The moment
Daniel is from Chicago and has just landed in Sydney. He booked a small automatic online. Mia works at the rental counter at the airport. The car she has for him is not the one he asked for, and Australia has one more surprise for an American driver. Listen for how he corrects the booking without sounding angry.
The conversation
- Mia
- Daniel
- Mia
- Daniel
- Mia
- Daniel
- Mia
- Daniel
- Mia
- Daniel
- Mia
- Daniel
- Mia
- Daniel
- Mia
Words to know
says you understand or found something
there are none left
says the problem is the company's fault
says you aren't ready to decide yet
the American word for a place to park; British and Australians say car park
Check yourself
Practice · 3 min
Play each line and repeat it in the gap. Then take Daniel's part with his lines muted. His correction has three parts: "Sorry," the fact, and the reason. Say all three without speeding up. It sounds calm, and calm gets the better car.
- MiaHi there. Picking up?
- DanielYes. The booking's under Daniel Moore.
- MiaGot it. A compact for six days, a manual.
- DanielSorry, I booked an automatic. I can't drive a manual.
- MiaLet me look. Hmm, we're out of automatic compacts.
- DanielIs there anything else available?
- MiaI have an automatic SUV. Same price, since it's our mistake.
- DanielGreat, thanks. Is insurance included?
- MiaBasic, yes. The deductible is two thousand dollars.
- DanielThat's a lot. I'll think about the full coverage.
- MiaSure. One more thing. First time driving in Australia?
- DanielYes. Why?
- MiaWe drive on the left here. The wheel's on the right.
- DanielRight. So I'll go slowly out of the parking lot.
- MiaGood idea. Keys are in the car, bay fourteen.
Say it today
Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.