CUT 1

Culture Tips: Ordering and Hosting at Restaurants
Larry: Culture Tips
This Culture Tip talks about who pays for a meal and how to order.
Should I order the same thing that the host orders?
It would make a very bad impression if you couldn’t talk clearly.
Eliz: Welcome once again to “Culture Tips” with Gary Engleton. Today’s e mail question is about American business lunches.
The question is: “When I’m invited to a business lunch by an American, who pays for the meal?”
Gary: Generally, the host pays for the meal.
Eliz: Uh huh. And how do you know who is the host?
Gary: The host is the person who organized the lunch and who invited the people.
Eliz: Our second question today is: “At a business lunch, how do I know what to order?”
Gary: Usually you can order whatever you like.
A good host will make sure that everyone gets what they want to eat and drink.
Eliz: Should I order the same thing that the host orders?
Gary: Only if you want to!
Usually each person makes an individual choice. As we said earlier, Americans like to have individual choices.
Eliz: What about ordering a glass of beer or wine? Is it OK to order alcohol?
Gary: If you want to drink beer or wine with your meal, that’s usually OK. Especially if your host is also having beer or wine. However, a business lunch is for business. Moderation is important.
Eliz: Moderation? You mean don’t eat or drink too much?
Gary: Exactly! If you eat a big meal or drink a lot of alcohol, you might not be able to do business.
It would make a very bad impression if you couldn’t talk clearly.
Eliz: Or if you fell asleep!
Gary: That’s certainly true! Generally, look to the host for guidelines. And if you’re not sure what to eat or drink, it’s OK to say, “What do you recommend?”
Eliz: Thanks Gary! This has been very helpful.
Gary: My pleasure.
MUSIC
Vietnamese Explanation

Trong phần tới, quí vị nghe một câu, rồi căn cứ vào nghĩa trong phần trước bài mà trả lời Ðúng hay Sai, True or False.

Cut 2
Language Focus: True/False

Larry: True or False.
Larry: Listen. Is this statement true or false?
Eliz: At a business lunch, Americans eat what the host eats. (ding) (pause for answer)
Eliz: False. Americans eat whatever they want to eat. (pause)
Eliz: You should never drink alcohol at a business lunch. (ding) (pause for answer)
Eliz: False. A glass of beer or wine is usually OK, especially if your host is having some too.(pause)
Eliz: If you are invited to a business lunch, the person who invited you should pay for the meal. (ding) (pause for answer)
Eliz: True. The host should pay.
MUSIC
Vietnamese Explanation

Trong phần đàm thoại sắp tới, Helen mời hai người trong số thân chủ thân nhất là Sam và Rose đi ăn trưa và bàn công chuyện. Helen has invited two of her best clients, Sam and Rose, to a business lunch.
Client=thân chủ.
Main course=món ăn chính.
Nhân xét: Ở Mỹ “entrée” hay “entree” là món ăn chính của bữa ăn; nhưng ở một số xứ khác, Pháp chẳng hạn, “entrée” chỉ món ăn dọn trước món ăn chính.
[“Hors d’oeuvre”=appertizer, món ăn đầu bữa, trước món ăn chính, ta gọi là món khai vị, món ăn chơi.]
I’m absolutely stuffed=tôi ăn no lắm.
To stuff=eat too much=ăn no quá.
You talked me into it! Bạn thuyết phục tôi rồi (tôi nghe bạn mà nhận lời ăn bánh ngọt). You persuaded me to accept the offer.

Cut 3
Business Dialog
Larry: Business Dialog
Helen has invited two of her best clients to a business lunch. They have finished the main course.

I’m absolutely stuffed! Tôi no lắm rồi!
The chocolate cake looks delicious. Cái bánh sô cô la trông ngon quá.
Would you like something to drink? Bạn có muốn uống gì không?

Eliz: Let’s listen to today’s Business Dialog. Helen has invited two of her best clients to a business lunch. They have finished the main course.

Helen: Would anyone like dessert?
Sam: None for me, thanks! I’m absolutely stuffed! That fish was delicious.
Rose: Yes, the food was excellent, especially the chicken!
Helen: I’m glad to hear it! Rose, would you like some dessert?
Rose: Well, I don’t know... I don’t think so.
Helen: Are you sure? The chocolate cake looks delicious; it has a raspberry sauce!
Rose: Well, OK, you talked me into it!
Helen: Good! I’ll have some too. Sam, would you like something to drink?
Sam: Well, I have to do some work this afternoon, so I’ll just have some coffee.
Helen: Rose?
Rose: Hot tea, please.
Helen: OK. I’ll call the waiter over.

MUSIC

Vietnamese Explanation

Trong phần tới, chú trọng vào cách dùng chữ, ta nghe những câu mời, và cách trả lời. Xin nghe rồi lập lại.

Cut 4

Focus on Functions: Offers

Larry: Focus on Functions: Offers
Eliz: Now let’s focus on Offers.
Larry: Listen and Repeat.
Eliz: Would anyone like dessert? (pause for repeat)
Larry: None for me, thanks! (pause for repeat)
Eliz: Would you like some dessert? (pause for repeat)
Larry: Well, I don’t think so. (pause for repeat)
Eliz: Are you sure? The chocolate cake looks delicious. (pause for repeat)
Larry: Well, OK, you talked me into it! (pause for repeat
) Eliz: Would you like something to drink? (pause for repeat)
Larry: Yes, I’ll have some coffee. (pause for repeat)
Eliz: Rose? (pause for repeat)
Larry: Hot tea, please. (pause for repeat)

MUSIC

Vietnamese Explanation

Trong phần Mách Giúp Văn Hoá Gary sẽ chỉ cho ta cách mời và nhận lời mời hay đề nghị How to make and accept offers.
Would anyone like dessert? Có ai muốn ăn tráng miệng không?
Hay: Dessert, anyone? Not for me, none for me=tôi không muốn.
In the United States, when someone refuses something, it may not be offered again. Ở Hoa Kỳ, khi ai đã từ chối lời mời món gì, thì người ta không mời lại lần nữa.
Raspberry sauce=nước sốt làm bằng trái raspberry, để đổ lên trên bánh ngọt; trái raspberry còn gọi là trái framboise, hay phúc bồn tử hay còn gọi là quả mâm xôi. Raspberry là thứ quả nhỏ mọng như trái dâu, mầu hồng hay đỏ hay đen.
You talked me into it! Nghe bạn thuyết phục, tôi mới nhận lời.
To talk into=to persuade someone to do something, thuyết phục ai làm gì. [Trái nghĩa:: To talk out of=to dissuade someone from doing something=khuyên ai bỏ làm chuyện gì]

Cut 5

Gary’s Tips:

Larry: Gary’s Tips.

Eliz: Now it’s time for Gary’s Tips with Gary Engleton!
Gary: Hello, Elizabeth! Today I’ll be talking about how to make and accept offers. In our Business Dialog, Helen is hosting a meal for two of her clients, Sam and Rose. At the end of the main course, Helen asks if anyone wants dessert. In making this offer, she uses the polite form “Would anyone like dessert?”
Helen: Would anyone like dessert?
Sam: None for me, thanks! I’m absolutely stuffed!
Gary: Sam refuses, saying “None for me, thanks.” Another way to refuse an offer is to say “No, thank you.” Shirley Graham uses this expression when Mr. Epstein offers her more coffee:
Epstein: Would anyone like some more coffee? Shirley?
Graham: Not for me. No, thank you.
Gary: In the United States, when someone refuses something, it may not be offered again. So if you want something, it is a good idea to accept an offer the first time. For example, Mr. Blake accepts Mr. Epstein’s offer to have more coffee:
Blake: Yes. I’d like a little bit more please.
Eliz: What if someone refuses your offer, but you think they really want it?
Gary: That’s a good question. Sometimes people refuse an offer, but they use weak language. They say “I think not” or “Maybe not.” Then it is a good idea to offer again. For example, in the Business Dialog, at first Rose does not accept Helen’s offer to have dessert. But Rose doesn’t sound very sure.

So Helen offers again by asking, “Are you sure?” and talking about one of the desserts.

Helen: Rose, would you like some dessert?
Rose: Well, I don’t know... I don’t think so.
Helen: Are you sure? The chocolate cake looks delicious; it has a raspberry sauce!
Rose: Well, OK, you talked me into it!
Helen: Good! I’ll have some too.
Gary: So Rose accepts Helen’s second offer and she decides to have dessert. (pause)
Gary: Offers usually use the polite form “Would,” as in “Would anyone like some more coffee?” In less formal situations, there are other expressions you can use to make offers. For example, you can say “More coffee, anyone?” or “How about some more coffee?” I hope today’s tips were helpful! Thanks for joining us today for Gary’s Tips. We’ll see you again next time!
Eliz: Thanks Gary!

MUSIC

Eliz: Well, our time is up. Tune in again next time for Functioning in Business. See you then!

Vietnamese Explanation

Quí vị vừa học xong bài 91 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.