B1 · Dining Problems and Solutions
Negotiating Compensation for a Menu Mismatch
- CEFR level:
- B1
- Sentences:
- 12
- Duration:
- 1 min
- Speakers:
- Tom & Emma
"Negotiating Compensation for a Menu Mismatch" is a B1-level English conversation about dining problems and solutions, 12 lines long (about 1 minute) between Tom & Emma. Read the full script below with the translation next to each line, then try speaking one of the roles out loud.
Dialogue script
Each entry shows the English sentence first, with the translation on the line below it. To practise speaking, cover the translation and repeat after the audio.
- Line 1Tom 0:00
The booked set menu is different from what they served tonight.
- Line 2Emma 0:03
Which items changed, and were substitutions communicated beforehand?
- Line 3Tom 0:08
Two signature dishes were replaced, and nobody informed us.
- Line 4Emma 0:12
Then disappointment is reasonable, especially for a planned occasion.
- Line 5Tom 0:17
Staff said "same value," but our group chose this menu for taste.
- Line 6Emma 0:21
Right, value isn't only price; expectation matters too.
- Line 7Tom 0:27
I'll request either discount or complimentary replacement plates.
- Line 8Emma 0:31
If the kitchen can't replace them, ask for a future voucher with clear terms.
- Line 9Tom 0:36
Let's discuss calmly with the manager, not frontline staff.
- Line 10Emma 0:40
I'll summarize facts in three points to keep it efficient.
- Line 11Tom 0:45
If they offer partial refund, we accept and document it.
- Line 12Emma 0:48
Good closure. Next time we reconfirm menu one day earlier.
Native audio, line-by-line recording and pronunciation scoring for this dialogue are in the EngTalk app.
Key vocabulary
Content words from this dialogue, ranked by the CEFR level at which they appear across the whole 500-dialogue library. Function words and proper nouns are excluded.
- different /ˈdɪfərənt/ adjective
not the same as another
- beforehand /bɪˈfɔrˌhænd/ adverb
in advance; ahead of time
- informed /ɪnˈfɔrmd/ adjective
having knowledge about something
- disappointment /ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪntmənt/ noun
sadness caused by unmet expectations
- reasonable /ˈrizənəbəl/ adjective
fair, sensible, or not excessive
- value /ˈvælju/ noun
worth, importance, or usefulness
- chose /tʃoʊz/ verb
past tense of choose; picked or selected
- expectation /ˌɛkspɛkˈteɪʃən/ noun
a belief about what will happen
- matters /ˈmætərz/ noun
subjects, problems, or things of importance
- future /ˈfjutʃər/ noun
the time that has not yet happened
- facts /ˈfækts/ plural noun
things known to be true
- accept /əkˈsɛpt/ verb
to agree to receive something or agree with a proposal