IDEGEN NYELVŰ TÁRGYALÁS

Sample Interview Questions. Tell me about yourself. (A tétel)

 How would you describe yourself?

 What do you consider to be your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
 How do you think a friend or professor who knows you well would describe you?
 What qualifications and experience do you have that make you think that you will be
successful in business?
 What do you really want to do in life?
 What do you see yourself doing five years from now? Ten years from now?
 What are your long-term career objectives?
 How do you plan to achieve your career goals?
 What specific goals other than those related to your occupation, have you given
yourself for the next ten years?
 What are your hobbies? What are the last three books you've read?

Your Education

 Why did you choose your college or university?

 What were/are your favourite classes / activities at school?
 Why did you choose your major?
 How has your college experience prepared you for a business career?
 How did you choose your major? What college subject do / did you like best? Why?
 What college subject do / did you like least? Why?
 If you could do so, how would you plan your study differently? Why?
 How would you change your college or university? Why?
 What have you learned from participating in extra-curricular activities?
 Describe your most rewarding college experience.
 Do you have plans for further study? An advanced degree?
 Do you think that your grades are an indication of your academic achievement?
 How do you plan to continue your education?

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Your Career Goals

 What would you like to be doing five years from now?

 Have you set yourself any major goals?
 How will you measure your success?
 How will you achieve success?
 What two or three things are most important to you in a future job?
 How would you describe the ideal job for you following graduation?
 What type of position are you interested in?
 What is important to you in a job?
 What motivates you in your work?
 What kind of job will fit in with your career plans?
 What made you choose the career for which you are preparing?
 Which is more important to you, the money you take home from a job or the job
itself?
 Do you prefer to work by yourself or with others?
 What qualities do you find important in a 'team worker'?
 What do you expect from a future job?
 Do you have a location preference?
 Would you be prepared to work in a different location?

Your Work Experience

 What part-time or summer jobs have you been most interested in? Why?
 What major problems have you encountered and how did you deal with them?
 What have you learned from your mistakes?
 What have you learned from your past jobs?
 What were your biggest responsibilities?
 How do the specific skills acquired or used in previous jobs/industrial placement relate
to your future work/career?
 How does your previous experience relate to your future job?

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  What did you like most/least about your last job/ industrial placement?
 Who would you use as a reference and why?
SZÓBELI VIZSGATÉTELEK

Az értékelés szempontjai:
1. Az információtartalom vázlata alapján: 50 pont
2. Szakmai készségek a szakmai és vizsgakövetelmény szerint (30 pont)
Idegen nyelvű beszédkészség: 15 pont.
Idegen nyelvű hallott szöveg értése: 15 pont.
3. Egyéb kompetenciák a szakmai és vizsgakövetelmények szerint (20 pont)
Személyes: döntésképesség: 3 pont, rugalmasság: 2 pont
Társas: nyelvhelyesség: 3 pont, közérthetőség: 2 pont, udvariasság: 2 pont
Módszer: logikus gondolkodás: 2 pont, kreativitás, ötletgazdagság: 3 pont,
helyzetfelismerés: 3 pont
Az elérhető maximális pontszám: 100 pont.
A tétel
A vizsgáztató irányításával folytasson beszélgetést szakmai hátteréről (tanulmányok,
szakmai gyakorlat, munkatapasztalatok, álláslehetőségek, jövőbeni tervek stb.)!
B tételek
1. Ön, mint a Tschibo cég képviselője, folytasson telefonbeszélgetést a bizottság egyik
tagjával vagy társával! Kérje meg, hogy rendezze fennálló tartozását! A számla összege
€56.430, esedékessége: április 2.
Információtartalom vázlata

 A rendezendő számla adatainak ismertetése (20 pont)

 A fizetési haladék írásban való kérvényezésének fontossága (20 pont)
 Felhívás a részletfizetés lehetőségére (10 pont)

ROLEPLAY 1
A: Hello! Interspar Wholesale Warehouse. Can I help you?
B: Yes, it’s Kate Sharp from Tschibo’s finance department. Can you put me through to
your purchasing manager?
A: Yes, sure. One moment, please.
…
A: Hello! It’s John Smith, Purchasing Manager.

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 B: Hello! It’s Kate Sharp, Tschibo’s representative from the finance department.
A: Can I help you?
B: I’m calling because I would like to remind you of your unpaid invoice.
A: Oh. Can you tell me the invoice details?
B: Yes, of course. The invoice number is 572871.
A: I’m afraid, I don’t understand. Can you speak more slowly, please?
B: Yes, of course. So, the invoice number is 572871. The invoice covers our shipment of
various coffee products to the value of 56,430 Euros.
A: OK, I have found the invoice. It’s for the following products: Tschibo Family, Tschibo
Exclusive, Africa Intense, Guatemala Medium, Brazil Mild, Volcano Coffee, Huang Shan.
B: That’s right. If you have a good look at the invoice you can see that it was dated 1
February and payment was due on 2 April. It’s 16 April now, so your payment is two
weeks overdue.
A: Yes, that’s true. Unfortunately we are having some financial problems because some of
our customers could not pay for their purchases in time. Can you grant us an extension of
time?
B: Yes, but you should apply for it in writing.
A: OK, no problem. I’ll write the application and let you have it by email. Is that OK?
B: I’m afraid we can’t accept emails in this case. We need a letter with your signature and
official company stamp.
A: That’s understandable. I’ll write the letter first thing after finishing this conversation,
so hopefully you will receive it tomorrow.
B: That sounds good. As you are one of our established customers, I would like to help
you, so I can offer payment by instalments.
A: Oh, really? How many instalments have you thought of?
B: Let me think. What about an initial payment of 16,430 Euros within one week and four
monthly instalments of 10,000 Euros each on the first day of the next four months.
A: Oh, that’s very kind of you. It’s great help for us. How could we compensate you for
the inconvenience we have caused you?
B: As this is the first time that you have defaulted on payment, we are not charging
interest but we expect further substantial orders from you.
A: We’ll check our stock and place our next order within two weeks.
B: That’s fine.
A: Bye!
B: Bye!
2. Ön, mint az AVON képviselője, vadonatúj kozmetikai termékeket forgalmaz. Keresse
meg ügyfelét személyesen, és mutassa be az új kollekciót!
Információtartalom vázlata

 Az új termékek bemutatása, a minőség jellemzése (20 pont)

 Az új termék bevezetésének szükségessége (lépéstartás a konkurens cégekkel) (10
pont)
 Az árpolitika ismertetése (bevezető ár, kedvezmények, részletfizetés, hitellehetőségek,
speciális akciók) (20 pont)

ROLE PLAY 2

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A: Hello. Let me introduce myself. My name is ………. I am the sales representative of
Avon Hungary. Nice to meet you.
B: Hello. My name is…………... Nice to meet you.
A: I wanted to talk to you because I would like to show you our brand new collection of
cosmetic products. As you know, we are the best company on the market and as such, we
have the obligation to constantly develop new products.
B: I think that’s not only an obligation but also a necessity.
A: What do you mean?
B: Well, think of your competitors…
A: Yes, you’re right. If we want to keep our position as market leader, we are forced to keep
pace with competition, and the best way to do this is by designing new, surprising, high
quality products. So let me show you our latest catalogue where you can see our newest and
best quality products and you can read a description about each of them. We have diversified
our product range and launched quite a number of interesting and exciting creams and
cosmetic products.
B: Could you name some of them?
A: Of course. Here, for example, you can see the new ‘Maximum Moisture’ night cream
(50ml). Nowadays this product is the best choice for women who would like to have a
beautiful and healthy skin. On the next page you can see our new revitalising ‘Live
Botanicals’ day cream for dry skin. It is a revolutionary new product of Avon and I can highly
recommend it to you. When used together, these creams can reverse the aging process of the
skin. In fact women who have already tried it said that after a week their skin felt like reborn.
B: It’s comforting to hear that. Do you have any eye wrinkle cream to match these face
creams?
A: Naturally. Our ‘New Wonders’ product family has been designed for women of different
ages and all these creams are made of natural ingredients such as aloe vera, camomile and
olive oil.
B: I see.
A: And we’ve brought something new on the make-up market as well. First of all, it’s our
brand new eye shadow which you can have in four different colours: electric purple,
aquadelic, purple haze and fresh cut green. You can make a glamorous appearance if you use
one of them. Let’s not forget our new lipsticks advertised by Reese Witherspoon. Customers
like them because the colours go brighter, bolder, more brilliant than ever before. Lips look
fuller and come alive in vivid colours.
B: They seem to be quite unique.
A: They really are. Last but not least, I’d like to draw your attention to our newest perfume,
the ‘Pure Blanca Blossom’, an irresistible combination of spring blossom fragrances.
B: All your products are very attractive but I’m afraid I can’t afford to buy them.

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A: Yes, you can. At present you can buy them at an introductory price with a 20% reduction.
And we always run some special offers; this time you can find several ‘two-for-the-price-of-
one’ products and also items that go with a free gift.
B: It’s really difficult to say ‘No’ to such offers. Is it possible to pay in instalments?
A: Certainly. We have several credit facilities, but you have to buy above 40,000 forints to
become eligible for them. Basically there is an initial payment, a kind of deposit, and then a
number of monthly instalments. Of course interest is charged, generally 15 to 30%, depending
on the term period.
B: That seems to be quite an attractive option. However, …
B: Don’t give up. I have a last offer: if you buy in bulk, you can get a 25% discount from the
value of your purchase.
B: I understand. Well, I’ll have to think about it.
A: Don’t think too much. Our products are selling very well and we might run out of them by
the time you make up your mind.
B: OK. I’ll try to be quick. Anyway, thank you very much for giving me all these details. I’ll
call you as soon as I’ve made a decision.
A: Ok. Thank you very much. I look forward to your call. Good bye!
B: Good bye!
3. Ön, mint a COOP üzletlánc képviselője, szeretne részt venni egy nemzetközi vásáron.
Folytasson telefonbeszélgetést a vásár ügyintézőjével!
Információtartalom vázlata

 A stand bérlésének időpontja és célja, a stand helye (20 pont)

 A stand felszereltségére vonatkozó igények (pl. reklámeszközök) ismertetése (10 pont)
 A bérleti díj fizetési feltételeinek tisztázása (20 pont)
ROLE PLAY 3
A: Hungexpo, Budapest.
B: Hello. Can I speak to Mrs. Helkay, the trade fair administrator?
A: Speaking.
B: Good morning. … . speaking. I’m the representative of COOP chain stores. We would
like to mount a stand on your premises.
A: Good morning. I’m glad to hear that. Which exhibition do you wish to attend?
B: We would be interested in presenting our products at the International Food and Beverages
Fair from 8 to 10 May.
A: I see. What size stand do you need?

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B: Let me tell you what we’d thought the arrangement of the stand should be, and you’ll tell
me what size we need.
A: OK. Go ahead.
B: First, we need enough room for a big-size TV screen because we intend to have ads
running all day promoting our existing products and presenting the new ones. Secondly, we
need some place with shelves and refrigerated counters to physically display some of our
best-selling articles, possibly with a separate corner for health-products. Oh, yes, and
something to place our promotional literature on. We’ll have lots of brochures, catalogues and
leaflets (flyers) to give away to customers.
A: Is that all?
B: No, we have some more points. We would like to offer visitors the experience of food-
tasting, so we would need room for a demonstration area where we can put up a mobile
kitchen.
A: That’s an original idea.
B: Finally, we would also want to separate a part of the stand for a kind of mini-office with
two or three comfortable armchairs and a small table where our representative could answer
possible questions from potential customers.
A: We have our own interior decorator who can give you advice on what furnishings you
could use most efficiently.
B: That would be really helpful.
A: Taking into consideration all your needs, I should recommend something around 35-40
square metres.
B: I think that’s acceptable. We would prefer the stand to be in a pavilion close to the
entrance. From past experience we know that visitors are very enthusiastic on arrival and have
a thorough look at all exhibits from the first pavilions, but they get tired after some time and
many of them don’t even enter the pavilions that are farther from the main entrance.
A: That’s true, but you should know that the rental fee for the first pavilions is higher.
B: That’s natural. However, we have to bear in mind that, besides retaining our existing
buyers, our main purpose is to reach new customers and to expand our customer base.
A: I understand. So let’s see what technical facilities you need.
B: OK. I suppose basic requirements such as lighting, electricity, plugs are currently provided.
A: That goes without saying.
B: Besides, we would need, as I’ve already mentioned, a big TV screen, a computer and
Internet access. Oh, I have almost forgotton. We also need running water for the kitchen area.
A: Right. We can satisfy all these requirements. May I suggest that you put up some boards
with posters around the stand?

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B: That’s a great idea. We have to catch people’s attention and attract them into the stand.
Could you tell me how much the renting fee will be?
A: Let me calculate it. … Well, all equipment, furniture, services included it comes up to
HUF 330,000 per day.
B: That will make almost 1,000,000 HUF for the three days. That’s a lot of money to pay in
one sum.
A: That’s true, but we give a discount of 20% for prompt payment.
B: Is there any possibility to pay in instalments?
A: Yes, of course.
B: What are the conditions? How much is the deposit?
A: It’s 30% of the total price.
B: What about the remainder?
A: You’ll have to pay that in three monthly instalments.
B: Well, we’ll consider these options and let you know about our decision. By the way, do I
have to send you a written order?
A: Yes, please do so as soon as possible. The pavilions close to the entrance are filling up
very quickly.
B: Thank you for your help.
A: You’re welcome. See you at the fair.
B: Good bye.
THE LANGUAGE OF MEETINGS
PRESENTING AN ARGUMENT

Beginning
I would like to begin by…
I would like to make a few remarks concerning…
I would like to comment on the problem of…
I would like to mention briefly that…
There are three points I would like to make.
The most important points seem to me to be…

Ordering
First of all, we must bear in mind…
At the outset…
To begin with…
Firstly,…Secondly,…Thirdly,…Finally,…

Introducing a New Point

I would now like to turn briefly to the problem of…
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The next issue I would like to focus on is…
Turning to…

Adding
In addition…
I might add that…
As well as…, there is also…
Not only…,but also…
Furthermore,…
Moreover,…

Giving an Example
Let me give an example…
To illustrate this point, let us consider…
A case in point is…

Balancing
On the one hand…but on the other hand ...
Although…,we mustn't forget ...
Whereas…,we have to remember ...
In spite of …., I still think ...
Despite the fact that…,I…

Generalising
On the whole ....
In general ....
Generally speaking....
By and large....
All in all…
All things considered, …

Stating Preferences
I'd rather ... than ...
I prefer ... to ...
I tend to favour ... as opposed to ...
. . . has an advantage over ... in that ...
The main advantage of ... is that ...

Concluding
Let me conclude by saying ...
I'd like to conclude by stating that ...
Allow me to conclude by highlighting the fact that . . .
In conclusion, I would like to reiterate that…
I would now like to conclude my comments by reassuring you that we are fully aware of the
fact that ...

4. Ön, mint a Szabó és Tsa képviselője, fogadja külföldi üzleti partnere reklamációját
telefonon! Önök ugyanis nem szállították le időre a kért műszaki árukat.
Információtartalom vázlata

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  A késedelem okainak felsorolása (20 pont)
 Az ügy jelenlegi állásának ismertetése (10 pont)
 A hiánypótlásra tett javaslatok (20 pont)

ROLE PLAY 4
A: Good morning! Szabó & Társa, Sales Department, X Y speaking.
B: Good morning! It’s X Z from Leeds Electronics. I’m calling to make a complaint because
you failed to deliver the products we ordered from you in time.
A: We apologise for the inconvenience. Could you give me the details of your order?
B: Yes, certainly. It’s Order No 3751 and you promised delivery for 15 June.
A: Yes, your order is coming up on my screen now … Just a moment … OK, I can see it now.
It was for different items we manufacture and unfortunately we had a number of problems in
making them. First of all, we had a shortage of components as our supplier ran out of raw
material and couldn’t meet delivery deadlines.
B: I’m sorry to hear that, but I think that’s your problem, not mine. You should have found a
way to sort it out.
A: We did try to do our best. We reorganized production and even asked our employees to do
nightshift to meet our delivery times, but some basic machinery in our assembling unit broke
down unexpectedly. Our mechanics couldn’t repair it so we had to turn for help to the
manufacturer.
B: How long did the repair work take?
A: The manufacturer promptly dispatched the spare part we needed but, to make things worse,
the carrier’s employees went on a 24-hour strike.
B: Tell me what the current situation is.
A: The machinery was fixed yesterday so the 48-hour disruption has been sorted out and we
have resumed production this morning.
B: That’s fine, but I need those goods urgently. If I can’t supply them in three days, I will
have to pay quite a high penalty. My clients are very impatient and disappointed.
A: We are striving to catch up with overdue orders. What I can offer you at the moment is
partial delivery.
B: What does this option mean?
A: It means that we deliver half of the order in two days and the rest in one week.
B: Well, it isn’t too bad, but maybe it would be better if we ordered from another
manufacturer.

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A: Now, wait a minute. I’m sorry we have disappointed you. You are one of our established
customers and we would appreciate it if we could carry on with our business relationship. We
are ready to compensate you for the inconvenience we’ve caused. We’re willing to grant you
a 25% discount on all items of this order. How does that sound?
B: It sounds acceptable.
A: And of course, I promise that this situation will never be repeated in the future.
B: OK. So let’s recap … (= recapitulate)
A: Right! We’ve agreed in partial delivery – half of the order in two days and the rest in one
week, and we invoice all products with a 25% reduction. You won’t regret it. We’ll start
delivery tomorrow.
B: That’s fine.
A: I’ll call you tomorrow to inform you of the dispatch of the goods.
B: Thank you. Goodbye.
A: Goodbye and thank you for your understanding.
5. Ön, mint a Trend Kft. Ügyvezető igazgatója, magas rangú külföldi vendéget fogad,
aki az Önök által szervezett 3 napos konferencián vesz részt Budapesten.
Információtartalom vázlata

 A vendég fogadása, köszöntése, a szállással kapcsolatos tudnivalók (10 pont)

 A 3 napos konferencia programjának ismertetése (20 pont)
 A szabadidős program megszervezése (20 pont)

ROLEPLAY 5
A: Good morning Mr. Brown! Let me introduce myself. I am Peter Nagy, the managing
director of Trend Kft. Welcome to our three-day conference.
B: Glad to meet you, Mr. Nagy. Thank you for the invitation.
A: Not at all! We are very pleased (delighted / glad) you could manage to come. What was
your flight like?
B: It was OK, just a little bit long.
A: Is this your first time in Budapest?
B: No, I was here 2 years ago but only stayed for 2 days.
A: And how did you like the city?
B: Well, I didn’t have too much time for sightseeing, but what I saw was beautiful. I loved it.
I hope I’ll have the opportunity of seeing more of the city this time.
A: By all means. We have organised interesting free-time programmes for all three days. I’ll
tell you about them later. Would you like something to drink?

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B: No, thank you.
A: Then let me tell you a few words about the hotel where we’ve booked you.
B: I’d appreciate that.
A: Well, the Andrássy Hotel is a five-star, non-smoking hotel with 24-hour room service. It
has an excellent restaurant with an international cuisine and a large selection of famous
Hungarian wines. There are different kinds of amenities for relaxation, for example sauna,
fitness club, swimming pool. The hotel is located on the bank of the Danube, overlooking the
Buda Hills and it’s at about 20 minutes’ walk from the conference centre.
B: That’s great. Can you tell me something about the conference programme?
A: Yes, of course. The conference starts at 9 am on Tuesday. The opening speech will be
given by the British Ambassador who will attend the morning session. The daily programme
will be as follows:

 9:00 -10:30  talks, lectures

 10:30-11:00 coffee break
 11:00-12:30 talks, presentations
 12:30-14:00 lunch break
 14:00-16:00 workshops

B: That looks like hard work for the participants.

A: That’s true, but the evenings are all free.

B: That’s great. I’m giving a presentation on Wednesday. Could you tell me what technical
equipment is available?

A: Certainly. All rooms are equipped with OHP (over head projector), PP (Power Point),
Photocopier (to copy handouts), Computer + projector.
B: That’s fine.
A: On registration on Tuesday morning all participants will be given a folder containing lots
of useful things such as paper, pens, brochures with details of the programmes (title of
talk/presentation, name of speaker, room and time of presentation). To close the conference
there will be a Farewell party at 6 pm on Thursday.
B: Oh, that sounds good. By the way, you promised to tell me something about free-time
activities.
A: Yes, of course. For the first day we have planned a sightseeing tour of Budapest by night.
For the second night there will be a choice of cultural programmes: a jazz concert, a
Hungarian folk music and dance show and a wonderful opera performance. And after the
farewell party, a night visit to one of the famous thermal baths in Budapest for those who
have the energy for it.
B: Sounds great! I’m looking forward to it.
A: I hope you’ll like it.

12
B: I’m sure I will.
A: But you must be very tired after your journey. You would probably like to have a short
rest.
B: That would certainly be nice, I’m really tired.
A: I see. Our driver will take you to your hotel. Your room is on the first floor. It’s Room 106.
B: Thank you for your help!
A: It’s my pleasure. If you need anything, ask the receptionist to call me.
B: That’s very kind of you. Thanks again. Good bye!
A: Good bye!
6. Ön, mint a Bútor és Lakberendezési Áruház munkatársa, az áruátvételkor sérüléseket
fedezett fel a legutóbbi bútorszállítmányban. Hívja fel a gyártót, és beszéljék meg a
problémát!
Információtartalom vázlata

 Az áruátvételkor észlelt sérülések megemlítése (20 pont)

 Árengedmény vagy egyéb megoldás az ügy rendezésére (20 pont)
 A csomagolóanyagok és a csomagolás minőségi követelményeinek betartása (10 pont)

ROLEPLAY 6
A: IKEA furniture company, Customer Services, Mary Roberts speaking. How may I help
you?
B: It’s Peter Kiss from Bútor és Lakberendezés Áruház. Unfortunately, the reason why I’m
calling you is that I must make a complaint.
A: Oh, really. I’m sorry to hear that. What’s the problem?
B: The problem is that when we took delivery of your latest consignment, we found that a
number of items were damaged.
A: We are terribly sorry about that. All items were in good condition when we despatched
(dispatched) them, so they must have been damaged during transportation. Could you tell me
exactly what the damage is?
B: Yes, of course. The legs of 12 chairs are broken, the sides of 6 bookshelves are scratched
and the buttons on the drawers of 4 desks are missing.
A: That’s strange. Anyway, we would definitely like to solve the problem.
B: And what solution are you thinking of?
A: Well, we could send one of our specialists to your premises (headquarters) to repair the
damaged goods or you could have the damaged goods at a 50% discount and do the repair
work yourselves.

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B: Well, to tell the truth my boss told me to ask you to replace the faulty pieces of furniture.
A: That’s all right with us. That wouldn’t mean any problems for us. We can send the
replacements within 24 hours. Does that suit you?
B: Of course. That’s all right. Oh, by the way, there is another problem we should solve.
A: What is it?
B: Well, as you know, when we signed the contract, we agreed on the quality of the packing
material.
A: You are right. Were there any problems with it?
B: I’m afraid, yes! I think the damage to the goods was a result of poor packing and use of
unsuitable packing material. We would appreciate it if you could meet our requirements.
A: We can assure you that we will pay special attention to your instructions in the future.
B: I’m happy to hear that! Well, first of all, we insist that you pay closer attention to the
quality of the packing material. Use cardboard to wrap each piece separately! Secondly, tie
several separate pieces wrapped in cardboard together so that they can’t get loose, and thirdly,
put them into strong crates too.
A: We will certainly follow your instructions. Once again we apologise for the inconvenience
and assure you that such unpleasant situations will not be repeated, we will give them extra
protection in the future. Thank you for your understanding. Good-bye!
A: Bye-bye!
OPINIONS

Asking for an Opinion

What's your opinion of ... ?
What's your 'position on ... ?
What do you think of ... ?
I'd like to hear your views on ...

Asking for a Reaction

Could 1 ask for your reaction to ... ?
I was wondering where you stood on this question?
Where exactly do you stand on this issue?
I wonder if you'd like to comment, Mrs Lang?

Giving Strong Opinions

I firmly believe that ...
I'm absolutely convinced that ...
It's my belief that ...
There's no doubt in my mind that ...
It’s quite clear that ...
I’m certain that ...
It's my considered opinion that ...

14
Giving Neutral Opinions
I think that ...
In my opinion ....
It's my opinion that ...
As I see it,
As far as I’m concerned ...
From my point of view ...

Giving Tentative Opinions

It seems to me that ...
I would say that ...
As far as I'm able to judge ...
I think it would be fair to say that ...

Bringing in to Answer a Question

I'd like to ask my colleague Ms Davis to give us her views on that.
If I may, I'd like to ask my colleague Mrs Wang to reply to that.
I think Mr Doll is more qualified than 1 am to deal with this question.
I would like to bring in Ms Short who has studied this matter in more detail than I have.
Perhaps Mr Bird would care to answer that.

Bringing in to Present a Point

Ms Sheppard, would you like to come in here?
Allow me to give the floor to Ms Redgrave.
I would like to invite Mr Wells to present his views on ...
I'd like to call on Mrs Kelly to present her views on ...
Mr Right, would you care to comment?
I think Mr Douglas would like to make a point.

Summarizing
Well, if 1 could just sum up the discussion ...
To summarize, I think we are in agreement on ...
To sum up, there seems to be ...
In short....
Briefly, the main points that have been made are ...
Well, at this stage I feel I should summarize the matter as it stands ...
If I may just go over the main points raised so far?

7. Ön textíliákat forgalmazó nagykereskedő, és kifogásolja a legutóbbi szállítmányt.

Hívja fel a gyártót, és mondja el részletesen panaszát!
Információtartalom vázlata

 A textília-szállítmány minőségi hibáinak felsorolása (gyűrődik, összemegy, nem

színtartó) (20 pont)
 A szerződés bizonyos pontjaira történő utalások (20 pont)
 Pótszállítmány és új használati utasítás kérése (10 pont)

ROLEPLAY 7
A1- York Textiles, John Smith production manager speaking. Can I help you?

15
B1- Hello. It is Kate Silver, the manager of Beautiful Textile Kft. I’m calling in connection
with our order NO. 273, which we placed with you on 15 February.
A2- Could you wait a moment, please? I’m trying to find your order on my computer. … Yes,
here it is. It’s an order for red fabric, fabric with the flower patterns and blue denim fabric. As
I can see, we’ve already dispatched the consignment.
B2- Yes, the consignment has already arrived, but on examination we’ve found a number of
defects.
A3- Really? What’s your problem?
B3- First of all, the red fabric gets creased very easily.
A4- Well, that’s not surprising. As you can see in the order, the red fabric is 100% cotton, and
as everybody knows, cotton creases easily. However, you shouldn’t worry: fashion designers
say cotton-wear has to be creased, this is the natural way such fabric should behave.
B4- Well, that sounds acceptable, but there were other problems as well. The fabric with the
flower pattern is not colour-fast.
A5- Well, that seems to be our mistake. Is there anything else?
B5- Yes, on trial- washing the blue denim fabric shrank.
A6- Did you follow the washing instructions that were attached to the consignment?
B6- Yes, of course. In both cases we did everything according to your instructions and the
final result was disappointing. As you probably know, the contract stipulates that the buyer is
not obliged to take delivery of faulty goods.
A7- That’s right. As you can see, the contract also says that these tests have to be done in four
days from the arrival of the goods.
B7- Yes, fortunately we put the fabrics to the test at the earliest possible moment. Our
employees made the tests in two days after the arrival of the goods.
A8- This time-span corresponds to the stipulation of the contract. Your complaint is justified.
B8- I’m happy to hear that. So, how do you intend to solve the problem?
A9- We will exchange the faulty fabrics for good ones and send them to you in an additional
consignment.
B9- That sounds good. And because the fault was on your side, we expect some
compensation.
A10- What exactly do you mean?
B10- A discount of 20% on all faulty products would be acceptable for us.
A11- Well, 20% seems a bit high. What about 15%?
B11- We can accept the 15% reduction only if we receive the goods within five days.
A12- No problem. We will dispatch the new lot first thing tomorrow morning.

16
B12- OK. Make sure the quality is first class and don’t forget to send user’s instructions in
Hungarian.
A13- We will do that, don’t worry.
B13- That’s fine. Let’s recap what we have agreed on. You replace the flower-patterned and
the blue denim fabrics, and dispatch the new lot tomorrow morning. You grant us a 15%
discount on the value of the new lot and attach handling instructions in Hungarian to the
consignment.
A14- That’s right. We regret to have caused you this inconvenience and promise that such
situations will not be repeated in the future.
B14- All right. Thanks for your help. Bye.
A15- Bye-bye.
8. Ön, mint egy cipőgyártó cég munkatársa, tavalyi modelleket szeretne eladni
ügyfeleinek. Kínálja a kollekciót jutányos áron!
Információtartalom vázlata

 Az írásban küldött nem kötelező érvényű ajánlat rövid ismertetése (20 pont)
 Az áru pozitív tulajdonságainak kiemelése (20 pont)
 Utalás a nyári kollekció katalógusának megküldésére (10 pont)

ROLE PLAY 8

A: Good morning! Let me introduce myself. My name is …… . I’m the sales representative of
Tisza Shoes.
B: Good morning. I’m ………, shop owner. Glad to meet you.
A: Glad to meet you, too. You might remember that I sent you a special offer a few days ago.
B: Let me think. Oh yes, I remember now. It was an offer for last year’s models.
A: That’s true, but if you have a closer look at the offer, you’ll see that it is very favourable.
Let me tell you a few details.
B: OK, go ahead.
A: As you probably know, we are a big shoe company in Hungary, and we would like to offer
you some very good shoes for men, women and children, for all age groups and for all
seasons. Besides shoes, we make beautiful sandals, boots, and slippers. Our offer includes
shoes for daily wear, for casual wear and even sports shoes (tennis shoes / sneakers).
Everything you can imagine.
B: Yes, I can see that your choice is very wide. What are these shoes made of?
A: We use leather, textiles and synthetics as raw material. Some of our products are pure
leather, but most models come in a combination of leather and synthetics, or leather and
textiles, or synthetics and textiles. We even have models in a combination of all three basic
materials. They look very modern and young people love them.
B: I see. What about their quality?
A: Our company policy has three basic principles: comfort, fashion and above all, quality. All
our products are very comfortable, and customer feedback is a proof of this; our models are
specially designed according to the latest fashion and they all come in trendy colours. Last but

17
not least, our shoes are long-lasting; the number of complaints we receive about quality is
negligible.
B: What you are saying is really very impressive and convincing, but I would appreciate it if I
could have your catalogue or even better, samples of your models.
A: Well, I can’t send you samples of all our models because we have too many, but here is a
copy of our last year’s catalogue.
B: That’s great, thank you.
A: If you wish to see our shoes, you are welcome to visit our showroom which displays our
whole range.
B: I will certainly do that. Could you tell me what concessions you offer if I place an order?
A: We give a discount of 20% on all last year’s models, provide free and prompt delivery and
grant a longer warranty period – 9 months instead of the usual six.
B: Fine. And is there any further reduction on a bulk order?
A: Yes, we give a further 10% discount but to be eligible for that, your order has to be over
HUF 5,000,000.
B: Well, that’s a lot of money. I’m afraid I don’t have that much capital available.
A: We have some very favourable credit facilities. You pay a deposit of HUF 1m on placing
the order and the remainder in six monthly instalments.
B: That sounds good. Well, I need to check my stock and see your models for myself before
making a decision, but it looks like we are going to have a fruitful relationship in the future.
A: I’m glad to hear that. And while you are considering your offer, I’ll let you have our latest
catalogue with our brand new summer collection.
B: Oh, that’s very kind of you. Thanks a lot.
A: It’s my pleasure. I hope to hear from you soon.
B: You certainly will. Good bye!
A: Bye- Bye! Have a nice day!
9. Ön, mint egy elektrotechnikai üzlet képviselője, telefonhívást kap külföldi partnerétől,
mert nem vette át időben az árut a légikikötő raktárából.
Információtartalom vázlata

 Az áruátvétel elmulasztásának okai (20 pont)

 A raktározási költség rendezésére vonatkozó javaslatok (20 pont)
 Az árverés veszélyének elhárítása (10 pont)

ROLE PLAY 9
A: Hello! Media Markt Shop No 5, Budapest. Can I help you?
B: Yes, It’s (This’s) Scott Gibson, the Wincanton company’s sales manager. Can you put me
through to the purchasing department?
A: Yes, sure. One moment, please.
…
A: Hello! It’s Peter Nagy, Purchasing Manager.
B: Hello! It’s Scott Gibson, Wincanton’s sales manager.
A: Hello, Mr. Gibson! How are things? Can I help you?

18
B: I am calling you because a problem has arisen with the consignment we sent you on 15
June. I received a phone call from Ferihegy Airport warehouse saying that the goods have
been there for 10 days now and you failed to take delivery of them.
A: Oh, we are terribly sorry, but we have had many difficulties over the last month. Firstly,
we haven’t received any notification when the shipment arrived. We were informed to collect
the goods only a week later.
B: Well, that seems to be the fault of the warehouse.
A: Furthermore, the lorry driver who was responsible for collecting the consignment had an
accident on the way to the airport and unfortunately the vehicle hasn’t been repaired yet.
B: Oh, I see. But you know, the warehouse has to store them and they will be forced to charge
a certain amount of storage charge.
A: How much will that amount to?
B: You’ll have to ask the warehouse. But as far as I know, it’s about 40 Euros per day per
crate.
A: OK, I’ll call them. Could you tell me the warehouse manager’s phone number?
B: Yes, it is1-4478223 extension 2206.
A: I’m afraid I don’t understand. Can you speak more slowly please?
B: Yes, of course. So the number is 1-4478223 extension 2206.
A: Thank you. I’ll ask him to send me an itemized invoice including the details of storage cost
per day. Could you also tell me what the deadline for collecting the goods is?
B: Well, I was told that if you don’t collect them within a week, they will be forced to put
them up for auction sale.
A: That sounds terrible. We would definitely like to avoid that. So you are saying that the
deadline for taking delivery of the goods is… let me see the date in my diary … 2 July.
B: You’re right. That’s the last day when you can collect the goods.
A: All right. I’ll have to bustle (urge) the mechanics from the garage where they are repairing
our lorry.
B: Do so by all means, or find an alternative way of transporting the goods, and take delivery
of the consignment as soon as possible.
A: I can assure you that I will settle everything in time.
B: Hopefully similar problems won’t arise again.
A: I hope so. Thank you for your cooperation
B: That’s all right. Good bye.
A: Good bye. Have a nice day.
AGREEING AND DISAGREEING

Strong Agreement

19
I completely agree.
I agree entirely with your point of view.
I'm of exactly the same opinion.
I'm in total agreement.

Neutral Agreement
I agree.
I think we are in agreement on that.
I think you're right.
I think we can accept your position on that.

Partial Agreement
I would tend to agree with you on that.
I agree with you on the whole, but it could be said that ...
I agree in principle, but . . .
By and large I would accept your views, but ...
Although I agree with most of what you've said, I find it difficult to agree with your point
about ...

Softening Strong Disagreement

Frankly....
To be quite frank,
To put it bluntly, . . .
With respect, . . .

Strong Disagreement
I totally disagree with you.
I don't agree at all.
You're completely mistaken.
I disagree entirely.
Under no circumstances could I agree to that.
What you are saying is just not feasible.

Softening Neutral Disagreement

I'm afraid ...
I'm sorry, . . .
With respect....
I respect your opinion, of course, however…

Neutral Disagreement
I don’t completely agree with you on that.
I really can't agree with you on that.
I can't say that I share your view.
We'll have to agree to differ.
I'm not totally convinced by your argument.
I can't accept your point of view.
I can't help feeling that ...
I feel I must disagree.
I really must take issue with you here.

20
Tactful Disagreement
I agree up to a point, but ...
To a certain extent 1 agree with you, but ...
You have a point there, but ...
I take your point, Mr Hoffman, but have you considered ... ?
I can see your point of view, but surely ...
I have some sympathy with your position, but ...

10. Ön, mint végzős szakmenedzser, megpályázott egy állást marketing és

kommunikációs munkakörben egy multinacionális cégnél. Ön részt vesz egy
állásinterjún a cég humánerőforrás vezetőjével.
Információtartalom vázlata

 Eddigi tanulmányainak és gyakorlati tapasztalatainak ismertetése (20 pont)

 Néhány, a munkakörben fontos képesség megemlítése (10 pont)
 A munkakörre, a munkahelyi hierarchiára, a munkaidőre és az esetleges juttatásokra
vonatkozó kérdések (20 pont)

ROLE PLAY 10
A: Good morning Mr./Ms … . I’m …, Human Resources Manager. Take a seat, please.
B: Thank you.
A: We’ve received your application for the position of Marketing and Communication
Assistant with our company. Could you tell me why you are interested in this position?
B: Well, in my opinion, marketing is a very challenging field of activity where you always
face new situations and have to find solutions that will help your company sell its products
more efficiently. Work in this field gives you a lot of freedom and requires much creativity,
and if well done you get plenty of job satisfaction. All these aspects are very important for
me.
A: I’m glad to hear that. You will certainly need to be creative and original if you want to
work for us for a longer time.
B: I hope to come up to your expectations.
A: What about the communication side of the job?
B: I believe communication is a basic tool in marketing. The company has to communicate
information to its customers about its products and services, and has to be able to understand
the feedback coming from them. This special type of communication seems to be very
exciting, it looks like a game but at the same time it carries a lot of responsibility, and I feel
I’m ready to take responsibility for my actions and decisions.
A: Very interesting and original ideas. Well, let’s have a look at your CV in more detail. What
qualifications do you have?
B: I went to grammar school in my native town and took A-level exams in Hungarian
language and literature, History, Mathematics, English and Information Technology.

21
Then I attended a two-year Higher Level Vocational Training Course at the College of
Szolnok and specialised in Marketing and Advertising. A compulsory part of the studies here
was a 4-month traineeship with a company. I did my internship at Cora Supermarket in
Szolnok. Although I was employed only as a cashier, I feel I learned tremendously much
about communicating with customers. I must tell you I liked that job.
A: Do you have any other work experience?
B: Yes. After finishing my studies at the college in 2008, I started to work for McDonald’s
and I’m still with them. It’s very hard work, you have to do different jobs, some of which are
quite boring and easily become routine. But I love the part when I serve people: no two
customers are identical, so you always need to react differently, and that’s good.
A: What do you think you learned at McDonald’s?
B: First of all I learned to be a team-player. I realised how important it is to do my work well
because the other team-members rely on me. So reliability has become one of my strengths. I
also learned to be quick but at the same time efficient. Last but not least, I gained a lot from
my contact with customers: I learned to be polite, patient and tolerant, to listen to and show
interest for customers’ needs, to give brief but professional answers to their questions.
A: These are all qualities that we consider when deciding who from the applicants will get the
job. Do you have any special skills that are relevant for this position?
B: As you can see in my CV, I’m computer literate and fluent in English. I think knowledge
of English is essential when working for such a big company as Tesco, especially if you are in
marketing and have to communicate with people of different nationalities. As for computer
skills, a marketeer can make good use of them when communicating in writing, when looking
for data needed for daily work or simply when surfing the Internet for new ideas.
A: That’s right. I totally agree with you. Do you have any questions you want to ask me?
B: Yes, I’d like to know more about working hours. Are they fixed or flexible and how many
days holiday can I have?
A: You have to work 8 hours a day, from eight in the morning to four in the afternoon, so
that’s fixed hours. Sometimes you might have to do some overtime. You will get the usual
holiday entitlement, which is 20 working days a year.
B: Do I get extra payment for overtime?
A: Yes, we pay 125% for overtime.
B: That’s great. Are there any benefits besides the basic salary? At McDonald’s we get a
discount on the restaurant’s products and also luncheon vouchers to the value of HUF 10,000
per month.
A: Yes, of course. We provide the traditional luncheon vouchers and also vacation checks to
the value of HUF 50,000 a year.
B: Oh, you are very generous. A last question: Are there any possibilities of promotion? Can I
build a career at this company?

22
A: Everything depends on you. We often organise trainings for our employees to further their
advancement within the company. And of course, hard and good quality work is a condition
for being promoted.
B: I see. Well, I think I have no more questions.
A: In that case we’ll stop here. Thank you for coming. We will inform you about the result of
this interview in a letter in approximately two weeks.
B: I look forward to your decision. Good bye.
A: Good bye.
11. Ön, mint a Tourinform munkatársa, fogadja az irodában külföldi ügyfelét, aki 4-5
napos magyarországi körutazásokról érdeklődik Önnél.
Információtartalom vázlata

 Két körút, lehetőleg egy dunántúli és egy kelet-magyarországi ismertetése (20 pont)
 Az „all inclusive” tartalma (20 pont)
 Utas- és poggyászbiztosítási lehetőségek (10 pont)

ROLE PLAY 11
E: Good morning!
S: Good morning! How can I help you?
E: I would like to enquire about Hungarian round trips. Could you give me some information
about a 4-5 day package holiday?
S: Yes, of course. We have several offers. Where would you like to travel?
E: I am really interested in tours to either the Transdanubian region or Eastern Hungary.
S: All right. We have some offers for the spring and summer period as well. Which period is
suitable for you?
E: I would like to travel in August.
S: That’s fine. Well, I can offer you a round trip at the beginning of August for both regions.
Both of them last 5 days, from 7th to 11th August and are all inclusive holidays.
E: These would be good for me! Could you describe the programmes of the two trips?
S: Of course. The trip to the Transdanubian region takes you through 5 cities. It starts from
Budapest and continues via Győr, Veszprém, Tihany and Pécs, and back to Budapest.
E: Can you mention some main attractions which we will have a chance to see?
S: Of, course. The Basilica in Győr, the Abbey in Tihany, the Margit-ruin in Veszprém and
the Zsolnay Museum in Pécs.
E: Could you give me a brochure of the trip?

23
S: Yes, certainly. Here you are. You can see all the details of the trip there.
E: How much is this package holiday?
S: The price of the trip is HUF 80,000.
E: All right, That’s fine with me. And what about the other holiday programme?
S: It’s also a 5-day trip starting from Budapest via Eger, Nyíregyháza, Miskolc and Debrecen,
back to Budapest. You can find the programme in detail in this other brochure.
E: I have never been to Eastern Hungary. Tell me briefly what this programme includes.
S: Among others, you can visit the Castle in Eger, St. Stephen’s Cave in Lillafüred, you can
walk in the Village Museum in Nyíregyháza or admire the exhibits in the Déri Museum in
Debrecen. In Budapest you can go on a sightseeing tour on a hop-on hop-off bus.
E: What does that mean?
S: It means that the tour lasts from two hours to as long as you wish, depending on how often
you hop-off to see something more closely and in more detail and then hop-on again to
continue your trip.
E: Hmm…it sounds good. And are there any programmes for children?
S: Yes, of course. In the Castle of Eger there are displays for children, like craftsmen and
military displays. Besides the Zoo in Nyíregyháza is also great fun for them.
E: It sounds great! How much is it?
S: It costs HUF 85,000. Would you like to know anything else?
E: Yes, I would like to ask you what an all inclusive package includes.
S: Well, the package includes full board (breakfast, lunch, dinner and soft drinks),
accommodation in 4-star hotels, organised guided trips and transport costs by coach.
E: That’s fine. What about insurance? Can I take out an insurance policy here, in Hungary?
S: Yes, of course. It’s very important to have travel and accident insurance. We can provide
3 types of insurance: Nívo, Top and Top Extra.
E: Which one would be worth buying?
S: I can recommend Top; it isn’t so expensive, only 5,800 Ft.
E: And what does this insurance cover?
S: It covers health, accident, luggage, and the replacement of documents.
E: What do health, accident and luggage insurance refer to?
S: Health insurance covers hospital treatment and stay, accident insurance refers to casualty
death from the fault of our staff. Luggage insurance gives compensation for robbery, lost and
damaged luggage as well as for the replacement of lost documents and bank cards.

24
E: Thank you for your help! Well, I have to think about your offer and when I have made up
my mind about which trip to choose, I will contact you again! Thank you.
S: You are welcome! Good bye!
E: Good bye!
12. Ön, mint az IBUSZ munkatársa, fogadja egy külföldi érdeklődő telefonhívását, aki a
magyarországi termálfürdőkről szeretne információt kapni.
Információtartalom vázlata

 Néhány fürdőhely megemlítése a helységek pontos megjelölésével (pl. Dunántúl,

Észak-Magyarország, közeli nagyvárosok) (20 pont)
 Az adott fürdőkomplexumok gyógyászati lehetőségei (10 pont)
 Egy akciós utazási csomag ismertetése, amely még korlátozott számban lefoglalható
(20 pont)

ROLEPLAY 12
A: Good morning. IBUSZ Office, Szolnok, Monika Göblyös speaking. How can I help you?
B: Good morning. My name is Neil Robertson and I am calling to enquire about Hungarian
thermal baths.
A: Oh, lovely. You’ve reached the best person to help you. Our country is full of beautiful
thermal pools, such as Hungarospa in Hajdúszoboszló, or the LIGET - Thermal Spa and
Experience Bath in Szolnok. Here you’ll have countless opportunities to treat yourself with
the newest therapies, have fun in the exciting slides and pools, or just relax and enjoy
yourself.
B: Well, I am happy to hear that. Could you tell me something about the treatments first?
A: Of course! First I’d like to tell you some things about Hungarospa in Hajdúszoboszló.
At this spa you can get more than 40 kinds of treatment, such as mud treatment, weight bath,
physiotherapy in water and soft laser treatment. They also provide some spacious relaxing and
massage rooms.
B: What kind of illnesses can be treated here?
A: Well, the medicinal water in Hajdúszoboszló is recommended for the treatment rheumatic
illnesses. Patients having gone through orthopaedic operations return regularly to get follow-
up treatments. Good results have been achieved with patients recovering from cerebral
haemorrhage or paralyses
The water has a good effect upon gynaecological diseases, too. There are countless examples
when after two or three cures a year, childless infertile women have become pregnant. This is
explained by the oestrogen, which is found in the water.
B: Well, luckily we don’t have such problems, I mean the latter one, but we are definitely
interested in the curative effects of the water on rheumatic illnesses. And what free time
activities could you recommend?

25
A: Lots of, I would say. First of all, you shouldn’t miss Hungarian dishes. There are countless
homely (cosy) restaurants offering traditional Hungarian dishes and excellent wines at
affordable prices.
B: That’s all very attractive, but I was thinking of some sightseeing or cultural activities.
A: Well, in hat case you should make a trip to Debrecen which is only 20 km away. It’s the
biggest town of the Great Hungarian Plain, with numerous sights and cultural programmes.
B: I see. And you also mentioned another settlement, I can’t remember the name.
A: It’s Szolnok, a town at about 100 km east of Budapest, the capital.
B: What about the facilities there?
A: I have some information about the LIGET - Thermal Spa and Experience Bath in Szolnok.
The therapeutic recommendations cover a wide field: the thermal water is good for the
treatment and cure of locomotor disorders, problems of the digestive system and skin
diseases. The spa also offers other facilities such as a wide choice of traditional and modern
massage techniques (aroma and hydromassage included), Finnish and Infra sauna, a steam
cabin, a salt cabin for people suffering of asthma. For those wanting to keep fit there is an
Olympic swimming pool and a gym.
B: That sounds very attractive.
A: Just wait a minute. This is not all. In the spa grounds there are many possibilities for
relaxation: boating, angling, table-tennis, beach-ball.
B: Well, thanks. You’ve convinced me, I think I’ d like to reserve a one-week holiday at
LIGET Thermal Spa in Szolnok with your travel agency, if it is possible.
A: Sure! We have some packages that are very popular nowadays. I’ll have to check, if we
have any vacancies for this season. Could you hold on for a sec?
B: Okay.
Aloha, this is your lucky day! We have 4 places left in our one-week package and you can
book it until 10 April.
B: Could you give me a few details?
A: Naturally! It’s the week starting 5 July with accommodation in The Liget Hotel (close to
the spa), free entrance to the spa and bath, guided sight-seeing in the town of Szolnok,
participation at one cultural event.
B: That’s wonderful! How much does it cost?
A: 50,000 HUF for a week per person and it is all inclusive.
B: Well, I think it is a bargain. First of all, I have to talk to my wife about the date, and then
I’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thanks very much for your help!
A: You are very welcome. I look forward to your call in the near future!
B: Good bye!

26
A: Bye- bye!

INTERRUPTING

Interrupting
May I interrupt you for a moment?
Sorry to interrupt, but ...
If I may just interrupt you for a moment, I'd like to ...
I don't want to interrupt, but ...

Taking the Floor

Could I come in at this point?
Could 1 say something about ... ?
If I could just come in here ... ?
If no one objects, I'd like to say a few words about ...
If I could say a word about ...
I have a point to make here.

Commenting
I wonder if I could comment on that last point?
Excuse me, but I'd just like to point out that ...
I'd like to add something here, if I may?
May I just draw your attention to the fact that ...
Excuse me, but I think it's relevant to add that ...
Before we go any further, may I point out ...

Coming Back to a Point

As I was saying ...
Coming back to what I was saying ...
Perhaps I could resume ...
If I may just go back to the point I was making ...
If I could continue ...
Your question leads us back to ...
To return to ...

Preventing an Interruption
Perhaps I could return to that point later on ...
If I might just finish ...
With your permission, I'd rather finish what I was saying.
With respect, I should like to finish the point I was making ...
If you would allow me to continue . . .
If you would be so kind as to let me finish ...

Pre-empting an Interruption
There are two points I would like to make.
First, I would like to reply to Mr Hawk and then I would like to comment on ...
Very briefly .... I'd just like to ...

27
CLARIFYING
Asking for Confirmation
Would I be correct in saying that ... ?
If I've understood you correctly, you're saying that ... ?
Correct me if I'm wrong, but ...
Am I correct in assuming that ... ?
When you say . . ., do you mean that ... ?
Are you saying that ... ?
Basically, what you're saying is ...

Asking for a Repetition

I'm afraid I'm not quite clear what you mean by that.
I'm sorry, I. didn't quite follow what you said about ...
I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean.
I'm afraid I didn't quite get your last point. Could you go over it again please?

Correcting Misunderstandings
I'm afraid there seems to have been a slight misunderstanding.
We seem to be talking at cross purposes.
I think you've misunderstood me. That isn't quite what I meant.
With respect, that is not what I said.

Re-phrasing
Perhaps I haven't made myself clear. Basically, what I'm trying to say is ...
Sorry, I'm probably not making myself clear. Let me put it another way ...
Perhaps I should make that clearer by saying ...
Allow me to rephrase that.
To be more specific, . . .
Put simply....

13. Ön, mint egy multinacionális cég irodavezetője olyan megbízást kap főnökétől, hogy
szervezzen hétvégi szabadidős sportprogramot a jelenleg Budapesten tartózkodó
külföldi partnerek számára.
Információtartalom vázlata

 A delegáció összetétele (kor, érdeklődés, nem, stb.) (20 pont)

 Gyalogtúra és egy kellemes vacsora megtervezése a budai hegyekben, alternatív
program rossz idő esetére (20 pont)
 Internetről letölthető térképek és információs anyagok elkészítésének megvitatása (10
pont)

ROLE PLAY 13
(Head of the office) –Good morning, Mr X. How are things?
(Executive / Director)– Good morning. Everything is all right. The reason I wanted to see you
is that we must organise a weekend programme for our foreign partners who are currently
staying with our company. I would like you to help me with the arrangements.

28
- Oh, I see. So I will be in charge of this. Could you tell me some information about the
delegation?

- Certainly. What are you interested in?

- Well, first of all, I need to know how many participants there are and what age group
they belong to.

- Actually, there are 10 of them aged between 35-55.

- OK, so they are middle-aged managers. And what is the ratio of men and women?

- Well, let me think. Most of them are women.

- Do you happen to know what they are interested in?

- As far as I know they are nature-lovers and fond of hiking.

- In that case, in my opinion, the ideal place for them is Buda Hills where they can take
short or longer walks breathing in fresh air. We could offer them several options. They
can choose from active or passive free time activities. Either they can walk up János
Hill or take the chairlift to take delight of the breathtaking view. Those who prefer
walking can also enjoy bird watching and catch sight of different sorts of small
animals like squirrels, pheasants, rabbits and so on.

- What do you think they can do if the weather conditions are adverse?

- In the case of bad weather they could visit Gellért Bath where they can have a swim,
take a sauna and use all the wellness facilities, for example different massage
treatments, steam bath, solarium, salt chamber/cabin, which is healthy to their
organism, especially if they suffer from asthma (today many people do,
unfortunately), or when they just desire peaceful relaxation they can lie and read a
newspaper in the silent room. It is a preferable way of recreation in wellness places
nowadays. If they feel like doing some active form of recreation, they can use the
work-out machines in the fitness centre.

- What about the evening programme?

- Whatever they choose, I’m sure they will be longing for a pleasant meal in one of the
mouth watering restaurants which welcome foreign guests. There they can try
delicious, traditional Hungarian specialities they cannot miss; such as the well-known
goulash and tasteful fish soup full of typical Hungarian spices. For the main course
they can choose pasta with cottage cheese. If they have a sweet tooth, they can taste
Gundel pancakes. I can recommend them Gellért Restaurant, which is located in Buda
but will give them a brochure from which they can select. I am sure they will find a
suitable restaurant to their taste with a nice atmosphere. I will also print a typical menu
for them in English so that they will be familiar with some basic types of food or some
characteristic features of Hungarian cuisine.

- It sounds great. Where else can they find some more information? I mean how will
they know how to find the recommended places?

29
 - Well, I have thought of that, too. The internet is the best source of information where
we can download maps, brochures and other materials. I will help them with that and I
will give them directions, recommend public transport with several options and the
timetables can also be downloaded for them. I can assure you I will make every effort
to make them satisfied.

- Very well. Thank you very much for your enthusiasm.

- No problem.

- OK. See you next week.

- Have a nice weekend, too.

- Thanks. The same to you. Bye.

- Bye-bye.

14. Ön, mint egy nemrégiben renovált parasztház tulajdonosa, tárgyaljon egy
utazásszervezővel, és kínálja fel a házát idegenforgalmi célokra!
Információtartalom vázlata

 A ház és környezetének bemutatása (pl. minifarm háziállatokkal, biokert) (20 pont)

 A faluban található skanzen fontossága interaktív foglalkozások) (10 pont)
 Étkezési lehetőségek a házban és a környéken (20 pont)

ROLE PLAY 14
A: Hello. My name is Mónika Göblyös.
B: Hello. I’m Barbara Tóth from ‘Kun Tours. Nice to meet you.
A: Nice to meet you, too. As I have already told you in our telephone conversation, I have a
newly renovated farmhouse, which I would like to use for touristic purposes and thought
your company could help me.
B: Well, my company is really interested in rural tourism, so we would like to know some
more details about your farmhouse.
A: Oh, really? I am happy to provide all the information you need. What would you like to
know?
B: Tell me something about the house itself and the surroundings.
A: Very well. So the house itself is a tastefully renovated detached country house in Taska. It
was originally built in 1940 and completely renovated in 2005. It has a living surface of 85
square metres and has 2 large bedrooms, a bathroom, a toilet, an open plan kitchen where you
can cook for yourself, a spacious living room with a tile stove, a small covered terrace, and an
attic. There is electricity, cold and warm running water, air-conditioning and central heating
for those who wish to come in the colder seasons.
B: That’s fine. Could you also give me some information about the garden and the animals,
please?
30
A: Certainly! Half of the 1,100 square- metre garden is full of fruit trees, while in the other
half I grow bio vegetables and offer them for sale to tourists.
A: That’s great. Many of our tourists are committed to healthy living and love to cook for
themselves.
What about animal products?
B: No problem. I can provide them with eggs, milk and cheese, as there is a minifarm next to
the house with hens, 3 sheep, 2 pigs, 2 cows, a pony, and a donkey.
B: Marvellous! What about the neighbourhood?
A: The location is very peaceful, ideal for nature lovers. Taska is a lovely village in the
Somogy region, south of Lake Balaton. The area is easily accessible by car and public
transport from different main roads and motorway M7, by air from FLY-Balaton airport in
Sármellék.
B: Are there any attractions in the village?
A: Of course. There is a large village museum with numerous fully-furnished old dwellings,
traditional workshops such as the blacksmith’s, the shoemaker’s, the potter’s , the building of
the former primary school with old desks, blackboards, pens and inkpots, a large shed
exhibiting characteristic hand-made local objects as well as traditional agricultural tools used
in the old days.
B: That’s all very interesting for adults, but are there any interactive activities available for
children?
A: Certainly. Inside the museum there are lots of workshops with friendly craftsmen
encouraging and helping tourists to make their own gift. They will have a chance to try their
hand at pottery, woodcarving, weaving, embroidery, straw and wicker plaiting, or making
different objects from leather and animal horn. Children are especially welcome and they
seem to enjoy these activities very much.
B: How interesting! I myself have wanted to try pottery since I was a kid.
A: Oh, really? Why don’t you come and spend a weekend in the village? You could see for
yourself all the wonders of this region.
B: Well, that would be just great, thank you! I am also interested in wines. Is there any
possibility of visiting wine cellars in the region?
A: Oh, yes! There is a long tradition of winemaking in the hills of the region and some cellars
are open for tourists. Here they can taste the different wines and then purchase from the one
or ones they like best. The beautiful scenery is also popular among lovers of ecotourism,
while curiosities such as hunting, fishing and horse-riding can make one’s holiday
unforgettable.
B: Fabulous! What about eating facilities?
A: There are several places to eat out, for example the Kismalac guest house in the village,
where you can try traditional Hungarian cuisine. But tourists can cook for themselves in the
kitchen of the house, which has all the necessary equipment for cooking: pots, pans, crockery,

31
cutlery, glasses, etc. It also has a traditional beehive oven, so they can even bake bread or
scones. I am sure they’ll like it!
B: Hmm, that sounds lovely. I would be glad if I could come and have a look around, because
I think we could make a deal here.
A: Sure! When would you like to visit?
B: What about tomorrow at 12, so we could have lunch together somewhere as well if this is
ok with you?
A: All right, great idea! We can make it in my farmhouse if you like!
B: Oh, yes, I am happy to accept it! Thanks. See you tomorrow, then!
A: Very well, see you then.
15. Ön, mint egy közepes nagyságú cég irodavezetője, 2 napos csapatépítő kirándulást
szervez a munkatársak részére a hétvégére. Beszélje meg egyik munkatársával a
részleteket!
Információtartalom vázlata

 A tréning lefolytatására alkalmas 2-3 lehetséges desztináció (20 pont)

 Az utazás körülményei, költségei (10 pont)
 A csapatépítő tréning programjai (20 pont)

ROLE PLAY 15
R: Hi Tom! How are you?
T: Hi Robert! I’m fine, thanks. And you?
R: Fine, thanks. I would like to discuss with you the details of our team building training.
T: OK. Go ahead.
R: I think a 2-day weekend trip would be the best solution.
T: Yes, that’s an excellent idea. And what should the destination be?
R: I think Eger would be a good choice. I was surfing on the Internet the other day and I
found some cheap accommodation: Borbarát Vendégház. It is a small 4-star hotel situated in
pleasant surroundings on the outskirts of the town. It has en-suite single and double rooms,
and a meeting room that can seat about 50 people.
T: That would be perfect for our purposes. What about the catering facilities?
R: They have their own restaurant, so they can serve all meals. Breakfast is included in the
price but, of course, there is an extra charge for all additional meals.
T: That’s understandable. What are their prices like?
R: Moderate, I would say. A double room with breakfast is 11,000 HUF per person; a single
room is naturally more expensive, 13,000 HUF.

32
T: That sounds great. But don’t you think we should look of one or two other destinations so
that we can offer a choice to our colleagues?
R: That’s a good idea. I think another destination could be Mezőkövesd. It isn’t far either and
it’s a lovely small town with lots of interesting things to see.
T: Yes, I agree with you. And let’s choose Gyöngyös for our third option. I spent some days
there last year and it was simply fantastic.
R: OK, I accept it, but can you look for some accommodation in these towns with similar
facilities and costs as the one in Eger?
T: Of course, no problem. That’s what the Internet is for. I’ll do it as soon as we finish our
conversation. What about the dates? When do you think would be the best to have this
training?
R: Well, I’ve talked to Ms. Fekete who will conduct the training and she said the first or
second weekend in July would suit her. We’ll have to send a circular letter to our colleagues
asking them of their preferences.
T: I can do that. How are we going to solve the transport problem?
R: As there are about 30 people taking part, I thought it would be best to hire a coach and
travel together. It is more comfortable than travelling by train and definitely more economical
than using our personal cars. The company will pay for all costs including travelling,
accommodation, food, and the training fee.
T: That goes without saying. And what will the training programme itself be like?
R: Well, on both mornings there will be indoor activities aimed at developing interpersonal
skills, cooperation techniques, and conflict management. I have specifically asked her to
include decision making activities that involve making a compromise and reaching decisions
by consensus.
T: That sounds very interesting.
R: Yes, and she promised to make the theoretical part as short as possible and to concentrate
on the practical side, such as situation games, simulation activities, role plays, dilemma
solving exercises, problem shooting activities.
T: What about the afternoons?
R: On the first afternoon we could cook something together for dinner in the yard – so be
careful when choosing the accommodation; it should have outdoor cooking or barbecuing
facilities. We could form three teams; each team would have to cook something. The
members of the teams would have to do everything together: decide what the dish should be,
do the shopping for ingredients, and do the cooking itself. In the end there could be a short
evaluation session and the best team could be awarded a prize. I think that this activity could
help them strengthen their relationships with each other and team spirit would also be
developed.
T: A wonderful and very original idea. Congratulations! What about the second day?

33
R: On the second day we can go sightseeing. All three places we mentioned are beautiful
towns and there are a lot of things to do and see together. I should think these 2 days can
make a better team out of our staff, help them to handle misunderstandings and get to know
each other better.
T: Yes, I totally agree with you. I think I’ll write the circular letter and send it to all
participants this very day.
R: Thank you very much! That’s great help for me. Bye!
T: Bye!
PROPOSALS

Proposals, Recommendations and Suggestions - Strong

I strongly recommend that ...
I suggest most strongly that ...
I advise you most strongly to ...
In our view, it is high time that ...
In my view, the only 'viable solution is ...

Proposals, Recommendations, and Suggestions - Neutral

I propose that ...
My proposal is that ...

Proposals, Recommendations and Suggestions - Tentative

I would propose that ...
If I may make a suggestion, we could ...
I would like to put forward a proposal that ...
I wonder if I might suggest ...
Wouldn’t it be a good idea to ... ?
Wouldn't it be better to ... ?

Expressing Total Support

I am fully in favour of ...
This proposal has my full support.
I can thoroughly recommend that ...
I should like to express my total support for this ...
I totally agree with ...
I entirely approve of ...

Expressing Support
I am in favour of ...
I would certainly give my backing to ...
I would certainly endorse such a proposal.
I see no objection to that.
I would not be opposed to that.

Expressing Partial Support

My initial reaction is favourable, but ...
With certain reservations, I would support your proposal.

34
I shouldn't like you to think that I'm necessarily against this in any way, but 1 can't help
wondering ...

Expressing Total Opposition

I am totally opposed to the proposal.
I see no valid reason for supporting the proposal.
Frankly, I think that 's out of the question.
I'm afraid this proposal leaves a great deal to be desired.

Expressing Opposition
I am opposed to the proposal.
I'm afraid I can't support the proposal.
As it stands, I would not be able to give it my backing.
Without substantial changes, I cannot give the proposal my support.

Expressing Tentative Opposition

On the face of it, this seems quite a good suggestion, but ...
I can see many problems in adopting this.
I'm not sure the proposal is feasible.
This proposal is likely to present difficulties.
I'm not convinced that this proposal is really worthwhile

16. Ön egy nagyváros négycsillagos szállodájának recepcióján dolgozik. Egy potenciális

vendég telefonál külföldről, aki a hotel iránt érdeklődik. Tájékoztassa őt szállodájukról!
Információtartalom vázlata

 Interjú (információtartalom, interakció, nyelvi struktúrák, lexika) (20 pont)

 A szálloda fekvése, megközelíthetősége (10 pont)
 Egy kétágyas szoba bemutatása (10 pont)
 Vendéglátó-ipari egységek és egyéb szolgáltatások a szálloda területén (10 pont)

ROLEPLAY 16

A: Hallo, Aquaticum Debrecen Thermal and Wellness Hotel, Péter Nagy speaking. Can I help
you?
B: Hallo, it’s István Kiss. I would like to ask a few questions about the hotel.
A: Ok, what would you like to know?
B: First of all, I’d like to know, where the hotel is, and how I can get there.
A: Our hotel is situated in the first nature conservation area of Hungary, the leisure-time zone
area of Debrecen, in the heart of the Great Forest of Debrecen. Debrecen is situated 230 km
east of Budapest. You can go on the M3 motorway to Polgár, and then you should connect to
the M35 motorway.
B: Ok, thank you, but I will travel from Szolnok. How can I get to Debrecen?
A: Are you going to travel by train or by coach?
B: Neither. I’m going to drive.
A: Ok, then it’s easy. You can drive on the national road No 4. This road passes through
Debrecen.
B: OK, but how can I find the hotel?

35
A: Well, just continue driving on national road No 4 until you see the railway station and
from there follow the tram rails; they will take you to our hotel.
B: Well, that’s easy. My second question is, what does a double room look like?
A: We have 56 double rooms, each room is air-conditioned, features a balcony, a bathroom
with a tub or a shower, TV-set, a pay-TV, a movie channel, WI-FI internet access, a mini bar,
a room safe, a hair-dryer, and bathrobes.
B: Ok, and can I smoke in the hotel room?
A: No, our rooms are non- smoking. Smoking is only permitted in the designated area.
B: It’s not a problem. But I have one more question. Is there a restaurant in the hotel?
A: Yes, of course, there is a restaurant called „Aqua restaurant”. It offers Hungarian and
international specialities, reform and dietary dishes. Our drink bar has a rich variety of drinks
for our gests.
B: Oh, that’s pretty good. And are there leisure facilities at the hotel?
A: Yes, and our hotel is located in Aquaticum Medical and Bathing Centre, where a thermal
bath, an indoor swimming pool, outdoor pools, indoor Mediterranean Pleasure Baths, a
medical department, a wellness island, a Thai massage centre, a dental centre and restaurants
offering Hungarian specialities offer complex services to our hotel guests.
B: Well, that’s amazing!!
A: And one last piece of information. You should not miss the oldest public catering
establishment that can be found in the Great Forest. It’s the „Vigadó” restaurant. In the
summer, the lovers of gastronomy can taste Hungarian delicacies prepared in clay oven, as
well as grilled dishes, bread scones. These delicious dishes are created by gold-class chefs,
who have obtained excellent results in international competitions.
B: Oh, it’s fantastic! What a good programme! Thanks for the information! I would like to
reserve a room from 1 July until 10 July.
A: Ok, it’s possible… Can I have your name and your e-mail address please?
B: My name is István Kiss and my e-mail address is istvankiss@gmail.com.
A: Ok, I’ll write them into the reservation book. You can transfer the deposit until 20 June. I
will send you an e-mail where you can find all the reservation information that you need.
B: Ok, thank you! Good bye!
A: Good bye! Have a nice day!

17. Ön egy szálloda alkalmazottja, amely nemrégiben bővítette szolgáltatásait egy

wellness-központtal. Tájékoztassa a tulajdonos-vezérigazgatót, milyen módon lehetne
szélesebb körben reklámozni az új szolgáltatásokat!
Információtartalom vázlata

 Interjú (információtartalom, interakció, nyelvi struktúrák, lexika) (20 pont)

 A reklámkampány hosszának és költségvetésének megtervezése (10 pont)
 A célcsoport meghatározása és a reklám üzenetének megfogalmazása ( 10 pont)
 Lehetséges reklámhordozók és eszközök alkalmazása (10 pont)

ROLE PLAY 17
H: Hi Charles! Thanks for coming!
C: Hi Henry! It’s my pleasure!

36
H: So, let’s begin! I’ve asked you to meet me today so that we can discuss our advertising
strategy, because I want to bang the big drum for the brand new wellness centre of the
Sunshine Hotel.
C: You are absolutely right! We need to draw people’s attention to our new service.
H: Well, I’ve been thinking about it for a week and have some ideas, which I want to share
with you.
C: That’s very kind of you. So what do you suggest?
H: First of all, we should send an e-mail to all of our regular customers to inform them about
our new service and offer them some discounts.
C: Excellent! I totally agree with you! An e-mail is easy and quick to write and what is more,
it doesn’t cost us anything. But don’t you think we should target a larger public?
H: Of course, I do. That’s why I think we ought to have a one-month campaign and advertise
in different media such as television, radio, the press.
C: Be careful! TV commercials are very expensive, especially on national channels. By the
way, how much money is available?
H: Well, we have quite a tight budget, I’m afraid. About two million HUF. What about a TV
commercial on the local television? That would be cheaper, wouldn’t it?
C: Yes, definitely, but it would reach a smaller number of potential visitors.
H: And what if we paired it with a radio commercial on a national channel?
C: If I were you, I would do it the other way round – a national TV channel and the local
radio. You know, for many people television is the only source of information, so the
coverage it can give is much wider. And don’t forget that some channels can be received
abroad as well.
H: You might be right. I have to think about that. How about the press? Would it be efficient
to advertise there?
C: I believe so. I would opt for…
H: Let me guess … a paper with national coverage …
C: Exactly, and not a daily paper, but a weekly or monthly publication. They are around in
people’s homes for a longer time, so people will see the adverts for a longer time.
H: It could work like a kind of TV commercial that is broadcast several times.
C: Absolutely. Have you thought about the target audience?
H: I think we had better focus on middle aged people and pensioners, because they have more
money, more free time and unfortunately more diseases to cure.
C: I agree up to a point, but in my opinion, there are also other segments of the population that
we should concentrate on, for instance the younger generations, people aged between 20 and
40.

37
H: That’s true. These generations are more health-conscious; healthy living and prevention of
illnesses have become very important for them. We shouldn’t forget either, that they are those
who have young children, and spending a weekend in a wellness centre is great fun for the
whole family.
C: So the target audience seems to be the whole population. Let’s try to formulate the
message of our campaign, something that can appeal to everyone.
H: Don’t you think it would be a nice idea to combine fun with healthy living and prevention
of illnesses? Our slogan could be: Have fun and promote your health with ‘Sunshine Hotel’.
C: Splendid! You are a born poet!
H: Thanks, but we shouldn’t exaggerate. Well, we have talked about the length and the
budget of the campaign, have formulated our message to customers and mentioned some
ways of advertising. Do you have anything else to say?
C: I hope we can manage the TV ad because that would generate big publicity.
H: I’ll try to make a re-allocation of our financial resources and hope to be able to release
some more funds for the advertising campaign. That’s high priority at the moment. And one
last thought: we should make some brochures and leaflets and spread them in different places,
such as coffee shops, restaurants and public places as well.
C: OK, I am sure we can do that!
H: Well, I think this is as far as we can go today. I feel positive about this meeting, we made
some capital decisions. We worked hard, so let’s have a coffee, shall we?
X: Wonderful idea. I couldn’t agree more.
18. Ön, mint egy patinás, régi magyar szálloda munkatársa, mutassa be a szállodát egy
külföldi utazási iroda vezetőjének! Célja az, hogy a külföldi cég minél több csoportot
küldjön szállodájukba.
Információtartalom vázlata

 Interjú (információtartalom, interakció, nyelvi struktúrák, lexika) (20 pont)

 Tájékoztatás a szálloda teljes körű felújításáról (akadálymentesítés a szálloda egész
területén) (10 pont)
 A szálloda helyiségei és szolgáltatásai (szobák, étterem, relaxációs központ) (10 pont)
 A folyamatban lévő munkálatok (konferenciatermek kialakítása, sportolási
lehetőségek bővítése) (10 pont)

ROLE PLAY 18
A: Hello! Hotel Panorama, can I help you?
B: I would like to enquire about your hotel. Could you give me some information?
A: Yes, of course. The hotel was built in secessionist style in 1925 and extensive
refurbishment work was carried out last year. All rooms were redecorated, the furniture was
changed and access for the disabled was provided. The renovation ended this spring, so the

38
whole hotel looks like a brand new building. Of course, the original architectural style has
been preserved.
B: That’s great. What rooms are available?
A: We have single and double rooms with en-suite facilities and 13 suites as well.
B: I see. Could you give me any details about prices?
A: Yes, of course! A single room costs 21,000 HUF, a double room is 26,000 and a suite is
42,000 HUF per day, breakfast included.
B: What facilities are there in these rooms?
A: As I’ve already told you, all our rooms are en-suite, which means that each room has its
separate bathroom and toilet. Every room is equipped with air conditioning, a free internet
access, a flat-screen, internet-connected TV-set featuring international channels, a direct dial
telephone, a minibar, and a safe deposit (as basic room fittings).

B: Are there any eating facilities on the hotel grounds?

A: Naturally. The Panorama Restaurant, with an amazing view of the River Danube and the
Pest side, offers specialties of the local and international cuisines and the best wines. The
terrace is open from April till November and the authentic Hungarian atmosphere is provided
by Gypsy musicians and folklore shows.
B: That sounds great. And what if I would only like to have a drink?
A: We also have a drink bar with a great variety of beverages from all over the world. You
can try out our cocktails, refreshments, alcoholic or soft drinks and watch sporting events on
our wide-screen TV.
B: Splendid! After visiting your restaurant and drink bar, one needs to work off the calories
gained. Do you provide any facilities for exercising or relaxation?
A: We are very proud of our golf court which can be found behind the hotel, and of course
there is a gym with the latest equipment and a swimming pool. If you would like to relax, I
can recommend our wellness facilities. We have sauna, massage and jacuzzi.
B: Marvellous! And one last question: are there any conference amenities available on your
premises?
A: At the moment we only have a medium-sized meeting room but construction of a
conference centre is already in progress. We would also like to offer more sporting facilities
to our guests, so we are planning a tennis court to be built at the back of the garden and a
squash room next to the gym.
B: Ambitious plans indeed. Thanks for the information. I hope to be able to use your services
soon.
A: You are welcome at any time. Just call the reception to make a booking.
B: OK. Can you give me the number?

39
A: Of course. It’s 1-3567122.
B: Let me read it back to you to see if I’ve got it correctly. So the number’s 1-3567122.
A: That’s right.
B: Thanks again for your help. Goodbye!
A: Goodbye! Have a nice day.

PERSUADING
Asking Questions
Have you taken into account ... ?
Has it occurred to you that ?
Do you realise that ... ?
I was wondering if you'd thought of ... ?
Wouldn't you agree that ... ?
Wouldn't it be a good idea to ... ?

Adding Information
There are, if 1 may say so, certain points you should bear in mind ...
There are other considerations. For example, . . .
If we look at it in another light ...
Seen from another angle, one could say ...
I wonder if you've considered . . .

Challenging
I wonder if that view is justified in the light of ...
I don't think you fully appreciate the fact that ...
It would be in your own interest to ...
I would be inclined to . . ., if I were you.

Expressing Reservation
I have certain reservations about . . .
I think we should give ourselves time to reflect on ...
I’m rather worried about ...
Under no circumstances should we come to a hasty decision on this.
I’m afraid such a decision might lead to ...
I feel that in view of… it would be prudent to…
I can't help feeling that ...

Reassuring
There's no cause for concern as far as …..is concerned.
Let me assure you straightaway on that point.
I can assure you that ...
We understand your concern about ... and we assure you that we will do everything in our
power to ...
We share your concern about this, and you may rest assured that ...
You need have no fears about…

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19. Ön konferenciaszervező egy nagyvárosi szállodában. Egy külföldi cég munkatársa
felhívja Önt telefonon, és érdeklődik az elszállásolási lehetőségek és a konferenciatermek
technikai felszereltsége iránt. Adjon tájékoztatást szolgáltatásaikról!
Információtartalom vázlata

 Interjú (információtartalom, interakció, nyelvi struktúrák, lexika) (20 pont)

 A szálloda és környezete bemutatása (10 pont)
 A konferenciatermek jellemzői (befogadóképesség, technikai felszereltség,
tolmácsolás, bérleti díjak) (10 pont)
 A konferencia ideje alatt nyújtott szolgáltatások (10 pont)
ROLE PLAY 19
A: Hello, Danubius Hotel Gellért, ……. speaking. Can I help you?
B: Hello, it’s Peter Smith. I would like to ask a few questions about your hotel.
A: OK, what would you like to know?
B: First of all, could you tell me where the hotel is, and how I can get there?
A: Danubius Hotel Gellért, one of the best-known landmarks of Budapest is located in a
picturesque setting, at the foot of the Gellért Hill, on the bank of the river Danube and it's
easily accessible. It’s separated from the city centre only by another beautiful sight of the
capital, Liberty Bridge. If you come by plane, we can provide our own airport transportation
service which, for a small charge, takes you to the hotel in about 20 minutes. If you come by
train to Nyugati Railway Station, you can take the underground –the Blue Line- to Ferenciek
Square underground station and then walk for a few minutes, or you can always opt for a taxi.
B: That’s fine. What about the hotel itself?
A: The four-star Danubius Hotel Gellért was built in 1918, in an elegant secessionist style of
palaces from the beginning of the century. We have 89 single rooms, 132 double rooms and
13 suites. All of them have private bathrooms and are equipped with colour TV (with
international news channels), a telephone, and a minibar; upon request non-smoking rooms
are provided. Of course, the basic hotel services such as parking, a 24-hour room and front-
desk service, a laundry service, medical assistance, a safe-deposit box are all available.
B: That’s really impressive. My company would like to organise a 3-day conference and we
thought of accommodating the participants at your hotel.
A: Excellent choice! You won’t regret it. But why don’t you hold the conference on our
premises? We provide conference facilities as well.
B: Oh really? I didn’t know that. Tell me what you can offer.
A: Danubius Hotel Gellért has 6 beautiful conference rooms of different sizes and a main hall
suitable for all sorts of festive or official events and being able to host up to 200 people. How
many people are going to attend your conference?
B: About 80. We would like to use a negotiation-setting type of conference hall.
A: No problem. I think the Gobelin Hall, which can cater for up to 90 persons would be the
best choice.

41
B: Could you tell me what technical facilities are available?
A: Yes, of course. All our conference halls are equipped with projectors, a computer, wired
and wireless microphones, voice amplifiers, flipchart boards, a CD player, a DVD player,
sound recording facilities, and an Internet access. We can also provide technical assistance
staff on request.
B: Perfect. We need interpretation for the time of the conference. Can you help me with this
problem?
A: Certainly. The hotel provides interpretation services in 6 languages: English, German,
French, Russian, Italian and Spanish.
B: That’s great. How much is the rental fee?
A: Well, for the Gobelin Hall you can choose between a rental fee per hour, which is HUF
14,000 + Value Added Tax, or a rental fee per day for HUF 82,500 +VAT.
A: What does the fee include?
B: It includes the use of the room and the technical equipment, mineral water on tables,
coffee, tea or other refreshments during the breaks.
B: I see. What about the eating facilities?
A: The Panorama Restaurant, with an amazing view of the River Danube and the Pest side,
offers specialities of the local and international cuisines and the best wines. The terrace is
open from April till November and the authentic Hungarian atmosphere is provided by Gypsy
musicians and folklore shows; all through the year we organise programmes for the lovers of
gastronomy.
B: We have heard that you have your own speciality, some kind of cake if I remember well.

A: You’re probably thinking of the famous Gellért Roll. We serve it in the Gellért Espresso, a
genuine temptation for all those who like home-made cakes and cookies. In the summer the
Coffee-bar has also got a terrace where you can enjoy the view and savour our ice-cream
specialities.

B: Splendid. One last question. Do you have any relaxation facilities in the hotel grounds? I
can imagine that everybody will be tired after a hard day’s work.

A: Naturally. The Gellért Bath, which is built around the natural thermal water springs of
Gellért Mountain, is perfect for recreation and regeneration. The spa and bath, an outdoor and
an indoor swimming pool are awaiting hotel guests free of charge; the complex offers
wellness, spa and fitness services including steam bath, solarium, Thai massage. Pool-side
parties can be organised here during the summer months.

B: Well, that’s too much information for me to remember, I’m afraid. Could you let me have
all the details in a written form? And I also need a quotation.

A: Yes, of course. Can I have your name again and your e-mail address please?
B: My name is Peter Smith and my e-mail address is petersmith@gmail.com.

42
A: OK. To give you a quotation I need to know when and for how long you would like to
come.
B: We are planning a 3-day conference at the end of September, so we would need the
conference room for 3 days and accommodation for 4 days.
A: Great. You will have our quotation in two days.
B: That’s fine, thank you! Good bye!
A: Good bye! Have a nice day!
20. Ön, mint egy vegyes vállalat munkatársa, meghívta külföldi partnerét vacsorára. Az
étlap ugyan több nyelven olvasható, vendége mégsem ismeri ki magát a magyar ételek és
italok között. Adjon neki felvilágosítást!
Információtartalom vázlata

 Interjú (információtartalom, interakció, nyelvi struktúrák, lexika) (20 pont)

 Javaslat előételre vagy levesre (10 pont)
 Az egyik főétel (lehetőleg magyar specialitás) ismertetése (10 pont)
 Megfelelő bor, illetve desszert kiválasztása (10 pont)

ROLE PLAY 20
A: Well, Mr ….. , I’ve been looking at this menu for 15 minutes now but, although the names
of the dishes are also given in English, I can’t make up my mind what to choose. Would you
help me decide what I should order?
B: I’m not surprised you are at a loss, Mr/Ms …. . The choice is really amazing. Tell me what
kind of food you would like to have.
A: I would definitely want to try some typical Hungarian dishes.
B: Let’s see what starters they offer. They have cold appetizers – ‘Mangalica ham with white
asparagus and horseradish-ruccola salad’ really sounds great. And here’s the incomparable
Hungarian goose liver which they offer in three forms: grilled, smoked and as a pâté. ‘Trout
stuffed with goose liver’ would be an excellent choice. Which one would you prefer?
A: I think I’ll have the latter one. It really sounds exciting. What about soups? I know that
Hungarians eat a lot of soup.
B: That’s true, but we generally have it for lunch. However, I’m sure they serve it in the
evening as well. Would you like to try some?
A: Of course. What do you suggest?
B: I think you should try what in Hungarian we call „gulyásleves”.
A: Oh, goulash! I’ve heard about it before.
B: Yes, it’s very famous in other countries; many people can only identify Hungary from
‘gulyás’. It has many variations; one is tastier than the other.

43
A: What’s the difference between them?
B: Well, the basic ingredients are: meat cubes, potato, soup pasta and the spices: salt, caraway
seeds, garlic and the specifically Hungarian paprika. Depending on the type of meat used –
pork, beef, mutton or even smoked meat – the taste will be different. Another possibility is to
use mixed vegetables or kidney beans or sauerkraut instead of potatoes, and so the variations
become endless.
A: I see. So which variation would you recommend?
B: I like beef goulash with mixed vegetables best.
A: Okay, I trust your taste. And what should I have for the main course?
B: What you should definitely not miss is „töltött káposzta”.
A: Töltött káposzta? Hmm, I’ve never heard of it. What is it made of?
B: It’s a mixture of rice, minced meat – generally pork, some smoked bacon finely chopped
and the traditional Hungarian spices: salt, pepper and paprika …. and I almost forgot: finely
chopped garlic and onion are also essential. This mixture is stuffed into cabbage leaves –
that’s where its name comes from: ‘stuffed cabbage’. The stuffed cabbages are put between
two layers of sauerkraut and simmered for one – one and a half hours. They are served with
sour cream.
A: That sounds absolutely mouth-watering.
B: They are, indeed. And to finish your meal, I propose that you have fresh home-made
strudels for dessert with the filling of your choice.
A: I’ve already eaten strudels filled with poppy seed; they are simply delicious and
irresistible. What other fillings are there?
B: Whatever you can imagine: different kinds of fruit, walnut, cabbage, cottage cheese,
chocolate, …
A: Stop it! I’m afraid I won’t resist the temptation and will want to taste all of them.
B: I wouldn’t recommend you to do so; at least not at the end of such a substantial meal. But
we could ask the waiter to pack some for us so that we can take them home.
A: Good idea! And what do you think we should drink with the „töltött káposzta”?
B: I think you should order some red wine. Some kind of Kékfrankos would be the best.
A: Should it be sweet or dry?
B: Dry, of course. We’ll have some sweet wine with the dessert.
A: What exactly?
B: I think you should try Tokaji wine.
A: Tokaj! I’ve heard about it, they say it’s wonderful.

44
B: Yes, you are right. Let’s try a 5 butt-Tokaji Aszú. It’s one of the sweetest wines you have
ever tasted. You will like it.
A: Thanks a lot for your help. I’m so excited about the dinner we’re going to have.
B: It was my pleasure to help you. Let’s call the waiter and tell him we’re ready to order.

COMPROMISING

Offering a Compromise
We are prepared to …on condition that ...
I think we could …provided that ...
We are ready to…on the understanding that ...
We are willing to…with the proviso that ...
We are more than ready to…as long as ...
I believe we can . . ., if ...

Asking if it's Acceptable

Is that acceptable?
Would that be acceptable?
Would that be satisfactory?
Is that acceptable as a compromise solution?
We hope that this will be acceptable.

Adding a Condition Positively

We see no objection whatsoever, provided that…
If we agreed, it would be conditional on ...
Our agreement is conditional on ...
If we agreed, we hope you would reciprocate by ...
If you would be prepared to then we could

Adding a Condition Negatively

We'd be rather reluctant to . . ., unless ...
I don't think we could . . ., unless ...
We wouldn't be prepared to . . ., unless ...
We have certain reservations about…and … unless ...
Only if you …would we be prepared to ...

Accepting a Compromise
I think that would be perfectly acceptable.
We see no objection to that.
That seems to be a reasonable compromise
In a spirit of compromise, we would be willing to accept your offer.
To meet you halfway on this, I think we could agree to your condition.

Rejecting a Compromise

45
We are not entirely convinced that this is a viable solution to the problem.
Although we want to avoid a deadlock as much as you do, we find your offer unacceptable
You leave us with little alternative but to ...
In that case, we should very reluctantly have to ...
In which case, we would be virtually obliged to ...
You put us in a difficult position.

Telephoning: phones and numbers

Telephones and beyond

 public telephone / payphone: phone in a public place operated with money, a credit
card or a phone card.
 mobile phone, mobile (BrE) / cellphone, cellular phone, cellular (AmE): a phone
you can take with you and use anywhere (the opposite of landline phone).
 WAP phone: a mobile phone with access to the Internet (WAP = wireless application
protocol).
 extension: one of a number of phones on the same line, in a home or office.
 cordless phone, cordless: an extension not connected by wire, so you can use it
around the house or in the garden.
 pager: allows you to receive written messages.
 webcam: a camera attached to a computer and phone line, so two people talking on
the phone can see each other.
 videophone: a special phone with a screen so you can see the other person.
Webcams and videophones enable videoconferencing: holding a meeting with people in
different locations.
Phone, call and ring
to call / phone / telephone someone
to give someone a call
BrE: to ring someone, to ring up someone, to ring someone up, to give someone a ring
Informal BrE: to give someone a bell, to give someone a buzz
AmE: to call someone, to call up someone, to call someone up
Numbers
When saying numbers, use rising intonation for each group, except for the last group,
when you should use a falling tone. This shows you have reached the end of the number.
access code country code area code number
00 36 56 845 921
Double oh (BrE)

46
 Zero zero (AmE)
Phoning scenario
You want to phone someone in a company. You pick up the phone. You hear the dialling
tone and dial the number on the keypad. You don’t know the person’s direct line
number, so you dial the number of the company’s switchboard. One of these things
happens:
a The number rings but no one answers.
b You hear the engaged tone (BrE) / busy tone (AmE) because the other person is
already talking on the phone. You hang up and try again later.
c You get through, but not to the number you wanted. The person who answers says
you’ve got the wrong number.
d The operator answers. You ask for the extension of the person you want to speak to.
e You are put through to the wrong extension. The person offers to transfer you to the
right extension, but you are cut off – the call ends.
f The person you want to speak to is not at their desk and you leave a message on their
voicemail. You ask them to call you back or to return your call.
Asking to speak to someone 1
Can you put me through to extension 123, please?
Can I have extension 123, please?
Extension 123, please.
123, please.
James Cassidy in Sales, please.
I phoned a moment ago, but I was cut off.
I’ll hold.
I’ll call back later.
One moment, please.
I’m putting you through.
The extension / line is ringing for you.
Sorry to keep you waiting.
I think you’ve got the wrong extension.
I’ll try and transfer you.
I’m afraid the line / extension is busy / engaged.
I’m sorry, but there is no reply.
Do you want to hold or would you like to call back later?

Voicemail
If the person you want to speak to is not there, you may hear this:
You’re through to the voicemail of James Cassidy. I’m not at my desk right now, but if
you leave a message, I’ll get right back to you. To leave a message, press 1. To speak to
the operator, please hold.
After you leave a message, you may hear this:
To listen to your message, press 2.
47
 After you listen to your message, you may hear this:
If you’d like to change your message, press 3. If you’d like to erase your message, press 4.
Otherwise, please hang up.
Asking to speak to someone 2
It’s X (here).
This is X (here). NOT: I am X.
Can / Could I speak to Y, please? Y speaking.
Is that Y? Speaking.
Is this a good / convenient time to call? I’m (rather) tied up at the moment.
Could you call back later?
I’m afraid Y is not at his/her desk.
on another line.
with someone right now.
in a meeting.
not in the office.
out of the office.
off sick today.
on holiday (until…).
Giving and taking messages:
I’m calling about … I wonder if you could call back later?
I’m calling to confirm that … Can I ask who’s calling?
Could I leave a message? Who’s calling please?
Could you tell Y that …? Which company are you calling from?
Could you ask Y to call me back? May/ Can I ask what it’s about?
May/Can I take a message?
Would you like to leave a message?
I’ll ask him/her to call you when he gets back.
I’m sorry; I didn’t catch your name.
Could you spell your name, please?

Making arrangements
Can/Shall we fix/arrange an appointment/a meeting?
Would it be useful to meet up soon? I’ll just get my diary.
How about Monday? That’s fine.
What about Tuesday? I can’t/ won’t be able to make Tuesday.
Would Wednesday be suitable? I’ve got to (+ infinitive) …
Would Thursday suit you?
Shall we say Friday?

Closing the conversation

Here are some ways of finishing a conversation without sounding abrupt / rude.
See you on Friday then. Yes, I’ll look forward to seeing you on Friday.
I’m going to have to go now.
I’ve got to go to a meeting. Nice talking to you.
I’ve got to go and see someone. It’s been good talking to you.
It’s been nice talking to you.
Good to talk to you.
Talk to you soon, no doubt.
We’ll be in touch soon.

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Look forward to hearing from you soon. Thanks for calling/phoning.

Changing arrangements
1. I can’ make Tuesday. (Tuesday is not possible.) Something has come up. I’ve got to go
over to Berlin to see a client. How about Wednesday?
2. I think we said Thursday at 11. Can you make the afternoon instead? (Is it possible for you
to meet in the afternoon?)
3. We’re going to have to change our arrangement for the 15th. Can we put it off (delay it) till
22nd? I’d completely forgotten we have a departmental meeting that day.
4. I’m afraid Monday won’t be possible after all. I’m going to be very busy that day. What
about the following day?
5. We’re going to have to put back (delay) our meeting. I’m completely snowed under (very
busy) at the moment. Can we leave it open (decide not to fix a day) for the time being? I’ll get
back in touch (contact you again) when I’m not so busy.

49