Lesson Two (Effective Question and Answer Techniques)

Greetings

Good morning/afternoon/evening. How are you doing? How’s everything going? How have you been? What have you been up to lately? What’s new/cooking/grilling/going on? Hi/Hey/What’s up! Responses

I’m doing very well. Thank you. How about yourself? Okay/Not bad/All right. How are you? Great! Thanks. What about you? Couldn’t be better! You? Same ol’. Awful. /Couldn’t be worse. Jobs

What do you do? I’m a teacher/lawyer/nurse. (profession) I work in finance/waste management/show business. (field of business) I’m in marketing/human resource/executive administration. (function) I work for the ABC Corporation. (employer) I work for myself at the moment. (self-employed) I look after the children. /I’m a homemaker. I’m between jobs right now. (unemployed) How long have you been with them? How do you like it (your job)? How’s business? Family

Are you married? What does your husband/wife do? Do you have any kids? How old are they? Are they at school/at college/working? Do they still live at home? Spare time

What do you do in the evenings/on weekends? Where do you spend your holidays? What do you do in you spare time? Do you like movies/gardening/sport/cooking? Origins

Where do you come from? Where did your family come from? Where were you brought up? How young were you when you moved to New York? Which part of China were you born in? Sample Dialogue

A: What do you do? (question)

B: I’m self-employed. (answer)

A: That’s great! I always want to do that. (comment)

B: Well. It’s a very hard job too. (added information)

Lesson Three电话技巧

(making and answering phone calls, western telephone etiquette)

Answering the phone

Hello! Good morning. Grant Hotel. Reception. Susan Park speaking. How may I help you? Susan Park’s Office. Susan Park/Susan/Park. May I know who’s calling please? May I know what this is in reference to? Asking to speak to someone

May/Could/Can I speak to/with Dr. Smith please? This is John Green speaking. I’d like to speak to Dr. Smith please. This is John Green. This is John Green from ABC. Is Dr. Smith in, please? Is Susan there? Dr. Smith please. I’m with… and I need to talk with… about… I’m representing … May I speak with…, please? Asking someone to wait for a moment

Would you mind holding a minute while I try to find her? Could you hold on, please? Please hold on for a second. One/Just a moment, please. Hang on. I’ll get him. Just a second. One moment, please. I’ll see if he’s in. Asking the caller to leave a message

I’m sorry but he’s not here right now. May I take a message or would you like to call back later? I’m sorry but he tied up/busy/occupied/in a meeting now. Would you like to have him return your call? I’m afraid he can’t come to the phone/speak to you/take the call at this moment. Could you call back in a few minutes/later/in a little while? I’m sorry he’s not answering the phone. Perhaps he stepped out for a moment. May I have him return your call? Transferring information

Could you repeat that, please? Could you say it once again? Can you say it louder/slower? Have you got that? Could you please spell it? Anything else? Would you like me to read it to you again? Let me repeat to see if I get it.

Lesson Four 制定日程

(setting agenda for meetings, travel and events)

Making appointment

I’m calling to make an appointment with you for next Monday. I wonder if it would be convenient to meet you tomorrow. Would it be convenient if I call on you tonight? Could you arrange an appointment with Mr. Green for me? I’d like to drop by tomorrow to talk over our plan. I look forward to seeing you at your office on July 18. Can you squeeze in some time for me next week? Suggesting a time

Can you make it at 3:00 on Monday? Will 9:00 be alright/okay with you? How about/what do you think of 3:30? Let’s say about 9is tomorrow? Anytime before 6 p.m.. Anytime except Monday will be fine/okay/all right with me. I’m available from 9:00 to 3:00. Making enquires about flights

I have an enquiry about the flights to London on Saturday. Have you got any morning flights on Sunday from Beijing to New York? Is it a non-stop flight? How long will the flight take? What’s the fare for a one-way/round trip to Shanghai? When does the flight depart/leave? When is the departure/arrival time? Is there a discount for a night flight? Can you put me on the waiting list? What time am I supposed to check in? Booking tickets

I’d like to book a business class ticket on United Airline Flight 518 to Boston. Can I make a reservation for a morning flight on May 3rd, please? I’d like to stop over in Chicago if it all right. I’d prefer first/business/executive/economy class. Could you book me an aisle/a window seat? Could you make arrangement for vegetarian meals? Confirming and canceling reservations

I’d like to reconfirm my connecting flight reservation. I wonder if I could cancel my reservation with United Airlines to New York on November 16. Sample Dialogue

A: Good morning. Can I please have your ticket and passport? How many pieces of luggage would you like to check in?

B: Just this one piece. Can I carry on this bag?

A: Sure. I’m sorry. Your luggage is 8 kilos overweight.

B: How much should I pay for the excess weight?

A: The charge for excess weight is 6 dollars per kilo.

B: Guess I don’t have a choice.

A: Here’s your boarding pass, ticket and passport. Have a good trip, sir.