Words to know
not know where you are or how to get somewhere
a board with words or arrows that gives information or directions
be discovered to be true in the end
Step 1 of 5
Listen first
No text yet. Listen for who, where and what goes wrong.
- OliviaText hidden. Listen first.
- MateoText hidden. Listen first.
- OliviaText hidden. Listen first.
- MateoText hidden. Listen first.
- OliviaText hidden. Listen first.
- MateoText hidden. Listen first.
- OliviaText hidden. Listen first.
- MateoText hidden. Listen first.
- OliviaText hidden. Listen first.
- MateoText hidden. Listen first.
- OliviaText hidden. Listen first.
- MateoText hidden. Listen first.
- OliviaText hidden. Listen first.
- MateoText hidden. Listen first.
- OliviaText hidden. Listen first.
- MateoText hidden. Listen first.
- OliviaText hidden. Listen first.
- MateoText hidden. Listen first.
Practice · 3 min
Shadow Olivia first. Asking a stranger for help starts with a double softener, "Excuse me, sorry", said quickly and politely. Then take Mateo's part. He's friendly and a little amused by the building; keep his lines relaxed, and let "Oh" show the moment he figures it out.
- OliviaExcuse me, sorry. I'm looking for a meeting room called Aurora. I think I'm lost.
- MateoYou're not the first today. Since the remodel, everyone's lost, including me.
- OliviaThe sign by the elevator says Aurora is to the left.
- MateoI know. And on the left there's a kitchen and a wall. Are you visiting?
- OliviaYes, from the New York office. My meeting started five minutes ago.
- MateoOkay, let's find it. The new rooms are named after nature. Aurora, Glacier, Volcano, Rainforest.
- OliviaWhy not numbers? Numbers would be simpler.
- MateoThat's what everyone said. Let's try this way. There's Glacier, so Aurora should be next to it.
- OliviaThis one says Rainforest.
- MateoHmm. Let me check the booking app. Oh. It turns out Aurora is on the ninth floor, not the eighth.
- OliviaBut the sign was on the eighth floor.
- MateoI'll report that sign. Come on, the stairs are faster than the elevator.
- OliviaThank you so much. I'd still be standing in the kitchen.
- MateoHere we are. Aurora. And I can see your colleagues through the glass.
- OliviaThey're still getting coffee. Maybe I'm not that late after all.
- MateoWelcome to São Paulo. Tell them the sign made you late. It's true.
- OliviaI'll tell them a very helpful stranger saved me. What's your name?
- MateoMateo. I'm on the finance team, next to Volcano. If you get lost again, you know where to find me.
Say it today
Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.