Helping buy an electronic dictionary Task Helping buy an electronic dictionary

What you are to learn in this part: You will first listen to your uncle’s requirements about buying an electronic dictionary and decide which information is the most important . then, through listening and reading, you’ll get part of the information about it . By making telephone call to the company, you will get further information about the electronic dictionary. After gathering all the information you need and making comparison , you are able to write an email to your uncle to give your advice

Skills building 1:

Question: Identify the most important information and less important These days , I have been considering buying a new mobile phone. First of all, I like the ones with MP3 function in particular, this way, music will accompany me wherever I go. However, a major consideration is the radiation from the mobile phones, So, I prefer one that will do least harm to the user. Certainly, it doesn’t matter so much whether it could be used as a camera, for I think the picture a mobile phone could take is not clear enough and it wastes a large quantity of power. Question: To buy a satisfied mobile phone, which requirement do you think is the most important and least important?

Step 1: taking notes of requirements Part A. First Listening: Weight and size: _____________________________ Cost:_______________________________________ Appearance:_________________________________ Translation:__________________________________ Pronunciation:________________________________ Extra functions:_______________________________

Further listening Which type does your uncle prefer, a dictionary with English translation only ,or with two kinds of translation? Why? 2. Is your uncle willing to buy an modern one at a high price? 3. Does the function of pronunciation matter a lot according to your uncle? He prefers a dictionary with two kinds of translation, for he thinks that ,this way ,his son can look up words in both languages No, he doesn’t want to spend more than 700 yuan on it Yes , he thinks that will help his son to pronounce the word properly

Part B: Listen to the explanation of the function of two new electronic dictionaries on sale Take notes of useful information in the following two columns Attention : this part only tells the relevant information, such as the languages, the cost, the word capacity etc. The rest information is included in Part C

Keys to part B Mark 204D: Languages: Word capacity: Weight: Cost: Extra functions: Extra features: Chinese and English Over 102,000 650 yuan A voice function, wildcard search function

Stylus Pen Ⅲ: Languages: Appearance: Word capacity: Weight; Cost: Extra functions: Extra features: English-Chinese Just like a pen 100,000 1,200 yuan

Part C: Please find out more information about the two new types through Reading the following leaflets, try to complete the lists above.

Keys to part B Mark 204D: Languages: Chinese and English Word capacity: Weight: Cost: Extra functions: Extra features: Chinese and English Over 102,000 96 grams, 104*72*15mm 650 yuan A voice function, wildcard search function Spell check, pronunciation guide and a list of words with similar and opposite meaning Hints for the TOEFL and IELTS exams, FM radio and games.

Stylus Pen Ⅲ: Languages: Appearance: Word capacity: Weight; Cost: Extra functions: Extra features: English-Chinese Just like a pen 100,000 20 grams 1,200 yuan Quick and correct translations, an inbuilt Speaker and a clear LCD screen Suitable for people with a reading disability

Till now, according to the requirements of your uncle, you can more or less decide what advice you could give to your uncle, after comparing the two types, you think the first type--- Mark 204D will meet his requirements. Then you decide to make a telephone call to the customer service department for more information about the battery it uses and its guarantee.

asking for information by telephone Skills building 2: asking for information by telephone

Try to make an appropriate telephone call Read part 1 on page12 , ask the following question. 1. What should be paid attention to when making a telephone call? Be polite Be clear and to the point Ask for clarification if you don’t understand

Practise speaking with your partner. Salesperson: Good morning, this is customer service department, ….. Customer; Good morning. Could you please give me some information about the Mark 204D electronic dictionary. I’d like to know what batteries it uses. Salesperson: Certainly. It uses three AAA batteries. Customer: How long can the batteries last after they get charged? Salesperson: They can last about 70 hours. Customer: Good. Do you have the guarantee on the dictionary? Salesperson: Sure, we have. But it covers faults but not loss of the dictionary.

Skills building 3: writing to give advice

Writing an email to your uncle: Useful words and expressions: I would advise you to buy…. I would recommend the first one to you . I think you may/ could/ would buy….. It seems to me that…. In my opinion….. When you are state the reasons to support your advice, you’d better put it in order of importance. first of all, in addition, what’s more, furthermore, besides, what comes first is…, at last/lastly, finally to conclude, to sum up, in conclusion. In a word…

About the content of the email Try to cover the following aspects of the electronic dictionary in your email. The cost The word capacity The language Extra functions and features Appearance and weight The battery and the guarantee of it.

Sample Dear Uncle: I would advise you to buy Mark 204D for your son. First of all, this electronic dictionary gives Chinese- English translation, which will help him improve his language study. In addition, it includes a spell Check function, pronunciation guide and a list of words with similar and opposite meanings. Lastly, it will be convenient for him to carry because of its small size, and at 650 yuan, the price is reasonable. In conclusion, I think you may find this model more suitable for your son.