flowers for my mother-in-law.
Speaker 1: OK.
Speaker 2: Last year I baked her a cake and it was such a terrible flop.
Speaker 1: Oh, no.
Speaker 2: And, honestly, it's her birthday coming up soon and I really want to make it up to her this year.
Speaker 1: I'm sure we could make something beautiful.
Speaker 2: Really? That would be great.
Speaker 1: Do you have a price range in mind?
Do you know how much you'd like to spend?
Speaker 2: £20 to £30 range.
Speaker 1: OK, no problem. Shall I take you over and show you a few things and then you can make a decision?
Speaker 2: Oh, absolutely. Thank you so much.
Speaker 1: No problem.
Speaker 2: That'll be great.
Speaker 1: So is there anything in particular here that you really like the look of?
Speaker 2: Oh, the pink ones. They look gorgeous.
Speaker 1: Those pink ones. OK, no problem.
They're a little bit soft but they should be fine.
How do you feel about some of these dusky pink hydrangeas?
They look really nice together.
Speaker 2: Um, no, I…more like bright colours a lot.
Speaker 1: (TO AUDIENCE) You have to ask lots of questions and I think that people sometimes think you are being nosy, but, you know, there's lots of things that people don't really realise come in to a bouquet of flowers.
(TO OTHER PEOPLE) And what's the name of the person they're going to?
Speaker 2: Her name's Lynda.
Speaker 1: Linda.
Speaker 2: With a Y.
Speaker 1: OK. Would you like to write your card message?
Speaker 2: I think I have the perfect message for her.
Speaker 1: (TO AUDIENCE) Sometimes a customer's message might not be spelt correctly or the punctuation might be slightly out.
We just change it just to make it a little bit more professional from a business point of view.
(TO OTHER PEOPLE) OK, so that's all done for you.
If you pop back at six, then it will all be ready for you.
Speaker 2: OK, thank you so much.
Perfect. OK.
Speaker 1: Thank you. Have a lovely day.
Speaker 2: Thank you. You too.
Choosing the best questions
Now you've watched the conversation, test your knowledge with this activity.
Rewriting using the right grammar
Watch the video to see some examples of how you can open a conversation and ask your colleagues for suggestions and ideas.
Speaker 1: So, Jade, what do you think about this?
Speaker 2: It looks good. I thought you were going to use the larger pink roses.
Speaker 1: I was going to, but they started wilting so I thought it'd be safer to use these ones.
Speaker 2: Well, she seemed quite happy to go by your guidance.
Speaker 1: Yeah, as long as it's bright I'm sure she'll be OK. 30?
Speaker 2: Perfect.
Speaker 1: OK. Cool. Oh, you've written the card already?
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker 1: Thank you.
Speaker 2: I've also corrected this spelling mistake just to make it look a little bit more professional.
I've added an apostrophe and an 'e'.
Speaker 1: Alright, let's get this wrapped up and then she can collect it.
Speaker 2: Wicked.
Using apostrophes correctly
Now you've watched the conversation, test your knowledge with this activity.
Listening and speaking clearly
Watch the video to see some examples of how you can open a conversation and ask your colleagues for suggestions and ideas.
Speaker 1: Hello.
Speaker 2: Hey. Hi there, are you alright?
Speaker 1: I'm okay thank you. Are my flowers ready?
Speaker 2: Yes, they are. They're really beautiful, so hopefully they'll beat the cake last year.
Speaker 1: What about the big bright pink roses, the ones we picked out earlier?
Speaker 2: Well, they were a little bit wilted, so I've used a much fresher rose.
But I popped in a few more for you free of charge…
Speaker 1: Aw.
Speaker 2: …just to make you happy.
Would you like to see the message on the card, just double-check it?
Speaker 1: Definitely. Oh, it's perfect.
Speaker 2: OK, lovely.
OK, there we go.
Speaker 1: Thank you.
Speaker 2: Thank you very much.
Speaker 1: Ooh, she's certainly going to love these. They're great.
Pick the right responses
Now you've watched the conversation, test your knowledge with this activity.
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