L2 · Asking About the Action & Item

Australian Warehouse & Pack-House English

STOPIDENTIFYASKREAD BACK

By the end of this lesson, you can:

1

Identify

Spot the action and item in any instruction

2

Ask

Ask a targeted, clear question

3

Confirm

Confirm a simple two-step order

4

Read Back

Read the final task back clearly

The supervisor says:

"Grab those and sort them out before smoko."

Then turns away.

❓ Action unknown

❓ Item unknown

What should you ask?

Don't guess. Don't start. Ask first.

DON'T GUESS THE TASK

❌ Guess

"Okay." → wrong item or action → wasted work

✅ Confirm

"What do you want me to do with these?" → clear task → accurate read-back

Three Ways to Ask

1
2
3
1

SURVIVAL VERSION

"What am I doing with these?"

2

WAREHOUSE VERSION

"So, what am I moving?"

3

PROFESSIONAL VERSION

"Just to confirm, do you want me to wrap these pallets first?"

ACTION + ITEM

ACTIONS

move

wrap

load

unload

trim

pack

ITEMS

pallets

cartons

delivery

punnets

crates

boxes

Match one action with one item.

USEFUL QUESTIONS

"Which item do you mean?"

"Am I moving the pallets or the cartons?"

"Do you want me to load or unload this delivery?"

"Which comes first—wrapping or moving?"

TEACHER READS · LISTEN & CHOOSE

Your teacher will read one workplace instruction.

What is the task?

1

A

Move the blue pallets

2

B

Wrap the blue pallets

3

C

Leave the blue pallets

Then confirm:

"Did you say ______ the blue pallets?"

CONTROLLED PRACTICE

Build a clear question:

ACTION

move · wrap · load · trim

ITEM

pallets · cartons · delivery · punnets

"Am I ______ the ______?"

Then add:

"Which comes first?"

NATURAL WORKPLACE ENGLISH

"Hang on."

Buy yourself a moment before responding.

"Let me check."

Shows you are careful and professional.

"Which ones do you mean?"

Targets the missing item directly.

"Got it—wrap first, then move."

Clear and calm is professional.

ROLE-PLAY · ROUND 1

You are the worker. The task is vague.

01

Identify

Find the missing action or item

02

Ask

Ask a targeted question

03

Confirm

Confirm the simple order

04

Read Back

Say the full task aloud

CHALLENGE · ROUND 2

No full sentence prompts.

The supervisor may:

Use "grab" or "chuck"

Say "these" without pointing clearly

Change one action, item or order

Update your read-back immediately.

FEEDBACK & REPLAY

Listen to one correction. Replay the same task immediately.

Action Verb

Did you use the right action?

Correct Item

Did you name the right item?

First / Then

Did you get the order right?

Read-Back

Was your read-back accurate?

EXIT TICKET

The supervisor gives one vague task.

PASS
1

Ask about the action or item

2

Confirm the simple order

3

Read back action + item + order

WORKPLACE CHALLENGE

Record a 20-second action-and-item dialogue.

Use real warehouse language. Stay calm. Stay clear.

"Wrap first, then move the pallets."