The moment

It's Harry's first morning at an office in Chicago, and Priya is showing him around before his nine thirty meeting. She covers the machines, the rooms and a couple of rules nobody writes down. Then Harry mentions a detail that turns out to be a problem. Listen for how Priya explains rules with a reason, and how she handles the problem without fuss.

The conversation

PriyaHarry
  1. Priya
  2. Harry
  3. Priya
  4. Harry
  5. Priya
  6. Harry
  7. Priya
  8. Harry
  9. Priya
  10. Harry
  11. Priya
  12. Harry
  13. Priya
  14. Harry

Words to know

thanks someone for useful information

open a locked door for someone with a button

made active or working

stay close to someone

not by any rule, but everyone knows

Check yourself

1Why does Priya tell Harry to avoid double-sided printing?
2What is the problem with Harry's badge?
3What does Priya mean about the corner desk?

Practice · 3 min

Play each line and repeat it in the gap. Then take Priya's part with her lines muted. Notice how she gives the rule and the reason in one breath: "It jams if you print double-sided, so avoid that." Practice keeping those two parts together.

  1. PriyaSo this is the kitchen. Coffee's free, but you're supposed to wash your own cup.
  2. HarryGot it. And is that the printer everyone uses?
  3. PriyaThat one's for the whole floor. It jams if you print double-sided, so avoid that.
  4. HarryGood to know. Where do I get paper and pens?
  5. PriyaThe supply closet's next to reception. It's open until five.
  6. HarryGreat. Oh, and my badge didn't work at the front door this morning.
  7. PriyaReally? Security let you in, then?
  8. HarryYes, the guard buzzed me in, but I'd rather not do that every day.
  9. PriyaFair enough. It probably hasn't been switched on yet. I'll email facilities now.
  10. HarryThanks. Do you know how long that usually takes?
  11. PriyaNormally an hour or so. In the meantime, stick with me for the doors.
  12. HarryThat works. What else should I know before my meeting?
  13. PriyaBook rooms online, and don't take the corner desk. That's Elif's, unofficially.
  14. HarryUnderstood. No double-sided printing, and stay away from the corner desk.

Say it today

Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.