Phần đầu là phần mách giúp về văn hóa của Gary Engleton. Quí vị cũng tập đánh vần khi nói trong máy điện thoại để khỏi nhầm, như A as in apple, V as in Victor, T as in Thomas. Xin nghe mấy chữ khó:

An arrival date = ngày tới. Động tự To arrive; danh tự Arrival
A departure date = ngày đi. Động tự To depart; danh tự Departure
A record = tờ biên nhận, bằng chứng
Phân biệt: A recorded conversation = cuộc nói chuyện được thâu băng.
A written confirmation = tờ xác nhận có ghi tên khách, ngày giờ đến, và đi.
To prevent a problem (from happening) = tránh chuyện rắc rối.
Prevent = ngặn chận, đề phòng.
By fax or mail = bằng cách gửi điện thư hay gửi bằng bưu điện.
Fax viết tắt từ chữ facsimile = điện thư, bản sao y hệt.
Price of the room = giá phòng
Check it carefully for accuracy = kiểm soát lại cho đúng.
Accuracy (n.) = sự chính xác
Accurate (adj.) = chính xác
Correct anything that is wrong = sửa những điều nào sai.
Immediately = ngay lập tức. [=right away]
Save a lot of trouble = tránh nhiều phiền nhiễu.
A follow up question = câu hỏi tiếp theo
Nhắc lại: Arrival date = ngày đến
Departure date = ngày đi
To prove = chứng tỏ.
Advise = (verb) khuyên
Advice = lời khuyên (noun).

MUSIC

CUT 1

Eliz: Hello again and welcome to “Culture Tips.” Gary Engleton, our business language expert, will explain another difficult culture point for people in business.
Gary: Hello everyone!
Eliz: Last time, we talked about what to do if you had a problem with a hotel reservation. Today, we have an e-mail that is a follow up question to that topic.
Gary: Oh good! What’s the question?
Eliz: The listener asks, “How can I avoid problems with hotel reservations?”
Gary: That’s a very good question. After you made a hotel reservation, there are several simple things you can do to prevent a problem. The first thing to do is to ask for a written confirmation by fax or mail. This document will have a confirmation number, your arrival and departure dates, the price of the room, and other information. For example, the confirmation should say whether the room is smoking or nonsmoking room.
Eliz: That should be very useful.
Gary: The confirmation is useful because you can check it for errors. The confirmation is a record of what the hotel thinks you asked for. You should check it carefully for accuracy and correct anything that is wrong. If the arrival date is wrong, for example, you need to call the hotel immediately to correct it.
Eliz: I see.
Gary: One thing to check carefully is your name. If you are from another country, they may spell your name incorrectly. Also, make sure that you bring the written confirmation with you when you check in. That way, if there is a problem, you can show it to the people at the front desk to prove that you are right.
Eliz: That’s great advice.
Gary: At check in, the confirmation number can be very important. That’s the easiest way to find your reservation in the computer.
Eliz: Thanks, Gary! Your advice will save our listeners a lot of trouble in the future.
Gary: My pleasure!

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VIETNAMESE EXPLANTION

Tiếp theo đây là phần Language Focus: Sentence Completion, điền đầy đủ một câu bằng cách thêm một chữ đã học vào chỗ trống. Sau đó nghe câu trả lời đúng rồi lập lại.

CUT 2

Larry: Sentence Completion.
Larry: Listen. Complete the sentence.
Eliz: After you made a hotel reservation, ask for a written_____.(pause for answer)
Eliz: confirmation.Ask for a written confirmation.(short pause)
Eliz: The date that you check in to the hotel is______.(pause for answer)
Eliz: the arrival date. It’s the arrival date. (short pause)
Eliz: The date you leave the hotel is______.(pause for answer)
Eliz: the departure date. It’s the departure date.(short pause)

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VIETNAMESE EXPLANATION

Sau đây quí vị nghe hai mẩu đàm thoaị về thương mại: xác nhận lại việc giữ phòng hay vé máy bay trước, confirming a reservation. Phần đàm thoại thứ nhất xác nhận vé máy bay đã mua trước và phần thứ hai là gọi điện thoại xác nhận phòng đã dành trước.

CUT 3

Larry: Business Dialog: Confirming a reservation.
Eliz: Today we have two business dialogs.
Our first one is about confirming an airline reservation.
Ms. Brown has made a reservation to fly from Atlanta to Chicago. She calls the airline to confirm her reservation. Let’s listen to the dialog.
Agent: International Airlines. How may I help you?
Brown: Hello, my name is Denise Brown. I’d like to confirm my reservation on flight twenty three from Atlanta.
Agent: That’s the date of travel?
Brown: August 20th.
Agent: Just a moment, please. [Tiếng lách cách của bàn máy điện toán]
Agent: Yes, I have you confirmed on flight twenty-three, leaving Atlanta at 10:55 a.m. on Tuesday, August 20th, arriving in Chicago at 12:15 p.m. Your confirmation number is V as in Victor, T as in Thomas, nine zero three one.
Brown: V,T,9,0,3,1.
Agent: That’s right.
Brown: Thank you very much.
Agent: Thank you for flying with us.
Eliz: Now let’s listen to our second business dialog. In this conversation, Mr. Alioto calls a hotel to confirm his hotel reservation.[tiếng máy điện thoại]
Desk clerk: Reservations, may I help you?
Aliota: Hello, I’m calling to confirm my reservation for January 5th.
Desk clerk: Your name, please.
Alioto: John Alioto.
Desk clerk: Thank you. Just one moment, please.[tiếng lách-cách máy điện toán]
Desk clerk: Yes, you’re confirmed for three nights beginning January 5th. And that’s for a single room.
Aioto: That’s right.
Desk clerk: Check-in time is 1:00 p.m.
Alioto: All right. Thank you very much.
Desk clerk: Thank you, Mr. Alioto.

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VIETNAMESE EXPLANATION

Trong đoạn tới quí vị nghe rồi lập lại những câu nói về cách xác nhận phòng đã dành trước.

CUT 4

Larry: Focus on Function: Confirming a reservation
Eliz: Now let’s focus on the language function, confirming a reservation.
Larry: Listen and repeat.
Eliz: I’d like to confirm my reservation on flight twenty-three from Atlanta.(pause for repeat)
Larry: I have you confirmed on flight twenty-three.(pause for repeat)
Eliz: I’m calling to confirm my reservation for January 5th.(pause for repeat)
Larry: You’re confirmed for these nights.(pause for repeat)

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VIETNAMESE EXPLANATION

Tiếp sau đây là phần Gary’s Tips, lời mách giúp của Gary về cách xác nhận lại xem có đúng không. Gary discusses how to confirm a reservation.
When you confirm a reservation, you are checking that the date of the reservation and other details about the reservation are correct = khi bạn hỏi lại cho chắc là bạn muốn kiểm soát xem ngày dành trước và các chi tiết của việc dành trước có đúng không.

I’d like to confirm my reservation on flight twenty three from Atlanta = Tôi muốn hỏi lại cho chắc vé máy bay trong chuyến bay hai mươi ba từ Atlanta.
Information = tin tức
Similar =The same = giống nhau.
Better to be safe than sorry = an-toàn tốt hơn bị ân hận.
I’m calling to confirm my flight from Atlanta = tôi gọi để xác nhận lại chuyến bay từ Atlanta.
Phrase = nhóm chữ. [Phân biệt: Sentence = câu]

CUT 5

Eliz: Welcome back. It’s time now for Gary’s Tips. What’s your topic for today, Gary?
Gary: Today I’d be talking about confirming a reservation.
Eliz: Last time you talked about information.
Gary: That’s right. I said that to confirm information is to check that it’s correct or certain. Confirming a reservation is similar. When you confirm a reservation, you are checking that the dates of the reservation and other details about the reservation are correct. When you call to confirm a reservation, you can start your sentence with,”I’m calling to confirm,” or “I’d like to confirm.” Which of these phrases do you hear in the first business dialog?

Let’s listen again to the dialog.

Agent: International Airlines. How may I help you?
Brown: Hello, my name is Denise Brown.
I’d like to confirm my reservation on flight twenty three from Atlanta.
Gary: That’s right. Ms. Brown said,”I’d like to confirm.”

Now listen to the second business dialog and tell me what phrase you hear.

Desk clerk: Reservations, may I help you?
Alioto: Hello, I’m calling to confirm my reservation for January 5th.
Gary: Mr. Alioto said,” I’m calling to confirm.” Usually, you get a confirmation number when you make the reservation for a hotel or a flight.

Let’s listen to the first business dialog again.

The travel agent gives Ms. Brown a confirmation number for her airline reservation.
Agent: I have you confirmed on flight twenty three, leaving Atlanta at 10:55 a.m. on Tuesday, August 20th, arriving in Chicago at 12:15 p.m.
Your confirmation number is V as in Victor, T as in Thomas, nine zero three one.
Brown: V,T,9,0,3,1.
Agent: That’s right.
Brown: Thank you very much.
Gary: Did you notice that Ms. Brown repeated back her confirmation number? She was confirming her confirming number!
Always repeat the confirmation number, so that you can be sure you heard it correctly.
When you make a reservation, if you are not given a confirmation number, you should ask for one. So remember, if you’re not sure, it’s always safer to call to confirm your reservatiion before you travel. Better to be safe than sorry!
I’ll be back again next week. Until then, this is Gary with Gary’s Tips.
Eliz: Thanks very much, Gary.
Eliz: Well, our time is up. Tune in next time for Functioning in Business... See you then!

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VIETNAMESE EXPLANATION

Quí vị vừa học xong chương trình Anh Ngữ Sinh Động bài 43 New Dynamic English. Phạm Văn xin kính chào quí vị thính giả và xin hẹn gặp lại trong bài học kế tiếp.