Words to know
people are saying something, but nobody has confirmed it
learn news unofficially, from other people
make a problem seem much bigger than it is
Step 1 of 5
Listen first
No text yet. Listen for who, where and what goes wrong.
- YukiText hidden. Listen first.
- LeoText hidden. Listen first.
- YukiText hidden. Listen first.
- LeoText hidden. Listen first.
- YukiText hidden. Listen first.
- LeoText hidden. Listen first.
- YukiText hidden. Listen first.
- LeoText hidden. Listen first.
- YukiText hidden. Listen first.
- LeoText hidden. Listen first.
- YukiText hidden. Listen first.
- LeoText hidden. Listen first.
- YukiText hidden. Listen first.
- LeoText hidden. Listen first.
- YukiText hidden. Listen first.
- LeoText hidden. Listen first.
- YukiText hidden. Listen first.
- LeoText hidden. Listen first.
- YukiText hidden. Listen first.
- LeoText hidden. Listen first.
Practice · 3 min
Take Leo's part first, then Yuki's. Leo gets more nervous with every line; Yuki stays steady and slightly amused. Stress "Boxes, Yuki. Lots of boxes." word by word, and let "Here it comes" sound like he's bracing for bad news.
- YukiMorning, Leo! Where's your coffee?
- LeoMorning. I forgot it. Yuki, have you been up to the fourth floor today?
- YukiNo, why? Is the coffee machine broken again?
- LeoThere are boxes everywhere. Desks are empty. Someone's taking the plants.
- YukiThat's strange. Nobody's said anything to us.
- LeoExactly. Rumor has it they're closing the whole Seattle office.
- YukiWhere did you hear that?
- LeoThrough the grapevine. Someone in sales told someone in finance.
- YukiLeo, the grapevine also said the CEO was moving to Hawaii.
- LeoOkay, but this time there's evidence. Boxes, Yuki. Lots of boxes.
- YukiBoxes could mean anything. Maybe they're getting new furniture.
- LeoThen why has my manager canceled our meeting twice this week?
- YukiBecause she's always busy? Let's not blow this out of proportion.
- LeoI've already updated my résumé, just in case.
- YukiHold on. There's an email from facilities. Subject line: "Big news."
- LeoHere it comes. Read it slowly.
- Yuki"Starting Monday, all teams move to the new tenth floor. More space, better views."
- LeoSo the boxes are for us, too.
- YukiLooks like it. You might want to start packing your plants.
- LeoFine. But I'm keeping the new résumé. It looks great.
Say it today
Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.
