Coordinating Home Repairs That Conflict with Work Hours

Dialogue script

Each entry shows the English sentence first, with the translation on the line below it. To practise speaking, cover the translation and repeat after the audio.

1. Emma 0:00

   Repair staff only come during office hours, which clashes with my job.

   Line 1
2. Tom 0:05

   Can they offer evening slots or weekend appointment windows?

   Line 2
3. Emma 0:08

   They said schedule is fixed, and no one can adjust routes.

   Line 3
4. Tom 0:13

   Then negotiate alternatives like key handoff or authorized entry.

   Line 4
5. Emma 0:17

   I'm uncomfortable with unattended entry while I'm away.

   Line 5
6. Tom 0:21

   Understandable. Ask for named technician and time-range confirmation.

   Line 6
7. Emma 0:26

   I'll request first-slot morning appointment before my meetings.

   Line 7
8. Tom 0:30

   Or coordinate with building manager to supervise entry.

   Line 8
9. Emma 0:33

   I'll provide two acceptable windows and ask them to choose.

   Line 9
10. Tom 0:38

    Great, giving two clear options often speeds scheduling.

    Line 10
11. Emma 0:42

    If they miss confirmed slot, I'll request priority rebooking.

    Line 11
12. Tom 0:46

    Fair approach. Your work schedule deserves equal respect.

    Line 12

Native audio, line-by-line recording and pronunciation scoring for this dialogue are in the EngTalk app.

Key vocabulary

Content words from this dialogue, ranked by the CEFR level at which they appear across the whole 500-dialogue library. Function words and proper nouns are excluded.

• job /dʒɑb/ noun

  paid work or a particular task

• negotiate /nəˈɡoʊʃiˌeɪt/ verb

  to discuss in order to reach an agreement

• alternatives /ɔlˈtɜrnətɪvz/ noun

  available options or substitute choices

• giving /ˈɡɪvɪŋ/ verb

  handing, providing, or offering something

• options /ˈɑpʃənz/ noun

  things that can be chosen.

• often /ˈɔfən/ adverb

  many times; frequently.

• scheduling /ˈskɛdʒulɪŋ/ noun

  the act of planning times for events or tasks

• fair /ˈfɛr/ adjective

  reasonable and treating people equally

• approach /əˈproʊtʃ/ noun

  a way of dealing with something; the act of coming closer

• deserves /dɪˈzɜrvz/ verb

  third-person singular of deserve; is worthy of

• equal /ˈikwəl/ adjective or noun

  the same in amount, value, or status

• respect /rɪˈspɛkt/ noun/verb

  admiration or polite regard; to treat with regard

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