Four moments, four useful openings

Choose a greeting or attention phrase that fits the setting.

Read the cards, see the English task and listen to the narration or examples. Pause to think or say the words aloud. Captions include the spoken answers; turn them off for the listening challenge. Examples use General American English, synthesized with the Andrew voice.

General American English. Spoken examples are synthesized with Microsoft Azure Speech, the Andrew voice. Captions include the answers; leave them off for the listening challenge. About our audio.

Full lesson text and spoken examples · English captions

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Full lesson text and spoken examples

The listening answers appear in this text. Try the video first if you want to test yourself.

  1. A greeting has a setting (0s–7s)
    Relationship and purpose guide the opening.
    Spoken example: Choose a greeting that fits the relationship and setting. A neutral hello works in many places..
  2. A new colleague (7s–14s)
    Hello, I’m Sam. I’m joining the design team.
    Spoken example: For a new colleague, try: Hello, I’m Sam. I’m joining the design team..
  3. A familiar friend (14s–22s)
    Hi, Rosa. Good to see you.
    Spoken example: For a familiar friend, try: Hi, Rosa. Good to see you..
  4. A morning appointment (22s–30s)
    Good morning. I have a ten o’clock appointment.
    Spoken example: At a morning appointment, try: Good morning. I have a ten o’clock appointment..
  5. A busy staff member (30s–38s)
    Excuse me. Could you help me?
    Spoken example: To get a staff member’s attention, try: Excuse me. Could you help me?.
  6. Your next step (38s–45s)
    Read the greeting guide, then choose phrases by purpose.
    Spoken example: Read the greeting guide, then choose a phrase that fits a specific purpose..

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