Starting a New Job: Onboarding

B1 video lesson on first-day communication, onboarding and workplace systems.

Lesson Overview

Students watch a short workplace video about a new employee’s first day and onboarding. The lesson practises B1 language for introductions, office setup, forms, onboarding systems and first-day communication.

Before you watch

What usually happens on someone’s first day at work?
What information does a new employee need?
How can a company make a new employee feel welcome?

Starting a New Job

Open video on YouTube

Prep

Drag the correct ending into each gap.

1. If it is your first day,...

2. If someone sets you up,...

3. If you fill out forms,...

4. If onboarding is automated,...

5. If you have a one-on-one,...

6. If someone takes you out for lunch,...

Mixed answer options

you are starting a new job or role.they prepare your tools, desk or account.you write information on official documents.a computer system guides the process.you have a private meeting with your manager.they invite you to eat outside the office.

Watch the Video

Watch the full video once. Focus on the new employee’s first-day experience, what the manager explains and what problems appear.

Focus: first day, manager, office, laptop, onboarding, forms, performance management system, objectives, one-on-one and lunch.

Open full video

Comprehension

Click each question to reveal the answer. Each question is synced to the video time.

0:13What is happening to the new employee?

It is his first day at the company.

0:39What does the manager suggest before going to the office?

The manager suggests grabbing a coffee.

0:59What has the company prepared for him?

They have prepared his office, laptop and a small plant.

1:07How long should the automated onboarding take?

It should take five to ten minutes.

1:21What does the manager ask him to do?

The manager asks him to fill out the forms.

1:44What system does the manager explain?

He explains the performance management system.

1:51How often will they have one-on-one catch-ups?

They will have ten-minute catch-ups every week.

2:27Why is there a small problem at lunchtime?

The team planned to take him out, but he brought lunch.

Vocabulary from the Video

It is his first .

This will be your .

You’ve got your laptop .

We got you a little .

The onboarding is automated .

You can fill those out.

This is our performance management .

We will have a one-on-one .

Mixed options

onlinecatch-upsortedsystemdayplantofficeforms

Vocabulary Review

Word / phrase	Meaning	Example
first day	the first day in a new job or place	It is his first day at work.
manager	a person who leads a team	His manager shows him the office.
office	a room or place where people work	This will be your office.
laptop	a portable computer	His laptop is sorted.
sorted	arranged or ready	Your laptop is sorted.
onboarding	the process of welcoming and training a new employee	The onboarding is online.
automated	done by a computer system	The onboarding is automated.
fill out	complete a form with information	Fill out the forms.
performance management system	software for goals, feedback and progress	The system includes objectives.
objectives	goals or targets	His objectives are in the system.
development plan	a plan for learning and improvement	The system has a development plan.
one-on-one	a private meeting between two people	They will have weekly one-on-ones.
catch-up	a short meeting to share updates	They will have a weekly catch-up.

Collocations

first

performance management

development

weekly

automated

fill out

Mixed options

formsdaycatch-upsystemonboardingplan

Phrasal Verb Questions

What forms do new employees need to fill ?

How can a company set a new employee’s laptop?

Who should a new employee catch in the first week?

What information should a manager go on day one?

How can a team make a new employee feel ?

Mixed options

up withupthroughoutwelcome

Speaking extension: Answer the five phrasal verb questions with a partner. Then design a good first-day plan for a new employee.

B1 Grammar: Will vs Going To

Use will for quick decisions, promises and offers. Use going to for plans or intentions that already exist.

Form	Use	Example
will + verb	a quick decision, promise or offer	I’ll be back in five minutes.
will + verb	something decided now	I’ll introduce you to the team.
be going to + verb	a plan or intention already arranged	We’re going to take you out for lunch.
be going to + verb	something planned for later	You’re going to complete the onboarding online.

Grammar Exercise 1: Complete the sentences

I back in five minutes.

I you to the team.

We are you out for lunch.

You are the onboarding online.

The manager is the system.

Mixed options

going to explainwill introducegoing to completewill begoing to take

Grammar Exercise 2: Choose the best form

Click each sentence to reveal the answer and reason.

I’m free now. I ____ show you your office.

I’ll show you your office. Use will for a quick offer or decision.

The team planned this earlier. We ____ take you out for lunch.

We’re going to take you out for lunch. Use going to for an existing plan.

Wait here. I ____ come back in ten minutes.

I’ll come back in ten minutes. Use will for a promise.

Today you ____ fill out the onboarding forms online.

Today you’re going to fill out the onboarding forms online. Use going to for a planned activity.

Grammar Exercise 3: Error Correction

I going to introduce you to the team.

I’m going to introduce you to the team.

We will going to take you out for lunch.

We’re going to take you out for lunch.

I’ll to be back in five minutes.

I’ll be back in five minutes.

You are going complete the forms online.

You are going to complete the forms online.

Grammar Exercise 4: Sentence Transformations

Use “will”.
I promise to come back in five minutes.

Use “going to”.
The team planned lunch for the new employee.

Use “going to”.
The new employee has a plan to complete the onboarding online.

Discussion

What should a company prepare before a new employee arrives?
What makes a first day stressful?
Is automated onboarding helpful or impersonal?
What should a manager explain on the first day?
How often should a new employee have a catch-up?
Should the team take a new employee out for lunch?
What would your ideal first day at work look like?

Useful Language

Welcoming someone	Explaining plans	Asking for help
Welcome to the team. Let me show you around.	This will be... We’ll have... I’ll introduce you to...	Could you explain...? Where can I find...?

Role Play: First Day Onboarding

Situation: A new employee arrives for their first day. The manager welcomes them, explains the office setup and gives them first-day tasks.

Student A: Manager

Welcome the new employee. Explain the office, laptop, forms, onboarding system and lunch plan.

Student B: New Employee

Ask polite questions about the job, the team, the forms and the weekly catch-up.

Challenge

Use: first day, set up, fill out, onboarding, objectives, catch-up, I’ll...