4 Business Letters

ENGL 2516 WBA or WBB

2015

GOOD NEWS-Routine Inquiry

Today you received the good news that you have been appointed director of Chinese Operations

for Acton-Walters, Inc. You are excited, but also fearful because you do not know the language.

Although at the beginning you will have a full-time interpreter, you know that eventually you will need to know Chinese.

In discussing this with a co-worker, you learn that he recently returned from an assignment in China.

He mentions that he found a retired Chinese professor of English in Beijing who conducts a two-week intensive training course. As your co-worker explains it, “Wang Tingbi is a master teacher. He works with you 10 hours every day all day. You start talking Chinese early in the course, and you end the course carrying on a decent conversation.”

You are interested. You have five weeks before you begin the assignment, so you could arrive early and have the training already under your belt. You need answers to some questions. Most importantly, you need to know whether Professor Tingbi can schedule the training in the time you have available before you begin. There is also the question of cost. In addition, what about the housing? Your furnished apartment won’t be ready until shortly before your duties begin. Think through the situation and see

If any other questions need to be considered.

Your co-worker gave you Professor Tingbi’s email and address.