BEP 112 – 议价: Getting Started

This is part of an ongoing series on negotiations. In this Business English Podcast episode, we’ll study how to open a traditional commercial negotiation between buyer and seller. We’ll focus on creating goodwill, 开始, setting ground rules, suggesting an agenda and exploring possibilities.

We’ll be listening to a telephone conversation between Tony, a supplier of building materials, 和保罗, a purchasing manager for a large construction company in Canada. Paul is buying materials for a harbor project. A harbor is a protected area of water where boats dock, or park. For this project, Paul needs to buy anchor bolts. These bolts are the thick steel screws that are embedded or buried in concrete to support or anchor structural steel columns. Structural columns refer to the steel frameworks that hold buildings up.

This is the first time Tony and Paul have talked on the phone. 当你听, pay attention to the language they use to get the negotiation started, and try to answer the following questions.

听力问题

1. How does Tony begin off the phone call to establish goodwill?
2. How long does Paul say he has available for the phone call?
3. Paul asks Tony how he will be using the bolts. How does Tony respond?
4. What other option does Paul want to explore with Tony?

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BEP 111 – 议价: 建立关系

This Business English Podcast episode on relationship building is part of an ongoing series on negotiation skills.

In negotiation, establishing a good relationship based on trust makes it possible to jointly search for creative solutions, to overcome blockage and even to turn conflict into a productive force.

Both Peter and Maxine are owners of local telecommunication services that provide mobile phone users with ring tones and games. Peter’s company, Textacular, has a significant presence in Denmark; 同时, Maxine’s company, Gamester, is based in northern Germany.

Peter is working on a plan to sell his business to a large, European-wide telecom service provider. In an effort to increase his company’s value so that he can get more money for it, Peter wants to roll up or buy other local services like his. In today’s listening, he is having lunch with Maxine to find out whether she might be interested in selling her company. 对话框开始时, they have just ordered their food.

听力问题

1) Have Peter and Maxine met before?
2) What does Peter say is his and Maxine’sbiggest overlapping concern?”
3) How does Peter bring up the subject of a possible merger between his and Maxine’s company?

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BEP 99 – 谈判: 谈判策略 (Part 2)

This is the second in a two-part advanced business English lesson on negotiation strategy. It is part of a longer series of podcasts on the language and skills of negotiating in English.

In the first episode, management consultant Bryan Fields discussed the basics of making a deal. We learned how to avoid some top common mistakes and we reviewed important vocabulary, such as BATNA, bottom line, bargaining chip, win-win, and zone of possible agreement.

Today’s podcast continues the interview with Bryan. In the dialog, we’ll learn five important elements of strategy – 派对, 兴趣, value, power and ethics. And along the way we’ll study useful vocabulary and idioms.

听力问题

1) What is the interviewer talking about when he refers to atrap?”
2) How does Bryan say we should think about interests?
3) In the interview, we learn that overcoming blockagethat is, getting past problemsis not just about reaching the agreement but also about maximizing what?

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BEP 98 – 谈判: 谈判策略 (Part 1)

This is the beginning of a new Business English Podcast series on the skills and language of negotiating in English.

Over the coming months we’ll explore the topic in a series of podcasts that examine several typical business negotiations and the language used in each stage of the process.

Today’s show is the first in a two-part sequence on the fundamentals of negotiation strategy. We will be hearing an interview with experienced management consultant Brian Fields. Brian discusses key concepts and important strategic considerations. The dialog teaches us both useful vocabulary and helpful skills.

听力问题

1) What are the top mistakes people make in a negotiation?
2) What is a BATNA, 或者 “best alternative to a negotiated agreement?”
3) What does Brian think about the idea ofwin-win” 谈判

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