Business Dialogues

AUDIO BUSINESSDIALOGUES

THE OFFICE SHARE

In this dialogue, Michael and Jane have decided to rent an office together to cut costs. They’ve just moved in and they are talking about the new office. Listen to the dialogue and see if you can answer these questions:

1. What advantages are there with the new office? 2. What areas of conflict are there?

Jane: So, it should be nice and quiet here. Michael: Yeah, there’s not too much traffic and there’s lots of light too. Jane: This is great. We cut all our costs by sharing electricity bills and we just have one secretary between us. Michael: Yes, it just made so much sense to make this move. I don’t know why we didn’t think of it before. Jane: Yeah, plus we can help each other when one of us is ill, or away. Michael: Yeah, I can take your calls, and you can take mine. (loud screaming) Jane: Good God! What was that! Michael: Oh, don’t worry about that, it’s just the guy next door. He’s a psychotherapist - he has some original ideas. (more loud screaming) Don’t worry. It’s only in the morning session. The rest of the day there isn’t much noise… apart from when he’s treating the “wall hitters”. Jane: “Wall hitters”? What are they? Michael: “Wall hitters” are people who have an obsession with walls and an uncontrollable urge to hit them. Here, like this (bang, bang, bang). Jane: Oh, right. Anyway, I think I’ll put my things on the desk by the window. Michael: Oh, well actually, sorry, but, erm, I’d already decided to put my things there. Jane: Oh, had you? Michael: Yes, I need natural light. I can’t work otherwise. Jane: Well I do too. Oh, and by the way, I noticed that my name on the plaque is smaller than yours. Michael: Your name is longer; we had to make it smaller so it would fit. My name is just “Michael Bailey”, but yours is “Jane Swingeon Burgess” - the letters have to be smaller. Jane: And why is your name above mine? Michael: I was here first. (more loud screaming) Jane: No you weren’t. Michael: Yes, I was. Jane: No, you weren’t. Michael: Yes, I was. Jane: Oh dear, I can see this isn’t going to work. (more loud screaming) Michael: Yes, I agree. I think we should call the whole thing off. Jane: Good idea. Bye. Michael: Bye.

Exercise

Now listen to some extracts from the conversation again. You will notice there are some missing words and a beeping sound. See if you can write the missing word. Answers on page 50. 1. We just have one secretary _________ us. 2. I’ll put my desk and things right here __________ the window. 3. I noticed that my name on the plaque is smaller ________ yours. 4. I can see this isn’t going __________ work. 5. I think we should call the whole thing _________ .

G L O S S A R Y

to cut vb to reduce an electricity bill n a piece of paper that tells you how much you must pay for electricity to take a call exp to answer the telephone an uncontrollable urge n an irresistible desire to do something by the way exp people use this expression when they suddenly think of something they want to say and they need to change the topic of conversation a plaque n a piece of wood or metal that has the name of businesses, groups or people on it to fit vb if a name “fits” on a piece of paper, it is the right size for the piece of paper to call the whole thing off exp to cancel everything