A letter to the teachers of English: 106Conversation skills (6)Ibrahim at a bookshop [Archives:2006/924/Education]

PROF. M.N.K.BOSE
[email protected]
Professor of English,
Faculty of Arts, Ibb
Shopkeeper: Can I help you?

Ibrahim: No, thanks. I want to go round the shop.

Shopkeeper: Can you tell me what exactly you want?

Ibrahim: I don't want anything particularly. If anything interests me, I'll buy it.

Shopkeeper: OK. Call me if you want anything, will you?

Ibrahim: Can I see some good pens, if you have?

Shopkeeper: ( a little hurt) Oh yes. We have very good pens. Over there in that shelf.

Ibrahim: Can you take the black one over there?

Shopkeeper: It is a parker pen. A bit expensive but a very good one.

Ibrahim: Do you think I can't afford it?

Shopkeeper: Oh, No. I didn't mean it that way. I hope you are a bit angry.

Ibrahim: So what? Show me the next one, will you?

Shopkeeper: It is a shepherd, also from England.

Ibrahim: An expensive one perhaps?

Shopkeeper: More than the parker.

Ibrahim: Aren't there less expensive pens in your shop?

Shopkeeper: Yes. This shelf, please. Most of them are inexpensive.

Ibrahim: Give me one of them.

Shopkeeper: This is 150 riyals, this is 100 riyals and this is

Ibrahim: Ok. I'll take two of this.

Shopkeeper: 300 riyals, please.

You could have noticed that Ibrahim has not been polite in his conversation, though the other participant tries to be polite. This makes the conversation break or fail.

Activity: Which expressions of Ibrahim are not so polite? Imagine a similar situation and prepare a conversation for practicing in your class. Good luck.

Make your speech meaningful and lovable.

Yours fraternally,

Dr.M.N.K.Bose.
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