SECTION 3.3
Language Focus 6 : Useful vocabulary and phrases
How much is _______________?
How much is this?
Could you give us a discount?
I’m sorry, but the silver price is fixed.
I might be able to deduct a certain percentage.
What percentage discount could you offer?
I could offer ten percent, if you bought ….
Do you take credit cards?
No, I’m sorry. It has to be cash.
Can we get them engraved?
I will _________________ free of charge, if you wish.
As you wish.
Here you are. (handing something)

 

What’s the interest in the ____________? (Why are you interested?)
It sounds promising. = it might be good/possible
It’s a bit over. = a little bit more than
What did you have in mind? = What are you thinking or considering?
silverware n. = items made of silver
weigh v. = to check or measure how heavy something is
genuine adj. = real (not a fake or copy)
exchange rate = the amount that the banks will give in local currency for foreign currency
coughs up v. = pays the money (informal idiom)
engrave v. = write onto metal by scratching the letters/words/numbers

 

Discussion
Have you ever bought things at Chatuchak?
What kind of bartering have you experienced?
Do you think the visitors got a good deal?
Was the trader an honest one?
Would you have handled this situation in a similar way? (as traders or buyers)
How might you have done it differently?
Do you have any suggestions or questions about other possible language to use?

Were any of your possible problems mentioned?
Did you catch the answers?

 

Click Answer Key
Seaview Hotel
Mr. Michael Jones
A mistake with his reservation

 

Part 2
Now listen again and choose the correct answers to these questions:

 

1. What is the first problem with the man's reservation?

A The hotel confused him with another guest.
B Rooms are overbooked for that evening.
C There are no more rooms available for four people.
D The price for the room is more than he expected.

2. For what day did Mr. Jones make the hotel reservation?

A the fifteenth
B the sixteenth
C the eighteenth
D the nineteenth

3. What is taking place in the city that makes getting another room almost impossible?

A a concert
B an exhibition
C a conference
D a product launch

4. What is the first discount amount Mr. Jones is offered on the honeymoon suite?

A $10
B $15
C $20
D $25

5. What is Mr. Jones’ response to the free room offer on his next visit?

A He thinks it will take a long time to get the free voucher.
B He feels he should receive an apology from the manager.
C He suggests an additional 15% discount in his case.
D He implies that the problems he had means he will not visit again.

 

Click Answer Key
1. A, 2. A, 3. B, 4. C, 5. D

Discussion
Can you summarize the problems that the guest encountered on his visit to the hotel?
Has anything like this ever happened to you?
Was each problem resolved to his satisfaction?
What would you have done?