Partner A
Easier: Is Lena nervous or angry? Why?
How does Lena feel on Monday morning?
More challenging: To what extent do a new colleague's first impressions influence their sense of belonging at work?
Jamesleads the live roundsAvalern · by SimmondsA25 min · English
Your first day at work in English: vocabulary, dialogue and conversation questions
Editorially responsible: James Simmondspublished 28 Sept 2026AI-generated text (learn more – how we use AI on these pages)
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First day at workA2 – Practise speaking English: a conversation about your first day at work (level A2)AI at workB2 – Practise speaking English: a conversation about whether AI should write your emails (level B2)Business tripA2 – Practise speaking English: a conversation about your last business trip (level A2)Sorry, could you say that again?Give me a second to think.How do you say … in English?
Question of the day
Where is Lena's new job?
Show the answer – Open the answer to the question of the day
Correct answer: In Hamburg
You can find the answer in the English introduction.
Listen to the introduction
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Transcript
A new colleague – Jump to the vocabulary entry for colleague. It is Monday morning. Lena starts her new job at a small company in Hamburg. She is a bit nervous – Jump to the vocabulary entry for nervous. Her new boss – Jump to the vocabulary entry for boss, Mr Weber, shows her the office – Jump to the vocabulary entry for office. The kitchen is small, but the coffee is good. At ten o'clock there is a team meeting – Jump to the vocabulary entry for team meeting, and everybody says hello. One colleague, Tom, asks: Where are you from? Lena says: From Leipzig. I moved here last month. At lunch – Jump to the vocabulary entry for lunch, Tom and Lena eat together. Lena thinks: Maybe this job is OK.
Vocabulary
- colleague/ˈkɒl.iːɡ/
- Meaning: A person you work with.
- Example: My colleague Tom sits next to me.
- nervous/ˈnɜː.vəs/
- Meaning: Worried about what might happen.
- Example: I felt a bit nervous before my first day at the office.
- boss/bɒs/
- Meaning: The person you work for, who tells you what to do.
- Example: My boss shows me the office.
- office/ˈɒf.ɪs/
- Meaning: A room or building where people work, often at desks.
- Example: Our office is next to the station.
- team meeting/ˈtiːm ˌmiː.tɪŋ/
- Meaning: A time when people in a team meet to talk about work.
- Example: We have a team meeting on Monday.
- lunch/lʌntʃ/
- Meaning: The meal you eat in the middle of the day.
- Example: Would you like to have lunch with us?
Dialogue
- LenaHello, I'm Lena. It's my first day.
- TomHi, Lena. I'm Tom. Nice to meet you.
- LenaNice to meet you too. Where is the kitchen?
- TomIt's next to our office. Would you like a coffee?
- LenaYes, please. What time is the team meeting?
- TomAt ten. We can go together.
- LenaThanks. I'm a bit nervous.
- TomThat's OK. You can ask me for help.
Questions for your conversation
Partner B
Easier: Was your first day at work good? Why or why not?
Do you remember your first day at work?
More challenging: If you could experience your first day again, what would you want your employer to do differently?
Partner A
Easier: Is it good to have lunch with a new colleague? Why or why not?
What helps a new colleague on day one?
More challenging: How should a team balance giving new colleagues support with allowing them to become independent?
Useful phrases
- She was a bit nervous.
- I've worked here for fifteen years.
- Where are you from?
- Nice to meet you.
- Could you show me the kitchen?
- What time is the team meeting?
Topic quiz
Five quick questions check vocabulary and listening comprehension.
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