Ðây là Chương Trình Anh Ngữ Sinh Ðộng New Dynamic English bài 234. Phạm Văn xin kính chào quí vị thính giả. Trong bài học hôm nay, ta nghe tiếp những câu diễn tả sự bất đồng ý kiến, như câu, Sorry, I’m not quite sure about that…Hay: I’m sorry, but I’m not going to be able to accept your proposal.=rất tiếc tôi không thể chấp nhận đề nghị của ông. Ta cũng ôn lại nghĩa của động từ to propose, và hình thức subjunctive sau propose that; cách dùng của động từ convince, thuyết phục, và promise, lời hứa. Ðộng từ propose/danh từ proposal. Final proposal=đề nghị, đề án cuối; to make a proposal to someone=to propose something to someone= đưa ra đề nghị gì với ai. To accept a proposal=chấp nhận đề nghị. To reject a proposal=bác đề nghị. To propose a toast=nâng ly chúc mừng ai. He proposed to her=anh ta ngỏ lời cầu hôn với cô ta.
Nhớ là nếu dùng propose that (đề nghị rằng) thì trong mệnh đề theo sau, động từ ở subjunctive. What would you propose that she do? Anh đề nghị cô ta phải làm gì? “That she do” là subjunctive. Thí dụ: He proposed that he go at once.=anh ta đề nghị đi ngay. The commander proposed that more troops be sent to the fighting area.=vị chỉ huy đề nghị gửi thêm quân đến vùng chiến. In hopes of=hy vọng rằng. Mr. Blake made several promises in hopes of convincing Ms. Graham to buy the robots.= ông Blake hứa nhiều điều để hy vọng thuyết phục bà Graham mua người máy rô-bô. Ms. Graham wasn’t convinced=bà Graham không tin. Mr. Blake’s arguments didn’t convince her=lý luận của ông Blake không thuyết phục được bà ấy. She was not convinced that Mr. Blake’s company would be able to build new storage facilities in time.=bà không tin rằng hãng của ông Blake có khả năng xây xưởng chứa đồ trước kỳ hạn. Promise=lời hứa. To make a promise=hứa; to keep a promise=giữ lời hứa; to break a promise=sai lời hứa. Don’t make promises you can’t keep.= đừng hứa cuội, đã hứa thì chớ sai lời. You made a promise, so you have to keep it.=bạn đã hứa thì phải giữ lời.
Cut 1
Story Review: Elizabeth and Gary
Larry: Review
Eliz: Now let’s listen to our next conversation.
Mr. Blake is making his final proposal to Ms. Graham and Mr. Epstein.
He makes several promises in hopes of convincing Ms. Graham to buy the robots.
Gary: Mr. Epstein seems very pleased with these promises.
Eliz: But Ms. Graham isn’t convinced, is she?
Gary: No, she isn’t.
Notice how often she uses the expression “I’m sorry.”
This is a sign that she is going to say ‘No.’
Eliz: Let’s listen.
MUSIC
Vietnamese Explanation
Trong phần tới quí vị nghe những câu nói giữa ông Blake và bà Graham. Ông Blake nói: In addition, we will send two engineers to California to train your employees so that they can service the robots, if necessary.=thêm vào đó, chúng tôi sẽ gửi hai kỹ sư sang California để huấn luyện nhân viên cửa bà để họ có thể sửa chữa bảo trì máy rô-bô, nếu cần. To service=to repair, sửa chữa bảo trì. I have to make an appointment to have my car serviced tomorrow.=Mai tôi hẹn đem xe cho người ta bảo trì. You’ll also be pleased to hear that we are planning to provide facilities in California= Bà sẽ hài lòng khi nghe rằng hãng chúng tôi dự trù sẽ xây nhiều xưởng chứa đồ ở California. Bà Graham hỏi: When will those facilities be ready? Bao giờ thì những cơ sở đó sẵn sàng? Ông Blake đáp: They’ll be ready by mid-November.— Cơ sở chứa đồ sẽ xong trước giữa tháng 11. Bà Graham đáp: I’m sorry, but that’s not soon enough.=Tôi rất tiếc, nhưng như vậy thì trễ hạn. Bà cũng nói: You have no organization in the United States, and to me that represents too great a risk.=Hãng ông chưa lập cơ sở ở Mỹ, và theo tôi, thì là đó một điều bấp bênh lớn. But, frankly, I just don’t feel that your company can provide the support that we need in order to meet our deadline.=Nhưng, nói thẳng với ông, tôi không tin là hãng ông có thể cung cấp được những hỗ trợ chúng tôi cần để kịp hạn chót của chúng tôi.
Cut 2
Dialog: FIB Dialog, Blake’s Proposal
Larry: Dialog
Blake: So... to sum up my company’s final proposal, we guarantee a further reduction in the price, another ten percent.
This will make our robots much less expensive than the competition’s.
[The competion’s=the competition’s robots=máy rô bô của hãng khác cùng cạnh tranh.]
In addition, we will send two engineers to California to train your employees so that they can service the robots, if necessary.
Epstein: Oh, that would be fantastic (tuyệt vời). Don’t you agree, Shirley?
Graham: Well, it’s a good first step.
Blake: I think that this takes care of some of your main concerns.
Epstein: Yes, I think it does.
Blake: And I am certain that we will meet the October first deadline.
Epstein: I’m very glad to hear that.
Blake: You’ll also be pleased to hear that we are planning to provide storage facilities in California.
Graham: When will those facilities be ready?
Blake: Uh... they’ll be ready by mid-November.
Graham: I’m sorry, but that’s not soon enough.
Blake: I see. I’m sorry you feel that way.
Graham: Look, Charles, I appreciate your efforts in putting together this proposal. [Cám ơn anh đã nghiên cứu và hoàn thành đề án này.]
But, frankly, I just don’t feel that your company can provide the support that we need in order to meet our deadline.
You have no organization in the United States, and to me that represents too great a risk.
I’m sorry, but I’m not going to be able to accept your proposal.
Epstein: Shouldn’t we discuss this a little more? [Chúng ta nên bàn thêm về đề án này một chút nữa chứ?]
Perhaps we can work out something. [Có lẽ chúng ta có thể tìm ra cách giải quyết vấn đề.]
Graham: No, Mike. We don’t have much time, so we have to make a decision now.
I’m sorry, Charles.
Vietnamese Explanation
Hãy nghe hai chức năng ngôn ngữ được dùng: hứa (make a promise) và từ chối (refuse). Reduction=giảm. To sum up, we guarantee a further reduction in the price.=Tóm tắt, chúng tôi bảo đảm sẽ giảm giá máy rô-bô thêm nữa.
Cut 3
Language Focus: Functions
Larry: Listen carefully.
Eliz: To sum up, we guarantee a further reduction in the price.
(pause)
Eliz: We will send two engineers to California.
(pause)
Eliz: I’m very glad to hear that.
(pause)
Eliz: I’m sorry, but that’s not soon enough.
(pause)
Eliz: I appreciate your efforts.
(pause)
Eliz: I’m sorry, but I’m not going to be able to accept your proposal.
(pause)
Vietnamese Explanation
Trong đoạn tới, ta nghe Elizabeth và Gary bàn về quyết định bác đề nghị mua máy rô-bô. So, Ms. Graham ends up rejecting Mr. Blake’s proposal.=như vậy là Bà Graham kết cuộc đã bác đề nghị của ông Blake. End up doing something.=kết cuộc làm một chuyện thường là không định trước. Why is it that I always end up paying the bill for your dinner! Tại sao mà lần nào ăn xong rốt cuộc tôi cũng phải trả tiền bữa ăn tối cho anh nhỉ! If you drive that fast, you may end up dead someday.=bạn lái xe nhanh như vậy, có ngày chết. So these negotiations failed (fell through).=như vậy những cuộc thương lượng này thất bại. Focus on=chú tâm vào, pay special attention to. Mr. Epstein has been focusing on the technology, and he hasn’t paid enough attention to other important issues, such as aftersales service. =Ông Epstein chú tâm vào việc tìm kỹ thuật mới, và không lưu ý đầy đủ đến những vấn đề khác, như dịch vụ sau khi bán hàng.
Cut 4
Discussion: Elizabeth and Gary
Larry: Discussion
Eliz: So, Ms. Graham ends up rejecting Mr. Blake’s proposal.
Gary: Yes. She’s worried that the storage facilities won’t be ready in time.
And she’s especially concerned that Mr. Blake’s company has no organization in the U.S.
Eliz: So these negotiations failed.
Gary: That’s true.
But Mr. Blake learned some things which will help him in future negotiations.
Eliz: Yes, that’s right.
Thank you for your comments, Gary.
Let’s take a short break.
Vietnamese Explanation
Trong đoạn tới ta nghe mấy chữ và thí dụ về cách dùng: A missed opportunity=cơ hội bỏ lỡ. In one sense=trong một cách, nhìn ở một phương diện nào đó, in a way (but without considering all the other facts.) In one sense, Ms. Graham was right, but she missed the chance to get the best robots for her factory=Xét một khía cạnh, thì bà Graham có lý, nhưng bà đã lỡ dịp mua máy rô bô rất tốt cho xưởng của bà. To act on a friend’s advice=nghe theo lời khuyên của người bạn. Mr. Epstein’s research has been useful, even though Ms. Graham does not decide to act on his recommendation=Việc nghiên cứu của ông Epstein rất hữu ích, dù là bà Graham quyết định không theo đề nghị của ông.
Cut 5
Language Focus: What do you think?
Larry: What do you think?
Listen for the bell, then say your answer.
Larry: Do you think Ms. Graham made the right decision?
(ding)
(pause for answer)
Gary: I think so. Mr. Blake’s company had no organization in the United States, so it could not give her the support she needed.
Eliz: That’s true, but she does miss the chance to get the best technology.
That is a missed opportunity.
(short pause)
Larry: Do you think Mr. Epstein has been wasting his time, looking for new technology?
(ding)
(pause for answer)
Gary: Well, in one sense, he has.
He has been focusing on the technology, and he hasn’t paid enough attention to other important issues, such as aftersales service.
Eliz: I don’t agree.
I think his research has been useful, even though Ms. Graham does not decide to act on his recommendation.
(short pause)
Vietnamese Explanation
Trong phần này, quí vị nghe một câu rồi xem câu đó thuộc loại chức năng ngôn ngữ nào, như là making a request (yêu cầu), giving an opinion (đưa ra ý kiến); make a suggestion (đề nghị); making a promise (hứa); accepting (nhận); refusing (từ chối).
Cut 6
Focus on Functions: Name that Function!
Larry: Name that Function.
Gary: Now let’s focus on Language Functions.
We’re going to review some important language functions, like requests, suggestions, and so on.
Elizabeth, you’ll try to name the language function.
Eliz: OK. I’ll try.
Gary: OK.
Let’s start with an easy one.
Mr. Epstein is talking with Ms. Graham about Mr. Blake’s company.
Is he agreeing or is he disagreeing?
Eliz: Agreeing... or disagreeing?
Gary: Yes. Let’s listen.
Epstein: I agree with you, they haven’t established themselves in the States.
Eliz: That’s easy. He says, “I agree with you.”
He’s agreeing.
Gary: That’s right.
OK. Here’s the next one.
Again, Mr. Epstein is talking to Ms. Graham.
Is he giving an opinion or is he making a request?
Epstein: I think we really have to take that risk.
(pause)
Gary: Let’s listen again.
Is he giving an opinion or is he making a request?
Epstein: I think we really have to take that risk.
Eliz: Well, he said “I think...”
He’s... giving an opinion.
Gary: That’s right. He’s giving an opinion.
OK. Here’s one more.
This time, Mr. Blake is talking.
Is he making a promise... or a suggestion?
Blake: We will send two engineers to California.
Eliz: Can I listen again?
Gary: Sure. Is it a promise or a suggestion?
Blake: We will send two engineers to California.
Eliz: It’s a promise. He says that he will send two engineers to California.
He’s making a promise.
Gary: That’s right.
Would you like to try one more?
Eliz: OK.
Gary: This is Ms. Graham. She’s talking to Mr. Blake.
Is she accepting or is she refusing?
Ms. Graham: I’m sorry, but I’m not going to be able to accept your proposal.
Eliz: She says she is not going to accept his proposal.
So she is refusing.
Gary: Yes. She uses the expression “I’m sorry but...” to make a polite refusal.
Well, Elizabeth, you really know your language functions!
Eliz: Well, Gary, I’ve been listening to your tips for a long time.
MUSIC
FIB Closing
Eliz: Well, our time is up. Tune in again next time for Functioning in Business. See you then!
Vietnamese Explanation
Quí vị vừa học xong bàì 234 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.
