083_What’s the Problem?

083_What’s the Problem?

We can not solve a problem unless we have all the information. In this episode we will practice how to ask about problems.

Kevin:

Hello and welcome to Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin Podcasting. A great place to review English words and phrases. My name is Kevin Jones. In this podcast we are going to look at phrases to discuss and solve a problem. In this dialogue we hear two coworkers. One is asking the other to help him with a computer problem. Notice how the key phrases are used to ask what the problem is, explain the problem, ask for details, diagnose the problem (diagnose means to say what you think the problem is), and finally to advise someone on what to do. Let’s listen in on this conversation.

Michael:

Say George. Could you give me a hand? I’m having trouble with my computer.

George:

Sure Michael, what’s the matter?

Michael:

It’s my laptop. it keeps on crashing.

George:

When you say crashing do you mean the computer shuts down or the screen freezes?

Michael:

The screen freezes. I can’t move the mouse.

George:

Have you tried restarting the computer?

Michael:

Yes, I’ve tried that. It works fine for a while but then it start making a strange noise.

George:

What sort of noise is it?

Michael:

It’s a clicking noise. It’s coming from inside the computer.

George:

Then what happens?

Michael:

Well then it stops working.

George:

The screen freezes?

Michael:

Yeah, that’s right. The screen freezes.

George:

Well, it sounds as though your hard drive is failing.

Michael:

Really.

George:

If were you, I’d back up your hard drive as soon as possible.

Michael:

I’ve done that already. So, can I have the hard drive repaired?

George:

No. The best thing would be to have the drive replaced.

Nozomi:

Let’s go back an listen to the key phrases used in this conversation. First, George asks Michael what the problem is with this phrase.

George:

Sure Michael, what’s the matter? what’s the matter?

Nozomi:

Other phrases include…

Jack:

What seems to be the problem? What appears to be the problem?

Nozomi:

Next, Michael explains the problem. For this, he uses the phrase “keeps on” + verb + -ing.

Michael:

It’s my laptop. It keeps on crashing. It keeps on crashing.

Kevin:

When something keeps on doing something, it continues to do it, again and again. It keeps on crashing. It keeps on crashing. Next George asks for more details.

George:

When you say “crashing” do you mean the computer shuts down or the screen freezes?

Kevin:

George wants to make sure he understands what Michael says. So he uses the pattern – When you say X, do you mean A or B. Let me give you another example. If you said, “let’s meet next Saturday” I could say “When you say next Saturday, do you mean the day after tomorrow, or next week Saturday”. Next to further check information, George uses the pattern “have you tried, + noun or have you tried + (verb+ing)

George:

Have you tried restarting the computer?

Kevin:

When Michael says that the computer is making a noise, George ask for more information using the phrase, “What sort of” + noun + “is it”..

George:

What sort of noise is it?

Kevin:

Finally, George give his advice to Michael. He uses “If I were you I’d + verb” and he also uses the phrase ” the best thing to do would be…”

George:

If I were you, I’d back up your hard drive as soon as possible.

George:

The best thing would be to have the drive replaced.

Kevin:

Now why don’t you go back and listen to the conversation again and try to catch all the questions George uses to help Michael with his problem.
That’s all the time we have for this podcast. In the next podcast, we will learn how to give a performance evaluation in English . Until next time, keep studying and remember that you can find a transcript for this podcast and listen to past episodes at www.nichibei.ac.jp . And be sure to come by Nichibei near Yotsuya station and observe a class. We have classes in business, conversation, TOEIC test preparation, and advanced studies. Find out why Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin is a great place to build you future.
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