Intermediate English Conversation Part 3

1.    Ordering a Meal

Waiter:	May I take your order, please?
Customer:	Yes. I would like a hamburger and a large order of French fries, please.
Waiter:	All right. And would you like a salad?
Customer:	OK. What kind of dressing would you like? We have Thousand Island, Italian, and French.
Waiter:	Italian
Customer:	And would you like anything to drink?
Waiter:	I’d like a large Coke, please.
Customer:	Thank you.

From the example above, as the waiter we have to be polite for servicing our customers. We may use modal auxiliaries “would” and “will” to offer something.

Examples:

Waiter:	What would you like to eat?
Customer:	-          I would like a hamburger. -          I’d like a hot dog

Waiter:	What kind of dressing would you like?
Customer:	I’d like French, please.

Waiter:	Would you like anything else?
Customer:	Yes, please. I’d like some water.

Waiter:	What will you have to drink?
Customer:	-          I will have a Coke. -          I’ll have coffee.

Waiter:	What kind of ice cream will you have?
Customer:	I’ll have Vanilla, please.

Waiter:	Will you have anything else?
Customer:	No, thank you.

After you read several examples above, now please practice with your friends by using some sentences which I have given as the samples like in the boxes above. Or you can make a role play, here the role play that may be used for you and your partner to make a conversation.

ROLE PLAY: In a coffee shop

Student A:	This is what you want to order for lunch: -          a hot dog. -          a small order of French fries. -          a large salad -          Thousand Island dressing coffee.
Student B:	You are the waiter/ waitress. Take your customer’s order.

2.    Thanks and Goodbye

Ethan:	Thank you for inviting me. The dinner was delicious!
Cecil:	You’re welcome. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Ethan:	Goodbye now! Take care!
Cecil:	Thanks. You too, bye!

Dom:	That was a wonderful meal! Thank you so much.
Sonia:	You’re welcome. Please come again.
Dom:	Thanks. I’d love to! Goodbye!
Sonia:	Good night! Drive carefully! See you soon!

Now please cover the conversations above with your partner, and make up your own conversation by expanding your practice with different phrases or sentences. Do not forget to take turns thanking your partner for a meal and saying goodbye.

3.    Making comparisons

Alan:	Oh God, Los Angeles is terrible place to live! I’m glad I live in New York.
Sue:	Come on! L.A is much nicer than New York! It’s warmer, it’s cheaper, and it’s cleaner.
Alan:	Cleaner? Are you kidding? Anyway, I love New york. It’s much more exciting than L.A. And the people are friendlier, too.
Sue:	Well, you can have New york!
Alan:	And you can have L.A!

After read conversation above, please invite your partner to have a conversation in making comparisons, try to use different sentences or questions. For example, you can make comparisons with adjectives like the conversations below.

Student A:	Is New York bigger than Miami?
Student B:	-          Yes, New York is bigger. -          No, Miami is bigger.

Student A:	Is New York more expensive than Miami?
Student B:	-          Yes, New York is more expensive. -          No, Miami is more expensive.

Student A:	Which is warmer, Miami or New York?
Student B:	Miami is warmer

Student A:	Which is more crowded, Now York or Miami?
Student B:	New York is more crowded.

For further information about making comparisons, please also read article entitle The Degrees of Comparison.

4.    Telephone Messages

Here the example of English conversation that talks about telephone messages, we may experience the moment when we have to leave messages because we cannot speak with someone directly on the phone. Now, please read and enjoy the conversation below.

Secretary:	Good morning, Parker Industries.
Mr. Kale:	Hello. May I speak to Ms. Graham, please?
Secretary:	I’m sorry. She’s not in. Would you like to leave a message?
Mr. Kale:	Yes, please. This is Mr. Kale.
Secretary:	Is that G-A-L-E?
Mr. Kale:	No, it’s K-A-L-E.
Secretary:	All right.
Mr. Kale:	Please tell her the meeting is on Friday at 2:30
Secretary:	Friday at 2:30.
Mr. Kale:	And would you ask her to phone me this afternoon? My number is 555-4040.
Secretary:	555-4040. yes, Mr. Kale. I’ll give Ms. Graham the message.
Mr. Kale:	Thank you. Goodbye.
Secretary:	Goodbye.

After read the conversation above, please invite your partner to practice in turns. You can use the example below to modify your own conversation by requesting with “tell”and “ask”.

Messages with statements:	Requests:
The meeting is on Friday	Please tell Ann the meeting is on Friday. Would you tell her…? Could you tell her…?

Messages with imperatives:	Requests:
Phone me this afternoon.	Please ask him to phone me this afternoon. Would you ask him to…? Could you tell him to…?