Lesson 4 of 18
Describe Your Experience and Limits Honestly
State your past work experience or lack of experience, say what equipment or task you have not done yet, and state that you are ready to learn.
Learn these expressions
Ho lavorato in un ristorante.
I worked in a restaurant.
State past work venue.
Non ho mai lavorato in un ristorante.
I have never worked in a restaurant.
State zero prior experience honestly.
Non ho ancora usato [la cassa].
I have not used [the till] yet.
Action not performed up to now.
Non so ancora usare [la macchina].
I do not know how to use [the machine] yet.
Skill not learned up to now.
Imparo volentieri.
I learn willingly / I am eager to learn.
State readiness to be trained.
A dire la verità...
To tell the truth...
Polite opening before stating a limit.
New words
- un ristorante
- a restaurant
- un bar
- a café/bar
- la cassa
- the till
- la macchina da caffè
- the coffee machine
- come
- as (in “worked as a dishwasher”)
- Va bene
- all right
You may hear
- Si accomodi. = Please take a seat.
- Ha già lavorato in un bar o in un ristorante? = Have you worked in a bar or restaurant before?
- Sa usare [la macchina]? = Do you know how to use [the machine]?
- Grazie della sincerità. = Thank you for your honesty.
Grammar tipsShow
Past action vs. skill:
Use Non ho ancora usato [noun phrase] when you talk about your past actions with an object: Non ho ancora usato la cassa (I have not used the cash register yet).
Use Non so ancora usare [noun phrase] when you talk about your current skill with a tool: Non so ancora usare la macchina da caffè (I do not know how to use the coffee machine yet).
Zero experience: Saying Non ho mai lavorato in un ristorante states your experience clearly. Use it only if it describes your background.
Safety: learning the word for a machine doesn't mean you're trained to use it. Ask the employer before using unfamiliar equipment.
Listen to the conversation
Listen once without reading. Then step through the lines below, one turn at a time.
Listening practice
Listen, pick an answer, then reveal the spoken words to check. Practice only, not an exam.
Question 1
What does the speaker state about their work history?
Question 2
What does the applicant communicate to the interviewer?