072_Offering-Declining a Task

072_Offering-Declining a Task

If someone is asking us to do something, how can we offer to do the task or politely say no?

Kevin:

Hello and welcome to Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin Podcasting Episode 72. A great place to review English words and phrases. My name is Kevin Jones. In this business edition of the podcast we will look at phrases for offering to do a task, or to decline a task. This is part two of a two part podcast. In part one we looked at how to delegate in English so now in this second part we will focus on offering and declining a task. Remember… to offer to do something means to say yes to something and to decline is to say “no”.
First,let’s listen again to the conversation in which a manager is talking to his team about an upcoming trade show.

Manager:

Hi everyone. thanks for coming. The trade show at Makuhari Messe is just a week away and I’d like your help getting a few things done. OK Robert. I’d like you to call Hakuhodo and confirm with them what time we can begin to set up our kiosk. The earlier the better.

Robert:

Sure, I can do that. Leave it to me.

Manager:

Now, I need someone to call the food catering company to finalize the menu for our hospitality suite.

Kathy:

I can do that this afternoon if you’d like.

Manager:

Thanks Kathy, that would be great. Let’s see … we also need somebody to go to the airport to meet the engineering team, from India.

Kentaro:

Why don’t I do that? I live pretty close to the airport.

Manager:

Could you? That would be great. Ahh, Robert, I need you to pick up the video equipment from the rental company this evening.

Robert:

I’m sorry, I’m afraid I can’t. I have to go to my son’s baseball game.

Manager:

I see. That’s OK. Kathy, how about you. Can you pick up the video equipment this evening?

Kathy:

I’d prefer not to if that’s OK. My doctor said I shouldn’t do any heavy lifting this week.

Manager:

Oh right. Sorry, I forgot about your back trouble. Well in that case I’ll pick the video equipment up on my way home from work and bring it in tomorrow morning. So, Robert you’re going to call Hakuhodo,

Robert:

Uh huh.

Manager:

Kathy, you’re going to take care of the food.

Kathy:

Right

Manager:

… and Kentaro will Meet the Engineering team at the airport.

Kentaro:

Yes.

Manager:

I’ll get the video equipment tonight and then we should be on schedule. Let’s have a quick meeting tomorrow afternoon to review our progress. That’s it for now. Thanks everybody.

Kevin:

Did you notice how the team members offered to do some tasks and declined to do other tasks assigned by the manager? Let’s listen again to how the staff members offered to do something.

Manager:

Robert. I’d like you to call Hakuhodo and confirm with them what time we can begin to set up our kiosk. The earlier the better.

Robert:

Sure, I can do that.

Kevin:

He responds with “sure, I can do that. Leave it to me”. This sounds very clear and positive. I can do that. Leave it to me. Now, you try this phrase. I’ll ask you to do something and you respond with “sure, leave it to me”.
I’d like you to talk to the bank.

Kevin:

Good. Now let’s listen to the next phrase that was used.

Manager:

Now, I need someone to call the food catering company

Kathy:

I can do that this afternoon if you’d like.

Manager:

Thanks Kathy, that would be great. Let’s see … we also need somebody to go to the airport to meet the engineering team, from India.

Kentaro:

Why don’t I do that? I live pretty close to the airport.

Kevin:

The phrases used were “I can do that, if you like”. – “I can do that, if you like”, and the phrase “Why don’t I do that?”, “Why don’t I do that?”

Now you give it a try. Offer to do a task using one of those two phrases.
I need someone to arrange transportation.

Good. Now let’s move on to declining a task. Listen again to the two staff members declining a task.

Manager:

Ahh, Robert, I need you to pick up the video equipment from the rental company this evening.

Robert:

I’m sorry, I’m afraid I can’t. I have to go to my son’s baseball game.

Manager:

I see. That’s OK. Kathy, how about you. Can you pick up the video equipment this evening?

Kathy:

I’d prefer not to if that’s OK. My doctor said I shouldn’t do any heavy lifting this week.

Kevin:

Let’s review those phrases for declining, or saying no to a task. “I’m sorry, I’m afraid I can’t” “I’m sorry, I’m afraid I can’t” – “I’m sorry, I’m afraid I can’t”. The next phrase was, “I’d prefer not to if that’s OK” – “I’d prefer not to if that’s OK”. Both of these phrases should be followed by a reason why you can’t do it. A popular reason is to just say “I’m busy”. Now you give it a try. I will ask you to do a task, and you decline using one of these phrases.
I need you to take this letter to the Yokohama branch.

Good. Now you have some phrases for offering to do a task, and some phrases for declining a task. Why don’t you go back and try them again.
That’s all the time we have for this podcast. You can find a transcript for this podcast and listen to past episodes at www.nichibei.ac.jp . And be sure to check out the classes for the next term at Nichibei. We have classes in business, conversation, TOEIC, art and history and others. Find out why Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin is a great place to build you future. Join us again for podcast 73 when we will review how to smoothly greet a visitor to your company.
This podcast is a production of Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin.