Everyday English · Read, listen and speak
Asking for Help at Work
Explain a task you are unsure about, ask for specific help and check the next step.
Your speaking goal
Ask a colleague for a short explanation and repeat the next step to check understanding.
Before you start: Imagine a simple office task, such as completing a form. Do not use real company information.
Your six-step practice plan
- Understand: Read the goal and check the useful phrases.
- Listen or read: Follow both roles. Audio is optional.
- Repeat: Say one short line at a time, then join the words smoothly.
- Change details: Replace two details with imaginary ones.
- Role-play: Read the other person’s question, cover your reply and answer aloud. Then swap roles.
- Review: Use the “I can” checks below. Repeat any part that still needs help.
Work at your own pace. A clear message matters more than copying a particular accent.
Listen, read and notice
Roles: Employee and Colleague
Browser-generated English voice; availability and sound vary by device. Use the written dialogue if audio is unavailable.
Employee: Hi, do you have a moment?
Colleague: Yes. What do you need help with?
Employee: I’m filling in the weekly report, but I’m not sure where to put the delivery date.
Colleague: Put it in the column labelled “Delivery”.
Employee: Could you show me an example, please?
Colleague: Of course. Here’s a completed sample.
Employee: Thanks. Do I need to include the year?
Colleague: Yes. Please write the day, month and year.
Employee: So I put the full date in the Delivery column. Is that right?
Colleague: Exactly. Then save the report in the shared folder.
Employee: Got it. Thank you for explaining.
Colleague: You’re welcome.
Useful phrases and what they do
- Do you have a moment? — Check whether someone has time.
- I’m not sure where to ___. — Identify the part you do not understand.
- Could you show me an example? — Ask for a model.
- So I ___ . Is that right? — Check your understanding of an instruction.
Say it clearly
Group the problem: “I’m filling in the weekly report / but I’m not sure / where to put the delivery date.” A short pause helps you explain the difficulty clearly.
Build your own replies
I’m working on ___, but I’m not sure how to ___. → Let me show you.
Ask and check
Could you explain the last step again? → Save the report in the shared folder.
Common mistakes and alternatives
Say “Could you help me?”, rather than “Could you help to me?”. Both “fill in a form” and “fill out a form” are natural. “Got it” is an informal way to say you understand; “I understand, thank you” also works.
Check what you understood
Answer aloud before revealing each explanation. Natural replies with the same meaning also count.
Question 1
What specific help does the employee need?
Show answer 1 and explanation
The employee needs to know where to put the delivery date in the weekly report. A specific question helps the colleague give a useful answer.
Question 2
Should the employee leave out the year?
Show answer 2 and explanation
No. The colleague asks for the day, month and year in this example report. Actual workplace formats may differ.
Question 3
Your colleague is busy. Give a suitable next question.
Show answer 3 and explanation
“When would be a good time to ask?” or “Could we look at it later?” respects their time and keeps the request clear.
Your turn: make it a real exchange
Practise alone: read the other person’s line, cover your reply and answer aloud. Then swap roles. No partner is needed.
Role A
Explain which part of a fictional task is unclear. Ask for an example and repeat the next step.
Role B
Explain one step, provide a sample and check whether the employee understands.
Make it easier: Keep the model visible and change one detail at a time.
Add a challenge: Your colleague has no time now. Agree on a later time and explain what help you will need.
Ready to move on?
Try again with less reading. Use these checks and repeat any part that needs more practice.
- I can ask whether someone has time.
- I can explain the part I do not understand.
- I can check the next step before continuing.