Simmonds Language Services
Business English Podcast · Meetings & Status Updates · Episode 21

Getting a Talkative Colleague to Commit to a Deadline

Interrupt politely, summarise, pin it down: how to get a firm date from a talkative colleague — in English.

B2 · Dialogue · 4 Min. · free

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Editorially reviewed by James Simmonds – English teacher since 2004Published

Getting a Colleague to Commit to a Deadline

SceneProject coordinator Daniel needs a firm date for the product texts from his talkative marketing colleague Sabine. He interrupts politely, asks closed questions — and pins the date down.
0:00 / 4 Min.

Tip: listen to the episode twice before you start the test.

✓ To the comprehension test
Daniel — Project coordinatorSabine — Colleague, marketing

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Transcript

The full transcript opens after the comprehension test — so you train real listening instead of reading along.

Key phrases

Sorry to jump in
polite phrase for interrupting someone
Sorry to jump in, but we only have five minutes left.
first draft
the first, unpolished version of a text
Please send me the first draft by Wednesday.
to commit to
to promise firmly to do something
Can you commit to Friday for the final version?
Let's put a date on it
phrase for turning a vague plan into a fixed date
Good idea — let's put a date on it before we leave the room.
tight
with very little time to spare
The schedule is tight, but it is doable.
a lot on your plate
to have many tasks at the same time
She has a lot on her plate this quarter.
to pin it down
to fix something precisely
Before we finish, let's pin down the next steps.
the minutes
the written record of a meeting
The deadline is documented in the minutes of the meeting.

Language notes

In this episode a project coordinator gets a firm delivery date from a talkative colleague: interrupting politely, asking closed questions, clarifying priorities, recording the date. You learn the key phrases for steering a conversation kindly — and how to avoid the German classic "become" instead of "get" (level B2).

Interrupting and steering politely

Interrupting a talkative person in English needs a politeness signal: "Sorry to jump in", followed by acknowledgement ("I know you're busy") and a concrete question. Daniel combines this with closed questions ("Can you commit to Monday?") that only allow yes, no or a date as an answer — open questions ("How is it going?") invite new monologues.

The "become/get" trap

"Bekommen" and "become" sound related but mean different things: "to become" is "werden" ("She became head of marketing"), while "bekommen" is "to get" or "to receive". A sentence like "When do I become the images?" literally asks when you will turn into pictures. Rule of thumb: "become" is followed by what you turn into — "get" by what you receive.

Commitment without pressure

Daniel does not force the date on Sabine; he lets her prioritise: "Which would you rather move — the newsletter or the product texts?" This either-or question respects her workload yet produces a decision. The close follows English-speaking meeting culture: repeat the date ("to pin it down"), specify the time ("close of business") and record it ("in the minutes") — so there is no "I understood it differently" later.

Keep practising: Learn business English online — with real teachers from Simmonds, since 2004.

Frequently asked questions

What language level is this episode for?

Level B2 (CEFR). The dialogue uses natural office English with idioms like "a lot on your plate"; all eight key phrases are explained bilingually.

How do I interrupt politely in English?

With a signal plus acknowledgement: "Sorry to jump in — I know you're busy." Then ask a concrete, closed question immediately so the conversation stays on topic.

Does "bekommen" mean "become" in English?

No — this is one of the most common German errors. "To become" means "werden"; "bekommen" is "to get" or "to receive". Correct: "Once I get the images, I can start."

Where can I practise conversations like this live?

In the online business English courses from Simmonds Language Services (englisch-lehrer.com/online): live lessons with real teachers on Zoom, with a free consultation first — for companies and individuals across Germany, since 2004.

Is there a transcript to read along?

Yes, the full transcript with German support notes is on this page — listen first, then take the test, then read along.

Want to practise these phrases in a real conversation?

The podcast trains your ear — in our online lessons you practise the conversation yourself, with real teachers. For companies across Germany since 2004.

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