III Spoken English

Making an appointment

1. Objective:

• to make and change appointments and arrangements.

Tasks:

• to invite a friend to a social event;

• to fix a time and a place for a meeting;

• to accept and refuse an appointment;

• to arrange a schedule for a visit;

• to organize a meeting;

• to explore future plans and arrangements.

2. Introduction. Think about making an appointment. Think about 1-2 words in the story in Russian. Translate the words into English.

Hints:

• the focus of this activity is on effective communication rather than structural accuracy;

• the focus is on the language of invitations and suggestions;

• use the present simple to talk about timetables;

• use the present continuous to talk about plans and arrangements.

3. Key words:

- an appointment - условленная встреча

- an arrangement for a meeting - договорённость о встрече

- at an agreed time and place - в условленное время и в условленном месте

- to arrange a time for the next meeting - договориться о времени следующей встречи

- to make an appointment - назначать встречу

- Can I make an appointment to see the CEO?

- the CEO = Chief Executive Officer - главный исполнительный руководителем, глава компании

- to keep an appointment - встречаться, как договорились

- I’m very sorry but I can’t keep my appointment with you.

- to cancel an appointment

- I can’t cancel my appointment with Mr.Kurosawa.

- I can cancel my visit to the movie.

- to have an appointment

- I have an appointment with the CEO at 1030.

- to acknowledge the letter - сообщить о получении письма

- to confirm an arrangement - подтверждать, что встреча состоится, как договорились

- a hairdressing appointment - встреча с парикмахером

- a 12 o’clock appointment - встреча на 12 часов

- to have a lunch-time appointment - встреча во время обеда

- to be engaged

- Sorry, I’m engaged.

- a previous engagement - ранняя по времени договорённость о встрече

- to be busy

- I’m afraid I’m busy.

- I’m free next Wednesday.

- to represent a company

- a timetable

- a diary

- birthday

- to invite

- an invitation

- a schedule

- The schedule is very tight. - График очень напряжённый.

- Would you like to have dinner with me?

- to make it = to arrive in time = to succeed

- to call for Sheila - зайти/ заехать за Шейлой

- I’ll call for you.

- Shall I call for you?

- to leave on business - уезжать в командировку

- I’m leaving on business.

- to keep David waiting - заставлять Давида ждать

- to keep – keep – kept – kept – keeping

- Sorry to have kept you waiting.

- to fail

- to suit me

- Does the time suit you?

- This colour suits me.

- How about going to the bar?

- to go to the movie

- to go to the party

- to go to my house for a meal

- to go round for a meal

- to go for a coffee

- to play cards

- to refuse

- I’m afraid, I can’t.

- I have to go.

- I’m going to stay at the hotel.

- That’s very kind of you, but…

- to accept

- I’d love to.

- I’d like to go to the exhibition.

- That would be lovely!

- to call (of people selling goods) - наносить регулярные визиты

- a business call - деловой визит

- to pay a call - наносить визит

- to pay a call on the Manager - наносить деловой визит менеджеру

- He’s making a call on the CEO.

- The Manager calls every day.

- to book a room

- to book a single room in the Sheraton hotel for 2 nights - бронировать номер на 2 дня в…

- to change my hotel reservation

- to transact - (T) fml. осуществлять сделку

- to get in touch with Torsten

- to fix a time for a meeting

- to fix a place

- I’ll call you up tomorrow.

- I’ll advise you about my estimated time of arrival (ETA).

- I’ll look forward to seeing you on the second of May, then.

- to meet the doctor

- to come to a party

- to visit a nightclub

- to rearrange my schedule

4. Activity 4. Student’s organisation of the dialogue “Arranging a meeting with the doctor”.

Example:

Plan

1. Introduce yourself.

2. Explain your point.

3. Fix a time.

4. Fix a place.

5. Confirm the arrangement.

5. Activity 5. Present each point of the dialogue “Arranging a meeting with the doctor” with one question or a phrase.

1. My name is Helen.

2. I’d like to arrange a meeting with the doctor.

3. What time would suit you?

4. What place would be convenient: in the hospital or the polyclinics?

5. See the doctor at twelve on Friday.

6. Activity 6. Build up your conversation.

1. What are you doing tonight?

2. What are you doing tomorrow night?

3. That’s a good idea.

4. Where do we meet?

5. I pick you up at 18 o’clock.

6. I have an appointment with the Manager at 14 o’clock.

7. Can I make an appointment to see the CEO?

8. I would be very glad if you could have dinner with me.

9. We’ll be expecting you at 19 o’clock.

10. What time would you like to come?

11. I’m sorry, I’ll be engaged at 1700.

12. That’s fine.

13. What time shall we make it? На который час мы договоримся?

14. What’s the occasion? По какому случаю праздник?

15. Sorry to have failed to keep an appointment.

16. We do business with Nissan.

17. It doesn’t matter.

18. Do you feel like playing cards?

19. How about coming out for a coffee?

7. Activity 7. Teacher presents the whole of two dialogues

“Making and accepting an invitation”.

Plan

1. Introduce yourself.

2. An invitation.

3. Accepting it.

4. Fix a time.

5. Fix a place.

6. Confirm the arrangement.

1. This is Helen.

2. Would you like to have dinner with me on Friday this week?

3. That would be lovely!

4. Are you free at 1900?

5. Does the Italian Restaurant suit you?

6. I look forward to seeing you at 1900 on Friday.

“Making and refusing an invitation”.

Plan

1. Introduce yourself.

2. An invitation.

3. Refusing it.

4. Explain your refusal.

5. Express your pity.

1. This is Helen.

2. Would you like to go for a coffee on Thursday?

3. I’m afraid I can’t make it.

4. I’ve got a previous engagement. Sorry.

5. What a pity!

8. Activity 8. Read the dialogue and answer the questions.

A: What are you doing tonight?

B: Nothing special. Why?

A: How about coming out for a drink?

B: That’s a good idea.

A: How about 1900?

B: Yes, that’s fine.

A: See you tonight at 19 o’clock, then.

B: Fine, bye-bye.

A: Bye.

Answer the questions:

1. A invites B to come out. What does he say?

2. At the end of the dialogue, A confirms the arrangement. What does he say?

9. Activity 9. Listen to the dialogue and answer the questions.

A: Hello. How are you?

B: Fine, thanks. How are you?

A: Fine, thank you. Would you like to come and have dinner with me next week?

B: That would be nice.

A: Would Friday suit you?

B: Not really. I’m flying to Moscow next Friday

A: Thursday then.

B: Yes, I am free on Thursday.

A: Can you manage 1700?

B: Yes, that’s fine.

A: I’ll look forward to seeing you on Thursday at 17 o’clock, then.

B: Fine, bye-bye.

A: Bye.

Answer the questions:

1. Why can’t the friend come on Friday?

2. You invite your friend to have dinner with you on Friday. What do you say?

3. You confirm the arrangement. What do you say?

10. Activity 10. Present Simple to talk about timetables.