First day at a new job: Meeting the team and asking questions
1. Warm-up discussion
Discuss these questions:
- Have you ever started a new job or a new school? How did you feel?
- What kind of questions do you ask when you meet new colleagues or classmates?
- What are three important things to do on your first day at a new place?
2. Listening: My First Day
Listen to the audio and fill in the gaps with the exact words you hear.
Today was my first day at the new . I met my . Everyone was very . My , Anna, showed me my . She also me to John from IT. I many questions about my . It was a good first day. I am to be here.
3. Key vocabulary
Complete the definitions using the words from the box.
2. A group of people working together:
3. Friendly and helpful:
4. The person who is in charge of a department or project at work:
5. A table where you sit to work:
6. To present someone to others for the first time:
7. Information Technology (the department that deals with computers and systems):
8. A piece of work to be done:
9. Feeling pleasure and contentment:
4. Grammar focus: Past Simple
We use the Past Simple to talk about finished actions that happened at a specific time in the past.
Structure:
- Regular verbs: add -ed (e.g., work → worked, start → started, ask → asked)
- Irregular verbs: change form (e.g., meet → met, show → showed, be → was/were)
- Verb 'to be': I/he/she/it was; you/we/they were
- Negative: subject + didn't + base form of verb (e.g., I didn't meet); subject + wasn't/weren't
- Questions: Did + subject + base form of verb? (e.g., Did you ask?); Was/Were + subject?
Complete the sentences with the correct Past Simple form of the verb in brackets:
1. Yesterday, I my new job.
2. I my team in the morning.
3. My manager me around the office.
4. We a long meeting.
5. you many questions?
6. John from IT me with my computer.
7. Everyone very friendly.
5. Reading: Sarah's First Day at "Innovate Solutions"
Read the blog article about Sarah's first day and answer the questions below.
My First Day at Innovate Solutions!
Hi everyone! I just wanted to share my experience from my first day at Innovate Solutions. I arrived at 8:30 AM, feeling a bit nervous but excited. My manager, Mr. Lee, greeted me warmly and took me to my new workspace. It was a modern office with lots of natural light.
First, I met my team. They were all very welcoming and explained their current projects. I learned that my main task will be helping with customer support emails. Then, Mr. Lee introduced me to Maria from HR (Human Resources) who helped me with some paperwork. Later, John from IT set up my computer and showed me how to use the company's internal system. He answered all my questions patiently.
The day passed quickly! I had lunch with a few colleagues in the company canteen. It was great to get to know them. By the end of the day, I felt much more relaxed and happy. It was a good start, and I'm looking forward to tomorrow!
Choose the correct answer:
1. How did Sarah feel when she arrived?
2. Who greeted Sarah when she arrived?
3. What will be Sarah's main task?
4. Who helped Sarah with her computer?
5. Sarah had lunch alone on her first day.
6. Speaking practice
Discuss these questions with a partner. Use the vocabulary and grammar from this lesson.
- Describe your ideal first day at a new job or school. What would you like to happen?
- Imagine you are Sarah. What questions would you ask your colleagues about their projects?
- How important is it to be "kind" and "welcoming" to new team members? Why?