Emergency Repair Request (No Hot Water)
The tenant discovers they have no hot water and contacts the landlord/property management immediately, classifying it as an emergency request needing urgent attention.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
emergency
A sudden serious problem that needs immediate help or action, like a broken water heater in your home.
maintenance
The work done to repair or keep buildings and equipment in good condition, such as fixing apartment issues.
hot water
Heated water from your taps or shower, essential for bathing and washing; without it, daily life is difficult.
technician
A skilled worker who repairs machines or systems, like a plumber fixing your water supply.
urgent
Something that requires quick action because it's important and time-sensitive, such as an emergency repair.
promptly
Doing something quickly and without delay, often used when reporting issues to show efficiency.
inconvenient
Causing trouble or difficulty, like not having hot water making it hard to shower in cold weather.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
I have an emergency maintenance issue; my hot water isn't working at all.
This sentence clearly states the problem at the start of a call. Use it to report urgent apartment issues politely. The semicolon connects two related ideas, and 'isn't working' is a common way to describe breakdowns.
No hot water, you say? How sudden was this? Is it completely cold?
This is a way to confirm details by repeating and asking questions. It's useful for service providers to gather information quickly. 'You say' is informal for verification, and questions like 'How sudden was this?' use past tense for timing.
It was fine last night, but this morning, nothing.
This describes when a problem started, helping to diagnose it. Use it to give context in reports. 'Was fine' contrasts with the current issue using past tense, and 'but' shows change.
That definitely sounds like an emergency.
This acknowledges the problem's seriousness. It's polite and reassuring for customers. 'Definitely' adds emphasis, and 'sounds like' is a common expression for opinions based on description.
We'll need to send someone out immediately.
This promises quick action in response to a request. Use it in service roles to show urgency. 'Send someone out' is a phrasal verb for dispatching help, and 'immediately' stresses speed.
I'm putting in an urgent request for a technician now.
This explains the next step in handling a complaint. It's useful for showing you're taking action. 'Putting in a request' means submitting one formally, with 'now' for immediacy.
Please let me know when they're on their way or if there's any delay.
This requests updates politely. Use it to ensure communication during waits. 'Let me know' is a common polite request, and 'or if there's any delay' uses conditional for possibilities.
Thanks for reporting this promptly. We'll get this sorted out for you as soon as possible.
This thanks the reporter and promises resolution. It's a positive closing for service calls. 'Sorted out' is an idiom for fixing problems, and 'as soon as possible' shows commitment to speed.