Multimedia Role Play for Chinese

Booking a table on the phone

Situation

A is a British student, Mr/Miss White. He/she is calling the Sichuan Restaurant to book a table for six of his/her friends who don't speak Chinese.

B is a receptionist at the Sichuan Restaurant, speaking on the phone.

Tasks for B, a restaurant receptionist

Make the conversation as realistic as possible by greeting each other at the beginning and by using small talk. Try to anticipate the flow of the conversation by looking at the following prompts.

1. Tell A that this is the Sichuan Fandian. Ask A to wait a moment, as you are checking (查一下 cháyixià V) tonight's bookings. After a little while, tell A that he/she can come.
2. Tell A that the prices depend on (看...情况 kàn qíngkuàng EXPR., e.g., 看菜的情况) the food. If they want to eat Peking Duck, it will cost them 120 yuan per person, while if they want to eat Sichuan-style food the price range is from 80 yuan to 100 yuan per person. Tell A that he/she will have to pay extra (另加钱 lìng jiā qián ADV+V-O) for drinks.
3. Tell A that they can have six dishes plus a soup, followed by some fruit. If A wants to have drinks they will have to pay extra.
4. Tell A that he/she doesn't need to pay anything in advance, but that they must be in the restaurant by 7:30, otherwise their table will be taken (占 zhàn V) by other people. Ask him/her for his/her telephone number and address.