Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Telephone Conversation (with Vocabulary)

Unlocking Word Meanings:

pepperoni (noun): a pork and beef sausage, sliced thinly for pizza
- My students ordered a pepperoni pizza for lunch.


be a hit (verb): be popular
- Ordering pizza for the party was a hit.


care for (verb): have a preference or liking for something
- Would you care for anything else today?


acquired taste (expression): a taste that takes time to get used to
- Some people say that learning to like sushi is an acquired taste.


beverage (noun): drink
- What kinds of beverages do you want to serve at the party?


throw in (verb): add
- That pizza shop always throws in a free drink with every order.


coupon (noun): a certificate used to receive money off on purchases
- Let's use the pizza coupon that came in the mail.


make something out (idiom): understand or figure out
- I couldn't make out what the customer ordered because of the poor telephone connection.

    Telephone Conversation

    Employee: Hello. Can I take your order?

    Customer: Yes. I'd like a large pepperoni pizza with mushrooms and green peppers.

    Employee: Would you like anything else?

    Customer: Well, wait. Uh, can I make that a half-and-half pizza?

    Employee: Sure. What would you like on each half?

    Customer: Uh, what toppings do you have?

    Employee: Well, we have Italian sausage, ham, mushrooms, onions, pineapple, black olives, green peppers, bacon, tomatoes, shrimp, clams, and squid.

    Customer: Shrimp, clams, and squid!? What kind of pizza is that?

    Employee: Uh, the manager spent some time overseas [Oh.], and thinks his new seafood pizza will be a hit with customers, but to be honest, the "Swimmer's Special," as he calls it, is an acquired taste.

    Customer: Uh, I'll pass on the "Sink or Swim" special, but I'll have pepperoni and mushrooms on one half and green peppers and Italian sausage on the other. Oh, and could I get extra cheese on that pizza?

    Employee: Alright. Would you care for any bread sticks or beverage with your order? [Well . . . I don't know.] Actually, we have a Friday night special going on right now [Oh!], and if you order any large pizza and drink, we'll throw in a free order of bread sticks, plus a three dollar coupon for use with your next pizza order.

    Customer: Huh, sure, why not. And what drink comes with the pizza?

    Employee: Either apple or orange juice.

    Customer: I'll take orange juice.

    Employee: Okay. Your total comes to fifteen nineteen, which includes tax. [Okay.] And could I have your name?

    Customer: Uh, yeah, Jay Han.

    Employee: Huh? Did you say "Jay Hand"?

    Customer: No, it's "Han." Actually, it's a Korean name, but many people have difficulty making it out.

    Employee: Ah, names are important; don't change it. [Okay.] Oh, and your address and telephone number?

    Customer: It's 1340 South 16 East, and the phone number is 340-1870 (three-four-zero-eighteen, seventy).

    Employee: Okay. Let me repeat your order. A large half-and-half pizza. [Okay.] One half with pepperoni [Yeah.] and mushrooms and the other with Italian sausage and green peppers. [Yeah.] Orange juice and your free order of bread sticks. Jan "Han," not "Hand," [Yeah, that's right.] at 1340 South 16 East, 340-1817. Is that correct?

    Customer: Everything except for the phone number. It's 1870, not 1817.

    Employee: Alright. Thanks for your order. It should arrive at your doorstep in 30 minutes or less, or you'll receive a free small pizza with your next order.

    Customer: Great. Thanks.