Australian English for Living and Working in Australia. Lesson 6.
In this lesson you step into your first week in an Australian office. You follow a new starter through introductions, a quick tour of the workplace and casual chats in the kitchen. You hear how colleagues ask about your background and role, and how people use first names, jokes and understatement to keep things relaxed. Together we unpack short dialogues to notice standard phrases such as "This is Mei, she’s just joined the team" or "I’m still finding my feet". You also compare a very formal self-introduction with a more natural Australian version and adapt it to your own story. Throughout the lesson you recycle survival language from earlier units, now inside a professional setting. By the end, you can introduce yourself confidently, respond to common questions and sound friendly and professional without being stiff.
1. First morning introductions with the team.
Imagine it is your very first morning in an Australian office. You walk in, you have your swipe card, maybe a coffee in your hand, and your manager brings you over to meet the team. This is a key moment. You want to sound friendly and professional, but not too formal or rehearsed. In this block we will focus on those first introductions.
You will listen to a short scene where a manager introduces a new starter to two colleagues. As you listen, pay attention to a few things. First, notice how short and relaxed the self introduction is. Second, listen for phrases that Australians often use, like: 'I’ve just joined the team', 'I look after the finance side of things', or 'Let me know if you need a hand'. Third, notice the tone – it is warm, but not over the top.
After the listening, you will answer some simple questions in writing. Do not worry about perfect grammar. Focus on catching the key information and copying one or two phrases that you like. Ready? Let’s step into that open-plan office together.
Stepping into your first Aussie office.
On your first morning, you usually meet a lot of people very quickly. In Australian offices, this moment is friendly and informal, even if the work itself is serious. People normally use first names straight away and keep their introductions short.
You do not need a long speech about your career history. Two or three clear sentences are enough.
Typical structure:
Say who you are.
Say your role in simple words.
Add one short extra detail.
For example:
'Hi, I’m Priya, I’ve just joined the team.'
'I look after the finance side of things.'
'Everyone’s been really friendly so far.'
Notice how these sentences are:
Short.
In everyday language.
Positive, but not too much.
Model office introduction (what you will hear).
In the audio for this block, you will hear a short scene like this:
> Sam (manager): Morning, everyone. This is Priya, she’s just joined the team.
>
> Priya (new starter): Hi, I’m Priya. I’ll be working with the finance side of things. Still finding my feet, but really happy to be here.
>
> Alex (colleague): Nice to meet you, Priya, welcome aboard. I’m Alex, I look after the Sydney clients.
>
> Jess (colleague): Hey, I’m Jess. Let me know if you need a hand with anything.
When you listen in the activity below, try to catch:
The new starter’s name.
What she will be doing in the team.
One phrase colleagues use to welcome her.
One phrase Priya uses to describe how she feels.
You will then write short answers to show what you understood.
Use this chance to notice chunks you might want to reuse on your own first day.
Practice & Feedback
Listen to the short office introduction in the audio player below at least once, and twice if you need. Do not worry if you do not catch every single word the first time. Focus on the key details.
Then, in the answer box, write 3–5 short sentences in your own words that answer these questions:
What is the new starter’s name, and what team or area will they work in?
What welcoming phrases do the colleagues use?
What does the new starter say about how they feel or their situation?
Try to:
Use complete sentences.
Copy one or two phrases you heard that you like (for example, 'welcome aboard' or 'still finding my feet').
Keep your answers clear and simple.
You do not need to repeat the questions, just write the answers as short sentences.
2. Making your self introduction sound natural.
Now that you have heard a typical first morning introduction, let’s zoom in on your own self introduction. Many learners arrive in Australia with a very formal script in their head, something they might use in an interview or a conference. In a normal Australian office, that often sounds too stiff, or even a bit distant.
In this block, you will see two versions of a self introduction: one very formal, and one that sounds more natural in an Aussie workplace. We will look at the differences in length, vocabulary and tone. I want you to notice how the more natural version is still professional, but feels relaxed and human.
Then you will write your own introduction in a similar style. Imagine you are meeting a small group of colleagues on your first day. You are not giving a presentation. You are just telling them who you are, what you do, and one small detail about yourself. Keep it short, clear and friendly. Use the chunks from the screen to help you.
Formal vs natural in an Australian office.
A lot of English learners start with something like this:
> 'Good morning. My name is Dr Priya Sharma. I have recently commenced employment in the Finance Department. I have over ten years of experience in the banking sector and I look forward to working with you all.'
There is nothing wrong with this English, but in a normal Australian office it can sound too serious for a quick hallway introduction.
Here is a more natural Aussie-style version:
> 'Hi, I’m Priya, I’ve just joined the team. I’ll be looking after the finance side of things. I used to work in banking, so still getting my head around everything here, but I’m really happy to be on board.'
What changed?
The greeting is 'Hi', not 'Good morning'.
She uses her first name only.
She says 'I’ve just joined the team', not 'I have recently commenced employment'.
She explains her role in simple words: 'the finance side of things'.
She adds a small, honest comment: 'still getting my head around everything'.
Useful chunks you can steal.
You can mix and match phrases like:
'Hi, I’m [name], I’ve just joined the team.'
'I look after the [area] side of things.'
'I’m based in [city] but work with the [team].'
'I’m still finding my feet, but really happy to be here.'
'Everyone’s been really friendly so far.'
These are short, clear and human. They show confidence without sounding like a speech.
In the activity below, you will read the two versions again and then write your own short introduction, using this more natural style.
Practice & Feedback
Read the two introductions in the reading box carefully: the very formal one and the more natural Aussie one. Notice which phrases feel too heavy for a quick chat, and which ones feel relaxed but still professional.
Now imagine it is your first week in an Australian office. You are meeting 3 or 4 colleagues in a meeting room. Your goal is to sound friendly, clear and natural, not like you are reading a CV.
In the answer box, write one short self introduction of 3–5 sentences. Include:
Your name.
Your role or what you look after, in simple words.
One extra detail, for example your location, previous experience, or that you are still finding your feet.
Try to reuse at least two of the chunks from the examples above (for example, 'I’ve just joined the team', 'I look after the marketing side of things'). Write as if you are speaking, not writing an email.
Very formal version:
"Good morning. My name is Dr Priya Sharma. I have recently commenced employment in the Finance Department. I have over ten years of experience in the banking sector and I look forward to working with you all."
More natural Aussie version:
"Hi, I’m Priya, I’ve just joined the team. I’ll be looking after the finance side of things. I used to work in banking, so I’m still getting my head around everything here, but I’m really happy to be on board."
3. Getting a quick tour and asking for help.
After those first introductions, the next common moment in your first week is the quick office tour. Someone might point out the kitchen, the bathrooms, where to book meeting rooms, and how to use the printer. This is a perfect chance to ask small, practical questions.
In Australian offices, people usually expect new starters to ask for help. It is completely normal to say things like, 'I’m still finding my feet', or 'Could you show me how to book a meeting room?'. Using these soft, polite questions makes you sound independent but also easy to work with.
In this block, you will read a short dialogue from an office tour. I want you to focus on two things. First, the relaxed, friendly comments that your colleague uses, such as 'help yourself to coffee' or 'if you get stuck, just give me a yell'. Second, the language the new starter uses to ask for help.
Then you will write three of your own polite questions that you might ask during a real tour. Aim for questions that feel natural, not like they came from a grammar book.
The office tour: a perfect time to ask.
On your first day or first week, a colleague will often say something like:
> 'I’ll just give you a quick tour.'
They walk you around the office and show you practical things. This is your chance to ask small questions before you forget.
Here is a short model dialogue:
> Alex: So this is the kitchen. Help yourself to coffee and tea, milk’s in the fridge.
>
> You: Great, thanks. I’m still getting my head around everything.
>
> Alex: No worries. The bathrooms are down that way, and meeting rooms are along this corridor.
>
> You: Could you show me how to book a meeting room later?
>
> Alex: Yeah, too easy. I’ll send you the link. If you get stuck, just give me a yell.
Soft, polite questions to use.
Notice how you ask for help:
'Could you show me how to book a meeting room?'
'Would you mind showing me how the printer works?'
'Is it okay if I ask you a quick question about the system?'
These questions are:
Polite, but not too formal.
Short and clear.
Easy to say when you feel a bit nervous.
You can also soften by explaining your situation:
'I’m still finding my feet.'
'I’m just getting my head around the new system.'
Useful chunks.
From the course chunk bank, here are some favourites:
'Could you show me how to book a meeting room?'
'Thanks, I really appreciate your help.'
'Everyone’s been really friendly.'
'If you get stuck, just give me a yell.'
In the activity below, you will use these patterns to create your own questions about real things you will need to learn in your new office.
Practice & Feedback
Read the list of typical 'first week' topics in the reading box. These are all things that new starters often need help with when they join an office.
Now imagine a friendly colleague is walking you around and saying, 'If you need anything, just ask.' This is your chance to practise sounding natural and polite when you ask for help.
In the answer box, write three different questions you might ask during your first week. For example, you might ask about booking a meeting room, using the printer, or finding out how to request leave.
Make sure that:
Each question is a full sentence.
At least two of your questions use a soft question pattern, such as 'Could you show me…?', 'Would you mind…?', or 'Is it okay if…?'.
You keep the overall tone relaxed and friendly, not too formal.
You can also add a short sentence like 'I’m still finding my feet' before or after one of your questions if it feels natural.
Typical things new starters need to ask about:
How to book a meeting room.
How to connect to the office Wi‑Fi.
How to use the printer or scanner.
Where shared files are stored.
How to request annual leave.
How to join the main Teams or Slack channels.
What to do when a guest arrives at reception.
4. Joining small talk in the office kitchen.
By your second or third day, you are not just doing tours and introductions. You are probably standing in the kitchen, waiting for the kettle to boil or making a coffee. This is where a lot of Australian workplace relationships actually start, in small moments of casual chat.
In these short kitchen conversations, people often ask about how you are settling in, what you did on the weekend, or what you think of the weather. The tone is light, and the goal is connection, not deep information. Typical phrases are things like, 'How are you finding it so far?', 'Everyone’s been really friendly', or 'What are you up to this weekend?'.
In this block, you will see a model kitchen chat on the screen. Notice the structure: greeting, one or two simple questions, small answers with a bit of detail, and a friendly close. Then you will simulate your own short chat by writing both your lines and your colleague’s lines, like a mini script. This will prepare you for those real, slightly awkward first kitchen moments.
The office kitchen: everyday small talk.
The office kitchen is where Australians often test the water with new colleagues. A short chat over coffee can make a big difference to how included you feel.
> Alex: Nice, welcome aboard. How are you finding it so far?
>
> You: Yeah, good thanks. I’m still finding my feet, but everyone’s been really friendly.
>
> Alex: That’s good to hear. You based in Sydney or commuting in?
>
> You: I’m based in Sydney, just a short train ride away.
>
> Alex: Sweet. Got any plans for the weekend?
>
> You: Nothing huge, just going to check out the area a bit.
Notice the pattern.
This chat:
Starts with a simple greeting and names.
Moves to a settling in question: 'How are you finding it so far?'
Includes a modest, honest answer: 'I’m still finding my feet.'
Adds a follow-up topic (where you live, weekend plans).
Ends naturally when someone needs to get back to work.
Handy kitchen chunks.
From the chunk bank and the dialogue, useful lines include:
'Hi, I’m [name], I’ve just joined the team.'
'How are you finding it so far?'
'Everyone’s been really friendly.'
'I’m still getting my head around everything.'
'Got any plans for the weekend?'
'Yeah, busy but not too bad.'
In the activity, you will write a short script of a kitchen chat, using these kinds of lines in your own way.
Practice & Feedback
Imagine you are in the office kitchen on your second or third day. A colleague starts a friendly conversation with you while you wait for the kettle or the coffee machine.
Using the model conversation above as inspiration, write a short chat script of 6–10 lines. Write it like a conversation, with names at the start of each line. For example:
Alex: …
You: …
Your conversation should:
Include a greeting and a quick exchange of names.
Mention that you have just joined the team.
Answer a question like 'How are you finding it so far?' using a natural chunk such as 'I’m still finding my feet' or 'Everyone’s been really friendly.'
Include one more safe topic, such as weekend plans, commute, or the weather.
Try to keep sentences short and relaxed, as if you are really standing in the kitchen, not writing an email.
Example opening you can reuse or adapt:
Alex: Hey, I don’t think we’ve properly met yet.
You: Hi, I’m [your name], I’ve just joined the team.
Alex: Nice to meet you. How are you finding it so far?
5. Understanding Aussie humour and understatement.
So far you have focused on what to say. Now let’s look more closely at how Australians often mean more than the exact words they use. In many Australian offices, people like to use understatement and light humour, especially when talking about themselves or about small problems.
For example, someone might say, 'Yeah, it was a bit hectic this morning', when actually it was very stressful. Or 'It’s been a big week, but not too bad', when they are extremely busy. These phrases help keep the mood calm and low drama, even when things are a bit tough.
In this block, you will read some common phrases and short mini dialogues, and you will practise guessing what the speaker really means. This will help you avoid misunderstandings, especially in your first week when you are still learning the culture.
You do not need to be perfect. Just focus on whether the overall feeling is positive, neutral, or negative, and whether the person is joking, being modest, or being serious.
Reading between the lines in an Aussie office.
Australians often avoid very strong language at work. Instead of saying 'I’m extremely stressed', someone might say:
'Yeah, it’s been a bit hectic.'
This is called understatement. The words sound soft, but the situation might actually be quite serious or very busy.
Here are some common phrases and what they usually mean:
Exact words
What it often means in context
'Yeah, not too bad.'
'I’m fine' (neutral to positive; standard answer)
'It’s been a big week.'
'It’s been a very busy or tiring week.'
'It was a bit hectic this morning.'
'The morning was very busy or stressful.'
'We had a bit of a stuff-up on that job.'
'There was a real mistake or problem on that job.'
'I’ll have a crack at it.'
'I’ll try it, even if it might be hard.'
Mini dialogues.
1.
> Sam: How’s your first week going?
>
> You: Pretty good, everyone’s been really friendly.
>
> Sam: That’s good. It’s a big place, but you’ll find your feet.
2.
> Alex: How was the meeting?
>
> Jess: Ah, it was a bit hectic, to be honest, but we got there in the end.
3.
> Manager: Thanks for staying back yesterday.
>
> You: No worries.
>
> Manager: Yeah, it was a big day.
4.
> Colleague: Do you think you can handle that task?
>
> You: Yeah, I’ll have a crack at it.
In the activity below, you will explain in your own words what each speaker really means and what the general feeling is: positive, neutral or negative.
Practice & Feedback
Read the table of phrases and the four mini dialogues in the reading box again. Pay attention to tone, not just vocabulary. Think about how people in your own language might say similar things.
In the answer box, write four short explanations, one for each mini dialogue (1–4).
For each number, write 1–2 sentences that say:
What the speaker really means in simple words.
Whether the overall feeling is positive, neutral or negative.
For example, for a sentence like 'It was a bit hectic, to be honest, but we got there in the end', you might write something like: 'The meeting was quite stressful and busy, but in the end they finished everything, so it is mostly positive.'
Number your answers 1, 2, 3, 4 so it is clear which explanation goes with which dialogue.
Mini dialogues (for quick reference):
1.
Sam: How’s your first week going?
You: Pretty good, everyone’s been really friendly.
Sam: That’s good. It’s a big place, but you’ll find your feet.
2.
Alex: How was the meeting?
Jess: Ah, it was a bit hectic, to be honest, but we got there in the end.
3.
Manager: Thanks for staying back yesterday.
You: No worries.
Manager: Yeah, it was a big day.
4.
Colleague: Do you think you can handle that task?
You: Yeah, I’ll have a crack at it.
6. Putting it together your first week mini script.
You have now explored several key moments from your first week in an Australian office: that first introduction to the team, asking for help on a quick tour, and joining small talk in the kitchen. You have also looked at how Australians use understatement and relaxed chunks to keep things friendly and low drama.
In this final block, you will bring everything together in one short mini script. Think of it as a rehearsal for real life. You will write a little story in dialogue form that follows you through three steps: being introduced to the team, asking a colleague for practical help, and then chatting in the kitchen.
Do not worry about writing a long play. Eight to twelve lines is plenty. The goal is to **reuse** as many useful phrases as you can in a way that still feels natural for you. Imagine real people from your own work life, and adapt the example script on the screen so it fits your story.
After you write it, you will get feedback on clarity, tone and how natural your language sounds in an Aussie office context.
Your first week story.
Let’s put the pieces together into one short scene. Here is an example of a mini script that follows a new starter through three moments.
1. Team introduction.
> Sam (manager): Morning all. This is Priya, she’s just joined the team.
>
> Priya (you): Hi, I’m Priya. I’ll be looking after the finance side of things.
>
> Alex (colleague): Nice to meet you, Priya, welcome aboard.
2. Asking for help on the tour.
> Alex: I’ll just give you a quick tour. Kitchen’s over here, help yourself to coffee.
>
> Priya: Thanks, I’m still finding my feet.
>
> Priya: Could you show me how to book a meeting room later?
>
> Alex: Yeah, too easy. If you get stuck, just give me a yell.
3. Kitchen small talk.
> Alex: Hey, how are you finding it so far?
>
> Priya: Yeah, good, everyone’s been really friendly. Still getting my head around everything though.
>
> Alex: Yeah, it’s a big place, but you’ll be fine. Got any plans for the weekend?
>
> Priya: Nothing huge, just going to check out the area a bit.
Your task.
You will now write your own mini script, using your real or future role. Keep the same basic structure:
Team introduction – manager or colleague introduces you, and you give a short self introduction.
Tour question – you ask a colleague for help with something practical.
Kitchen chat – you exchange a few lines of small talk about how it’s going and maybe weekend plans.
Try to include at least four of these chunks:
'I’ve just joined the team.'
'I look after the [area] side of things.'
'I’m still finding my feet.'
'Could you show me how to…?'
'Thanks, I really appreciate your help.'
'How are you finding it so far?'
'Everyone’s been really friendly.'
'If you get stuck, just give me a yell.'
Use names that feel real for your context, and adapt the details so this could be your first week.
Practice & Feedback
Write your own first week mini script as a short dialogue, following the three stages on the screen:
Team introduction.
Asking a colleague for practical help.
Small talk in the kitchen.
In the answer box, write 8–12 lines. Use names at the start of each line (for example, 'Manager:', 'You:', 'Colleague:'). You can copy the structure of the example, but change the details so it matches your real or future job.
Make sure you:
Include a clear self introduction (your name and role).
Ask at least one polite question using a pattern like 'Could you show me how to…?' or 'Would you mind…?'.
Add 2–3 lines of kitchen small talk about how you are finding it so far, your commute, the weather, or weekend plans.
Reuse at least four of the useful chunks listed above.
Focus on sounding natural and friendly, not perfect. This is your rehearsal for the real conversations you will soon have.
Success checklist for your mini script:
8–12 lines of dialogue.
Three clear parts: team intro, tour question, kitchen chat.
At least four target chunks (for example, 'I’ve just joined the team', 'I’m still finding my feet').
