Hi Tim here with another nine to five english lesson.

Today we're going to learn how to give instructions in english.

Telling people what to do isn't just something the boss does.

Anytime you're helping someone with a problem

training someone giving technical advice or telling a colleague how to do

something you're giving instructions.

Of course it's very important to be clear when you're giving instructions.

And for that reason we sometimes explain things

step by step in a sequence of instructions. This means

using words like first secondly and thirdly.

Or you might use other words like next and at the end of your sequence

finally or lastly. Let's practice some ways of using these

words to give a sequence of instruction.

Listen to each example then repeat it for yourself

Ready let's get started.

First try closing the program and opening it again.

Secondly i'd like you to complete the rest of the form.

Next you'll have to choose a password.

Finally don't forget to log out at the end of the session.

So did those instructions sound like orders i mean do you think

giving instructions means saying do this and do that well

not exactly in fact in english we don't like to be too direct

in most situations that's why we say

can you try closing the program instead of

close the program or you'll have to choose a password instead

of just choose a password one way to avoid being

too direct in english is to use special words

called modals modals are words such as can and need to

and could and should using modals is easy you just

put the modal between you and the main verb for example

you might say first you need to open an account

let's try some examples of giving instructions

using modals. Remember to repeat the examples after you hear them.

You'll need to enter your username and password to begin.

Okay you can now open the app and create an account.

Could you try restarting your device?

You need to start by launching the program from the main menu.

Did you notice that one example came in the form of a question? that's an

extra polite way of telling someone to do something.

Not every modal can be used that way however. Only can and

could will work. For example, could you check if your password is

correct is just a nice way of saying check your

password is correct you can also combine sequences

and modals to find the right balance between being clear

and polite. But what if you're not sure whether you've been clear enough?

What if you don't really know whether the other person has understood?

fortunately we have lots of different ways of

checking understanding. And the best way is just to ask directly like

do you understand you might also ask if people are clear or whether

everything makes sense these are just different ways of asking if

something has been understood let's try some practice with checking

understanding using these expressions. Once again

repeat the examples after you hear them.

So is everyone clear on what they have to do?

Okay do you understand how this works now?

Does that make sense to you?

Any questions about what you need to do?

As you heard one other way to check understanding is to ask if there are any

questions. that way you can find out exactly what

people don't understand.

Okay, so we've practiced some useful ways of giving instructions

and checking understanding. But what do these expressions

sound like in a conversation? Let's listen to a short dialogue between

Sean and Kim. Sean has asked for help using a machine

and Kim is giving him instructions on how to use it. Let's listen.

Could you help me with this?

Sure, first try turning the machine on.

Okay i did that what's next?

Next you can turn the dial on the front to 50.

Does that make sense? Kim begins by instructing him to turn the machine on

then to turn the dial to 50. She uses the sequence word next

and the modal can. Now it's your turn to practice.

We'll repeat the dialogue but this time we're going to beep out the second

speaker's words. You will have to say those parts

yourself. Remember to say that first Sean

should turn the machine on then say next and instruct

him to turn the dial on the front to 50.

Could you help me with this?

Okay i did that what's next?

All right that's all for this lesson. We've learned some great ways to give

instructions and to check understanding.

We'll be back soon with some more useful english expressions. Until then

so long and happy learning!