This is a Business English bonus episode.
I have kind of a big ask. How to get help from co-workers at the office.
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How's it going, Jessica? Excited to have you here on Business English.
Yes, I think this is my first appearance.
It's my premiere on Business English. I'm excited to be here with such amazing news.
Oh my gosh, guys, by the way, if you don't know Jessica's voice, she is over on the IELTS Energy podcast two days a week with Aubrey Carter, our other podcast from All Ears English.
So if you are taking IELTS anytime soon, go over and check that out.
But what is the news, Jessica? All right, everyone.
The big announcement is that we, for the holiday season and the holiday spirit, we are giving away $1,000 worth of prizes to 15 lucky students, right?
Wow. Love it. But here's the thing. Like, how do our listeners get these prizes?
Wow. Right. Exactly. Guys, what you can do to become eligible to get a prize is to fill out our survey.
We are doing this survey because we want to really understand you guys to understand your challenges.
You know, what is holding you back? What do you want to hear more of on the podcast and in our courses?
So Jessica, first of all, where can they go right away to pull up that survey on their phone or on their browser?
Yeah, right now, guys, go to allearsenglish.com slash survey, S-U-R-V-E-Y survey.
And it's a short survey, guys. And it just helps us help you have the best 2023, right?
We just want to help you guys. Exactly. But the exciting thing is that 15 of our students who fill out this survey, if you enter your name and email on that final screen, you will become eligible for a prize.
And again, 10 of you are going to get what, Jessica?
What will 10 of our listeners get? So 10 of you guys will get free All Ears English transcripts and five lucky winners are going to get to choose a podcast host of your choice from All Ears English.
And you get a meet and greet with us live one-on-one on Skype or Zoom.
Ask us anything you want. So guys, to get one of these amazing prizes, go to allearsenglish.com slash survey.
Yes, guys. So go right there now. But we're going to teach you guys a couple of little tips around asking coworkers for a favor.
Yes. So that is the skill we're going to come away with from today's episode.
Does this happen a lot, Jessica, that you need to ask a coworker for a favor?
What would you say in your world? In my world, you know, surprisingly, we have few co-workers.
We're a small team. But yeah, I would say a few times a month, at least I have to ask for a favor.
For example, maybe something comes up and I have to ask Aubrey to record at a different time or, you know, we have to be flexible with each other.
Right, right. Exactly. You know, we work from home, so it's good to be able to, you know, move things around a little bit when we need to.
And this is especially important, I think, if our listeners are in the office, right?
That might happen a lot. You know, if you want someone to pick up a coffee for you, if you can't get out of a meeting, that would be another one example.
What else could you think of, Jessica? Yeah.
Well, maybe you need a file that you can't find.
Maybe you need someone to proofread a document.
Maybe you just need a coworker's advice because you're starting a new task.
Yes. Any of the ways we ask other people for help, we're also asking them for a favor.
It's really synonymous. Oh, interesting.
Yeah, that's true. Right. Asking for help is kind of asking for a favor.
So we know that you guys really want to build your social communication skills for the office.
We think that that's where a lot of you guys are struggling and we are here to help you.
So let's give our listeners three things they can say to ask for that favor.
Jessica, are we ready? Yes. Awesome. All right.
So the first way is, would you mind helping me out?
And that's very polite, but I would say that to anybody, informal or formal.
But to make it a little more informal, a little more natural, you could also say, would you mind helping me out real quick?
And just adding that real quick at the end kind of makes it like, this isn't a big deal.
I I just need your help for a short time.
Yeah, and that is so common to add that little real quick or really quick, but it's easier to say real quick, right?
Will you help me out real quick? It just, it makes it feel like to the person saying it, it makes you feel like you're imposing a little bit less.
Exactly, exactly. And we know guys that if English is your second language, that already comes with anxiety.
And so if you're using that and you think you might be bothering someone, by asking them for help, right?
That's even more anxiety. So these three phrases will help you get past that, right?
Because especially this first one, would you mind helping me out real quick?
It's like, I'm not bothering you. This is just a little thing I'm asking.
Right. It's friendly. It's not imposing.
It's kind. It's positive. It's pleasant.
I like it. I like it. Okay. So guys, write that one down.
And there is another one where we're going to get a little bit more formal, Jessica.
Yes, I love this one. I say this sarcastically as like with informal situations.
But anyway, would you be so kind as to blah, blah, blah.
So for example, would you be so kind as to forward that to me today?
When would you say this? What do you think?
Well, when I say this, it actually makes me think of the show that I'm watching, Ghosts.
Have you ever heard of that show? No. Yeah.
It's an interesting show where they bring in characters who died on a mansion property in all different times throughout history.
What? It's really funny, actually. That sounds awesome.
And one of the characters is a woman from, I think, Revolutionary War times or maybe the early 1800s.
Yeah, it must have been the 1800s. Her husband had been a robber baron.
And she really speaks with this kind of Really old fashioned language.
I would think of her saying that actually, not me.
It is old fashioned. It totally is. But the reason why I love this phrase for you guys listening is because this can add to your personality in English, right?
Absolutely. Using a like an old fashioned phrase like this is a fun way to bring lightness or levity to a situation.
Right. Especially if you're talking about something that's not so serious.
You know, someone's going out for coffee and you're like, would you be so kind as to bring me back one?
And it's just like a polite, funny way to ask.
Absolutely. Absolutely. Especially if, you know, your personality is that way, a little bit sarcastic, a little bit playful, right?
We want you guys to stay within your personality.
But if it is your personality to use that, then go for it.
You know, play around with saying very formal things in a more playful way.
Yes, exactly. Oh, I love that phrase. Makes me want to put on a lacy frilly dress.
Yeah, that's what that's what this woman wears in the show.
Her name is Hedy. I have to watch that show.
You really should watch it. I think you'd like it.
Actually, it's quite a smart show because each of the characters, they bring in so much pop culture from their era.
Oh, right. Phrases and references, tons of references.
Oh, wow. You would like it. Yeah, I would super dig it.
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Exclusions apply. See details online. Okay, guys, here is the last phrase for you.
Lindsay, what's this last supernatural way they can ask for a favor?
Also super native, so here we go. I have kind of a big ask.
I love this one because it really stands out from the other two.
Like each of these phrases have their own meaning, right?
They carry their own meaning. So this one is like, you're asking for a big favor, but also similar to the first one, We are framing it in a way to be like, I recognize that this is like a big favor I'm asking.
Right. Yeah. I mean, I think a huge part of connection at work is understanding the ways in which what we say to people are going to kind of inconvenience them or what they're going to put on them, what it's going to put on them.
Right. And this is showing that awareness of your impact at the office.
Right. Totally. And I honestly, personally, I would couple this always with saying sorry, because I feel like like I want to preempt the inconvenience in a way.
It's like I really need your help. Like I need you personally right now.
I need your time. And I'm sorry about that.
But you know what I mean? I'm sorry, but I have kind of a big ask.
Right. Yeah. And the other thing I like about this is that I love the idea of using ask as a noun because historically, you know, in kind of textbook English that our listeners I'm sure have seen their whole lives, they've only seen ask as a verb.
But here we're showing it to you as a noun, which is so fun and native.
And yeah, just another way we play with English to make it more fun, right?
We want you guys to enjoy speaking English and that will come through with these words and then you can connect to other people better, right?
It's getting across your personality, however you wish with these phrases.
And this is like, we take away some of the severity of it by saying kind of.
So there's a lot of pieces here that are very fun.
Yeah, we're putting the pieces together to make a creative phrase that you will hear it sometimes, but you guys can add it to really build that connection at work.
I love it. So maybe Jessica will go back and just say the three phrases one more time just to make sure our listeners have it.
And then we'll let them know again where they can go to get that survey.
Perfect. All right, guys. So write these down if you have not already.
Number one was, would you mind helping me out real quick?
It's informal, playful, super fun. Number two, would you be so kind as to help me?
Also playful, a little bit more formal. And what's the third one, Lindsay?
All right. So the third one is I have kind of a big ask, right?
So intonation is important here too, guys.
So good stuff. All right. So Jessica, one more time, where can our listeners go to get that survey to make sure they're on that list of those 15 potential winners?
Yes. So if you are on your phone, if you are at your computer right now, both work, go to allearsenglish.com slash survey.
It's a small ask, I would say, for a possible big prize, $1,000 worth of prizes.
So go to allearsenglish.com slash survey.
And like we said before, guys, $1,000 in prizes and very good odds with 15 total winners.
I would play that lottery for sure. Totally.
And I never play the lottery, but this one has good odds.
Good stuff. Good stuff. Remember guys, 10 of you are going to win three months of free transcripts to the All Ears English podcast.
That's an $84 value. 10 of you are going to win that.
And five of you are going to win that 15 minute meet and greet with the podcaster of your choice.
So one more time, allersenglish.com slash survey.
We want to hear from you. Good stuff, Jessica.
Awesome. Thanks for having me on Business English, Lindsay.
Of course. We hope to see you back very soon.
Have a good one, Jessica. Take care. You too.
Bye. Bye. Thank you for listening to Business English, a podcast just for you, the high achieving global professional.
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