The moment

It's eleven at night in Toronto. Wei's flight from Shanghai landed two hours late, and he's finally at the front desk. Grace is the night clerk. The booking is there, but the room isn't quite what he asked for. Listen for how both of them stay polite at the end of a long day.

The conversation

GraceWei
  1. Grace
  2. Wei
  3. Grace
  4. Wei
  5. Grace
  6. Wei
  7. Grace
  8. Wei
  9. Grace
  10. Wei
  11. Grace
  12. Wei
  13. Grace
  14. Wei

Words to know

after a long wait

says you'll look at the information before answering

to say sorry for a problem

says a plan is fine with you

Check yourself

1What's wrong with Wei's room?
2What does Grace offer?
3What does Wei mean by "Tonight I'll sleep anywhere"?

Practice · 3 min

Play each line and repeat it in the gap. Then take Wei's part with his lines muted. Notice "Sorry, I think I booked a king bed." The "sorry" and "I think" make it a gentle correction, not a complaint. Keep your voice soft on those two words.

  1. GraceGood evening. Checking in?
  2. WeiYes, finally. The reservation is under Wei Zhang.
  3. GraceHere it is. Three nights, a room with two queen beds.
  4. WeiSorry, I think I booked a king bed.
  5. GraceLet me check. You're right, it says king here.
  6. WeiIs there one available?
  7. GraceNot tonight, I'm afraid. We're almost full.
  8. WeiOkay. What about tomorrow?
  9. GraceTomorrow I can move you to a king on a high floor.
  10. WeiThat works. Tonight I'll sleep anywhere.
  11. GraceAnd breakfast is free tomorrow, for the trouble.
  12. WeiThat's kind of you. What time does it start?
  13. GraceSix thirty, on the second floor. Here's your key card.
  14. WeiThanks, Grace. Have a quiet night.

Say it today

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