1. Helping buy an electronic dictionary
Task
Helping buy an electronic dictionary

2. 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
to your uncle to give your advice

3. Skills building 1:

4. 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?

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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

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

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

11. 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.

12. 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

13. 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.

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

15. 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

16. 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.

17. Skills building 3:
writing to give advice

18. 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…

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

20. 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.