Learn English: Need some material for a student working at customs, cargo etc

Question

Good evening

I have difficulty finding material for a new adult student who has difficulty understanding American customers who call her on the phone or who she needs to hold video conferences with.

Her job is all about customs, cargo, shipping goods etc, she works at the airport.

Listenings would be great, I can find them, but not on such specific issues.

Thanks for your help

Listenings? Do you mean audio exercises? - webdunce, Oct 18, 2010

Perhaps recordings? - webdunce, Oct 18, 2010

Answer 1

I would recommend that she print out a script of the types of things that they might say using the terminology that is specific to her business, along with her responses (with translations, if she needs them).

Then, she could set up an intercambio with an American who would role play the part of the customer.

I'm sure that after a little practice she will have no problem with routine questions.

I also have a problem talking on the phone in Spanish. I ask people to speak slowly and explain that speaking on the phone is difficult for me. It always helps.

I think this is a good idea - cheeseisyummy, Oct 18, 2010

Answer 2

The BBC have made several programmes about Heathrow Airport, imaginitively called "Airport".

ITV had a similar one entitled "Airline", based at Luton Airport.

I think Sky TV show a programme about the Customs Service at Gatwick Airport.

They may be of some help, if you can find them online.

thanks, fonta, I found them on youtube, but I cant see anything about cargo etc - 00494d19, Oct 20, 2010

Answer 3

Is she having difficulty with the shipping/cargo vocabulary, the way Americans speak in general, or both?

I have become friends with a Chilean family over the past few months. They were taught English by British nuns. They understand the language but complain that Americans speak so quickly, cut sentences in half (their words)...

"Mornin" instead of "Good morning"

or

"How ya doin?" instead of "How are you doing?", etc.

If this is her main problem, I would suggest that she do what we try to do in the reverse.... Listen continually to American T.V., especially commercials, which are repetitive and T.V. shows or movies which show how real people speak. If she is dealing with a certain part of the country (Texas; New York; Boston; Georgia etc.) let us know and we can perhaps suggest some shows or movies she could listen to.that would be helpful.

There is nothing like watching the entire "Rocky" collection to help her understand how people from Philadelphia sound.

Thanks, lots of good suggestions, I will show her the thread - 00494d19, Oct 18, 2010

Answer 4

Would she be joining us on Skype? There she could do what Joyce recommended. You know I would be a willing subject if I could understand her enough.

thanks yesero, her English is really bad though, nothing like Celia's....:( - 00494d19, Oct 18, 2010

Sort of like my Spanish! - Yeser007, Oct 18, 2010

With Skype you have the video. It always helps me to look at someone's lips. When I don't have that opportunity, on a phone call, my comprehension plummets. - JoyceM, Oct 21, 2010

Answer 5

You have made tapes in Spanish for us in the past with people with various dialects.How hard would it be for us to tape the kinds of words and basic sentences she needs to use?I would be willing to make an "audio tape" for her that would function on the Net. Or if we had written dialogue listen to and coach her or read the dialogue aloud to her.

great idea, thanks niz, that is really great - 00494d19, Oct 18, 2010

Answer 6

Thanks Joyce and webdunce

We call listenings this kind of thing, a recording, but I dont seem to be able to find anything in the line she needs.

I will try to get her do that, Joyce, good idea, let's see what she has in mind.

In my language classes, these were usually called dialogs. You could also say audio dialogs. - webdunce, Oct 18, 2010

It was funny hearing English being used for these cheesy dialogs. I'm used to hearing other languages in such things. - webdunce, Oct 18, 2010

Answer 7

Thanks, fonta, actually they can be found, I guess not complete but anyway, on youtube, however, her contacts are mostly with Americans.

I will try to find an episode with something about cargo anyway.