Business Traveler

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

• four-star
• on the company card
• typical
• accommodation

• action
• on the cheap
• plush
• kibosh

• lavish
• impress

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

A few short years ago, the life of the business traveler was great. You would fly first class from city to city, drink and dine on the company tab, stay in plush hotel rooms, and milk that unrestricted corporate expense account for all it was worth.

But times have changed.

With increasing operating costs, companies are downsizing their staffs and budgets, putting the kibosh on the perks and lavish lifestyle that made business travel so much fun.

Listen to Taylor and John talk about business travel.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Taylor

John

Taylor:  So, John. I hear you’re about to go on a business trip. Where ya’ going?

John:  This time I’m going to Montreal, Canada.

Taylor:  Excellent.

John:  Yeah, it should be a good time.

Taylor:  Are you going to stay at a four-star hotel with a fruit basket, all on the company card?

John:  Well, you know, that is typical for people when they go on business trips to stay in a little higher-end accommodations, and eat a little bit better. But I try to do it just like I would if I was traveling normally, actually.

Taylor:  So, you know, they have Motel Six up there in Canada?

John:  Yeah, you know, they have a campground, but I think it’s full, so I’m probably going to do the Motel Six action.

Taylor:  So, you know, I know that you’re going to be meeting with, ah, you know, people who potentially could be a business client and, ah, do you think you’ll be taking somebody out to a fancy business lunch?

John:  Yeah, that’s a good point. If I’m eating by myself, I’ll eat on the cheap, like I would normally. But if I’m trying to impress a client, or to do something with a potential business relationship, then I definitely take them out to a nice meal and give them a couple drinks, and make sure they have a good time because that fifty dollar investment can go a long, long ways.

 

Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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