French · BeginnerTu peux jeter un coup d'œil ?Solve a Work Problem

Follow along

96 lines
00:00Intro
Hi Emma! You look very calm this morning.
Hello Léo! Yes, everything is fine here. And you, why are you frowning in front of your screen?
Ah, office life is sometimes difficult. Yesterday, I had a big problem at work.
A problem at work? Tell me about it! Did you find a solution?
Fortunately yes! And today, we are going to learn how to solve a work problem.
That is an excellent idea! For our listeners, speaking at work with confidence is very useful.
Absolutely. We have six key phrases that are very simple for you.
And our phrase of the day is: Tu peux jeter un coup d'œil ? It is a magic phrase at the office.
Very true! We will also discover a French tradition, around the coffee break.
Oh yes, the coffee break in France! That is often where everything gets decided.
Are you ready for this adventure? Let's go!
So Emma, listen to my story from yesterday morning. I had an important meeting at ten o'clock.
An important meeting? With the big project director?
Yes! And at nine fifty-five, I wanted to print thirty pages of documents.
Oh dear! Only five minutes before the meeting! And what happened?
The printer froze! It produced thirty completely blank pages.
How awful! Were you panicking?
Yes, I was very anxious. So I ran to your desk.
I remember! You arrived all red in my office.
You said to me: Emma, Tu peux jeter un coup d'œil ?
Yes! I wanted you to look at my problem with me.
Tu peux jeter un coup d'œil ? It's perfect in this situation.
And I looked at the printer. There was no paper left in the tray!
It was just that! You put paper back and everything worked well.
You saved my meeting!
It's always a pleasure to help you, Léo. But you know, solving problems together is very French.
Oh yes? Are you thinking of the team's famous coffee break?
Yes! In France, the ten-minute coffee break is sacred in companies.
I read that at the office, many problems are solved near the coffee machine.
According to you Léo, what percentage of French employees love the coffee break?
Hmm, I would say fifty percent of people?
No, it's even more! I read that it's over seventy percent!
That's a strong figure! So drinking a coffee really helps solve a problem.
It is a very friendly moment. We discuss calmly, and we find ideas together.
Absolutely! Now, let's look at our other practical phrases for work.
Excellent idea. What do we start with when we want to talk to a colleague?
The second phrase is: Tu as un moment ? It's very polite before speaking.
Yes, it is very useful. Tu as un moment ? shows that you respect their time.
If your colleague says yes, you can explain your problem.
For example, our third phrase is: Je suis bloqué.
Je suis bloqué means that one no longer knows what to do. I can no longer move forward.
Me, as I am a woman, I say: je suis bloquée. But the pronunciation is the same!
That's right! And to present the situation gently, what is the fourth phrase?
It is: J'ai un petit souci. In French, saying petit souci makes the problem less serious.
I really like this expression! J'ai un petit souci with my file or with my software.
It is a very gentle formula. It avoids worrying the whole team at the office.
When we find a good solution together, which phrase do we use?
We use the fifth phrase: On fait comme ça.
On fait comme ça means that we agree on the plan.
It is clear, and very effective to validate a quick decision between colleagues.
And finally, to show your enthusiasm, the sixth phrase is: Je vais essayer.
Je vais essayer means that you are going to make the effort to use the solution yourself.
It is very positive! It shows your good will at work.
So Léo, do you ask for help right away at work? Or do you prefer searching alone?
Me, sometimes I wait a bit too long all by myself before daring to say: Je suis bloqué.
Me, I search for five minutes, and after that I ask. I don't like wasting time!
So our listeners, are you more Team Léo or Team Emma ?
Tell us if you are Team Léo who hesitates a bit, or Team Emma who asks quickly!
In any case, asking for help at the office is always a great strength.
It's time for our practical test! Léo, I am going to give you daily office situations.
I am ready Emma! Let's see if I can choose the right phrase for each case.
Situation number one. You want to show your report to a colleague before sending the document.
Easy! I approach nicely and I ask: Tu peux jeter un coup d'œil ?
Perfect! The phrase of the day works very well in this moment.
Yes, it is natural and friendly. If my file is long, I can say: Tu peux jeter un coup d'œil ?
Quite so! Situation number two. You enter your colleague's office for a question.
I knock on the door and I say: Hello! Tu as un moment ?
Very good! It's the best opening so as not to disturb.
Yes, it is simple, short, and very respectful of the other person's time.
Situation number three. Your computer program stops responding and you are stuck.
Ah, what a nightmare! I look at my neighbor and I say: Je suis bloqué.
Exactly. It is direct, and your colleague understands your situation right away.
Yes, he knows right away that I need his help.
Situation number four. Your screen turns black right before an important video call.
I stay calm and I explain: J'ai un petit souci with my screen.
Bravo! Petit souci shows that you keep your calm.
It's true, it avoids panicking the whole team.
Situation number five. Your colleague proposes a good idea for the project schedule.
I smile and I reply: Great idea! On fait comme ça.
Very good! It is the best formula to validate team agreement.
It is fast, clear and very dynamic.
Situation number six. Your manager asks you to test a new work software.
I reply with enthusiasm: Okay, Je vais essayer !
Excellent work Léo! You succeeded in all six situations without any mistake.
Thank you Emma! I feel very confident speaking at the office now.
That's the goal of our show! With practice, everything becomes simpler.
That's great! Now, it's our listeners' turn to take action with our homework!
Yes! Tomorrow morning at work or at home, imagine that you have a small problem.
Look at yourself in front of the mirror and repeat out loud three times: Tu peux jeter un coup d'œil ?
Also say three times: Tu as un moment ? J'ai un petit souci.
Repeating these expressions in front of the mirror helps your memory and your pronunciation.
And remember: if the printer doesn't work, check the paper before panicking!
Haha, very good advice Léo! Thank you everyone for listening to us today.
Subscribe to our podcast so you don't miss any episode of slow conversation.
Have a good day at work, and see you very soon for a new episode!
Goodbye everyone!

Key phrases

6 to keep
Tu peux jeter un coup d'œil ?Can you take a look?
Tu peux jeter un coup d’œil à ce fichier ?Can you take a look at this file?
Tu as un moment ?Do you have a moment?
Tu as un moment ? J’ai une question rapide.Do you have a moment? I have a quick question.
Je suis bloquéI'm stuck
Je suis bloqué sur cette étape depuis ce matin.I've been stuck on this step since this morning.
J'ai un petit souciI have a little problem
J’ai un petit souci avec l’imprimante.I have a little problem with the printer.
On fait comme çaLet's do it like that
D’accord, on fait comme ça alors.Okay, let's do it that way then.
Je vais essayerI'm going to try
Je vais essayer cet après-midi.I'm going to try this afternoon.

À toi

Your turn
dire à voix haute
Today's small task

Yes! Tomorrow morning at work or at home, imagine that you have a small problem.Yes! Tomorrow morning at work or at home, imagine that you have a small problem.

cocoaTu peux jeter un coup d'œil ?
0:0010:20