You're listening to Business English Pop, the business English podcast for professionals on the move.
For many people, visiting a cafe or coffee shop is a normal part of business travel, if not everyday life.
Not only are coffee shops a good place to get a cup of espresso, they are also a great location to have a quick meeting with a customer.
Take a short break and, most importantly for the business traveler, get online to check your email.
Many cafes are now equipped with Wi-Fi or wireless internet, so while you sip on your latte or your mocha, you can surf the web and keep connected.
But despite people's attempts to make Wi-Fi services user-friendly or easy to use, they are sometimes difficult to connect to.
So in this lesson we'll not only look at ordering coffee, we will also practice troubleshooting an internet connection.
For today's lesson.
We'll be rejoining our friend Onesto as he stops by a coffee shop at the airport.
We'll hear Onesto ordering a drink and attempting to connect to the cafe's Wi-Fi.
As you listen, try to answer the following questions.
1.
What kind of drink does Onesto order?
2.
What deal does the coffee shop offer Onesto?
3.
Why can't he get online?
Hi.
Welcome to Uncommon Grounds.
What can I get for you, sir?
Uh, let me see.
I'd like a tall cafe mocha with an extra shot of espresso.
Alright.
Tall cafe mocha, extra shot.
Can I get you something to eat today?
Um, sure.
The brownies look deadly, but I'd better not.
How about a slice of carrot cake?
Coming right up.
Okay, so that comes to $571.
Do you take plastic?
Sure.
Here you go.
Sign here.
Thanks.
Thank you.
Have a great day.
Oh, by the way, do you have Wi-Fi?
We sure do.
And right now, if you sign up for Uncommon Grounds card, you get free Wi-Fi for a month and discounts on coffee.
Sounds like a deal.
Just fill out this form.
Name, address, and phone number.
Excuse me.
I'm having trouble getting online.
Okay.
Did you register your card number on our homepage?
I don't see the homepage.
I just get an error message.
All right, let me see.
We need to troubleshoot this.
Have you set your computer to automatically recognize the IP address?
Maybe not.
Go to the Control Panel and click on Connections.
Now go to Internet Options and click on the Connections tab.
Press the Settings button.
Okay, check the Automatically Detect Settings box.
Alright.
That should do it.
Hey, it works.
Thanks.
You're welcome.
Let me know if you need anything else.
Uh, yeah.
Can I get another mocha?
That last one was really good.
Two mochas in ten minutes.
Apparently, Onesto wasn't planning to sleep on his flight.
Let's take a closer look at the language he uses.
How does he order his coffee?
Hi, welcome to Uncommon Grounds.
What can I get for you, sir?
Uh, let me see.
I'd like a tall cafe mocha with an extra shot of espresso.
Onesto decides he wants a tall cafe mocha.
Tall refers to the size.
In the crazy world of coffee jargon, tall often means small, grande means medium and vente is large.
Tall can be confusing because it sounds like it should be big, Tall and small rhyme with each other, which may help you remember.
Onesto orders a cafe mocha.
This is a latte, hot steamed milk mixed with a small shot of espresso that has chocolate sauce or syrup added.
Onesto also wants an extra shot put in his coffee.
That is an extra dose of espresso.
Apparently, he likes it strong.
Let's practice some more expressions for ordering.
Could you please give me a large cafe latte with a shot of vanilla?
I think I'd like a grande caramel latte.
I just want a small cup of regular coffee, dark roast, please.
A cappuccino is similar to a latte, but with less milk and more foam.
Foam is a light fluffy layer that floats on milk when it is steamed.
Both vanilla and caramel are popular flavors.
If you just want normal coffee instead of espresso, you can order a regular coffee.
Most coffee shops offer a choice of roast.
Dark roast is stronger.
We say it has a fuller body.
And light roast is mild.
Now, what happens next?
First the cashier calls out Ernesto's request to the barista or coffee maker so he can make the drink.
Then the cashier asks if Ernesto would like anything else.
All right.
Tall cafe mocha, extra shot.
Can I get you something to eat today?
Um, sure.
The brownies look deadly, but I'd better not.
How about a slice of carrot cake?
Coming right up.
Brownies are a kind of dense, rich chocolate cake.
When Ernesto says they look deadly, he means they look sweet and delicious, but bad for your health.
He chooses to order something that sounds healthier, the carrot cake.
Now, how does Ernesto pay for his coffee?
Okay, so that comes to $5.71.
Do you take plastic?
Sure.
Here you go.
Sign here.
Thanks.
Thank you.
Have a great day.
The total for Ernesto's coffee and carrot cake is $5.71, or $5.71.
Ernesto asks the cashier if they take plastic or credit cards.
After Ernesto signs his name on the credit card slip or receipt, he puts 25 cents in the tip jar, a container that collects loose coin or change as tips for the coffee house workers.
In the United States such tips are appreciated, but unlike in restaurants, not required.
Why don't we review some more language for paying for your order?
Please put it on this card.
I'd like to pay by debit card, please.
Could I get $20 cash back, please?
May I have a receipt?
Paying by debit refers to using your card to take money directly out of your bank account, rather than borrowing money on your credit card.
Getting cash back means that you're asking for extra cash in addition to the cost of what you're buying.
This can be useful when you are traveling and don't have much foreign currency.
Next, Onesto asks about Wi-Fi or wireless internet.
What deal does the cashier offer him?
Oh, by the way, do you have Wi-Fi?
We sure do.
And right now, if you sign up for Uncommon Grounds card, you get free Wi-Fi for a month and discounts on coffee.
Sounds like a deal.
Just fill out this form, name, address, and phone number.
By signing up for the coffee shop's membership card, Onesto can receive free Wi-Fi and discounted coffee.
In some countries, including the United States, public wireless internet is typically a service that people pay for.
Since he is traveling, Onesto may not be coming back to uncommon grounds anytime soon.
But by signing up as their member, he can get online now for free, so he agrees.
Sounds like a deal means sounds like a bargain, or good value for money.
What happens next?
Onesto sits down to enjoy his coffee, but he can't get onto the internet.
What seems to be the problem?
Excuse me, I'm having trouble getting online.
Okay.
Did you register your card number on our homepage?
I don't see the homepage.
I just get an error message.
There is a webpage where Onesto has to register or enter his new membership card number.
But instead, all he sees is an error message.
A window that says, for example, this page does not exist.
Whether you are getting online in a cafe, hotel or at the office, it is quite common to have to ask for help troubleshooting or solving an internet connection problem.
Let's practice some more phrases for getting assistance with the web.
Sorry, could you give me a hand for a second?
I'm having a hard time connecting to the internet.
Excuse me, what does error message 404 mean?
Sorry to bug you, but could you just have a quick look at my connection settings?
Why can't Onesto go online?
Let's listen to how the cashier approaches the problem.
Alright, let me see.
We need to troubleshoot this.
Have you set your computer to automatically recognize the IP address?
Maybe not.
Another word for settings is configuration.
This refers to the way in which the computer is set up to go online.
Some hotels and offices require computers to connect to a fixed IP or web address, but this setting can cause problems in public places, where computers generally automatically obtain or recognize their address.
Note that the cafe worker practices good customer service by avoiding an accusative tone.
Instead of making an accusation.
You probably didn't get your computer to recognize the IP address.
She asks a question have you sent your computer to automatically recognize the IP address?
Let's examine a few more examples for troubleshooting internet connections, so that next time someone asks you for help, you'll know what to say.
Let's find out what's going on.
Can we have a look at your internet connection settings?
Is your network card enabled?
Why don't we disable it then turn it back on again?
I suggest rebooting your computer.
A common problem connecting to a wireless network is forgetting to turn on your network card or connection.
But people might feel a bit stupid or insulted if you say, did you forget to turn your card on?
So troubleshooters often ask users to disable or turn off the card and then turn it back on again to make sure it's working.
If all else fails, you can try rebooting or restarting the computer.
Next, the cashier walks Ernesto through or helps him perform the necessary operations.
Go to the control panel and click on Connections.
Now go to Internet Options and click on the Connections tab.
Press the Settings button.
Okay, check the automatically detect settings box.
Onesto is running a Windows computer.
The cashier has him go to the control panel where all the computer settings are to change the way it connects to the Internet.
Note the useful language here, to go to a window, to click on a button or tab, and check a box.
A tab is one in a series of overlapping windows, each displaying a different page or program.
What does the cashier say to indicate that she has finished troubleshooting?
Alright.
That should do it.
That should do.
It is a useful idiomatic expression to explain that you have finished helping someone.
Listen to some more phrases of this type.
That ought to take care of it.
That should be about it.
I'd say that should just about cover it.
Has the cashier solved Onesto's problem?
It seems so.
Listen again.
Hey, it works.
Thanks.
You're welcome.
Let me know if you need anything else.
Uh, yeah, can I get another mocha?
That last one was really good.
Onesto is ready to connect.
He's looking forward to surfing over another mocha.
Let's hope he doesn't have three emails from his boss waiting for him.
Now it's your turn to practice the skills we've looked at today.
First, let's try ordering and paying for a coffee.
During the practice, a cashier will be asking you what you want.
You'll hear a series of cues, indicating what you should order.
After the beep, place your order.
For example, if you hear, grande latte, you can say, I'd like a grande latte, please.
Next, the cashier will tell you your total.
According to the cue, respond appropriately after the beep.
For instance, if you hear credit, you can say, put it on my card, please.
Are you ready?
Let's give it a try.
What can I get for you?
Grande Latte, extra shot of espresso.
All right.
That comes to $3.76.
Debit.
$10 cash back.
What would you like today?
Tall cappuccino with extra foam.
A brownie.
Sure.
That will be $5.16.
How would you like to pay?
On.
Card.
How did you do?
Let's listen to the answers.
What can I get for you?
Example answer.
I'd like a grande latte with an extra shot of espresso.
All right.
That comes to $3.76.
Example Answer Can I pay by debit and get $10 cash back, please?
What would you like today?
Example Answer I'd like a tall cappuccino with extra foam.
And could you also get me one of those brownies?
Sure that will be 516.
How would you like to pay example?
Answer here you go, put it on this card.
Now let's review troubleshooting.
You'll hear a series of sentences.
In each sentence, one word is blanked out with a beep.
Repeat the sentence but say the missing word, for example, if you hear Sorry, could you give me a for a second?
You can say, Sorry, could you give me a hand for a second?
We'll play an example answer after each question.
Let's give it a go.
I'm having a hard time to the Internet.
Answer I'm having a hard time connecting to the Internet.
Maybe you could just have a quick look at my connection.
Answer Maybe you could just have a quick look at my connection settings.
Is your network card... Answer.
Is your network card enabled?
I suggest... Your computer.
Answer.
I suggest rebooting your computer.
That does it for this podcast on ordering coffee and accessing Wi-Fi in a cafe.
We've not only learned about ordering different kinds of coffee, but also practiced troubleshooting connection problems.
Thanks for listening and see you next time.
