Making, accepting and rejecting suggestions: Int Business – tapescript & notes
Welcome back to English Business Pod. Today's show is part of a two part series on making, accepting and rejecting
suggestions. Reject means to say no. Accept means to say yes. Today we're focused on making suggestions. In
the next episode, we'll take a look at accepting and rejecting suggestions. This episode takes place in a sports shoe
company called Stratos. You'll be listening to Karen, a marketing manager, meet with three members of her team:
Charles, Sven and Miguel.
They're choosing a new spokesperson to market their product. Celebrity means a famous person. Here,
spokesperson is someone who gets paid to be in an advertisement for a product.
In the dialogue, target market is the place where you want to sell your product and target consumer is the type of
person you want to sell your product to. In this case, the product is a new kind of new sports shoe made especially
for overweight people.
Overweight is a nice way of saying "too heavy" or "not fit". OK, let's listen. As you listen, pay attention to the
language speaks use to make suggestions to each other.
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Karen: OK. Now let's talk about who we want to use as a spokesperson for this product. Let's go around the table.
Shall we use a sports star or someone else? Sven, what do you think?
Sven: Well, one possibility would be to use a famous overweight business executive or CEO...someone who is really
successful.
Miguel:Sorry, but can I come in here?
Karen: Yes, go ahead Miguel.
Miguel:That's a good idea, but I'm not sure that it would work.
Karen: Why not?
Miguel:For one thing, our customers want to be fit, not fat.
Karen: Well, then what do you suggest?
Miguel:Perhaps we should just try to use a famous sports star, like we usually do. If it isn't broken, don't fix it. You
know what I mean? We could try getting Roonie or Nadall.
Karen: Good suggestion, but I can see one or two problems with that, to be honest.
Miguel:Oh?
Karen: First off, our target markets are in the UK and in the US. We need someone who both Americans and
Britons really like. Secondly, our target customer is kind of special.
Charles: I've got a suggestion.
Karen: Go ahead, Charles.
Charles: It's just an idea, but how about choosing someone from a sport where it's normal to be heavy? American
football for example...heavy but agile; overweight but strong and fast. You know what I mean?
Karen: Right, I can see what you mean. What do others think?
Miguel: Yes, that might be worth trying.
Sven: OK, but what about the UK? Who are we going to use on this side of the Atlantic?
Karen: Hmm...let me think about this. Shall we try to use someone in golf? That's popular in the US and in the UK
and that way we can kill two birds with one stone.
Others: That's not a bad idea. Yeah I think that might be worth trying.
Making, accepting and rejecting suggestions: Int Business – tapescript & notes
NOTES from PART 1
Making Suggestions
Sven: "Well, one possibility would be to use a famous overweight business executive, or CEO. Someone who is
really successful."
Other past modal verbs used like this: could, would, should, might
Miguel: "Perhaps we should just try to use a famous sports star, like we usually do. If it isn't broken, don't fix
it. You know what I mean?"
Charles:"I've got a suggestion."
Karen: "Go ahead, Charles."
Charles: "It's just an idea but, how about choosing someone from a sport where it's normal to be heavy?"
Other examples
How about you wash the dishes and I dry?
How about we have lunch together?
Shall we try to find someone in golf.
Other examples
What if we cut costs by trying to find a new office.
Well one possibility would be to hire more staff.
Perhaps we should have a vacation.
It's just an idea, but how about leaving a little early today?
Shall we try to ...another point of view?
What if we try to open a new store in Germany?
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NOTES from PART 2
Rejecting Suggestions
When rejecting suggestions, it’s important to avoid hurting peoples’ feelings.
E.g. That’s a good idea, but I don’t think it would work.
If it isn't broken, don't fix it. You know what I mean?"
Good suggestion, but I can see one or two problems with that, to be honest.
Other phrases for rejecting suggestions: frankly speaking, to be frank
That’s a good idea, but I’m not sure it would work, to be frank.
I’m not really sure about that.
Do you think so?
Accepting Suggestions
Right, I can see what you mean. What do others think?
Yes, that might be worth trying.
OK, let’s do that.
That’s not a bad idea.
Yes, I think that would work.
Good idea.
Great idea!
IDIOM:That way we could kill two birds with one stone.