Unit 2. Arriving in the USA

Activity 3. Here are some ways to begin a letter. Use them all in your own sentences to give alternatives of Dr. Bogomoloff’s reply. Elicit help from your tutor wherever necessary.

Activity 1. Study the layout of a formal letter (see above) and the ways of writing the addresses and the date, and putting the signature. Let your tutor help you.

Act as Dr. Bogomolov. Write a letter informing your colleagues in the USA about your willingness to contribute fully to the symposium. Before you do this, please go through the activities below to complete that task properly.

Activity 2. You may feel perplexed when choosing the right greeting gambit. Use the information below to choose the best greeting:

Greeting Usage

Dear Sirs to a company

Dear Sir/Madam to a particular person when you don’t know

their name

Dear Mr Brown to a man you know

Dear Mrs Brown to a married woman you know

Dear Miss Brown to an unmarried woman

Dear Ms Brown to a married or unmarried woman

Dear John to a friend

I am writing in connection with...

Thank you for your letter of (date)...

We have received your letter of (date)...

Many thanks for your letter concerning...

Activity 4. Use the following standard gambits to prepare the main body of Dr. Bogomoloff’s letter:

to accept an invitation:

It is a pleasure and honor for me to be invited to...

I am very delighted to accept the invitation of...

I am very pleased to accept the invitation of...

Thank you very much for your kind invitation to... which I accept with pleasure.

to make an inquiry:

Please, let me know...

Could you inform me...

I would appreciate further details about...

I would be pleased if you could send me more details about...

Activity 5. Study the ways of concluding the letter:

I look forward to hearing from you.

I look forward to receiving your reply.

I look forward to your reply.

I hope to see you soon and discuss some points of common interest.

I am looking forward to my trip to the USA.

Please pass my best wishes (give my best regards) to...

Activity 6. Choose the correct way to end your letter depending on the greeting gambit:

Dear Sirs/Sir/Madam - Yours faithfully

Dear Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms - Yours sincerely

Dear John - Best wishes

Now, write a letter of acceptance according to the following plan:

1) thank Mr Mewbury for the invitation and accept it;

2) suggest a title for your paper;

3) ask to be informed about the schedule of the symposium and the deadline for submitting the abstracts;

4) ask weather it is possible for some of your junior colleagues to send their abstracts too;

5) add a complementary closing and ask to convey your best wishes to Dr. Rundle;

6) close the letter with your name.

Target Vocabulary List

1) to make a (long-distance) call - сделать (междугородний) телефонный звонок

2) to direct - направить

3) to change - менять; разменивать

to change for - пересесть (на другой транспорт)

change machine - автомат для размена денег

4) cafeteria - кафе, столовая (в учреждении)

5) collect call - звонок за счет того, кому звонят

6) to hold on (the line) - не вешать трубку

7) to call back - перезвонить

8) to leave a message - оставить сообщение

9) to be cut off - разъединить (о телефонном разговоре)

10) to make an appointment - назначить встречу (свидание)

11) convenient - удобный

12) available - доступный, в наличии, свободный, незанятый (о человеке)

Activity 1. Listen to the dialogue and study the words given in bold:

Mr. Bogomoloff has just arrived at the J.F.K. (John F. Kennedy) International Airport in New York City. He wants to make a call to Mr. Rundle in Boston to inform him when he will come to Doston. He is asking an authorized airport officer where he could find a phone booth.

B.: Excuse me, could you direct me to a telephone booth? I have to make a long distance call.

O.: Yeah, sure. The phones are right over there. Do you see the blue and white sign? There’re some change machines near the post-office.

B.: What machines?

O.: Change machines that give you the coins you need.

B.: Oh, I see. Thank you.

O.: You’re welcome.

If you want to ask the way you should use the following:

Excuse me can you tell me the way to...?

How can I get to...?

How do I get to...?

Where’s the nearest...?

Which is the shortest way to...?

How far is it from here?

Is it far from here?

If you want to explain the way you should use the following:

It’s a long way from here.

It’s not far from here.

You can walk. You can take a taxi (bus, train).

Go straight ahead.

Go along the street.

Turn left/right.

Take the second turning on the right/left.

Pass...

You should cross the road.

You should change for number... bus/train.

Activity 2. Acting as Dr. Bogomoloff, ask the airport officer to direct you to:

a) a phone booth

b) a cafeteria

c) a restroom

d) the post-office

e) the information counter

f) the nearest hotel

Activity 3. Make up short dialogues. Ask an officer at the information counter:

a) if there are any flights to Washington D.C. tonight;

b) how many flights there are to Los Angeles;

c) when is the nearest flight to Boston;

d) how you can get to Manhattan;

e) how much a plane ticket to Boston is;

f) if you can buy a round ticket to Los Angeles;

g) if there is any discount on a round ticket.

Use the following phrases:

I wonder if you could help me.

Could you tell me...

I want to know...

I’d like to know...

I wonder how I can...

I wonder if I can...

Please, tell me...

Activity 4. Making a call. Listen to the dialogue and study the key vocabulary:

Operator: Operator.

Bogomoloff: I’d like to make a collect call to Boston, please.

O.: Number, please.

B.: 253-2917.

O.: Your name, please.

B.: My name?

O.: Yes.

B.: Peter Bogomoloff, from Russia.

Operator: Hold on.

B.: I beg your pardon?

O.: Hold on the line, please.

B.: All right.

He could hear the operator saying to a woman at the other end of the line.

O.: Will you speak to Peter Bogomoloff?

Woman: Yes, please. Hello?

B.: Can I talk to Dr. Rundle, please?

W.: Hold on a moment.

Rundle: Hello?

B.: Hello, Michael. This is Peter Bogomoloff.

R.: Oh Peter? Where are you calling from?

B.: From the J.F.K. airport. I’ve just arrived.

R.: Good to hear you, man. How are you doing?

B.: I’m all right, thanks. I’m taking the Delta 4.15 shuttle flight to Boston. Do you think you could meet me?

R.: Sure. I’ll be right there. Look forward to seeing you.

B.: Thank you. See you later then.

R.: Right. Bye.

Activity 5. Memorize the following phrases:

a) This is Mr. N speaking.

Hello, could I speak to...

I’d like to speak to...

Would you kindly tell Mr. N that he is wanted on the phone.

b) Just a moment.

Hold on.

Hold the line, please.

Can you hold on a minute?

Sorry, you’ve got the wrong number.

c) I’m sorry, he’s out at the moment. Could you call back later?

Could you call back, say, in an hour?

d) Will you leave a message?

Can I leave a message for him?

Just tell him N. called.

Will you ask him to call Mr. N.?

e) We’ve been cut off.

Are you still there?

Sorry, I can’t hear a thing. I’ll call you back.

If you want to make an appointment you should use the following phrases:

I’d like to make an appointment with...

What time would be convenient for you?

Sorry, he won’t be available till...

Could we make it... instead?

I have an appointment with you for..., but unfortunately I can’t make it.

Activity 6. Give the English equivalents of the following phrases:

а) Алло? б) Можно попросить Майкла к телефону? в) Будьте так добры, попросите к телефону мистера Томсона. Это говорит мистер Брайтон, его коллега. г) Не вешайте трубку. д) Я хотел бы назначить встречу с мистером Н. е) Доктора Дженсона сейчас нет. Что-нибудь ему передать? ж) Извините, мне ничего не слышно. Я перезвоню. з) Вы ошиблись номером. и) Нас разъединили. к) Какое время было бы удобно для вас?

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