节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2013-11-19
难易度:Medium
关键字:myth, practically, website, reputation, auction, scam artist
We are continuing our conversation between Laura and Nellie in the article
Consumer Conflicts.
Today we learned that Laura has bought a few things online.
She has used online auction sites.
And she bought a book of myths.
And it was just what she was expecting.
She was so excited to have this book.
And Nellie agrees that you can find practically anything online, so.
If you can't find it in a store, shopping online could be a good solution.
Well, we have a lot more to learn from this conversation.
Let's continue.
(Music).
Consumer Conflicts.
Yes. But not all my online shopping experiences have been good.
Another time I bought a CD from an individual.
On the website he said it was new, but it was all dirty and scratched when it
arrived!
I tried to return it, but the person never replied to any of my emails, so I
never got my money back.
What a scam artist!
You do have to be careful when buying things online.
I only buy from stores with good reputations.
And when I buy from an auction, I only buy from sellers who have a lot of
positive reviews.
Good advice.
Now let me give you some advice - fashion advice!
Let's go to the mall, and I'll drive!
(Music).
Aw, I think Laura is very nice.
She's offering to drive them to the mall.
Well, let's go back to the beginning of this part of the conversation.
What is Laura's first line?
Well, she's responding to Nellie, saying that you can find practically anything
if you shop online.
And she responds:
Yes. But not all my online shopping experiences have been good.
Another time I bought a CD from an individual.
On the website he said it was new, but it was all dirty and scratched when it
arrived.
Well, OK. I know Laura has a very long line here.
But I need to interrupt you because she says some important things.
She bought a CD from an individual.
That means an individual person, one person, OK.
On the website he said it was new.
Well, website is an important word for us to learn and talk about.
Of course, anywhere you go online, there are websites.
What you're looking at when you're online, that is a website of some kind.
That's right.
So if you open an Internet browser and you type an address into the little
search bar or the address bar, then it will take you to that website.
And there are many websites out there.
Studio Classroom also has a website.
Have you visited it?
It's very interesting.
Yes. If you have not visited our website, please go there sometime.
www.studioclassroom.com.
That's our website.
That's one of our web pages.
Well, we have more to learn here from Laura's line.
She was a little disappointed with this dirty and scratched CD.
Yes. Well, I would be, too.
The website said it was new, but it was dirty and scratched when it arrived.
She continues:
I tried to return it, but the person never replied to any of my emails, so I
never got my money back.
Aw, that's too bad.
OK. She tried to return something.
When you return something to a store that you don't want, you do hope that you
can get your money back,
or at least be able to buy something else with that money.
But this didn't happen to Laura.
She tried to return it, but did not get her money back.
Nellie says: What a scam artist!
Oh. Well, that is a very interesting thing to call someone.
A scam artist?
Yeah.
So he can do art.
Um, no. Usually art is a good thing.
I know you'd like to be an artist of some kind.
A scam artist, of course, is not a good thing.
It's lying to people.
That's basically what a scam artist does - lying to people and getting their
money.
Ah! So we want to avoid scam artists.
And it's very difficult when you're online and looking at different websites to
know if the person is being truthful or not about the item they're trying to
sell.
That's right.
And of course, scam artists could be uh, many different kinds of people.
Maybe they're lying about themselves on a dating website.
Or maybe they're calling you.
They're telemarketing and want you to buy something.
But really, they're trying to get your money.
And by answering the phone call, you're actually paying some money.
Has that ever happened to you before?
Well, these are all different kinds of scam artists.
OK, so Nellie says: You do have to be careful when buying things online.
I only buy from... what kinds of online sites?
She only buys from stores with good reputations.
Well, that is very good advice right there, Nellie, to buy from a store with a
good reputation.
Now a reputation is what you know about something, and it's common knowledge.
So people can have good reputations or bad reputations as well as websites and
stores.
So what kind of reputation do you have?
Do you have the reputation of being an honest person, someone that people can
trust and talk to?
I think that is a great reputation to have.
Maybe having a reputation of being a very friendly and open person.
Or maybe, what's a negative or bad reputation someone might have?
Maybe someone has a reputation for always being late.
Of course, that's a habit you might need to change.
But what kind of reputation do you have?
Now someone may have heard about you even before meeting you.
And here's a common phrase, they might say:
Your reputation precedes you.
That means I knew about you before I met you.
Yes. So think about what kind of reputation you have and talk about that.
Learn a little bit more about your reputation.
Well, would you like to continue, Nellie?
Of course!
I only buy from stores with good reputations.
And when I buy from an auction, I only buy from sellers who have a lot of
positive reviews.
Good advice!
Now let me give you some advice - fashion advice!
Let's go to the mall, and I'll drive.
Well, again, Laura is being very friendly here.
She's offering to use her gas, which costs money, to drive to the mall.
Maybe Nellie needs some fashion advice.
Maybe Laura will help her dress a little more stylishly.
Well, right now it's time for us to enjoy a review skit, and then join Michelle
in the Language Lab.
Hey, let's shop.
OK. I'll get out my laptop.
Why?
For online shopping.
No, no, no. Online shopping is troublesome.
No, it's not.
When you buy something, it comes right to the door.
But it's risky.
You might order something that doesn't fit.
Then you send it back.
And pay for the shipping?
No. Thank you.
Let's shop at the mall.
You can buy what you want and have it right away.
But the mall is far away, and gas is expensive.
I'd rather pay for gas than wait a week!
But it's exciting when things finally arrive.
But I like to shop in stores, oh, and support local businesses.
However...
Yes?
Online auction sites are pretty exciting.
Yeah, and you can find practically anything.
But sometimes you buy things and you're disappointed.
And sellers don't always reply to your emails.
Look out for scam artists.
Only buy from stores with good reputations.
I know that now.
And if you buy from an online auction, be sure the seller has good reviews.
That's good advice.
Now let's go to the mall.
But I want to shop online!
No problem.
The mall has WiFi.
OK.
(Chinese).
And now let's see what our teachers are up to.
Well, today in our conversation Laura shared about a bad experience buying
something online.
Carolyn, has that ever happened to you?
Did you ever have this kind of experience?
Well, I have, actually.
I ordered a book online.
And when my book arrived, it was not the book I ordered.
Huh? Whoa, it wasn't?
No. I received the wrong book in the mail.
So what happened?
Did your return it or what?
Well, I think I ended up selling it.
Well, hey, you made some money off of it.
That's good.
Well, what about you?
Have you ever had a bad experience buying something online?
Talk about it in English.
And of course, we will see you next time right here at Studio Classroom.
See you!