Credit card= thẻ mua chịu, thẻ tín dụng.
Traveller’s checks=chi phiếu du lịch (có thể lĩnh hầu như ở mọi nơi và nếu mất có thể xin bồi hoàn; nhưng khi mua phải trả một lệ phí nhỏ bằng 1 hay 1.5% trị giá chi phiếu).
Carry a lot of cash=mang nhiều tiền mặt theo.
Cash (n.)= tiền mặt.
To cash a check=lĩnh chi phiếu.
Rent a car=thuê xe hơi.

Hãy nghe mấy câu dài trong phần sắp tới:

Having a credit card makes travel in the United States much more convenient=có thẻ tín dụng thì việc du lịch ở Mỹ tiện hơn nhiều.
If you carry credit cards, you don’t have to carry a lot of cash=nếu mang thẻ tín dụng, bạn không cần phải mang theo nhiều tiền mặt.
Just make sure you get a major credit card that is accepted worldwide=chỉ cần lo sao cho có một thẻ tín dụng chính là thẻ được nhận khắp thế giới.
Major=chính
worldwide=khắp thế giới.
Merchants only accept personal checks from local banks=người chủ tiệm bán hàng chỉ nhận ngân phiếu cá nhân của ngân hàng địa phương.

CUT 1

Culture Tips: Credit Cards and Checks.

Larry: Culture Tips. [This Culture Tip concerns credit cards and checks.]
Eliz: Hello, again. We’re here with Gary Engleton, our business language expert. Welcome back to “Culture Tips,” Gary.
Gary: Thanks! It’s wonderful to be back! So, what’s our first e-mail question?
Eliz: Our first question is,”Do I need a credit card to travel in the United States?”
Gary: Excellent question. I would say it’s very important to have a credit card. First, having a credit card makes travel in the United States much more convenient.
Eliz: In what ways?
Gary: Well, for example, it’s impossible to rent a car without a credit card. And credit cards are accepted almost everywhere. Finally, if you carry credit cards, you don’t have to carry a lot of cash.
Eliz: Those are all good points!
Gary: Just make sure you get a major credit card that is accepted worldwide.
Eliz: Thanks, Gary. Here’s another e-mail question about paying for things.“Should I use checks in the United States?
Gary: Well, there are two important types of checks: traveler’s checks and personal checks. Traveler’s checks are very convenient, since they are accepted in most places. They are especially helpful if you want to buy something from a small shop that does not accept credit cards.
Eliz: Oh, I see.
Gary: Personal checks, however, are much more difficult to use. Generally, merchants only accept personal checks from local banks. They don’t accept out of town checks.
Gary: So, when you’re traveling, it’s better to use credit cards and traveler’s checks than personal checks.
Eliz: Thanks, Gary. That was very helpful.
Gary: My pleasure!

MUSIC

VIETNAMESE EXPLANATION

Trong phần tới quí vị thực tập bằng cách điền một chữ vào câu vừa nghe cho câu đầy đủ ý nghĩa, rồi nghe câu trả lời đúng để xem mình có trả lời đúng hay không.

Để ý mấy chữ sẽ nghe:

Withdraw money from a bank=rút tiền ở nhà băng.
Bank account=trương mục ngân hàng.

CUT 2: Sentence completion.

Larry: Listen. Complete the sentence.
Eliz: If you carry credit cards, you don’t have to carry a lot of ______.(ding)(pause for answer)
Eliz: cash. You don’t have to carry a lot of cash.(short pause)
Eliz: A check which draws money from your own bank account is called______.(ding)(pause) a personal check. It’s called a personal check.(short pause)
Eliz: A check from a bank located in another town is called_____.(ding)(pause for answer) an out of town check. It’s a called an out-of-town check.(short pause)

MUSIC

VIETNAMESE EXPLANATION

Trong phần tiếp, Business Dialog: Attempting to a cash check - phần đàm thoại thương mại cố xin lĩnh chi phiếu, quí vị nghe lại phần đàm thoại giữa một du khách và nhân viên thâu phát ngân nhà băng(bank teller hay bank clerk). Quí vị nghe cách từ chối - refusals.
Attempt=cố, thử, tìm cách (tương tự có chữ to try).

CUT 3

Larry: Business Dialog: Refusals.

Eliz: For today’s Business Dialog, we’re going to listen again to a portion of the dialog we heard earlier between the bank teller and a customer at the bank. The customer has just exchanged British pounds for American dollars.
Bank teller: Is there anything else I can help you with?
Customer: Yes, please. Could I cash this personal check from my London bank?
Bank teller: I’m afraid that isn’t possible. Our policy is that we do not cash out of town checks.
Customer: It’s very important that I cash this check...
Bank teller: Yes, I understand, but it’s against bank policy.
Customer: Could I see the manager please?
Bank teller: I’m sorry, but the manager, Mr. Grover, is out right now. The assistant manager, Ms. Grace, is in. Would that be all right?
Customer: Yes, that’s fine. Thank you.
Bank teller: Certainly. One moment please.

MUSIC

VIETNAMESE EXPLANATION

Đoạn sắp tới Focus on Functions: Refusals, quí vị tập dùng những câu từ chối nhã nhặn. Xin nghe rồi lập lại, cũng một ý mà có thể nói hai cách. Thí dụ như ta có thể bắt đầu câu từ chối bằng câu,”I’m afraid...” hay “I’m sorry, but...” hay “Yes, I see what you mean..,” hay “Yes, I understand what you mean... tôi hiểu điều ông muốn nói...”

CUT 4

Focus on Functions: Refusals.

Larry: Focus on Functions: Refusals.
Eliz: Now let’s focus on Refusals.
Larry: Variations. Listen to these variations.
Eliz: I’m afraid that isn’t possible.
Larry: I’m sorry, but that isn’t possible.(pause)
Eliz: Yes, I understand, but it’s against bank policy.
Larry: Yes, I see what you mean, but it’s against bank policy.(pause)
Eliz: I’m sorry, but the manager, Mr. Grover, is out right now.
Larry: I’m afraid the manager, Mr. Grover, is out right now.(pause)

MUSIC

VIETNAMESE EXPLANATION

Trong phần tới Gary’s Tips: Refusals, Gary sẽ chỉ dẫn cho ta những cách từ chối lịch sự. Chúng ta sẽ nghe lại mấy đoạn người thâu phát ngân nhà băng từ chối thân chủ.

To refuse=từ chối.
A refusal=lời từ chối.
To refuse means to say that you can’t or won’t do something that a person asks you to do=từ chối là nói rằng mình không thể hay không muốn làm điều gì một người khác yêu-cầu mình làm.
Rude=thô lỗ, thiếu nhã nhặn.[trái nghĩa: polite]
Colleague=đồng nghiệp.
I have another engagement=có chuyện bận (hẹn) khác.

CUT 5

Larry: Gary’s Tips. Gary explains about Refusals. To refuse means to say that you can’t or won’t do something that a person asks you to do. I’m sorry, but the manager, Mr. Grover, is out right now.

Eliz: Now it’s time for Gary’s Tips with Gary Engleton.

Gary: Hello there! Our function of the day is refusals. To refuse means to say that you can’t or won’t do something that a person asks you to do. In the Business Dialog, you heard several examples of refusals. Let’s replay parts of the conversation between the customer and the bank clerk. In the first example, the bank teller refuses to cash a personal check by saying “I’m afraid that isn’t possible.” Let’s listen.

Customer: Could I cash this personal check from my London bank?
Bank teller: I’m afraid that isn’t possible. Our policy is that we do not cash out of town checks.
Gary: Using the phrase “I’m afraid” is a very common way to begin a refusal. Some other examples are,”I’m afraid I can’t help you,” or “I’m afraid he’s not here right now.” Another way to begin a refusal is to say,”I’m sorry, but.” Saying that you’re sorry that you can’t be more helpful is a very polite way to make a refusal.

Here’s an example from our bank dialog.

Customer: Could I see the manager please?
Bank teller: I’m sorry, but the manager, Mr. Grover, is out right now. Gary: Usually, after you say you’re sorry, you give reason for your refusal. For example, of someone asks you to go to lunch and you say you’re busy, you can say,”I’m sorry, but I have another engagement.”

If someone wants to speak to your colleague, but he’s not there, you can say,”I’m sorry, but he’s not here right now.” Let’s listen to one more polite way to make a refusal. In our example from the bank, the bank teller says,”Yes, I understand, but.” Let’s listen.

Customer: It’s very important that I cash this check...
Bank teller: Yes, I understand, but it’s against bank policy.
Gary: Usually you say “Yes, I understand” when the other person is giving you reasons for a request, and you want to show that you heard what the person said. Let’s hear the example one more time.
Customer: It’s very important that I cash this check...
Bank teller: Yes, I understand, but it’s against bank policy.
Gary: There are some less polite ways to make a refusal. Let’s hear some examples of things you shouldn’t say.
Customer: Could I cash this personal check from my London bank?
Bank teller: No, that’s impossible.
Customer: It’s very important that I cash this check...
Bank teller: I told you we can’t do that.
Gary: In this conversation, the bank teller is very rude to the customer. Remember, make your refusals as polite as possible by saying “I’m afraid” and “I’m sorry.” Well, that’s all we have time for today. I hope today’s tips were helpful!
Eliz: Thanks very much, Gary.

MUSIC

VIETNAMESE EXPLANATION

Quí vị vừa học xong bài 52 trong Chương trình Anh Ngữ Sinh Động New Dynamic English. Phạm Văn xin kính chào quí vị thính giả và xin hẹn gặp lại trong bài học kế tiếp.