Background: In this ESL podcast we talk about getting a new job. Learn business English, how to describe jobs, and important language points for spoken English. Have a listen!
Discussion forum Lesson Below
ESL Conversation
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A: So what’s your new job I heard about?
B: I’m the regional customer service manager for our company. A: So what does that entail? B: I’m in charge of the customer service department in our area. Mostly hiring new staff, managing the budget, and handling any major customer complaints. A: So what does a typical workday look like? B: So far it’s been great. If there aren’t any major complaints, which is often the case, I pretty much just check email and surf the net all day. The staff working under me has to do all of the annoying grunt work. A: Sounds like a pretty sweet gig. B: I’ve got my fingers crossed hoping it’ll stay like this.
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Phrases and Vocabulary used:
What does that entail? This question is used when you want to know more about the specifics of something.
If your friend was applying to some university and you didn’t know the application procedure, you could ask them, "what does the application procedure entail?"
That means, "what exactly to you need to do to apply for the school"
The answer might be something like, "I need to give them my resume along with a personal essay stating why I believe I’m a good choice for the program".
look like: What does a typical workday look like? To ask what something "looks like" in this kind of context, it means "describe it". It’s slang here because you can’t really "see" a typical work day.
Which is often the case: You can use this in the middle of an "if" sentence if the "if" part is what usually happens.
Someone could ask, "What do you usually do in the evenings after work?"
The answer might be, "If I have to get up early the next day, which is often the case, then I usually just stay home and read."
Pretty much: "Pretty much" is slang and means "basically" or "most of the time".
In the example above, if someone asks, "What do you usually do in the evenings after work?"
The answer might be, "I pretty much just stay home and read".
Grunt work: "Grunt work" is work that is usually boring and takes a lot of effort but not a lot of thought. Many bosses like to relax as much as they can and get their secretaries to do most of the grunt work.
Gig: A "gig" is a slang term for a job. It’s often used for a job that is only temporary like a musician working in a busy restaurant for only the weekend.
You can’t always use "gig" in the place of "job". You can’t say, "What is your gig?"
I’ve got my fingers crossed: "Crossing two of your fingers" is considered to be a symbol for good luck. If you say that you’ve got your fingers crossed about something, it means you are hoping you will be lucky enough that it will happen.
I’ve got my fingers crossed that the weather will be nice tomorrow. We’re planning on going to the beach.
Tell a friend about China232.com
greetings from Poznań,... 
August 17th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
There you are, seven medals in total for Canada by this time.
http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/INF/GL/92A/CAN_T.shtml
Overall Medal Standings: http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/INF/GL/95A/GL0000000.shtml
Also nice conversation at the beginning: “That was polite.”
Carsten
August 18th, 2008 at 2:12 am
Thanks! you guys are doing great job! i’m really looking forward to listen to the next lesson!
August 18th, 2008 at 11:01 am
Great episode as usual :), but i have a single comment for u Add if u allow me:
sometimes u r talking too quickly that i can’t get all what u say … Everything in moderation Add as you said in prior episode :), not too slow and also not too quick :).
August 19th, 2008 at 3:28 am
Thanks guys for the awesome podcasts; I have learned a lot from your lessons so far.
Good luck in your work.
Cheers,
Ashkan
August 20th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Hey guys,
Thank you for the podcast
It’s my favorite of all ESL podcasts I’m listening.
PS. And I couldn’t find recipe that you talked about
August 22nd, 2008 at 5:40 am
Hello Guys,
It has become my habit to listen your podcasts every night before going to bed.
I think this would be the best time for all to listen in order to learn maximum.
Would you please broadcast a podcast about tongue twisters?
Prinkle | India
August 23rd, 2008 at 3:28 pm
hi andy and
I am reallly pumped up to listen to ur podcasts everytime you bring one to us , thats really amazing , and wanna tell u that I keep it up with listenning to ur podcast whenever I get time , everyone who are interested in podcast listenning to improve their speaking an’ listenning skills should visit ur website and there is one more thing , cant u bring 2 podcast a week if u do so , I would be appreciated , and the last thing is that you are professional podcaster
fehmi
Turkey
August 23rd, 2008 at 3:32 pm
hi andy and andrew
I am reallly pumped up to listen to ur podcasts everytime you bring one to us , thats really amazing , and wanna tell u that I keep it up with listenning to ur podcast whenever I get time , everyone who are interested in podcast listenning to improve their speaking an’ listenning skills should visit ur website and there is one more thing , cant u bring 2 podcast a week if u do so , I would be appreciated , and the last thing is that you are professional podcaster and I am very happy to have u here
fehmi
Turkey
August 25th, 2008 at 9:19 am
Hey guys what is cooking up there?
Frankly speaking what you are doing is absolutely astonishing and i believe you guys got your head screwed on the right place.keep up well budies and i really appreciate what you are doing.A different tutor from IRAN
August 26th, 2008 at 12:55 am
Hi Andy and Andrew,
You’ve really done a good job. Thanks for your effort and I’ve learnt a lot from it.
Chris
China
August 26th, 2008 at 4:29 am
hi guys…
i’ve listening to your podcasts since last month and these 20 odd days have been fun..
i have to admit that i learnt this site from betteratenglish.com and how i thank them…
anyway guys hope u wont stop..
make your pocast more informative , so that besides learning english we could learn technical jargons too… like the one you did with buying a computer,, i came through it scrolling down the archives…
cheers..
bhaskar
Nepal
September 3rd, 2008 at 1:40 am
I haven’t enter for a while, today I came back and when I finished the lesson I felt like a something left. I know the music sometimes is not really good but at least at the end, please!!!
I love this site!!!
Iris
September 12th, 2008 at 5:49 am
I’v got my finger cross.
September 12th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Thank you for your effort .I believe my poor english will be improved after finishing your lessons^_^
Greed
China
September 15th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Great intiative, I downloaded some of your podcasts and I will listen to them when commuting to Brussels. Thanks very much….
September 23rd, 2008 at 8:44 am
Hi.. guys
This is a great source of listening and learning. Thanks a lot. Keep it up.
Cheers
Soniya
October 31st, 2008 at 4:03 am
i’ve been listening this lesson for numberous times ,still reviewing ,good stuff, you’all keep it up, i ‘ve been waiting for the new lesson come out…peace…