BBC Business English Lesson 1

learning english with misterduncan

I have been working in China as a Native English Teacher, for the past 5 years.
In my 2nd year, this Vocational College in Changsha gave me some Sophomore Business English Classes to Teach and the Text Book was the BBC (SBE) Series with that fantastic story about a Company they called ‘Bibury Systems’ that had its Head office in Canary Wharf, in Londons ‘Docklands’ area. It opens with new recruit Edward Green traveling via Docklands Light Rail to start his 1st day of working at Bibury System as a Sales Executive.

Programme 1 Introducing yourself

Geraldine: Good morning, Bibury Systems. Can I help you?
Jenny Ross: Good morning, Geraldine.
Geraldine: Good morning, Jenny. Your newspapers and the post.
Clive Harris: Good morning, Jenny. Good weekend?
Jenny Ross: Excellent, thank you.
Clive Harris: It is cold this morning.
Jenny Ross: Yes, very cold.
Clive Harris: Good morning, Geraldine.
Geraldine: Good morning, Mr. Harris. Your newspapers and your post.
Jenny Ross: Good morning, Kate.
Kate McKenna: Good morning, Jenny. How are you?
Jenny Ross: I’m fine, thank you.
Don Bradley: Good morning, Jenny.
Jenny Ross: Good morning, Don.
Edward Green: Good morning. My name’s Edward Green. I’m here to see Don Bradley.
Geraldine: Ah yes. One moment, please.
Geraldine: Hello, Jenny. Edward Green is in reception.
Please, sit down. Edward Green: Thank you.

Jenny Ross: Are you Edward Green?
Edward Green: Yes.
Jenny Ross: I’m Jenny Ross. How do you do?
Edward Green: Hello. Pleased to meet you.
Jenny Ross: Welcome to Bibury Systems.
Edward Green: Thank you.
Jenny Ross: I’m the Head of Administration in the Marketing Department. My boss is Don Bradley.
Well…our boss is Don Bradley!
Let me show you the department.
Jenny Ross: This is the Marketing Department.
This is my desk. Er…that’s Don’s office. He’s not here at the moment.
And this is your desk. Telephone, Pc, In-tray.
Let me take your coat.
Edward Green: Thanks.
Jenny Ross: Over here is the stationery cupboard. Papers, Files, Pencils, etc.
Help yourself to what you need.
Here is the photocopier. And here is the fax machine.
And this is the coffee machine. Would you like a cup of coffee?
Edward Green: No, thanks.
Jenny Ross: Kate, this is Edward Green. He’s our new Marketing Executive.
Kate McKenna: Ah, yes, Edward, hello. Welcome to Bibury Systems Marketing Department.
Kate McKenna: Excuse me. Hello, Kate McKenna.
Edward Green: What is Kate’s job?
Jenny Ross: She is Head of Sales. She’s good. Edward Green: Where does she fit into the company structure?
Jenny Ross: Here’s the company structure.
You see Don is Sales and Marketing Director and is on the Board. Kate reports to Don.
You are here and you report to Don.
Jenny Ross: This is the boardroom. And here we have a range of products. Our toys.
Come on. Let’s go to the R&D workshop.

Edward Green: I’m sorry. R&D?
Jenny Ross: That’s Research and Development.
Edward Green: Ah, right.
Geraldine: …Thank you for calling…Goodbye.
Jenny Ross: The Managing Director’s office is on the first floor. Clive Harris.
We call him Clive.
Ah, this is Clive’s secretary, Sally.
Edward Green: Hello.

Jenny Ross: And you have met Geraldine, our receptionist?
Edward Green: Hi.
Jenny Ross: So, this is the Research and Development Department. This is Bob and that’s Pete.
They are Research Assistants. And through here is Derek Jones’ office. He has a team of six people.
Derek, this is Edward Green. He’s our new…
Derek Jones: Please.
Jenny Ross: Oh, you’re busy. Sorry.
Derek Jones: No. Please wait.
There. Finished. Good. Do you like it?
Edward Green: Errr. What is it?
Derek Jones: It’s a toy. It’s a new electronic toy.
Edward Green: It’s very good.
Pleased to meet you. Derek Jones:
Derek Jones. Welcome to Bibury Systems.
Edward Green: Thank you.
Don Bradley: Edward Green starts today. He’s the new Marketing Executive.
Clive Harris: Oh, yes. Is he good?
Don Bradley: I don’t know. He’s young. He’s intelligent. He is well qualified. But of course he has no experience.

Derek Jones: So, that’s the existing product range. This is a very new product. In fact, this is a prototype.
Edward Green: What is it?
Derek Jones: It’s called Big Boss.
Edward Green: Big Boss? What does it do?
Derek Jones: Ahah!
Look: say “Hello, Big Boss.”
Edward Green: Hello, Big Boss.
Derek Jones: No, no. Into the microphone.
Edward Green: Hello, Big Boss.
Derek Jones: Try again.
Edward Green: Hello, Big Boss.
Big Boss: Hi, Edward. Welcome to Bibury Systems.

Clive Harris: What do you think, Don?
Don Bradley: I don’t like this design.
Clive Harris: I agree. It’s not good. I like this one. He looks angry.
Don Bradley: Yes. I think it is very funny.

Derek Jones: What do you think?
Edward Green: What about glasses?
Derek Jones: That is very good.
Derek Jones: Good idea! Brilliant!