Feifei: Hello I'm Feifei and welcome to another episode of 6 Minute English.
Neil: Hi, I'm Neil.
Feifei: Oh, here you are Neil, I was just about to start without you.
Neil: No need, no need, I'm never late for anything, you know that! Punctuality
is my middle name.
Feifei: Punctuality meaning: being on time for things.
Neil: Yes, punctuality means not being late. It's very important in Western
working culture. Are you a punctual person Feifei?
Feifei: I'm always punctual in my working life, but in my personal life…
Neil: OK, I don't want to know. That's interesting Feifei because the psychiatrist
Dr Keith Ablow, says the three most common causes for lateness are:
firstly, worrying about the appointment, secondly, a need to show power or
superiority, and the third reason for people being late is that they have a
need to know they are loved. So Feifei, which one is you? Sounds like you
are a mixture of all of them…
Feifei: No comment - let's move on.
Neil: Let's hear what some of our friends and colleagues have to say about
punctuality.
I think living in London, you find the most common reason for being late is transport
because it's not very reliable - whenever you are rushing somewhere, you think you are
OK with time, but suddenly your train is delayed: if you have to change to another train,
you might miss that train and it's going to make you be even later than you intended to
be.
Feifei: Well that's very interesting. Generally speaking, if you're going to be late
for something, it's polite to call and let people know.
Neil: It is. And here's a clip of someone doing just that.
Joe: Joe Smith speaking.
Sarah: Hi Joe, it's Sarah. I'm on my way to the meeting but I'm afraid the traffic's
terrible. I'm sorry but I think I'm going to be late.
Joe: OK, don't worry. What time do you think you'll get there?
Sarah: To be honest, it's hard to say. I've been here for 30 minutes and the traffic
is at a standstill. I think I'll be about 15 minutes late.
6 Minute English © BBC Learning English 2013
Page 2 of 4
Joe: OK, thanks for letting me know. If you're going to be any later, call me
again.
Sarah: OK, will do. Sorry again. See you soon.
Neil: So, that was Sarah calling to say she's going to be late and if I'm not
mistaken -
Neil / FF: It's Business Betty!!
BB: Hello! I'm not late am I?
Neil: Not at all, and I wouldn't care if you were.
BB: Thank you Neil.
Feifei: You're just in time to tell us how to say you're going to be late for
something.
BB: Oh that's good, I hate being late for things. Right - so to business. Now, in
the English speaking world, if you are going to be late for an appointment,
you should let people know. There are three things you need to do here.
First, apologise. Second, explain why you're late. And third, say when you
think you'll arrive. So, first: apologise. Here's what Sarah said:
Sarah: I'm sorry but I think I'm going to be late.
BB: "I'm sorry but I think I'm going to be late" - nice and simple. She
apologised again at the end of the conversation.
Sarah: Sorry again.
BB: Second, explain why you're late. Sarah said:
Sarah: I'm on my way to the meeting but I'm afraid the traffic's terrible. I've been
here for 30 minutes and the traffic is at a standstill.
BB: Let's hear that again.
Sarah: I'm on my way to the meeting but I'm afraid the traffic's terrible. I've been
here for 30 minutes and the traffic is at a standstill.
BB: And third, say when you think you'll arrive.
Sarah: I think I'll be about 15 minutes late.
BB: And again:
Sarah: I think I'll be about 15 minutes late.
BB: And then, stop worrying! When you finally get to your meeting, don't go
rushing straight in. Take a couple of minutes first, to calm down and
freshen up, so that you appear professional, not panicky. A quick apology
when you arrive – "Sorry I'm late everyone" and then it's down to business.
So, I hope that's helpful…
6 Minute English © BBC Learning English 2013
Page 3 of 4
Neil: Very very helpful!
Feifei Yes, thanks Betty!
BB: Good, because I have to go now, I've got a meeting and I don't want to be
late. Bye!
Neil / FF: Bye
Neil: She's very good…
Feifei: Shall we listen to the clip again?
Neil: I think we should…
Joe: Joe Smith speaking.
Sarah: Hi Joe, it's Sarah. I'm on my way to the meeting but I'm afraid the traffic's
terrible. I'm sorry but I think I'm going to be late.
Joe: OK, don't worry. What time do you think you'll get there?
Sarah: To be honest, it's hard to say. I've been here for 30 minutes and the traffic
is at a standstill. I think I'll be about 15 minutes late.
Joe: OK, thanks for letting me know. If you're going to be any later call me
again.
Sarah: OK, will do. Sorry again. See you soon.
Feifei: So that's what to do if you're running late.
Neil: Yes, so next time Feifei, can you set off a bit earlier? I don't want to hang
around.
Feifei: Yes set off earlier, you Neil.
Neil: Well, you don't want to talk about your personal life, do you? So I won't
mention that thing.
Feifei: You were the one that was late for the programme.
Neil: Yes, but generally speaking, it's you, isn't it? Anyway, make sure you join
us for the next episode of 6 Minute English.
Feifei: And DON'T be late! Bye!
