English Conversation - AT THE ENQUIRY COUNTER

English Conversation--AT THE ENQUIRY COUNTER
Improve English Speaking through everyday conversation
I have written a detailed book English conversation for all occasions, to learn English as Foreign Language.
This tutorial has been prepared from my well known book English conversation for all occasions, which I wrote for Indian students to improve everyday conversation..
English Conversation for All Occasions is a unique book of its kind, specially written to help Indian student. A quick look at the titles of the lessons would convince the reader that the book has been prepared by visualizing all types of situational conversations which may confront any man or woman in his daily activities. Whether one converses with his family members or moves about to mix in society, he will not feel tongue-tied for want of appropriate words or expressions. In a post office or barber’s shop, at a hotel or taxi stand, every person who has read this book, will be able to speak in English fluently and with confidence.
Good knowledge and satisfactory conversation drill is important in English speaking. This Tutorial would not only prove an asset to the reader in his daily life, but also on special occasions like interviews for jobs, etc. He would be able to face the interviewers with equanimity and confidence.
All the lessons have been designed in a programmed fashion. Word-meanings, Phrases and exercises have been added at the end of every lesson to help the students master the topics.
All the lesson should be read along, not once but many times, so that the conversation comes easy to the reader when he faces real life situations. The author would feel rewarded for his labours if the book helps men and women become social relations
This Tutorial should help all those readers who find difficulty in speaking fluent English. This will be completed in 45 lessons.
Please comment or send me E Mail at bookgharinfo@gmail.com
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AT THE ENQUIRY COUNTER

The Delhi Institute of management and Services, runs, a number of courses which are job oriented. A number of prospective students come in to get information about the course.

Student (Coming up to the Enquiry Counter). Good afternoon. Excuse me Miss. Is this the DIMS office?
Receptionist Good afternoon. This is the DIMS Enquiry Counter. Can I help you?
Student Yes please. I want to see the Director?
Receptionist What would you like to see the Director about?
Student I would like to find out about the different kinds of courses that you run.
Receptionist Then perhaps I can help you. The Director is busy right now. What would you like to know? Here is a list of all the courses that we run.
Student Are these the only courses you conduct?

Receptionist There are approximately ninety courses for you to choose from? What are you interested in?
Student You see, I have a three-month summer vacations, starting next month and I was wondering what I could do with myself.

Receptionist The courses we conduct are mainly job-oriented courses. We run Technical and Secretarial courses, Language classes, courses in Business Management and public Relations and a number of others. What are you studying?

Student I am studying in the second year for a B.A. Degree in philosophy and I wanted to do a more specialized kind of study during my holidays. What would you suggest?

Receptionist That depends on what you are planning to take up as a career after your graduation. (The telephone rings). Excuse me a moment. I’ll speak with you after attending to the phone. (Speaking into the phone). Good morning, DIMS…..Yes, we do run a course for Export management. The course duration is five weeks and the total cost is Rs.3500 for the entire course. Yes. We have a correspondence course as well. The next course begins in two weeks time. That’s all right. Thank you Sir. Good bye.

Student Miss, do you think that I should do the Business Management course?

Receptionist For the Business Management course, the minimum qualification is a B.A degree. Perhaps you could do that course next year. Look if you want to do a course for a period of two to three months, why not have a look at our detailed prospectus for the shorter courses and then make up your mind. You might be interested in learning a language or in doing a secretarial course or……….

Student That is a good idea. Please let me have a copy of the detailed prospectus. I’ll think about it. I’ll come back again. Are there any forms to be filled in?
Receptionist Yes there are?
Student Can I pay the fees by cheques?
Receptionist Yes, certainly. We accept both cheques and cash.
Student One last thing, Miss. Do you give out some certificates or a diploma or some such thing?
Receptionist Yes Sir. Depending on the course you join and depending on your performance, we evaluate the level of your improvement and achievement. We do award a certificate or a diploma, whatever the case may be.
Student Right, Thank you Miss.
Receptionist You are welcome. Good bye.
Another gentleman comes up to the counter.
Receptionist Good afternoon Sir.
Gentleman Good afternoon Ma’am. I am working in a factory in the supervisory grade. I wanted to find out whether you are running any classes in the evenings?
Receptionist Yes. Sir. Which course would you be interested in? Here is a list of the courses we have.

Gentleman (Looking through the list) Yes. You do run a number of courses covering nearly every subject. Let us see, now may be, for me this course on Labour Law and Industrial Relations would be useful. Yes, I think I’d like to do this course.

Receptionist Here are the form for admission and the prospectus. The fees are mentioned in the prospectus. The next course is beginning on the 15th of next month.

Gentleman Can I borrow your pen please, lady?
Receptionist Would you like to sit at that table? It has a pen and ink set too. You can study the prospectus and then fill out the admission form.

Gentleman Thank you, Ma’am. You’ve been very helpful.
A student attending the Secretarial practice course comes to the counter.

Student Good afternoon Ma’am. I am a student from the Secretarial Practice course. Is my result ready?
Receptionist What is your name please?
Student I am Rajiv Sachdeva. I finished the course last week.
Receptionist I’ll find out. Please wait for a few minutes. (Calling another secretary and getting a copy of the result). Here you are Rajiv. Congratulations you’ve done very well indeed.
Student Thank you. I am pleased with my result. Now I’ll do another course on the PBX. The too will be useful.
Receptionist That is a good idea, if you are training to be a secretary. I t is useful to know all the aspects of an office. Would you like to get an admission form?
Student Yes, Ma’am.

VOCABULARY

assistance information
job satisfaction reference

PHRASES

level of skill part-time course
regular course correspondence course

MEANING

prospective expected future.
correspondence letter writing.
Orientate to settle or find in relation to.
Enquiry asking question.
Reference to seek guidance from some authority.
Prospectus a leaflet describing the chief features of a school.

(C) Study the following responses:

1. What is the duty of the receptionist at the Enquiry Counter?
Response: A receptionist at the Enquiry Counter ought to be able to answer all questions seeking information about the organization, the services it provides and any related information. If the information is readily available, the receptionist can direct inquirer to the specific office- in- charge of the department. Enquiries on the telephone have to be attended to by the receptionist. She has also to attend to written enquiries seeking information.

2. Shouldn’t the receptionist have been more Persistent in regard to the first prospective and pushed him into one course or the other?
Response: From the nature of the student’s enquiries it seemed that he had come with no set purpose and
was only exploring various possibilities of what to do in his summer holidays. In the case of such an
undecided person, it would not have been right to push or pressurise him. It was right to give him
time to make up his own mind.

(D) Make suitable responses:

1. Why do you think that the gentleman in the lesson wanted to do a course in Labour Laws and Industrial Relations?
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2. Should the receptionist interrupt her conversation with a visitor and attend to the telephone? Or should she let the telephone ring till her conversation with the visitor is completed?
Response ________________________________________
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3. Should the receptionist let every visitor see the Director of the Institute? Why not?
Response ________________________________________
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