Sending a Standard Letter/Postcard
A customer wants to send a standard letter or postcard domestically or internationally and needs to purchase stamps or confirm postage.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
postcard
A postcard is a flat card with a picture on one side, used for sending short messages through the mail without an envelope.
stamp
A stamp is a small adhesive label with a picture that you buy and stick on mail to pay for the postage service.
international
International means involving or happening between different countries, like sending mail abroad.
postage
Postage is the fee or cost required to send mail or a package through the postal service.
rate
In this context, rate means the price or cost per unit, like the postage rate for sending a letter to another country.
attach
To attach means to stick or fasten something to another object, such as sticking a stamp on an envelope.
mailbox
A mailbox is a public box where you can drop off outgoing letters or packages for the postal service to collect.
change
Change refers to the money returned to you when you pay more than the exact amount for something, like coins or small bills.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
I'd like to send this postcard to Australia.
This sentence uses 'I'd like to' as a polite way to express a request or desire. It's useful for starting a service interaction, like at a post office, and shows how to specify what you want to send and the destination.
Do I need a special stamp for international mail?
This is a yes/no question starting with 'Do I need' to ask for confirmation or advice. It's practical for checking requirements in postal services, highlighting the use of 'special' for something unique like international stamps.
Let me check the current postage rate for you.
This polite offer uses 'Let me' to suggest helping, with 'current' meaning up-to-date. It's useful for service workers to show assistance and explains how to inquire about costs in a helpful way.
How much would that be?
This is a common question to ask for the price using 'would' for hypothetical or future cost. It's essential in shopping or services to confirm total amounts and is simple for everyday transactions.
Would you like to purchase a stamp now?
This uses 'Would you like to' for polite offers or questions about preferences. It's a key pattern for customer service, helping to guide the next step in a transaction like buying postage.
You can just attach it to the top right corner of the postcard.
This gives simple instructions with 'can' for permission or ability, and 'just' to make it sound easy. It's useful for explaining how to prepare mail and teaches placement details in postal etiquette.
Perfect, thank you so much for your help!
This expresses strong gratitude using 'perfect' for satisfaction and 'so much' for emphasis. It's a natural way to end a positive interaction, common in service situations to show appreciation.