Australian Warehouse & Pack-House English
By the end of this lesson, you can:
Identify
Spot the action and item in any instruction
Ask
Ask a targeted, clear question
Confirm
Confirm a simple two-step order
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
SURVIVAL VERSION
"What am I doing with these?"
ITEM GAP
"Which items do you mean?"
ACTION GAP
"Do you want me to move or wrap these?"
ORDER GAP
"Which comes first?"
ACTION + ITEM
move
wrap
load
unload
trim
pack
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?"
Your teacher will read one workplace instruction.
Listen once. If you are unsure, ask before choosing.
Then confirm:
"Did you say ______ the ______?"
ROUND A — same item, different actions:
A
Move the blue pallets
B
Wrap the blue pallets
C
Leave the blue pallets
ROUND B — same action, different items:
A
Move the blue pallets
B
Move the red cartons
C
Move the crates
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 the blue pallets first, then move them
Clear and calm is professional.
ROLE-PLAY · ROUND 1
You are the worker. The task is vague.
Identify
Find the missing action or item
Ask
Ask a targeted question
Confirm
Confirm the simple order
Read Back
Say the full task aloud
YOU CAN SEE
blue pallets · red cartons · wrapping station · staging trolley
ASK
Which item? · What action? · Which comes first?
READ BACK
Just to confirm: wrap the blue pallets first, then move them?
CHALLENGE · ROUND 2
No full sentence prompts.
The supervisor may:
Use "grab" or "chuck" instead of the correct action
Say "those ones" 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.
Correct Action
Did you use the right action?
Correct Item
Did you name the right item?
Correct Order
Did you get the order right?
Complete Read-Back
Was your read-back full and accurate?
EXIT TICKET
Supervisor: "Grab those—wrap them first, then move them."
Ask which item
Confirm the action
Confirm the order
Give one complete read-back
Record a 20-second action-and-item dialogue.
Use real warehouse language. Stay calm. Stay clear.
"Wrap first, then move the pallets."
L2 · Asking About the Action & Item