How to write subordinate clauses
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Speaker: I’m just filling in my log book.
We have to do a daily account of the jobs that we’ve been doing. Like this tool that I’ve assembled.
Interviewer: So what goes in the log book?
Speaker: It should be a day-to-day training record of the jobs I’ve done, any accounts of health and safety that I’ve used.
And it should be a stage-by-stage record of actually how I’ve done it and how I’ve got to the end point.
I’m just about to move on to the design improvements and any suggestions that I can make.
So I wanted to get two main ideas down.
The first idea is that the material wastage is already low, and the second one, that we could actually improve this further by cutting all of the parts out of a single piece of material.
I want to provide a bit more detail to back up my first idea, so like I’ve included that the material wastage is already less than 15%.
I’ve used the connecting word ‘although’, it’s another word I can use for ‘however’ or ‘on the other hand’.
It allows me to connect two ideas together.
I’ve used commas to help me separate the ideas within sentences and make it flow better.
Practise writing complex sentences
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Moving the discussion forward
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Speaker 1: We’re meeting with Kevin, our Apprentice Training Manager.
We’re going to be discussing log books and how they can be used for our appraisals.
Speaker 2: (TO OTHER PEOPLE) Morning all. Thanks for coming to today’s meeting.
The purpose of the meeting today is to get some constructive feedback on how we can use the information in the log book in your appraisals.
Speaker 1: I think that the training record should form part of the information that’s got to go into the appraisals.
Speaker 2: Has anybody else got any ideas?
Speaker 3: In my opinion, I think we should include drawings and tasks, but I don’t think spelling or grammar should be a part of the appraisal.
Speaker 4: Why not? I think it’s really important that things are spelt correctly.
We have to do it for work, so why shouldn’t it be part of the appraisal?
Speaker 2: Yeah, I think we need to emphasise the English and the spelling.
Is there anything else?
Speaker 1: Do we have any targets for when we've got to fill our log books in by?
Speaker 2: The targets are set at the start of the year.
Speaker 3: I think health and safety should be a part of the appraisal because it’s part of the log book.
Speaker 4: I think that’s a great idea actually.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I would agree with that.
Speaker 1: What about if we lose it?
Speaker 2: Lose what?
Speaker 1: Lose the log book.
Speaker 2: You’ll be in serious trouble.
All speakers: LAUGHTER
What moved the discussion forward?
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Asking detailed questions
Watch the video to see some examples of how you can open a conversation and ask your colleagues for suggestions and ideas.
Interviewer: Alistair, where are you going?
Speaker 1: (TO AUDIENCE) I’m just going for my appraisal meeting with Kevin my Training Manager.
I’ve got my log book with me just in case he asks us some detailed questions.
Speaker 2: (TO OTHER PEOPLE) Hiya Alistair.
Speaker 1: Hello.
Speaker 2: I think you know Jared, our external assessor.
His function today is to help me with your appraisal.
OK, we set you some targets and a project a few months ago, about material wastage?
Speaker 1: Yeah, so I’ve been looking at the current design of the press tool and ways to improve it.
I’m hoping to cut more pieces of steel out of one sheet of material, and therefore looking at reducing the waste by ten per cent.
Speaker 3: Why are you interested in that?
Is that something you see yourself going into in the future?
Speaker 1: Yeah I think it is.
I like looking at how we can reduce waste in order to make us more competitive and efficient.
I’m not sure whether it’s quite exactly where I’m interested in.
I do like working with people, especially working with younger apprentices.
Speaker 2: So picking up on the point of working with younger apprentices.
Have you ever thought about becoming an apprentice ambassador?
Speaker 1: Yeah I have. I’ve spoken to a few ex-apprentices that have said they’re ambassadors.
I think it’s something I’d really like to do.
Speaker 2: I think that’s something we can definitely think about in the future.
How did the apprentice respond?
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