This is the second in a two-part Business English Podcast lesson on softening negative replies. Last time you worked on softening negative replies in conversation to keep the atmosphere friendly and cooperative. 也, you practiced refusing an offer of help and letting someone down gently.

今天, we’ll be looking at refusing and disagreeing politely.

All these skills form part of a soft or gentle speaking style, which should form part of your communicative repertoire or toolbox.

聽力問題

1) Why is the GM of Avitek unable to meet with Nick on Thursday.
2) How is the weather in Kiev?

Download: Podcast MP3

This is the first in a two-part Business English Podcast lesson on softening negative replies – saying “沒有” politely.

“沒有” is one of the strongest words in any language. Because it carries so much force, “沒有” is hard to say politely. Yet giving a negative reply, disagreeing or refusing a request are all things we have to do on a daily basis. So it’s important to learn how to say “沒有” in a way that enables you to maintain good relationships. In many cases this requires you to take a softer and more indirect approach. So today we’ll work on ways to soften negative replies in a variety of everyday situations.

In the dialog we meet up again with Nicholas Fisher, the European sales director for Harper-Tolland from BEP 35 和 36. He is flying into Kiev to support local sales staff by meeting with a large potential customer, Avitek. This is a Ukrainian company that manufactures cargo and firefighting aircraft. In our dialog, Nick is being met at the airport by Harper-Tolland’s sales manager in the Ukraine, Oksana Ivanchuk.

聽力問題

1) Has Nick been to the Ukraine before?
2) What day of the week is it?

Download: Podcast MP3