Reporting a Broken Machine
A gym member informs a staff member or trainer that a piece of equipment is not working properly or appears to be broken.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
treadmill
A machine used for running or walking in place, common in gyms for cardio exercise.
belt
The moving surface on a treadmill that you walk or run on; it can sometimes get stuck or slip.
jerking
Sudden, uneven movements, like starting and stopping abruptly; used to describe machine malfunctions.
strange noise
An unusual or unexpected sound that indicates a problem; helpful for reporting issues politely.
out of order
A sign or phrase meaning something is broken and not working; commonly used in public places like gyms.
maintenance
The people or service that repairs equipment; say this when reporting a problem to get it fixed.
workout
A session of physical exercise; used at the end of gym conversations to wish someone well.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
Excuse me, Sarah. I think there's something wrong with the treadmill on the far end.
This is a polite way to start a conversation about a problem; 'Excuse me' gets attention, and 'I think there's something wrong' softly reports an issue without accusing. Useful for approaching staff in public places.
Oh, really? Which one exactly? The one next to the window?
A clarifying question to get more details; 'Oh, really?' shows surprise and interest, followed by specifics. Use this when you need to confirm location in service situations like at a gym.
I tried to use it, but the belt kept jerking and made a strange noise.
Describes the problem with actions and symptoms; 'kept jerking' uses past continuous tense for repeated actions. Practical for explaining malfunctions clearly to help staff understand.
Okay, thanks for letting me know, John. That doesn't sound right.
Acknowledges the report politely; 'thanks for letting me know' shows appreciation, and 'that doesn't sound right' agrees it's a problem. Use this response to make the reporter feel heard.
Not that I saw. I moved to a different one right away. It seems pretty broken.
Provides additional info and opinion; 'not that I saw' means 'as far as I know,' and 'right away' shows quick action. Helpful for giving context when reporting issues.
Alright, I'll put an 'out of order' sign on it immediately and then call maintenance.
Explains the next steps; 'I'll put... immediately' uses future tense to assure action. Use this to reassure someone that their report will be handled promptly.
Great, thanks, Sarah. Just wanted to make sure no one got hurt.
Expresses thanks and explains motive; 'just wanted to' softens the reason. Common in polite closings, especially for safety concerns in shared spaces like gyms.
Absolutely. Thanks again for bringing it to our attention. Have a good workout!
Final polite response; 'absolutely' agrees strongly, and 'bringing it to our attention' re-thanks. 'Have a good workout' is a friendly goodbye in gym settings.