Chapter III · Professional lifeB1
88Dialogue · B1
Asking a colleague for help with a tight deadline
Situation
A deadline is approaching and you have too much work. This dialogue shows how to ask a colleague for help clearly and respectfully.
The roles
- YouListen
Je ne veux pas te déranger, mais j'aurais besoin d'un coup de main.
I don't want to bother you, but I could use a hand.
- A colleagueListen
Pas de souci. Qu'est-ce qui se passe ?
No worries. What's going on?
- YouListen
Le rapport doit être prêt demain et je n'arriverai pas seul.
The report has to be ready tomorrow and I won't make it alone.
- A colleagueListen
Je comprends. Qu'est-ce que je peux faire pour t'aider ?
I understand. What can I do to help you?
- YouListen
Si tu pouvais vérifier les chiffres, ça me sauverait beaucoup de temps.
If you could check the figures, it would save me a lot of time.
Simplifiez votre vie au Québec · Simplify your life in Quebec
Asking a colleague for help with a tight deadlineDialogue 88
- A colleagueListen
D'accord, envoie-moi le fichier et je m'en occupe cet après-midi.
Okay, send me the file and I'll take care of it this afternoon.
- YouListen
Merci beaucoup, tu me sauves vraiment la vie !
Thank you so much, you really are a lifesaver!
- A colleagueListen
Ça me fait plaisir. On se serre les coudes dans l'équipe.
My pleasure. We support each other on the team.
Vocabulary
- un coup de maina hand / help
- une échéancea deadline
- vérifier les chiffresto check the figures
- Ça me sauverait du tempsIt would save me time
- se serrer les coudesto support each other— Idiom: to help one another
Culture note
Mutual help is valued in Quebec teams. Asking for help is not seen as a weakness, as long as you do it in advance and respectfully.
Web version
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