1. Skills
  2. Speaking
  3. B2 speaking
  4. Dealing with a problem

Dealing with a problem

In this video, Vanya goes to Yuna with a problem. Listen to the language they use for dealing with a problem and practise saying the useful phrases.

Do the preparation exercise first. Then watch the video and do the exercises to check your understanding and practise the language.

Preparation

Speaking B2: Dealing with a problem – preparation

Transcript

Ana: Hi! I'm Ana. Welcome to What to Say! 

Do you know what to say when you need to deal with a problem? Listen out for useful language for dealing with a problem. Then, we'll practise saying the new phrases – after this.

 

Vanya: Yuna!

Yuna: Oh, morning!

Vanya: I've got a bit of a problem. 

Yuna: What's wrong?

Vanya: Can we talk in private?

Yuna: Of course.

Yuna: Right, so, what's the matter? 

Vanya: Well, I've made a mistake. A big mistake.

Yuna: OK. I'm sure we can work it out.

Vanya: It was such a silly thing to do! 

Yuna: I'm getting worried now. What's going on here? 

Vanya: OK. It was late last night and I was tired. I wasn't concentrating and I accidentally used my company credit card instead of my own to buy something! 

Yuna: Don't worry, these things happen. There's a procedure to deal with this. How much did you spend? 

Vanya: It was quite expensive.

Yuna: How expensive?

Vanya: It was very expensive.

Yuna: Vanya, how expensive?

Vanya: £3,782 … and 56 pence.

Yuna: What? You spent £3,782?! 

Vanya: … and 56 pence. 

Yuna: What was it? Vanya?

Vanya: Just a weekend break! I just like a really nice hotel!

Yuna: OK, I see. Thanks for letting me know.

Vanya: Ah! I feel so much better now I've told you. Please don't tell Noelia.

Yuna: Oh, I'm definitely going to tell her!

Noelia: Hi!

Vanya: Hi!

 

Ana: Hello again! Wow, that's a lot of money for a weekend break. So, did you notice the useful phrases used for dealing with a problem? Listen to me and then repeat. 

 

What's wrong?

I've got a bit of a problem.

Could we talk in private?

What's the matter?

I've made a mistake.

I'm sure we can work it out.

Don't worry, these things happen.

Thanks for letting me know.

I feel so much better now I've told you.


Ana: Try and use some of these phrases the next time you need to deal with a problem in English. Bye for now!

Task 1

Speaking B2: Dealing with a problem – 1

Task 2

Speaking B2: Dealing with a problem – 2

Task 3

Speaking B2: Dealing with a problem – 3

Discussion

When was the last time you helped someone with a problem at work?

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Worksheet103.03 KB

Language level

B2 Upper intermediate
Average: 4.4 (46 votes)
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Submitted by Without user on Sun, 13/12/2020 - 21:02

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I helped my workmates to survive in the spanish administration where we worked. We had terrible and bad bosses, and other workmates who worked really bad and very little and they also wasted time. At that time we had a lot of work to do... Terrible times for all of us! I was their head and I taught them to work out of that environment and to be focused on our tasks. Awful time, awful administration... But we are all out now!!!! :) Happy Christmas British friends!

Submitted by mamomamo on Thu, 19/11/2020 - 13:00

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I always help my workmate these days, we've a new system, because I have been working in this system, I solved their problems.

Submitted by Momocompanyman on Mon, 09/11/2020 - 07:38

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Last year, when my colleague made a mistake regarding the installation of the equipment, I assisted him to set it according to the supplier technical datasheet.

Submitted by tompunta on Thu, 05/11/2020 - 21:15

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well, my cousin lost his phone in our trip to italy at the weekend so my aunt was worried about him. We are staying in different hostel, so I booked a room in the same hostel where I was staying and this case my cousin and my aunt were able to talk all weekend.
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Submitted by vsanchez75 on Mon, 26/10/2020 - 14:33

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The problem was I couldn find something but my former boss moved these things and he did not tell me. To me was disstresing

Submitted by habibao.medo on Fri, 16/10/2020 - 12:52

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my sister she broke her hand and i helped her with her homework and her teacher start saying you didn't solve the homework by yourself then i interrupted her and said she has a broken hand and i wrote it for her

Submitted by TadyEriel on Thu, 15/10/2020 - 14:51

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When was the last time you helped someone with a problem at work? Well, it was last year, I was teaching at classroom when I recieved a phone call, it was a collegue and she told me "I've got a bit of a problem",therefore I said "Wha's the matter". It turned out that,She was running of time and couldn't get in,so she wanted some help. I said "Don't worry, these things happen".Although, our boss told us if we arrieved late,we have to pay a fine. At the end,I had to open the auxiliary gate, Fortunately, nobody saw us.

Submitted by Denise on Thu, 08/10/2020 - 20:41

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It was a three weeks ago when I called my friend to help me in my work which is cleaning birdnest (expensive Chinese food) but she was being very slow so I decided to put all the finished ones in the same bowl so my chief wouldn’t know who made what. But unfortunately she didn’t get better and he realised that she was being slow.
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Submitted by danisep on Sun, 04/10/2020 - 04:17

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I don't remember helped anybody at work, but I have helped my sister and her classmates with some tasks and they pay me to solve his issues. They are working and studying at a time so they need help with tests and assignments. It is good to me because I can go over some topics and earn some money.