We’ve looked before at how to set up an appointment on the phone with someone you already know (BEP 119), but what about if you haven’t met the person or established a relationship with them yet? In today’s Business English Podcast, we’ll be looking at how to make contact with a prospective client and, on the opposite end of the line, we’ll examine language you can use to politely decline a request for information or a meeting.

We’ve already met Mario from Viva Fashions in previous episodes. Now Mario wants to meet with the head buyer for a chain of American stores owned by DeBourg Brands but, at this point, he doesn’t even know the buyer’s name. Mario is going to “cold call” the company and see if he can reach the buyer. Đầu tiên, he needs a name, and then he needs to try to speak to the buyer to make an appointment.

Câu hỏi nghe – First Call:
1) What techniques does Mario use to get information from Joan?
2) Why do you think Joan agrees to help Mario?

Câu hỏi nghe – Second Call:
1) Why does Mario keep saying “thank you” instead of “please” after making a request?
2) What language does Mario use when stating the reason for his call, và tại sao?
3) Throughout the conversation, Mario uses informal language to minimize his request. Can you spot a few examples?

Thành viên cao cấp: Ghi chú học tập | Câu đố trực tuyến | Cụm từ | Mô-đun bài học

Tải xuống: Podcast MP3

Doing business across borders requires precise coordination, especially in the era of “just-in-time” delivery where goods need to be shipped to the customer at exact times. When a product is made in one country, assembled in another, and sold in a third, the companies involved need to be in constant communication from start to finish. Đảm bảo rằng các đơn đặt hàng được thực hiện và giao hàng đúng thời hạn là một phần thiết yếu của kinh doanh quốc tế, and a lot of the monitoring will be done by phone. Vì thế, trong tập này, chúng tôi sẽ xem xét các cách để kiểm tra tiến trình của một đơn đặt hàng qua điện thoại.

A while back in BEP 92 & 93 we met Bill, a buyer for Bancroft’s, a chain of women’s clothing stores in the U.S. He’s placed a large order with Viva, an Italian fashion company, which is being coordinated by Catherine Traynor, Foxtrot’s shipping manager. Foxtrot is Viva’s U.S. distributor.

It’s now several months later and the order is due to be delivered. But Bill has just received a call from Bancroft’s warehouse to let him know that only half the order has been delivered so far. Now he’s calling Catherine to check on the rest of the delivery.

Câu hỏi nghe:

1. How does Catherine let Bill know she’s looking for information about his order?
2. Where is the second part of the shipment?
3. What does Catherine offer to do to avoid separate deliveries in future?

Thành viên cao cấp: Ghi chú học tập | Câu đố trực tuyến | Cụm từ | Mô-đun bài học

Tải xuống: Podcast MP3