雅虎香港財經 【商業英語】電話約會面要點講好？
眾所週知，秘書或接待員經常需要在電話上應付有關安排約會的事宜，他們對於這些情景所需的英語用詞及句式，應該駕輕就熟。但如果閣下不是專責從事這些工作，當遇到上司或外國客戶關於會面的要求時，你又能否應對自如？
承接上兩個星期，我們談及有關電話上以英語交談的職場情景，這星期最後看看在電話上安排、更改及取消約會的實用句式。同時，我們可以透過幾個簡短的職場模擬情景對話，進一步學習相關的措詞及片語。讀者們請特別注意粗體的字詞及其在句式中的用法，以便日後能靈活使用。
A) Proposing an Appointment over the Phone 電話約會
I would like to make an appointment to see Ms. Chan next week.
Can I have an appointment with Mr. Li tomorrow?
Is it possible to make an appointment with Ms. Anderson on Sunday?
Would four o’clock be okay/ alright with you?
Does two o’clock sound alright?
Yes, that’s great/ perfect.
OK, that’s fine.
Alright, that’s just what we want.
Conversation 情景對話 1
T: Tony M: Marvin
T: Hello, my name is Tony with Steve Evans. I would like to make an appointment with Ms. Lee.
M: Sure. Let me check Ms. Lee’s schedule. Let’s see…she has an opening tomorrow at ten.
T: I’m afraid I’ll be tied up tomorrow at ten. Could we make it tomorrow at nine?
M: Yes, that would be much better actually.
T: Great! Thanks. Bye.
M: Goodbye. See you tomorrow.
Conversation 情景對話 2
M: Michelle P: Peter
M: Good afternoon, Mr. Button’s office.
P: Hello, can I speak to Benjamin Button, please?
M: I’m afraid he’s in a meeting until lunchtime. Can I take a message?
P: Well, I’d like to arrange an appointment to see him, please. It’s Peter Parker here.
M: Could you hold on for a minute, Mr. Parker? I’ll just look in the diary. So when’s convenient for you?
P: Sometime next week if possible. I think he’s away the following week.
M: Yes, that’s right. He’s on holiday for 2 weeks.
P: Well, I need to see him before he goes away. So would next Wednesday be okay?
M: Wednesday…let me see… He’s out of the office all morning. But he’s free in the afternoon, after about three.
P: Three o’clock is difficult. But I could make it after four.
M: So shall we say 4:15 next Wednesday in Mr. Button’s office?
P: Yes, that sounds fine. Thanks very much.
M: Okay, then. Bye.
B) Rescheduling and Canceling Appointments 電話重新安排及取消預約
Is it convenient to make it another time?
I have to postpone the appointment.
I’m busy tomorrow, but I can come the day after（後日）.
I hope I could change my appointment from Monday to Thursday.
I’d like to postpone my appointment until/ till next Friday.
Do you think I could change my appointment from 2 to 3 o’clock?
Something’s come up. Can we make our appointment a little later?
Because something unexpected has come up, I wonder if I could change my appointment from Monday to Wednesday.
For some reason or other, I wonder if I could change the day of our meeting to some time later this week, say, Friday.
Conversation 情景對話 1
C: Miss Chan B: Mr. Brown
C: Hi, Mr. Brown. This is Miss Chan speaking.
B: Hi, Miss Chan. How’re you doing today?
C: Great, thank you. Mr. Brown, can we re-schedule our meeting date? There’s an emergency and I can’t make it on Friday.
B: No problem. When can we meet?
C: How about next Monday at the same time?
B: Suits me fine. My schedule is flexible.
C: Great. I’ll see you Monday at 6 o’clock at Ritz Carlton.
B: Alright, Miss Chan.
Conversation 情景對話2
W: Mr. Wong C: Mr. Cheung
W: Good morning.
C: Hello. May I speak to Mr. Wong, please?
W: Speaking/ This is he.
C: Morning, Mr. Wong. This is Mr. Cheung from Marco International. I’m phoning about our appointment on Wednesday. I’m sorry, but I can’t make it.
W: That’s a pity.
C: Could we meet on Friday instead?
W: I’m afraid I'll be tied up then.
C: The only other time I’m free is Thursday morning. That’s the 10th.
W: Well, I’ll try to manage. Would 9:30 in the morning be convenient for you?
C: That’s fine. I’m sorry about this trouble.
W: It’s OK.
C: Thank you, Mr. Wong. I’ll see you on Thursday then.
W: Great, see you then. Bye.
Frankie Chan
MA in English Language Teaching (Distinction), BSc (First-class honours), TEFL Dip.
現 代教育IELTS/ TOEFL /Workplace English資深英語名師，著名TOEFL參考書作者及星島日報IELTS攻略專欄作者。曾任劍橋商業英語考試BULATS寫作及口試考官，並於國際英 語學院Wall Street English任教多年並擔任其多間分校之校長，具15年教學經驗，並擁有豐富管理與發展商業英語及國際英語考試課程之經驗。
Facebook: frankieps.chan@gmail.com
Email: frankieps.chan@gmail.com
