Speak Better English: Embarrassing Stories #004

Work / Introductions / Social Norms

“I’m a freshman.” → “I’m new here.”

This week in class, we talked about societal norms and how we introduce ourselves in a professional context. Today, we’ll look at the word “freshman”. In Japan, people often use school terms for work, but in English, using “freshman” at an office can lead to a very awkward misunderstanding!

Choose your level and enjoy today’s lesson:

Beginner (A2) • Intermediate (B1) • Advanced (C1)

Today's Story:

Level: Beginner (A2)

A student started a new job at an international company. During a coffee break, they met a senior manager from the US. They had good intentions and wanted to say they just started working there.

They said:

“Nice to meet you. I am a freshman.”

…Uh oh. The manager looked confused. He asked, “Oh! Are you an intern? Which university do you go to?”

The student was embarrassed. In English, a “freshman” is a first-year student in high school or college. It is almost never used for a professional worker!

Level: Intermediate (B1)

A student was attending an afterwork drinks event with their new global team. They wanted to explain that they were still learning the ropes because they had only been with the company for a week.

They said:

“I am a freshman here, so please help me.”

…Uh oh.

Their colleagues laughed out of the blue. The student inadvertently made themselves sound like a young adullt starting high school. In a business context, this makes you sound unprofessional or like an intern.

They realized they should have just said they “were new” or “just joined” to avoid the awkward silence that followed.

Level: Advanced (C1)

A student was introduced during a high-stakes faculty meeting. They wanted to acknowledge their status as the most recent addition to the department while remaining assertive and professional.

They stated:

“As a freshman in this department, I look forward to your guidance.”

…Uh oh. By using “freshman,” the student inadvertently stripped themselves of their professional authority.

In hindsight, they realized that school-based terminology does not translate to societal norms in Western workplaces. They had to quickly clarify that they were an experienced hire, not a student, to regain the room’s respect.

What’s the problem?

In Japanese, it is common to use terms like “shinjin” or even school-like levels to describe being new. However, in English, “freshman” is strictly an academic term. If you use it at work, people will think you are still a student or an intern. To be assertive and professional, you must use “work” language, not “school” language!

How do I say it more naturally?

Use these phrases to highlight your new status without sounding like a student:

1. Standard & Safe

• “I’m new here.” (Simple, clear, and used by everyone).

• “I just joined the team.” (Focuses on the group/teamwork).

2. Professional / Experienced

• “I’m a new hire.” (Formal. Used in HR or introductions).

• “I’ve recently transitioned into this role.” (Sounds very polished and senior).

3. Casual / Idiomatic

• “I’m still finding my feet.” (Means you are still getting used to things).

• “I’m still learning the ropes.” (Common way to say you are in training).

Mini-dialogues:

First Day Introduction

A: “Hi, I haven’t seen you around before. Are you visiting?”

B: “Actually, I’m new here. This is my first week.”

A: “Oh, welcome to the company! Which department are you in?”

B: “I’m in Marketing. I’m still learning the ropes, but everyone is very helpful.”

A: “That’s great. Let me know if you need anything.”

B: “Thanks! I appreciate the support.”

At a Professional Conference

A: “Have you been with the university long?”

B: “No, I’m actually quite new to the faculty.”

A: “I see. It can be awkward joining mid-semester, can’t it?”

B: “A little, but I’ve recently transitioned into this role from research.”

A: “That’s an interesting path. I hope you enjoy it.”

B: “Thank you. I have good intentions to make a big contribution here!”

Casual Office Chat

A: “Do you want to join us for afterwork drinks on Friday?”

B: “I’d love to! I’m still finding my feet, so it would be nice to meet everyone.”

A: “Perfect. We usually go to the place around the corner.”

B: “Sounds fun. Is it a very group-oriented office?”

A: “Very much so. We always have each other’s backs.”

B: “That’s reassuring to hear. See you then!”

Meeting a Client

A: “You seem to know this project very well.”

B: “Thanks, though I’m actually a fairly new hire.”

A: “I wouldn’t have guessed! You seem very assertive.”

B: “I appreciate that. I tried to prepare as concisely as possible.”

A: “It shows. Your presentation was excellent.”

B: “That’s kind of you to say. I look forward to working with you.”

Vocabulary & Useful Expressions:

• Societal Norms:

The unwritten rules of how people act in a specific society or group.

• Context:

The situation or background information that helps someone understand a message.

• Good Intentions:

Trying to do something kind or helpful, even if the result is a mistake.

• Assertive:

Being confident and clear without being aggressive or rude.

• Concisely:

Giving a lot of information in a short, clear way.

• In Hindsight:

Looking back at a past situation with a new understanding.

• Caught me off guard:

When something surprises you suddenly.

• Heckling:

Disrupting a speaker by shouting or making jokes.

• Inadvertently:

Doing something by accident or without meaning to.

• Group-oriented:

A neutral term for people who like to work or socialize in groups.

Challenge Corner

Which expression would you use in each situation? Talk about the following:

You are at a job interview and want to sound very professional.
You are talking to a teammate and explaining that you are still learning how the office works.
You made a mistake last year, and now you realize why it happened. (Use 'hindsight'!)
You want to highlight a problem in a meeting in a kind, “constructive” way.

What is a better way of saying this?

“I was a freshman at my bank job.”

Why does this sound unnatural?

(Hint: Are you a student or a banker?)

Rewrite it as:

If you want to sound assertive and confident.
If you want to explain you are still in training.

Want feedback on your English?

If you want to practice these in real situations or share your answers, you can book a lesson with me on Cafetalk and work on making your English more natural and professional!

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