CONVERSATION Ⅱ
- business -
#1 How to start the conversation
CASE 1
A : Keepin' busy?
B : Yeah -- we're under the gun trying to finish up the third-quarter audit.
A : I thought you might be. Our department has been working overtime every day too, promoting our new product.
CASE 2
A : Hi. I'm Lynn Yoshida. And you are ...?
B : Frank Wilson, with ABC Publishing. Pleasure to meet you.
A : The pleasure is mine. So, what brings you here today?
CASE 3
A : That's a nice shirt you're wearing.
B : Oh, thank you. I got it just recently.
A : Where did you find it?
B : I picked it up at a little store downtown.
#2 How to make a reaction
CASE 1
A : I went to see a movie with my daughter the other day.
B : Oh, you did? What did you see?
A : A new horror movie. It was pretty good.
B : You've got to be kidding! You like horror movies?
CASE 2
A : I was supposed to meet that new client the other day, but half an hour after the agreed time, he still hadn't shown up.
B : Oh, really? And then?
A : I called him several times until he finally picked up.
B: What had happened?
A: He said he had been stuck in traffic.
B: Fair enough.
CASE 3
A : I stayed up way too late answering emails last night.
B : I've been there. It's often hard to switch off.
A : Too often ---and the next day, I'm a mess.
B : I know how you feel.
CASE 4
A : My daughter has her university entrance exam next week, so I'm a little anxious.
B : I'm sure she'll do great.
A : Thank you. She's been studying so hard.
B : All that effort is bound to pay off.
CASE 5
A :The rise in the cost of paper has really hurt publishers.
B :That's so true. And paper costs are expected to continue to climb this year.
A :Right ---so books will undoubtedly get even more expensive.
B: Definitely. Book sales become extremely slow.
CASE 6
A : It was quite a struggle, but we managed to meeting the deadline.
B : That's amazing. If it had been our company, we might not have been able to pull that off.
A : I don't know about that.
#3 Elicit a Story
CASE 1
A : Have you been busy lately?
B : Yes, pretty busy. The company is doing well, which is great.
A : I guess that doesn't leave you much time for yourself, though.
B : That is true. So, what have you been up to lately?
CASE 2
A : How's your family doing?
B : Everyone's doing well, thanks. My son's about to start junior high school.
A : I believe your son plays soccer, right?
B: Yeah, he does. Your little one will be entering kindergarten next year, right?
CASE 3
A : I recently started playing table tennis. Do you play any sports?
B : Actually, I'm thinking of taking up tennis.
A : That's great! You should definitely do that.
B : Yeah, I’ve been meaning to give it a try.
CASE 4
A : Is there any news that has particularly caught your attention recently?
B : The terrorist attack yesterday was shocking, wasn't it?
A : Awful. I never thought something like that could happen here.
B : There seem to be more and more violent incidents these days.
CASE 5
A :Do you have any plans for your summer vacation?
B :I'm going to India. I've wanted to go there since I was a teenager.
A :So your long-cherished dream is finally coming true!
B: Yes, I can hardly wait! I've been dreaming of this trip for years.
CASE 6
A : Do you always come to this trade show?
B : No --this is my first time. And you?
A : I attend every year. With so many companies putting out booths, it's generally pretty stimulating.
B: It sounds like I’ve been missing out! I’ll definitely come again next year.
#4 Talk about yourself
CASE 1
A : I forgot to tell you, but I actually moved to a new job last month.
B : Oh, wow -- that's a major step.
A : It's in a completely different industry from my previous job, so there's a lot to learn.
B : Wow! You'll have to learn the ropes, but I'm sure you'll get the hang of it.
CASE 2
A : I've been having a lot of pain in my lower back lately.
B : I know what that's like. I've got the same problem..
A : Maybe it's from always sitting at a desk.
B: Yeah, sitting all day can take a toll on your body. Maybe we should get up and move around more often.
CASE 3
A : Correct if I'm wrong, but didn't you tell me you played guitar in a band when you were in college.
B : Yeah, that's right.
A : I've just started learning guitar, actually.
B : That's great! It takes time, but once you get the hang of it, it's a lot of fun. Maybe I should get back into it myself!
CASE 4
A : I heard from a reliable source that ABC Company is going to merge with X-dot Com.
B : That's big news. That would result in the largest company in the industry.
A : I think that's what's going to happen.
B : It'll definitely shake things up in the industry. We'll have to keep an eye on what happens next.
CASE 5
A :I've been into visiting Shinto shrines recently.
B :Oh, really? That sounds interesting.
A :When I pass through a shine's gate, I feel like I've entered a sacred place, and my heart feels purified.
B: I know what you mean. There's something special about places like that. They help you get away from it all.
CASE 6
A : Did you ever hear back from that recruiter?
B : Yeah --I have an interview on Tuesday morning, actually.
A : That's huge! You'll be getting fat paychecks in no time. Oh, that reminds me -- I owe you $10 for breakfast.
B: I'm going to be rolling in money soon, so forget about the $10!