DynEd International, Inc. |
DynEd International, Inc. |
The Functioning in Business radio course will help you learn American business English through listening to business meetings and discussions and to interviews with American business people.
With your radio host, Elizabeth Moore, you will follow the story of an important business trip. You will listen to conversations which introduce vocabulary and expressions used to conduct business in English. You will also listen to Business Dialogs which present many kinds of business situations.
Our business and culture expert, Gary Engleton, will offer Culture Tips about American business culture. Gary will also focus on important language functions used in business and social situations.
This week on Functioning in Business, Mr. Mike Epstein and Ms. Shirley Graham (of Advanced Technologies) and Mr. Charles Blake begin a meeting to discuss the robots produced by Mr. Blake's company, International Robotics.
Ms. Graham is concerned that Mr. Blake's company is based in China and has no support facilities in the United States. In the past, Ms. Graham has done business with United Industries, an American company. She knows that United can give her the aftersales support she needs. She is also concerned about the problem of spare parts.
| Ms. Graham: | As Mr. Epstein has told you, we have a good relationship with United Industries. And we know we can depend on them. On the other hand, your company has no facilities nearby, not even a warehouse for spare parts. That makes me very nervous. |
| Mr. Blake: | I understand. As I told Mike, I'm sure we can work out a satisfactory arrangement. For example, we can send you spare parts ahead of time. |
| Ms. Graham: | I appreciate that, Mr. Blake, but we don't want to warehouse spare parts here. It's just asking for trouble, and it also adds to our cost. |
"When I go to an American restaurant, why does the waitress ask me a lot of questions? Why are there so many choices?"
This is part of the larger issue of choice in American culture. For most Americans, having choices is a kind of freedom. Most Americans don't want to be exactly the same as everyone else.
So Americans like to have a lot of choices when they go to a restaurant. For example, when you go to a restaurant in the United States, the waiter or waitress will ask you what kind of dressing you want on your salad. You may be able to choose from five or six different dressings. The more choices, the better.
If you have questions about American business and culture, write to gary@dyned.com.
Jane Tucker, a businesswoman, is ordering breakfast in a diner (a small restaurant).
Listen to the dialog. Fill in the missing words.
| Ms. Tucker: | Excuse me! Could I order now? I'm in a little bit of a hurry. |
| Waiter: | Certainly. Would you like to start with some ? |
| Ms. Tucker: | No, thanks. I have some orange juice? |
| Waiter: | Sure. Large, medium, or small? |
| Ms. Tucker: | Medium, please. And I'll have the one-egg and toast special. |
| Waiter: | OK. How would you your egg? |
| Ms. Tucker: | Sunny-side up, please. |
| Waiter: | And what kind of toast would you like: white, whole wheat, or rye? |
| Ms. Tucker: | Whole wheat, . |
| Waiter: | And would you like butter or jam on your toast? |
| Ms. Tucker: | Neither. I'd like it plain. |
| Waiter: | Very good. I'll be right back with your orange juice. |
Missing words from last week's Business Dialog: introduce, interrupt, meet, glad
Functioning in Business will teach you about how to use English in business and social situations.
This week's lessons focus on Making an Offer. Here are some examples:
| Waiter: | Would you like to start with some coffee? |
| Customer: | No, thanks. |
| Waiter: | And what kind of toast would you like: white, whole wheat, or rye? |
| Customer: | Whole wheat, please. |
| Waiter: | And would you like butter or jam on your toast? |
| Customer: | Neither. I'd like it plain. |
Each week you will receive e-mail Study Tips, news, and activities. Join today!
The Functioning in Business radio course is based on DynEd's Functioning in Business courseware and the Functioning in Business textbook, by P. Lance Knowles and Francis Bailey, published by Longman.
For more information about DynEd courseware, contact sales@dyned.com.
If you have any questions or comments,write to elizabeth@dyned.com.
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