This is the Business English Podcast Episode 28.
Wish your business colleague a happy birthday in English.
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Hey, Michelle, what's going on? How are you doing today?
Hey, Lindsay, I am doing well. I'm doing well.
How are you? Well, I'm good, but you actually, my half birthday is coming up right here very soon.
Actually just passed. It was February 3rd, but you just had a birthday recently, didn't you?
I did. I did my birthday. Yeah. I just had my birthday and, uh, Yeah, it was a good day, and I actually went out to a really cool Japanese restaurant to get me even more excited for my Japan trip.
I went out to a Japanese restaurant in Tribeca the first time I'd been there, and I really, really liked it.
Oh, very cool. Very cool, Michelle. I bet you were so excited for your Japan trip, and we're excited to hear about that when you come back.
Yeah, definitely. I can't wait to tell you about it.
Okay, cool. So guys, before we jump into today's topic, which is birthdays, as you probably guessed, I want to remind you about the IELTS Energy Podcast because if you're getting ready for the IELTS exam, you can go over there, you can subscribe, and we will get you started with the strategies that you need to get your seven or higher.
And also grab your transcripts from today, guys.
That's the only way to see the role plays.
And that's the way you can really hone in on today's lesson.
So go to allearsenglish.com forward slash transcripts.
Okay. And who is anyone else having a birthday in your life, Michelle?
Actually, yeah, my brother's birthday is coming up.
Oh, cool. When is that? Tomorrow the 8th.
Oh, tomorrow the 8th. Okay, cool. Well, we both have brothers born in February because my brother was born February 23rd.
Yeah. Oh, cool. Yeah. Brothers in February.
Good times. Good times. And my niece's birthday is also in February.
So anyways, today we're going to talk. Yeah, it's so fun.
A three year old three year birthday is always a good time.
Oh, boy. It is. Ah, so cute. So cute. The other day, I think I've shared this on the podcast too.
For my dad's birthday in October, we were at my mom's house and we were all sitting around the table and the cake comes out, right?
And my niece sees the cake come out for my dad and she goes...
She said something like, you have a birthday?
You got a birthday? And she always says, you got.
She's like saying everything like taking off the G. Like she'll say getting and she'll say doing.
It's so cute. You told me about one time where she said, you got blue eyes?
Yeah, she got blue. But anyways, that particular day, she's like, you got a birthday?
And my dad's like, yeah. And she goes, I have those sometimes.
Yeah. That's so cute. I have those sometimes.
So cute. I have those sometimes. Oh my God, I love it.
It was adorable. So anyway, she has one coming up in February, so that'll be fun.
But anyways, today we're talking about, guys, what you can say to someone on their birthday, if they're an acquaintance, maybe a friend or a colleague, okay?
So we have a question from Masaomi. Michelle, would you read the question?
Yes, I would love to. Okay, here we go. Hi, Lindsay and Michelle.
Merry Christmas and happy 2017. I wish you and your family all the best.
Thank you. As I started writing this message, a question came in my mind.
What are the common and typical wishes in happy situations like New Year, baby's birth, a wedding day, a birthday, and etc.?
? And then, oh, in a follow-up email, she said, I realized I didn't say what I meant in the last email to the main issue.
Oh, in the last email, the main issue was how to say and wish happiness for those who are in these situations.
For example, for someone who has a baby or someone who is getting married.
I wish I could clarify my point. Thank you, Masaomi.
I think you made it pretty clear. Yeah.
So today we're going to, we're not going to focus on how to talk to someone who's had a baby.
We can do that another time or getting married, but we're going to hone in on the birthday question.
Okay. Cause we can't answer all those questions in one episode.
It's too much. All right. All right. So what are some things that we can say then, Michelle, we have three ways to do it.
What can we know? We have actually, we have five ways to do it.
Yeah. What are some natural things that we could say to someone, Michelle, when they're having a birthday?
Okay. So you could say, hey, the big three six for you today, huh?
Happy birthday. Okay. Yeah. So, you know, you're saying, oh, you're turning 36, right?
The big three six. What's the feeling behind this one, Michelle?
I think you have to know the person well, right?
Because we're so sensitive about age. Yeah.
And it's almost like kind of teasing them.
So if the person – if you don't know the person and you just say it to them, they might – maybe they're not feeling so great about whatever age they're turning.
And so, you know, but I think it's good for people who you're close to or whatever.
Yeah, exactly. I like that. I like that.
So people you're close to or people you feel like you can tease and get away with it, then that's okay.
Right, exactly. Yeah. The next one is, oh, it's your 23rd.
I hope you have an amazing day today. That's a good one.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. All right. And the next one is wishing you a wonderful birthday.
And that's more formal. And that to me, and I think to you, Lindsay, too, sounds like it's more written, right?
That you might write it. Sometimes offices get together and they do a card for the person whose birthday it is, like a group card, right?
So that might be something you would write.
Absolutely. You might write that in a card.
Nowadays, it's funny with Facebook. Do you find that weird that on Facebook, everyone writes you a birthday message, even people that you haven't talked to?
I mean, it's nice, right? But like, you'll get like lots of birthday messages from people that you haven't talked to like ever, even though you're... Yeah, I know.
It is kind of funny. But for some reason, it still feels nice.
I don't know. It feels nice. Of course, it's just a little bit strange to me.
Yeah. It is. I mean, you definitely get birthday message.
I mean, whatever, the more the merrier. But yeah, it is kind of funny.
Yeah. Facebook is funny, right? It's weird.
Yeah. But on Facebook, I feel like you'd be less likely to see something like wishing you a wonderful birthday because I feel like Facebook makes everything more casual.
Or maybe someone of my mom's generation would say that wishing you a wonderful birthday on Facebook.
But that's just a level up in terms of formality.
Right. Right. That's true. That's true.
Yeah. Okay. The next one is, hey, happy birthday.
Any big plans today or any big plans this weekend?
Right. Yeah, that's a good, that's a really natural way to wish happy birthday.
And that's any big plans. I like that. Yeah, I like that too.
Okay. What's the last one? The last one is I wanted to wish you a happy birthday.
Right. And why did we say wanted to if we're doing it right now?
Um, that's just something that we do. Like, it's just this weird thing.
I don't know. What do you think, Lindsay?
Is there like a real reason behind it? It's just, to me, I always feel like, oh, I wanted to thank you.
I wanted to wish you. It just happens a lot.
It's kind of interesting. It's so weird.
Have we done an episode on this? I don't think so, but we probably should.
That's a good topic. I think we've done an episode on something similar to this.
Oh, okay. Yeah. I mean, I think it's basically – it kind of creates the feeling that you're wanting to not take up too much of the person's time.
It creates the feeling of humility, like you're being humble.
You're trying not to impose on the person and bring them too much of a diversion.
And, yeah, it's kind of creating humility in yourself, I think.
Yeah, that's interesting. Yeah, I can see that.
Mm-hmm, mm-hmm. You're saying it quickly.
But you could also say, hey, I want to wish you a happy birthday.
That feels more like... like you're making a bigger deal out of it to me.
Like you're like rolling up the red carpet.
Hey, I want to wish you a happy birthday.
But when I say I wanted to wish you a happy birthday, it's kind of like stepping back from that formal, not so much formality, stepping back from the ceremony a little bit.
It's so hard to explain this, Michelle. I'm at a loss.
Yeah, no, I agree with you. I mean, it's just something that people say.
I mean, we don't always need to know the exact, you know, like analyze it so much because sometimes that can get us all confused.
But it's just it happens like, oh, I wanted to wish you a happy birthday.
I wanted to. Yeah, I wanted to thank you for something.
I wanted to ask your advice. I don't know.
But it is. I mean, if we do another episode on it, I think we can get much deeper into it.
We can get much deeper. But for today, guys, just learn the phrase and use it, right?
I think you're right. I think you're right, Michelle.
We don't need to overanalyze every single thing here, guys.
And that's where we do get stuck in perfection and we are here for connection.
So learn the phrase, listen for it being used, and start using it, all right?
And another day we'll go deeper into why we do go into the past tense there.
It's a strange thing. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Definitely. Okay. So let's do a role play, Michelle.
And guys, remember that you do need to get the transcripts to see this role play.
Okay. So to study it closely, you want to go to allearsenglish.com forward slash transcripts.
Okay. So in this case, Michelle, you and I are coworkers and it's your birthday and we're having an office party.
Okay. Okay, awesome. That sounds like fun.
Hey, Michelle. Oh, I can't stick around for the office party tonight, but I wanted to wish you a happy birthday.
Any big plans this weekend? Oh, hey, thanks, Lindsay.
It was so sweet of the guys at the office to put on this party for me.
Yeah, this weekend my parents will be in town, and they are taking me out to the Cheesecake Factory.
Oh, that should be crazy. I think I met your parents when they came by the office last fall.
Please tell them I said hello. I hope they're doing well.
Oh, yeah. They're doing great. Same as usual.
I'll be sure to tell them you said hi. Cool.
Enjoy the birthday. See you Monday. Okay.
Okay. So the thing about this is that, I mean, I could only say happy birthday to you once, really.
There's only one of these things I could really say in one conversation, right?
Yep. Yeah. So what did I say? We'll start with that.
What did I say here? Okay. Okay, well, first you said, you said, oh, that you couldn't stick around for the party.
But you said, I wanted to wish you a happy birthday.
Any big plans this weekend? Yeah, so that's the first thing we want you guys to notice in this conversation.
But the second thing I really want you to notice, guys, is how I extend the conversation.
Because a lot of you have asked us how to...
Kind of move beyond the initial question and answer in a conversation and where to go, like how to branch out from that.
And what did I do? You told me I asked you what your plans were and you said your parents are coming to town.
And then how did I extend the conversation, Michelle?
You said any big plans this weekend. Right.
But then and then you said, yes, my parents are coming to town and we're going to the Cheesecake Factory.
And then beyond that, how did I how did I extend the conversation?
Then you said, oh, that should be crazy.
And then you started talking about how you think you met my parents.
Right. Yeah. So you kind of, you know, dragged it out a little bit more by saying, yeah, that you met them and you hope they're doing well.
Yeah. So that's a good strategic option, guys.
Right. I said, you know, please tell them I said hello.
I hope they're doing well. Right. And I'm asking you the question.
I'm not ending the conversation there. I'm not saying I hope they're doing well.
I said I hope they're doing well as a question.
Right. And you can continue. Right. Right.
Right. Right. Exactly. Exactly. So this is a strategic conversation skill, guys, that you should take note of.
And beyond just today's point about birthdays, this is almost more important.
How to keep that conversation moving. Okay.
I like that. Right. Exactly. Definitely.
I like that too. Mm-hmm. Okay, cool. So awesome.
So Michelle, do you think Americans have any birthday traditions?
I mean, what do you usually tend to do? Go out to dinner, maybe do something fun during the day.
Yeah. Sing happy birthday, maybe at the restaurant someone orders a cake and then the waiters come out and sing.
Right? Yeah. What about you, Lindsay? Oh, God, it just depends on the year.
But I like to last couple of years I've had friends down to my parents' beach house and we've hung out down there, had a barbecue and that kind of thing. that's been fun and then in terms of have you noticed any tradition birthday have you ever celebrated a birthday in another country Yes, I have.
Have you? Yeah. Where did you celebrate your birthday in another country?
In Israel, actually. Oh, cool. What was that like?
What did you guys do? Were there any traditions that you took part in or anything?
I mean, they're different. Like the song is different.
And I'm trying to think. I mean, it was honestly pretty similar.
What about you? Have you had any... Yeah, a couple times, like I celebrated my 20, I guess it was my 25th in Japan when I was living in Tokyo.
And the thing that stands out to me that I remember is that the presentation of cards, birthday cards and gifts is so much more beautiful.
And that goes for food, too. You're going to see when you go to Japan tomorrow.
You're going to Japan tomorrow. That's right.
I noticed that just the aesthetic difference. of items, of gifts, of food, just so well prepared, so beautiful.
The cards come in, always come in, the basic like Walgreens type cards, not Walgreens, but what you'd get in a store, a little store, come in like a plastic wrap and it's just so well done.
Right. Right. Right. I thought that was really interesting.
Yeah. I bet there was something. I'd have to think on it and remember if there was something specific.
But yeah. Oh, that's cool. Yeah. Yeah. So cool.
So it's fun to celebrate your birthday abroad and with new friends and see how, you know, just have that experience and see how it's different.
I love that. Very cool. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, definitely.
Good. Awesome. Yeah. Very interesting topic, Lindsay.
I know, guys. So if you have a coworker that you feel, you know, that you could have a conversation with, you know, they're having a birthday, go ahead and throw out some of these phrases, you know, I mean, don't not do it because this is a chance to build that connection.
Okay. And again, if you're going to take the IELTS exam this year, go over to IELTS Energy Podcast.
Cool. Okay. Awesome. Well, thank you, Lindsay.
Thanks, Michelle. Take care. Bye. Bye. Thank you for listening to Business English, a podcast just for you, the high achieving global professional.
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