Seizing an opportunity

SITUATION

Ramon still hasn't decided what to do. The marketing consultants have advised him to think bigger, and Mrs Sombat of Songthai Enterprises has proposed that she should become his agent. But Ramon has to think about his company's long-term future in South-East Asia and this may mean setting up a manufacturing base in Thailand.

CHARACTERS

LANGUAGE

Taking a trip out of town

13.1 Listen and read

Ramon still has to make a decision about production, as well as marketing and distribution. He is about to leave the hotel when Fred arrives. Listen to how Ramon builds up a list of reasons for doing what he wants to do.

13.2 Structure practice: putting an argument

If you know you are going to have to persuade someone, it helps to have a few good arguments ready to use. But you also need to link them together, to make them stronger. Listen again to how Ramon links his arguments in 13.1.
You are going on holiday with a friend. Your friend wants to take a lot of cash; you want to take traveller's cheques. Write the arguments you would use to persuade your friend to take traveller's cheques. Use the information below, and remember to link the arguments together.

13.3 Listen and read

Ramon and Fred agree to take a coach trip to Pattaya. Listen to what they say. Why do you think Ramon is interested in the deserted factory?

13.4 Structure practice: interested and interesting

Ramon says 'I was interested in that factory over there', and later 'Interesting!' ('That is interesting'). You must be careful not to confuse the two forms ending in '-ing' and '-ed'. It is helpful to think of the '-ing' form as 'active', and the '-ed' form as 'passive'. For example, if something interests you, then that something is 'interesting', and you are 'interested'. Practise using both '-ing' and '-ed' forms by answering these questions. The first one has been done for you.

13.5 Document study

Ramon goes to the Bangkok Business Library, and finds a complete series of Songthai Enterprises' annual reports, in English and Thai, going back to 1953, the year the company was founded. He starts with the most recent one, and works back year by year until he finds what he is looking for. Why is he interested?

13.6 Structure practice: participles

The annual report in 13.5 says 'Carefully chosen for its proximity ..., Muang Boran will meet our production requirements'. This means that Muang Boran was carefully chosen, and that Muang Boran will meet the production requirements. When you write sentences like this, you must make sure that the 'subject' of both parts is the same. In 13.5 we could have written, 'Starting with the most recent one, he works back ...', because it was Ramon who started, and Ramon who is working back. Read through the four sentences below carefully. Which ones are not right? Why?

13.7 Writing practice

It is time for Ramon to add to the notes he made in 11.7 and 11.17. Write notes for him about what has happened during and after his trip to Pattaya.

Chasing up your enquiries

13.8 Listen and read

Ramon telephones Supa to ask her about Songthai Enterprises. Listen to what they say. It is a poor telephone line. Notice how Supa has to ask Ramon to repeat things.

13.9 Speaking practice: a bad telephone line

Listen to this conversation. Then listen again and speak the parts, first of the man and then of the woman.

13.10 Structure practice: the past perfect tense

Supa says to Ramon 'Mr Sombat left many debts when he died. He had borrowed heavily ...' She uses the simple past 'left' to show that she is talking about a particular time in the past, and then the past perfect 'had borrowed' to show that something else happened before that time.
Here are some pairs of sentences, describing two separate events. Make each pair into a single sentence, using the past perfect.

13.11 Document study: writing a letter of thanks

Ramon writes to Mrs Sombat to thank her for the dinner. He decides to ask her for another meeting. Read the letter below.

returning your hospitality asking you to be my guest, after I have been your guest
call on you visit you.

13.12 Listen and read

Ramon telephones Mrs Sombat's house the next day. Listen to how he makes an appointment to see her, and sends a message via her secretary.

13.13 Writing practice: making notes

Ramon now has to decide what he wants to do. Read through the notes you made for him in lessons 11, 12 and 13. Make a list of options for him. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each option?

Being in the right place at the right time

13.14 Listen and read

Ramon goes to see Mrs Sombat in her office. Listen to what they say. Notice how they each begin by stating their positions.

13.15 Listen and read

Ramon is surprised to find Fred at the meeting, but he makes his offer to Mrs Sombat. Listen to what they say. What is Ramon's counter-proposal? Notice how Mrs Sombat very carefully considers both of her options before she makes a decision.

13.16 Speaking practice: bidding for a contract

Listen to this conversation. Then listen again and speak the part of the man.

13.17 Listen and read

Mrs Sombat has told Ramon and Fred what her decision is. Listen to what they say. Who will she work with? Why are Ramon and Fred both taken by surprise?

13.18 Listening practice: some idioms

When Ramon, Fred and Mrs Sombat speak to each other, they use many idiomatic expressions. Listen to their conversations in this lesson again, and then answer the questions below, using expressions from their conversations.

13.19 Writing practice: a message to Jack Lytton

Ramon is pleased to have got a contract with Mrs Sombat. He decides to write to Jack Lytton and tell him all about it. Write the letter for him, using the notes you have made, and any other details you think might help. Jack is a friend, so the letter does not need to be too formal. The beginning of the letter is shown below.