Words to know

someone else pays for everything

there's a hidden problem with something that looks good

accept an offer someone made

Step 1 of 5

Listen first

No text yet. Listen for who, where and what goes wrong.

XiaoChen

Practice · 3 min

Shadow Chen first. He's suspicious in a friendly way, so "What's the catch?" and "There it is" should sound knowing, not grumpy. Then take Xiao's part. She's excited from the first line; keep her energy up, and let "See?" have a little told-you-so in it.

  1. XiaoChen, did you see the director's email? Our team won the sales contest.
  2. ChenWe did? What's the prize?
  3. XiaoA trip to Kyoto. Three days, all expenses paid. Flights, hotel, dinners, everything.
  4. ChenOkay. What's the catch?
  5. XiaoWhy does there have to be a catch?
  6. ChenBecause nothing's free. Read the rest of the email.
  7. XiaoFine. It's the weekend of the twelfth. Friday to Sunday.
  8. ChenThere it is. That's our own weekend.
  9. XiaoAnd there's a half-day workshop on Saturday morning with the Tokyo sales team.
  10. ChenSo it's a work trip with better food.
  11. XiaoA little. But Saturday afternoon and all of Sunday are free. Temples, gardens, whatever we want.
  12. ChenI promised my son I'd be at his soccer game that Saturday morning.
  13. XiaoAsk if you can fly in on Saturday afternoon. You'd miss the workshop, but not the trip.
  14. ChenWould they really let me do that?
  15. XiaoYou closed the biggest deal of the year. I think they'll say yes.
  16. ChenOkay. Then I'll take them up on it. Half a free trip is still a free trip.
  17. XiaoSee? Sometimes the catch is small.
  18. ChenThis time. Remind me you said that when they ask us to give a speech.

Say it today

Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.