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Classroom slides
Show these on a projector or TV. Use the arrow keys, or tap the right side of a slide to go forward and the left side to go back. Press ▶ to play the recording, F for full screen and P to play the slide's audio.
Everyday English · Lesson 22 · Confident · B1
Your first day at work
Introduce yourself, ask questions and understand instructions on your first day.
Welcome, !
Warm-up · talk with a partner
What do you remember about your first day at a new job or school?
Key phrase 1 of 8
Hi, I'm Grace. I've just started.
Introduce yourself.
Key phrase 2 of 8
Where should I put my things?
Ask about lockers or desks.
Key phrase 3 of 8
Who should I ask if I have a question?
Find out who can help.
Key phrase 4 of 8
Could you show me how to do that?
Ask for a demonstration.
Key phrase 5 of 8
Just to check, you want me to…?
Confirm instructions.
Key phrase 6 of 8
Sorry, I missed that. Could you say it again?
Ask someone to repeat.
Key phrase 7 of 8
What time is lunch?
Ask about breaks.
Key phrase 8 of 8
Thanks for showing me around.
Thank the person who helped.
Conversation
Supervisor and Grace
Listen to the whole conversation first. Then we go line by line.
Conversation · line 1 of 8
Supervisor
You must be Grace. Welcome aboard! I'm Mark.
Conversation · line 2 of 8
Supervisor: You must be Grace. Welcome aboard! I'm Mark.
Grace
Hi Mark, nice to meet you. Where should I put my things?
Conversation · line 3 of 8
Grace: Hi Mark, nice to meet you. Where should I put my things?
Supervisor
There's a locker for you in the staff room. Then I'll show you the stock system.
Conversation · line 4 of 8
Supervisor: There's a locker for you in the staff room. Then I'll show you the stock system.
Grace
Great. Who should I ask if I have a question?
Conversation · line 5 of 8
Grace: Great. Who should I ask if I have a question?
Supervisor
Me, or Priya. She's been here for years.
Conversation · line 6 of 8
Supervisor: Me, or Priya. She's been here for years.
Grace
Just to check, you want me to scan every box before I put it on the shelf?
Conversation · line 7 of 8
Grace: Just to check, you want me to scan every box before I put it on the shelf?
Supervisor
Exactly. You've got it.
Conversation · line 8 of 8
Supervisor: Exactly. You've got it.
Grace
Thanks for showing me around.
Your turn · role-play
Work with a partner
Student A is Supervisor. Student B is Grace. Read the conversation together, then swap. Then try it again with your own details.
Your turn · say it 1 of 3
Hi, I'm … I've just started.
Use your own details where you see “…”. Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.
Your turn · say it 2 of 3
Just to check, you want me to …?
Use your own details where you see “…”. Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.
Your turn · say it 3 of 3
Sorry, I missed that. Could you say it again?
Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.
Quiz · question 1 of 5
What does 'Welcome aboard!' mean?
- A Welcome to the team
- B Get on the boat
- C Go away
✓ A: A friendly welcome to a new team member.
Quiz · question 2 of 5
Which phrase confirms an instruction?
- A Just to check, you want me to…?
- B I know.
- C OK, whatever.
✓ A: Checking avoids mistakes.
Quiz · question 3 of 5
Is it OK to ask questions in your first week?
- A No, it looks bad
- B Yes, it's expected
- C Only on Friday
✓ B: Nobody expects you to know everything.
Quiz · question 4 of 5
What do you say if you didn't hear?
- A What?!
- B Sorry, I missed that. Could you say it again?
- C Nothing
✓ B: Polite and clear.
Quiz · question 5 of 5
What does 'You've got it' mean?
- A You understand correctly
- B You have a present
- C You're wrong
✓ A: It means you've understood.
Good to know in Australia 🇦🇺
On your first day you'll often do a workplace induction: safety rules, emergency exits and who to report problems to. Ask questions. It's part of the job.
Well done, !
Practise at home
The same lesson, free, no sign-up:
englishcoaching.au/
Free lessons at englishcoaching.au
· englishcoaching.au
Teacher notes
Level: Confident · B1 · Time: about 60 minutes · You need: this page on a screen with sound, and one printed worksheet per learner.
Warm-up (5 minutes)
Show the warm-up slide and ask: "What do you remember about your first day at a new job or school?" Learners talk in pairs for two minutes, then a few share with the class.
Three steps
- Key phrases (15 minutes). Show each phrase, press ▶ and let learners listen once, then repeat together, then one by one. Check meaning with the note on the slide: "When would you say this?"
- The conversation (15 minutes). Play the whole conversation once with worksheets face down. Then go line by line while learners fill the gaps in part B of the worksheet. Check answers, then learners read it in pairs.
- Your turn and the quiz (20 minutes). Learners say the "Your turn" sentences with their own details, do the role-play below, then answer the quiz slides in pairs before you press "Show answer". Finish with part D of the worksheet (their own sentences).
Pair work
Student A is Supervisor and student B is Grace. Pairs read the conversation, swap roles, then turn the worksheet over and do it again from memory, changing the details (names, times, places, prices). Stronger pairs add two lines of their own; newer learners can keep the worksheet in front of them.
Using the audio
- Every phrase and conversation line is recorded with natural AI voices: Supervisor is read by Josh and Grace by Mel. Press ▶ on a slide or press P.
- Play each phrase twice: once to listen, once for the class to repeat. On the conversation slides, pause after each line so learners can repeat it.
- Test the sound before class. If the internet is slow, open the slides a few minutes early and play the first phrase once.
Good to know in Australia
On your first day you'll often do a workplace induction: safety rules, emergency exits and who to report problems to. Ask questions. It's part of the job.
After class
- Learners can do the full lesson at home, free and with no sign-up: Your first day at work. The last slide has a QR code to it.
- Running a course? Print certificates of participation when your group finishes a level.
Printable worksheet
One A4 worksheet per learner: the key phrases and the conversation with gaps, the quiz, and space for their own sentences. The answer key prints on a separate page.
Name: Date:
Everyday English · Lesson 22: Your first day at work
Introduce yourself, ask questions and understand instructions on your first day.
A. Key phrases: fill the gaps
Word bank: check · lunch · missed · question · show · showing · started · things
- Hi, I'm Grace. I've just . (Introduce yourself)
- Where should I put my ? (Ask about lockers or desks)
- Who should I ask if I have a ? (Find out who can help)
- Could you me how to do that? (Ask for a demonstration)
- Just to , you want me to…? (Confirm instructions)
- Sorry, I that. Could you say it again? (Ask someone to repeat)
- What time is ? (Ask about breaks)
- Thanks for me around. (Thank the person who helped)
B. Listen to the conversation and fill the gaps
- Supervisor: You must be Grace. Welcome ! I'm Mark.
- Grace: Hi Mark, to meet you. Where should I put my things?
- Supervisor: There's a for you in the staff room. Then I'll show you the stock system.
- Grace: Great. Who I ask if I have a question?
- Supervisor: Me, or Priya. She's been here for .
- Grace: Just to check, you want me to scan every box I put it on the shelf?
- Supervisor: Exactly. You've it.
- Grace: Thanks for showing me .
C. Quick quiz: circle the best answer
What does 'Welcome aboard!' mean?
a) Welcome to the teamb) Get on the boatc) Go away
Which phrase confirms an instruction?
a) Just to check, you want me to…?b) I know.c) OK, whatever.
Is it OK to ask questions in your first week?
a) No, it looks badb) Yes, it's expectedc) Only on Friday
What do you say if you didn't hear?
a) What?!b) Sorry, I missed that. Could you say it again?c) Nothing
What does 'You've got it' mean?
a) You understand correctlyb) You have a presentc) You're wrong
D. My sentences
Finish these with your own details. Then write two more sentences you can use this week.
- Hi, I'm I've just started.
- Just to check, you want me to ?
- Sorry, I missed that. Could you say it again?
Free lesson with audio: englishcoaching.au/learn-english/everyday-english/your-first-day-at-work/ · Free to use with your learners. Please keep the englishcoaching link on printed copies.
Answer key · Lesson 22: Your first day at work
A. Key phrases
- Hi, I'm Grace. I've just started.
- Where should I put my things?
- Who should I ask if I have a question?
- Could you show me how to do that?
- Just to check, you want me to…?
- Sorry, I missed that. Could you say it again?
- What time is lunch?
- Thanks for showing me around.
B. Conversation gaps
- aboard
- nice
- locker
- should
- years
- before
- got
- around
C. Quiz
- a) Welcome to the team
- a) Just to check, you want me to…?
- b) Yes, it's expected
- b) Sorry, I missed that. Could you say it again?
- a) You understand correctly
englishcoaching.au/learn-english/everyday-english/your-first-day-at-work/
Free to use with your learners. Please keep the englishcoaching link on printed copies.
Frequently asked questions
How do I teach your first day at work to adult English learners?
Start with a warm-up question, present the 8 key phrases with the recorded audio, play the conversation line by line, let learners role-play it with their own details, and finish with the quiz. The teacher notes on this page give timings for a 60-minute class.
What level is this lesson?
Confident level, about CEFR B1. It is lesson 22 of 42 in our free Everyday English course, so you can follow the course week by week or pick the topics your learners need.
Do learners need an account?
No. Learners can do the same lesson at home for free, with no sign-up, at /learn-english/everyday-english/your-first-day-at-work/. Their progress is saved only on their own device.
Can I print the worksheet?
Yes. Press 'Print the worksheet' to print it or save it as a PDF on A4 paper. It has the key phrases and the conversation with gaps, the quiz, space for learners' own sentences and an answer key on a separate page.
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