4. Negotiating and solving problems

Conversation Workbook, level B2, lesson 4. Negotiating and solving problems.

Exercise 3. Listen to the conversation. Sharing an apartment.

OK, Klára, let's sort out the rules. What I'm hoping to achieve is a fair system for cleaning.

Agreed. What's most important for you here?

The kitchen, honestly. I can't stand dirty dishes in the sink.

Fair enough. I could agree to wash up every evening, provided that you take care of the bathroom.

The whole bathroom? I'm afraid that's not really an option for me. I work late on Thursdays and Fridays.

How about if we took turns – one week you, one week me?

That sounds fair. Now, guests. I'd prefer no guests after eleven on weeknights.

Hmm. My boyfriend often comes over late. Let's look at it from a different angle. I might be willing to keep guests in my room if you could accept them until midnight.

OK, as long as it's quiet.

And bills? Should we split everything fifty-fifty?

Yes, but my room is smaller. Could I pay a bit less rent?

That's reasonable. So, to confirm what we've agreed: I wash up, we take turns with the bathroom, guests until midnight, and you pay a bit less rent.

I think we have a deal.

Exercise 4. Your turn. Listen, stop the recording and answer. Then listen to a possible answer.

A.

What do you want from this meeting?

What we're hoping to achieve is a fair schedule for everyone.

B.

We'd like you to work every Saturday.

We could agree to that, provided that I can have Sundays off.

C.

We can only pay ten dollars an hour.

I'm afraid that's not really an option for me.

D.

I can't work on Fridays.

How about if you worked Saturday mornings instead?

E.

We seem to be stuck.

Let's look at it from a different angle.

F.

So, are we agreed?

Yes. So, to confirm what we've agreed: three evenings a week, and Saturdays off.

This is the end of the recording.