English for Hospitality

Kitchen Teamwork

1
Warm‑Up

Let's talk for a minute before we read.

  1. Do you often ask colleagues for help in the kitchen?
    (Starter: Yes, I often... / No, I don't...)
  2. What do you usually ask for help with?
    (Starter: I usually ask for help with...)
  3. Do you help other cooks too? When?
    (Starter: Yes, I help when...)
2
Before You Read

You are going to read a conversation between two cooks, Marta and Tomek. They are getting ready for dinner service.

Look at these words from the text:

strawberries · cake · sauce · sugar

What do you think Marta and Tomek are making? Guess before you read.

3
First Read

Read the conversation quickly. Don't worry about new words yet.

Kitchen Conversation

Marta & Tomek

Marta: Tomek, can you help me with the strawberries? They must be fresh before we serve them.

Tomek: Sure! Can I wash them now?

Marta: Yes, please. After that, cut them into small pieces.

Tomek: OK. Could you check if they're sweet enough?

Marta: Mmm, juicy and sweet. Perfect.

Tomek: Shall I spread the cream on the cake now?

Marta: Not yet. You shouldn't spread it until the cake is cool.

Tomek: Right, I forgot. Do you want me to prepare the sauce instead?

Marta: Yes, that would be great. We have to finish before 6 pm.

Tomek: No problem. Can you pass me the sugar, please?

Marta: Here you are. You should taste it before you add more.

What are Marta and Tomek making?

  • a) a salad
  • b) a dessert
  • c) a soup
4
Look Closer

Notice the Language

Look at the text again. Find:

  1. 4 sentences where someone asks for help.
  2. 3 sentences where someone offers help.

Write them here:

Asking for help

Offering help

Asking for Help: "Can you...?" / "Could you...?"

Examples from the text

"Can you help me with the strawberries?"
"Can you pass me the sugar, please?"
"Could you check if they're sweet enough?"

Meaning

We use these phrases when we need another person to do something for us.

CCQs

  1. Does Marta need Tomek's help?
  2. Is "Can you pass me the sugar?" a request?
  3. Which is more polite: "Can you...?" or "Could you...?"

Form

  • Can / Could + you + base verb (no "to")
  • Can you help me?
  • Could you check the sauce?

Pronunciation

Stress & Intonation

The voice goes up a little at the end, and we usually stress the main verb: Can you PASS me the sugar?

Appropriacy

Both are polite and neutral. "Could you...?" is a bit more formal — good for a busy head chef or someone you don't know well.

Offering Help: "Shall I...?" / "Do you want me to...?"

Examples from the text

"Shall I spread the cream on the cake now?"
"Do you want me to prepare the sauce instead?"
"Can I wash them now?"

Meaning

We use these phrases when we want to help someone, before we do the action.

CCQs

  1. Does Tomek offer to help, or does he ask Marta to help him?
  2. Is "Shall I spread the cream?" the same as "I must spread the cream," right?
  3. If a colleague says "Do you want me to chop the onions?", are they asking for your help or giving their help?

Responding: Accepting and Declining

Examples from the text

Accepting: "Yes, please." / "Sure!" / "Yes, that would be great."
Declining or delaying: "Not yet." / "No problem."

CCQs

  1. If a colleague says "No, thanks, I've got it," do they want your help?
  2. Is "Sure!" a strong yes or a maybe?
  3. What do you say if you don't need help right now?
5
Practice It

Exercise 1: Complete the Sentence

Use Can, Could, Shall, or Do to complete each sentence. Some answers are possible more than once.

  1. you help me with the onions, please?
  2. I check the oven for you?
  3. you pass me the pepper?
  4. you want me to wash the plates?
  5. I taste the soup before we serve it?
  6. you check if the fish is fresh?
  7. you want me to call the waiter?
  8. you help me carry this tray?

Exercise 2: Match the Request or Offer to the Best Response

Match 1–8 with a–h.

Request or offer

  1. Can you help me with these bags?
  2. Shall I turn off the oven?
  3. Could you pass me the salt?
  4. Do you want me to clean the counter?
  5. Can I open the door for you?
  6. Shall I call the manager?
  7. Could you watch the pasta for a minute?
  8. Do you want me to finish the salad?

Response

  1. Sure, I'll watch the pasta now.
  2. Yes, please, that would be great — the salad needs more tomatoes.
  3. Here you are, here's the salt.
  4. No, thanks, I already cleaned the counter.
  5. Not yet, the oven needs five more minutes.
  6. Yes, please, my hands are full with these bags.
  7. Thanks, that's very kind — please open the door.
  8. No, don't worry, we don't need the manager.

Exercise 3: Request or Offer?

Read each sentence. Write R for request or O for offer.

  1. Can you check the fridge for me?
  2. Shall I set the table?
  3. Could you cut the bread?
  4. Do you want me to answer the phone?
  5. Can I help you with that box?
  6. Could you turn down the music?
  7. Shall I bring more napkins?
  8. Can you open this jar for me?
6
Your Turn

Complete each sentence with your own real answer. Then tell me your answers.

  1. In my kitchen, I often ask my colleagues: "Can you?"
  2. When someone is busy, I offer: "Shall I?"
  3. Before a shift, I often ask a colleague: "Do you want me to?"
  4. When I need help fast, I say: "Can you, please?"
  5. If a colleague offers to help me, I usually say: "."
  6. Every day at work, I ask my colleague: "Can you?"
  7. Before I serve food, I ask a colleague: "Could you?"
  8. When my colleague asks for help, I usually say: "."
7
Now It's Real

Activity 1: A Busy Shift

We are colleagues in a busy kitchen. I will read a situation. You respond with a request or an offer.

  1. You need someone to check the meat in the oven.
  2. Your colleague is carrying a lot of plates.
  3. You need more sugar for the cake.
  4. Your colleague looks tired and busy.
  5. You need help closing the kitchen tonight.
  6. Your colleague forgot to wash the vegetables.
  7. You want to help your colleague finish the sauce.
  8. You need someone to pass you a clean knife.
  9. Your colleague can't reach a pan on the top shelf.
  10. You need someone to taste the soup.
  11. Your colleague is washing a lot of dishes alone.
  12. You need someone to bring more napkins.
  13. Your colleague needs the table set before guests arrive.
  14. You want to help your colleague chop the onions.

Activity 2: Tic-Tac-Toe

Choose three squares in a row (across, down, or diagonal). Do each task with me, using a request or an offer.

Ask me for help with a knife. Offer to check the oven for me. Ask me for help closing the kitchen.
Offer to wash the dishes. Ask me to pass you three ingredients. Offer to carry something heavy.
Ask me to taste your food. Offer to help me clean the counter. Ask me for help with a real task from your job.