Ðây là Chương trình Anh Ngữ Sinh Ðộng New Dynamic English bài 124; Phạm Văn xin kính chào quí vị thính giả. Mở đầu bài học là phần luyện nghe hiểu. Trước hết quí vị nghe một câu hỏi, rồi nghe một mẩu đàm thoại, trong đó có câu trả lời; sau đó nghe lại câu hỏi và trả lời, và khi nghe câu trả lời đúng, xin lập lại.
Cut 1
Dialog
Larry: Questions.
Listen to the question, then listen to the dialog.
Eliz: Have Mr. Blake and Mr. Epstein ever played golf before?
(short pause)
Epstein: One other thing. What are you doing this afternoon?
Blake: Well, I have no plans.
Epstein: Well, I remember the nice game of golf that we had together when I was in China.
Eliz: Have Mr. Blake and Mr. Epstein ever played golf before?
(ding)
(pause for answer)
Eliz: Yes, they played together when Mr. Epstein was in China.
(short pause)
Larry: Listen to the question, then listen to the dialog.
Eliz: When will Mr. Blake and Mr. Epstein play golf?
(short pause)
Epstein: I have a membership in a golf club just across the Bay here, and I’ve made some reservations.
Would you like to join me in a round of golf this afternoon?
Blake: That sounds like a great idea. Sure.
Eliz: When will Mr. Blake and Mr. Epstein play golf?
(ding)
(pause for answer)
Eliz: They’ll play this afternoon.
(short pause)
MUSIC
Vietnamese Explanation
Trong đoạn tới, phần Mách Giúp Văn Hoá, có câu hỏi, ‘‘In America, is it appropriate to socialize with people from other companies?” Appropriate=adj., right=phải, hợp tình, hợp lẽ. To socialize=giao thiệp, thân thiện, làm thân, kết thân. Ở Mỹ, có nên quen với người thuộc hãng khác hãng mình không? Gray area=vùng không rõ đen trắng, không có qui luật rõ rệt. It’s where the rules are not completely clear.= đó là ở chỗ qui luật không hoàn toàn rõ. If the two companies have a good relationship, it may be OK.=Nếu hai hãng có quan hệ tốt với nhau, thì không sao. Maybe the other company sells supplies to your company.=Có thể là hãng kia bán vật liệu cho công ty của bạn. But if they give you gifts or money to get more business, then it can be a problem.=nhưng nếu biếu bạn quà hay cho bạn tiền để bán được nhiều hàng hơn, thì có thể là có vấn đề. Ethical=thuộc về đạo đức. An ethical problem=một vấn đề đạo đức. Common sense=lẽ thường, lương tri, khả năng biết phải trái nhờ kinh nghiệm cuộc sống thực tiễn [good judgment in practical matters, gained by experience of life not by special study.]
A competitor=hãng hay người cạnh tranh. Technical secrets=bí mật kỹ thuật.. Conflict of interests=mâu thuẫn về quyền lợi. Avoid=tránh. And if the company is a competitor, your managers may not like it if you socialize with people from that company.= và nếu hãng kia là hãng cạnh tranh với hãng bạn thì quản lý của bạn có thể không thích bạn thân với người của hãng đó. They may worry that you might give away technical secrets.=họ lo ngại bạn có thể lộ bí mật kỹ thuật. Booked up=đã dành hết chỗ. My schedule is booked all next week.=thời biểu của tôi tuần tới kín hết rồi.
Cut 2
Culture Tips: Socializing [giao thiệp với người khác.]
Larry: Culture Tips
This Culture Tip answers the question: “In America, is it appropriate to socialize with people from other companies?”
It’s important to use common sense. Ðiều quan trọng là biết dùng lương tri.
You should be careful to avoid a conflict of interests=bạn phải coi chừng tránh mâu thuẫn về quyền lợi.
Eliz: Welcome once again to “Culture Tips” with Gary Engleton.
Today, our e mail question is “In America, is it appropriate to socialize with people from other companies?”
Gary: Well, I would call that a gray area.
Eliz: What’s a gray area?
Gary: It’s where the rules are not always completely clear.
If the two companies have a good relationship, it may be OK.
For example, maybe the other company sells supplies to your company.
But if they give you gifts or money to get more business, then it can be a problem.
Eliz: It sounds like an ethical problem.
Gary: Exactly. And if the company is a competitor, your managers may not like it if you socialize with people from that company.
Eliz: Why not?
Gary: Well, they may worry that you might give away technical secrets.
Eliz: That sounds like a reasonable concern.
Gary: So it’s important to use common sense.
It’s also usually all right to socialize to keep in touch with friends.
Eliz: Like networking?
Gary: Exactly. But you should be careful to avoid a conflict of interests.
Eliz: Thanks for your information, Gary.
MUSIC
Vietnamese Explanation
Trong phần True or False, quí vị nghe một câu rồi tuỳ ý trong bài trả lời đúng hay sai.
Cut 3
Language Focus: True/False
Larry: True or False.
Eliz: You should never socialize with someone from another company.
(ding)
(pause for answer)
Eliz: False. Sometimes it can help your company
(pause)
Eliz: You should use common sense in deciding whether or not to socialize with people from another company.
(ding)
(pause for answer)
Eliz: True. You should avoid a conflict of interests.
MUSIC
Vietnamese Explanation
Trong phần tới, ta học cách nhận hay từ chối lời mời—how to accept or decline an offer, or an invitation. Sau khi họp bàn công việc xong, bà Winthrop mời ông Vale đi thăm xưởng máy của bà. I’d like to invite you to see our factory while you’re in New York.=tôi muốn mời ông thăm xưởng máy của chúng tôi khi ông ở New York. That’s very kind of you..=Cám ơn lòng quí hóa của bà. But I’m afraid my schedule is booked up all next week.=nhưng tuần tới tôi bận cả tuần. Won’t you join me for lunch?=mời ông dùng cơm trưa với chúng tôi. I’m sorry, but I have other plans.=xin lỗi tôi bận việc khác.
Cut 4
Business Dialog: Declining an Invitation=từ chối lời mời.
Larry: Business Dialog
At the conclusion of a business meeting, Ms. Winthrop invites Mr. Vale to tour her factory.
Eliz: Let’s listen to today’s Business Dialog.
At the conclusion of a business meeting, Ms. Winthrop invites Mr. Vale to tour her factory.
SFX: Room noise
Winthrop: I’d like to invite you to see our factory while you’re in New York.
Vale: That’s very kind of you.
But I’m afraid my schedule is booked up all next week.
Winthrop: That’s too bad. Well, let’s keep in touch.
I may be in London early next year...
Vale: Okay. Please give me a call.
Winthrop: Thank you. I’ll do that.
Well, it’s nearly twelve thirty.
Why don’t you join me for lunch?
Vale: I’m sorry, but I have other plans.
Thank you anyway.
Winthrop: Not at all. Perhaps another time.
MUSIC
Vietnamese Explanation
Trong phần tới ta học cách nói cùng một ý bằng hai cách để từ chối một lời mời một cách lịch sự.
Cut 5
Focus on Functions: Variations: Invitations and polite refusals
Larry: Variations.
Listen to these variations.
Eliz: I’d like to invite you to see our factory.
Larry: Would you like to see our factory?
(pause)
Eliz: I’m afraid my schedule is booked up.
Larry: Unfortunately my schedule is booked up.
(pause)
Eliz: That’s too bad.
Larry: I’m sorry to hear that.
(pause)
Eliz: Why don’t you join me for lunch?
Larry: Are your free for lunch?
(pause)
Eliz: I’m sorry, but I have other plans.
Larry: I’m afraid not. I have other plans.
(pause)
Eliz: Thank you anyway.
Larry: I appreciate the invitation.
(pause)
MUSIC
Vietnamese Explanation
Trong phần tới, Gary’s Tips Accepting and declining invitations ta học cách nhận và từ chối lời mời. Khi ai mời, người ta thường bắt đầu bằng câu, ‘‘Would you like to…’’ như “Would you like to join me for a round of golf this afternoon?” Chiều nay bạn có muốn đi đánh gôn với tôi không?” Hay ‘‘I’d like to invite you…” như câu: I’d like to invite you to see our factory=mời bạn đi thăm xưởng máy của chúng tôi. Nếu nhận lời, ta có thể dùng câu, ‘‘That sounds like a great idea. Sure.” Ý ấy hay lắm. Vâng. Nhưng nếu muốn từ chối lịch sự, ta dùng câu sau đây. That’s very kind of you. But I’m afraid my schedule is booked up= Cám ơn lòng tốt của bạn, nhưng tôi bận lắm. I’m sorry, but I have other plans.= Xin cáo lỗi, nhưng tôi bận việc khác. Thank you anyway.= Dù sao, cũng xin cám ơn. Perhaps another time=Có lẽ để dịp khác. You don’t need to give a detailed reason.=bạn không cần phải đưa lý do rõ ràng, đầy đủ chi tiết [tại sao không nhận lời mời.] Chỉ cần nói, “I have other plans”.=tôi bận chuyện khác mất rồi..
Cut 6
Gary’s Tips: Accepting and Declining Invitations
Larry: Gary’s Tips.
Gary discusses accepting and declining invitations.
UPBEAT MUSIC
Eliz: Now it’s time for Gary’s Tips with Gary Engleton!
Gary: Hello, Elizabeth! Today I’ll be talking about accepting and declining invitations.
Eliz: Declining?
Gary: Saying no.
Earlier, we heard Mr. Epstein inviting Mr. Blake to play golf.
Mr. Epstein makes the invitation using the expression “Would you like to...”
Epstein: Would you like to join me in a round of golf this afternoon?
Blake: That sounds like a great idea. Sure.
Gary: Mr. Blake accepts with the expression, “That sounds like a great idea.”
(pause)
Gary: In today’s Business Dialog, we also hear examples of invitations.
But in this dialog, Mr. Vale declines Ms. Winthrop’s invitations.
First she invites him to see her factory.
She uses the expression, “I’d like to invite you...”
Winthrop: I’d like to invite you to see our factory while you’re in New York.
Vale: That’s very kind of you.
But I’m afraid my schedule is booked up all next week.
Winthrop: That’s too bad.
Gary: Mr. Vale thanks her for her invitation, using the formal expression, “That’s very kind of you.”
Then he gives his reason for declining.
Notice that he uses the word but and the expression “I’m afraid” to show that he cannot accept her invitation.
Let’s listen again:
Winthrop: I’d like to invite you to see our factory while you’re in New York.
Vale: That’s very kind of you.
But I’m afraid my schedule is booked up all next week.
Gary: Ms. Winthrop then invites him to lunch, using the expression “Why don’t you...?”
Again, Mr. Vale declines the invitation, using the expression “I’m sorry but....”
Winthrop: Well, it’s nearly twelve thirty.
Why don’t you join me for lunch?
Vale: I’m sorry, but I have other plans.
Thank you anyway.
Winthrop: Not at all. Perhaps another time.
Gary: When you are declining an invitation, remember to thank the person for the invitation and give a reason for declining.
Eliz: Do you need to give a detailed reason?
Gary: No, you don’t. Notice that Mr. Vale gives a very general reason, when he says “I have other plans.”
Eliz: Thank you for your tips, Gary.
Gary: I hope they’ve been useful.
MUSIC
Vietnamese Explanation
Quí vị vừa học xong bài 124 trong Chương trình Anh Ngữ Sinh Ðộng New Dynamic English. Phạm Văn xin kính chào quí vị thính giả và xin hẹn gặp lại trong bài học kế tiếp.
