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Learning English For Work

Office English: Misunderstandings

6/8/20269 min

What do you do if you don't understand something at work? In this episode of Office English, Pippa and Phil talk about miscommunication and how to check you understand your colleagues, and that they understand you.

Find a transcript and subtitles at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/office-english/250428

Want to boost your speaking skills? Try Beating Speaking Anxiety, our series to help fight your fears of speaking English: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/beating\_speaking\_anxiety

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This programme was originally broadcast in April 2025.

Clips

Clarifying Your Boss’s Task
When Colleagues Confuse You
Making Yourself Crystal Clear
Ask Peers, Not Just Bosses
Dreading The Cold-Call Episode

Transcript preview

First 90 seconds

  1. Pippa· Host0:00

    Thanks for listening to this podcast. We're working on new episodes of Office English for you. In the meantime, here's an episode from last year to help you revise your business English. Enjoy.

  2. Phil· Host0:11

    Do you ever find you don't understand people at work?

  3. Speaker 3· Soundbite0:14

    If I don't understand a task at work, I feel frustrated. Um, it can be a bit stressful.

  4. Pippa· Host0:20

    [gentle music] It's really annoying, and you have to ask other people to help you with something.

  5. Speaker 3· Soundbite0:28

    Nobody likes to keep asking how to do something, so you can end up feeling a bit stupid really.

  6. Pippa· Host0:35

    In today's episode of Office English, we're talking about what to say when you don't understand.

  7. Phil· Host0:42

    [gentle music] Hello, and welcome to Office English. In this series, we talk about the language you need in the modern workplace. I'm Phil.

  8. Pippa· Host0:54

    And I'm Pippa. Find a transcript for this podcast on our website, bbclearningenglish.com.

  9. Phil· Host1:01

    We've just heard from some of our BBC Learning English colleagues that it can be frustrating and embarrassing when there are misunderstandings at work. Is that something you've experienced, Pippa?

  10. Pippa· Host1:11

    Yes. I think it can feel quite awkward if, uh, you realize that you and a colleague have interpreted something in a different way. Um, sometimes it just is annoying 'cause it leads to kinda wasted time, wasted effort. Um, it can lead to conflict. Not

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