In the next dialogue Erik has some good news for Maria.

E: Hello? Maria? It’s Erik here.

M: Hi Erik. Nice to hear from you. It sounds like you’re having a party! Can you speak up a bit?

5 E: I’m calling from the restaurant. It’s very noisy in here – I’ll just go outside. (…)

Can you hear me now?

M: Yes, that’s fine now.

E: Good. I was just calling to tell you the news about the contract. We got it! We got the contract!

M: Fantastic! That’s wonderful!

10 E: They’re going to pay two hundred and fifteen thousand.

M: Did you say two hundred and fifty – five, zero?

E: In your dreams! No, two hundred and fifteen – one, five. It still gives us a very good margin.

15 M: And did they agree to the time schedule we proposed?

E: Well, I had to move a little on that in the discussions.

M: What exactly do you mean by ‘move a little?

E: I said that we could start work in early March and finish the installation by the middle of April.

20 M: Now, wait a minute. Let me just check that I understand. Are you saying that

we have just six weeks to do the whole job?

E: That’s right.

M: I see. That’s going to be difficult, you know.

E: Well, there is a way we can do it. Look, my battery is very low. I think we’re going to get cut off. I’ll give you a call tomorrow.

M: OK. Great news anyway. Thanks for calling. Bye.

· Notice at line 12 how Maria checks the figure by saying the individual numbers (it is very easy to get confused by thirteen/thirty, fourteen/forty, etc).

· Notice at line 17 how Maria clarifies a very specific point.

· Notice at line 20 how Maria checks by rephrasing the idea in different way.