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Material My First Job PDF
Material My First Job PDF
In this third learning activity of English Dot Works 9, you will learn about direct
and indirect questions and complex tag questions. You will also learn about
vocabulary related to customer service.
Introductory material
Dear learner,
In this opportunity, you will learn about the grammar rules for asking indirect
questions and special cases regarding tag questions. You will also learn about
phone sales, giving line support and how to deal with complaints in the context
of customer service. Please, read the information that follows and do the
exercises, so that by the end of the activity you will have grasped the concepts
related to this learning activity.
Let’s begin!
You already know how to ask questions such as: What’s your name? Do you
have any brothers or sisters? Will you come to party? Did you do your
homework? These kinds of questions are called DIRECT QUESTIONS and you
normally ask them directly to a person you know. Now, imagine you are in a
foreign country, lost downtown and looking for directions. You will ask a
complete stranger for directions and, so you’ll be polite and actually ask for a
favor. To do so, you will use a polite opener. Normally they are introduced by
phrases like: Do you know…? Can/Could you tell me…? Would you mind…? I’d
like to know… among others. Then, you ask your question. Here is an example:
Excuse me, do you know where the hotel is? This question is an INDIRECT
QUESTION. Indirect questions have two parts: an introductory phrase (Excuse
me, do you know) and a question (where the hotel is?).
To sum up, we use indirect questions to ask for information to people we don’t
know or to be polite. Study the table below showing direct and indirect
questions.
Direct question Indirect question
1. What time is it? Can you tell me what time it is?
2. Does she work? Do you know if she works?
3. Will he come? I wonder if he will come.
4. Did she write the book? Do you know if she wrote the book?
In a way of speaking, indirect questions are not normal questions. They are
embedded in a major question or statement. They follow some special rules in
the question:
The following is a list of introductory phrases you can use when asking indirect
questions.
a. When we want somebody to follow our advice we use imperatives and the
tags are these:
Note: In this case, we follow the affirmative – negative rule, but we use will
instead of do.
Note: In this case, the tag has the same polarity as the sentence. The
pattern is affirmative – affirmative.
c. When the sentence has an indefinite pronoun, the tag takes the personal
pronoun “they” and the plural form of the verb:
d. When we express our opinions using I think… the tag takes the form of the
next sentence:
Note: It happens also with opinion verbs such as: think, consider,
believe and feel.
e. When we use “have” as a modal verb the tag takes the auxiliary
do/does/did/will according to the sentence:
Note: it does not happen with other modal verbs such as: must, should
or can.
Note: Although we know that the verb form “are” does not go with the
pronoun “I”, this is an exception since you cannot contract “am + not” but
you can contract are not as in the example above.
3. Customer service
The contact between a customer and a company is a key element for the
success of the business. Customer Service is aimed to supply customer’s wants
and needs with the intention to provide added benefits such as: complaint
policy, phone selling and technical support. Attending to provide assistance in a
positive way, needs to take into consideration the points described next by
keeping in mind the importance to improve customer’s experience getting
certain service or product.
Apologize for the situation: listen to the customer and allow him or her to
express dissatisfaction. Then apologize and show genuine interest in the
complaint.
I'm sorry to hear that. What exactly was the problem?
Find out exactly what is wrong: elicit customer’s answers to clarify the
problem and its causes. Ask open questions to gather the required
information.
Have you tried talking to the bank to check your last payments?
I’m afraid we can’t help you at the moment. Could you leave your phone
number and address? We will contact you soon.
I totally understand why you are upset. I am deeply sorry about it.
b. Phone selling
Imagine you have an excellent product or service that is useful for many people.
Those are the key elements for promoting a product or a service; however, this
is not enough to sell them. You need to persuade customers to buy them and
thus, you need to identify sales skills to make an effective sales process. These
steps focus on:
“Good morning, this is Johana Garcia and I am calling you from Xtreme
Services.”
Direct value statements: The customer does not know why you are calling.
Explain they can get a benefit if they hold on line and listen to you do not
mention the product or service. Use your body language and tone of voice to
persuade them to listen.
“I am calling to let you know how you can save money and travel at the
same time.”
“I’d like to know if you are familiar with our “Travel n’ Save” program.”
“This is Johana from Xtreme Services Support. Thank you very much
for contacting us. How can I help you?”
Build understanding: empathize with the customer bearing in mind his point
of view and show you are aware of the situation. Using your own words to
paraphrase the problem displays your ability to let the customer feels
identified and recognized.
“It sounds like you’ve had a very frustrating experience using our
services, but I think I can help you with this delayed payment”
Be honest: Give real information and provide effective support to solve the
problem. Do not try to convince the customer through lame explanations. In
case you do not know the answer, try to get the customer in contact with the
area in charge.
“We have technical problems updating our platform. I cannot see the
information you need. I am going to put you through the area in charge.
Please, hold.”
Response time length: Explain to the customer how long he has to hold on
for every step you have to carry out to help him.
“Now I am going to check your last payment due date. Please, stay on
the line”
Vocal skills: your voice can help you to persuade customers by asking for
information and asking for agreement.
Rising intonation in a tag question means you are not sure about the answer
and you want to know it.
Contextualization
Fuente: SENA
I see. Why
I am a bit
don’t you try
worried. I’m
finding a job?
running out of
It’ll increase
money and my
parents can’t your income.
give me more.
Fuente: SENA
It depends.
When I got my
Well, I don’t current job, I
have any didn’t have any
experience. I experience at all.
think it is hard
to find a job
with that kind of
profile, isn’t it?
Fuente: SENA
Sure! I applied
for the job, and
they trained me.
Really?
Easy, wasn’t it?
Can you tell
And they are
me how you
looking for new
did it?
hires.
Fuente: SENA
Of course! They
need people for
the customer
Wow! Do service call
you think center, and
I can training is on
apply? them.
Fuente: SENA
Fuente: SENA
Easily, but you
have to manage all
three skills. For
I’m a good example, phone
listener, aren’t sales are very
I? Do you think important for the
I can deal with company.
complaints?
Fuente: SENA
Well, it is basically
to persuade
customers to buy
I imagine. more products.
I’d like to
know what
phone sales
is all about.
Fuente: SENA
The most
I see. I am good important quality
at convincing for them is
people. And the patience.
other two skills?
Fuente: SENA
You have to
Really? Well, I deal with angry
think I am a customers most
patient person of the time, and
but I wonder if you are not
why you say so. patient, you
might treat them
badly and they
are very
important for
Xtreme
Services.
Fuente: SENA
Yes, it is.
John, I’d like to
know, do you have
some free time
That’s the this afternoon?
name of the
company,
isn’t it?
Fuente: SENA
I think it is a
good idea to
apply as soon
as possible,
Yes, I do. isn’t it?
Why?
Fuente: SENA
That’s
You are right. perfect!
Let’s meet after See you
lunch at the then.
main entrance,
shall we?
Fuente: SENA
Don’t worry
about it.
Cool. See you later!
Thanks a
lot
Johana!
Fuente: SENA
Comprehension
True False
Johana had a lot of experience when she got her first job.
B. Organize the sentences from the box under the correct heading below.
D. For each conversation, choose the option on the right that best describes the
situation. Dealing with complaints, phone sales or giving support on line.
1. A: Xtreme Services. Johana speaking.
How can I help you today?
Practice 1
Example: What time is it? Can you tell me what time it is?
1. I need to find out if the shops close soon / close the shops soon.
2. Do you have any idea why did he left so abruptly / he left so abruptly?
3. Could you tell me if the children are sleeping / are the children
sleeping?
4. I’d like to know if the pasta taste delicious / the pasta tastes delicious.
5. Please tell me what your telephone number is / is your telephone
number.
6. Do you think can you help me / you can help me?
7. I don’t know what time the flight arrives / arrives the flight.
8. Can you tell me why did you do that / you did that?
9. I wonder where the bus stops / the bus stop.
C. Select the tags from the box into the correct sentence. You can use them
more than once.
D. Choose the correct option to complete the sentences with tag questions.
Practice 2
A. Select the correct Customer Service area support, complaint or phone sales,
according to the sentence.
4. I’d like to know if you are familiar with our “Travel n’ Save” program.
a. Support b. Complaint c. Phone sales
6. It seems like you’ve had to deal with several problems with your service. I
think I can help you with all of them.
B. Read the following text and then select true or false for the statements that
follow.
One day, a young man talked to me at the mall offering me a mobile phone.
He was very friendly that day. I somehow thought about how at his age I had
to struggle to get my money, so I decided to pay attention. He was so nice
that he convinced me to buy the phone. He gave me his business card that
day. It was a month ago and I have not been able to use the mobile. I have
tried to communicate with him but he is always too busy to answer. The
technical support hasn’t been able to tell me how to use my device, but I
received my first bill this morning. I called the customer service line and they
told me, in a very rude way, that I have to pay it before they could help me. It
is outrageous! To me, Xtreme Services is the worse company I have ever
seen. Yes I am a nice old lady, but I feel ripped off, so I am going to sue the
company!”
True False
The lady talked to the salesman after she bought the mobile.
The lady got help from the technical support team at Xtreme
Services.
Look, I’m sorry to trouble you, but only the owner can ask for the
guarantee.
This is Steven in Digital LPQ Support. Thank you very much for your call.
How can I help you?”
Well, I’m afraid there is nothing we can do about it actually.
I’m afraid I have to make a serious complaint. I bought a laptop last week
and this morning it broke down.
I can’t take it to your offices; I wonder if you could pick it up?
I must apologize for the inconvenience. In that case you have to bring it to
the headquarters and present your bill to ask for guarantee.
Can I send somebody else with the bill and the laptop?
Do you think you could offer me a mail service? I’m a busy person.
I just don’t know what to say. I’m totally surprised by the terrible service
your offer. Thanks anyway.
I suggest you leave it with us and we’ll see what can be done.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Internet
hello agent tone apologize
connectivity
be attentive
Time customers intonation must
and honest
F. Read the following text and drag the statements into the chart.
Note: This practice must be completed using the multimedia version of the
study material. There you will find the corresponding sound files.
A. Read the following sentences. Write the correct spelling for the word that
has been transcribed.
Sentence Words
A warm greeting gives a good first ɪmˈpreʃ.ən.
Now, go to the multimedia, listen to the sentences and check the stress and
intonation patterns used. Then, practice pronouncing them.
C. Go to the multimedia and listen to the following sentences. Click on the word
that has been pronounced with a weak form.
Now, listen and repeat. Try to imitate the natural rhythm of English by
weakening the highlighted words in each sentence. Remember, practice makes
perfect.