1. The Hierarchy
2. Particular Events
3. Jokes and Grumbles
4. Gossip or Informal Chat
5. One Person Communicating
6. How People Talk at Work
7. Questions
8. Written Signs
9. Instructions
10. Orders and Commands

TASK A

Draw a diagram of the hierarchy at your place of work

It should look something like this (DO NOT COPY THIS ONE!):

TASK B

Look at the completed chart. Write a small paragraph about how one person speaks to a variety of others. Does it depend on their position in the hierarchy?

Think of ONE very funny or ONE rather boring conversation you had during the week (it may or may not have included you).

Think very hard about what was actually said and what was happening around the people as they were speaking.

Write out the conversation as a play. For example, the conversation might have gone like this (DO NOT COPY THIS ONE!):

Mechanic: Good afternoon Mr. Jones

Mr. Jones: Good afternoon, is my car finished? I heard that there may have been some problems.

Mechanic: The red Ford Escort, yes its going well. We had problems with a blue Nova, mind. Between you and me, we messed it up, but I think we'll be able to cobble it back together some how! Ha!

Mr. Jones: My car is the blue Nova!

Mechanic: Er, yes of course, I didn't tell you we'd had a couple of blue Novas in did I? Ha, ha! Well, erm, I'll just check on your blue Nova now….

Ask yourself the following questions:

1. Did anyone joke around or have 'a bit of a laugh'?

If they did, write down the things they joked about?

2. Did they tease anyone?

If so, who was it and why did they do it? What did they tease him or her about?

3. Did the people at your placement ever moan?

If so, what did they moan about? It could have been things to do with the job or workplace, or it could have been about things going on outside the job or workplace.

Think about the conversations you had with people, or some conversations you heard other people having.

Write down some examples taking into account the following:

1. Were you or they on a tea or lunch break, or doing your work?
2. What did you or they gossip about?
3. Did you always chat about work related things, or did you also talk about other issues?
4. Did you or they talk about your personal lives?

AT ALL TIMES, TRY TO THINK ABOUT WHO WAS TALKING TO WHOM

Think about one person at work. This could be you!

Think about the people he or she spoke to.

Fill in the empty chart, an example of which follows to give you an idea (DO NOT COPY THIS ONE!):

Fill in this chart with your examples:

TASK A

Think about a situation when you were working and talking about the job. Did you learn any new technical phrases?

If you did, write them down. Were these phrases used a lot at work?

TASK B

While you were working, how much of the time was spent talking about work or the job you were doing at the time?

How much time was spent talking about other things?

You could try to express TASK B as a percentage (%). Ask how if you're not sure.

TASK

Write a list of at least 10 questions you were asked about work during this week. Also write down whether you were able to answer these questions fully.

Choose 2 of the questions that you were able to answer fully, and write down how it was that you knew the answers. For example, had someone explained the problem to you? How were important things explained to you?

If someone asked you the same question now, could you answer it?

TASK A

You should have looked out for any signs that were up on the walls. Try to draw a few of them. Here are some examples (DO NOT COPY THESE):

NO SMOKING

KEEP CLEAR!

TASK B

Write down one reason for each sign underneath the pictures you have drawn. eg. No Smoking: it was a petrol forecourt so there could have been a serious fire if anyone smoked.

TASK

Think of one thing you were asked to do that needed to be explained. Write down how it was explained to you. So that you can be careful and write the explanation in the correct order, do it in the form of a flowchart or list.

Your list could look something like this:

1. Put the key in the till and move it around to the Y position.
2. Tap in the price of the item.
3. Press the 'clothes sales' button it the item is clothes.
4. If there is more than one item of clothing, go back to 2.
5. Press the 'total' button… etc. etc.

TASK

Write down a list of at least 5 commands or orders you were given during the week (these could be things you were told TO DO or NOT TO DO WITHOUT FAIL!).

Write down who gave you the order or command. Why do you think it was that person?

Write down whether a full explanation was given. Do you think that the reason for the order was fair? Did it apply to all the staff or just you?