What do I say when I don't understand a task in my first week?

Say what you did understand, then ask about the one part that is unclear. A sentence such as "I have the first two steps; I'm not sure what happens after the file is approved" gives the other person a place to start, and it shows you were listening. Avoid apologising for not knowing: in week one, not knowing a local process is expected, and the cost of guessing is much higher than the cost of asking.

Your First Week at a New Job: The English You Actually Need →