B2 Lesson: Global Trade
Welcome to Battambang! Join Sophea, a local artist and teacher, and Rithy, a cafe owner, as they navigate the complex world of global trade. In this lesson, you will learn essential business vocabulary and how to confidently use reported speech to discuss international logistics. សូមស្វាគមន៍មកកាន់បាត់ដំបង! ចូលរួមជាមួយ សុភា ជាសិល្បករក្នុងស្រុក និង ឫទ្ធី ដែលជាម្ចាស់ហាងកាហ្វេ ពេលពួកគេស្វែងយល់ពីពិភពពាណិជ្ជកម្មសកល។ នៅក្នុងមេរៀននេះ អ្នកនឹងរៀនពាក្យសំខាន់ៗ និងរបៀបប្រើប្រាស់ reported speech ដើម្បីពិភាក្សាពីភស្តុភារអន្តរជាតិ។ ยินดีต้อนรับสู่พระตะบอง! เข้าร่วมกับโซเพีย ศิลปินท้องถิ่น และฤทธี เจ้าของร้านกาแฟ ในการสำรวจโลกของการค้าระดับโลก คุณจะได้เรียนรู้คำศัพท์และวิธีการใช้ reported speech เพื่อพูดคุยเกี่ยวกับโลจิสติกส์ระหว่างประเทศ Chào mừng đến Battambang! Cùng Sophea, một nghệ sĩ địa phương, và Rithy, chủ quán cà phê, khám phá thế giới thương mại toàn cầu. Bạn sẽ học từ vựng thiết yếu và cách sử dụng câu tường thuật (reported speech). 欢迎来到马德望！跟随当地艺术家索菲亚和咖啡馆老板利西，探索复杂的全球贸易世界。您将学习基本的商业词汇以及如何使用间接引语。 バタンバンへようこそ！地元アーティストのソフェアとカフェオーナーのリティーと一緒に、グローバル貿易の複雑な世界をナビゲートしましょう。必須のビジネス語彙と間接話法の使い方を学びます。 바탐방에 오신 것을 환영합니다! 현지 예술가 소피아와 카페 주인 리티가 함께 글로벌 무역의 복잡한 세계를 탐색합니다. 필수 비즈니스 어휘와 간접 화법 사용법을 배우게 됩니다. Bienvenue à Battambang ! Rejoignez Sophea, une artiste locale, et Rithy, propriétaire d'un café, dans le monde complexe du commerce mondial. Vous apprendrez le vocabulaire essentiel et le discours rapporté. ¡Bienvenidos a Battambang! Únete a Sophea, una artista local, y a Rithy, dueño de un café, mientras navegan por el complejo mundo del comercio global. Aprenderás vocabulario esencial y estilo indirecto. مرحبًا بكم في باتامبانغ! انضم إلى صوفيا وريثي أثناء استكشافهما لعالم التجارة العالمية المعقد. ستتعلم المفردات الأساسية وكيفية استخدام الكلام المنقول. बट्टमबांग में आपका स्वागत है! सोफिया और रिथी के साथ वैश्विक व्यापार की जटिल दुनिया का अन्वेषण करें। आप आवश्यक शब्दावली और रिपोर्ट की गई स्पीच का उपयोग करना सीखेंगे। Добро пожаловать в Баттамбанг! Присоединяйтесь к Софее и Рити, когда они исследуют сложный мир мировой торговли. Вы изучите важную лексику и косвенную речь.
1. Vocabulary: Global Trade
Listen and repeat the words. Then, select the correct word to match the definition below.
Tariff
/ˈtær.ɪf/A tax or duty to be paid on a particular class of imports or exports. ពន្ធគយภาษีศุลกากรThuế quan关税関税관세Tarif douanierArancelتعريفة جمركيةटैरिफ (आयात/निर्यात कर)Тариф / пошлина
Supply chain
/səˈplaɪ ˌtʃeɪn/The sequence of processes involved in the production and distribution of a commodity. ខ្សែសង្វាក់ផ្គត់ផ្គង់ห่วงโซ่อุปทานChuỗi cung ứng供应链サプライチェーン공급망Chaîne d'approvisionnementCadena de suministroسلسلة التوريدआपूर्ति श्रृंखलाЦепочка поставок
Embargo
/ɪmˈbɑːr.ɡoʊ/An official ban on trade or other commercial activity with a particular country. ការហាមឃាត់ពាណិជ្ជកម្មการห้ามส่งออก/นำเข้าCấm vận禁运通商停止 (禁輸)금수 조치EmbargoEmbargoحظر تجاريव्यापार प्रतिबंधЭмбарго
Lucrative
/ˈluː.krə.t̬ɪv/Producing a great deal of profit; financially rewarding. ដែលផ្តល់ប្រាក់ចំណេញច្រើនที่ทำกำไรได้งามSinh lợi利润丰厚的儲かる수익성이 좋은LucratifLucrativoمربحलाभदायकПрибыльный
Outsource
/ˈaʊt.sɔːrs/To obtain goods or a service from an outside or foreign supplier. ជួលអ្នកក្រៅធ្វើจ้างบุคคลภายนอกThuê ngoài外包外部委託する아웃소싱하다ExternaliserSubcontratarالاستعانة بمصادر خارجيةआउटसोर्स करनाПередавать на аутсорсинг
Wholesale
/ˈhoʊl.seɪl/The selling of goods in large quantities to be retailed by others. លក់ដុំขายส่งBán buôn批发卸売り도매Vente en grosVenta al por mayorبيع بالجملةथोकОптовая торговля
Niche market
/nɪtʃ ˈmɑːr.kɪt/A specialized segment of the market for a particular kind of product or service. ទីផ្សារពិសេសตลาดเฉพาะกลุ่มThị trường ngách利基市场ニッチ市場틈새 시장Marché de nicheMercado nichoسوق متخصصआला बाजार (विशिष्ट बाज़ार)Нишевый рынок
Fluctuation
/ˌflʌk.tʃuˈeɪ.ʃən/An irregular rising and falling in number or amount; variation. ការប្រែប្រួលឡើងចុះความผันผวนSự biến động波动変動변동FluctuationFluctuaciónتقلبउतार-चढ़ावКолебание
Saturated
/ˈsætʃ.ər.eɪ.t̬ɪd/A market condition in which the volume of a product or service has been maximized. ឆ្អែត (ទីផ្សារ)อิ่มตัว (ตลาด)Bão hòa饱和的飽和状態の포화 상태인SaturéSaturadoمشبعसंतृप्त (बाज़ार)Насыщенный (рынок)
Logistics
/ləˈdʒɪs.tɪks/The detailed coordination of a complex operation involving many people, facilities, or supplies. ភស្តុភារโลจิสติกส์Hậu cần物流 / 后勤物流 (ロジスティクス)물류LogistiqueLogísticaالخدمات اللوجستيةरसद (लॉजिस्टिक्स)Логистика
Match the Definitions
2. Grammar: Reported Speech (B2 Level)
When we report what someone else has said without quoting them directly, we use Reported Speech. At the B2 level, this involves backshifting tenses, changing pronouns, and using a variety of reporting verbs beyond just "said" and "told" (e.g., claimed, admitted, refused, asked, wondered).
| Direct Speech (The Exact Words) | Reported Speech (The Meaning) | Grammar Rule Focus |
|---|---|---|
| "I am shipping the coffee beans today," Rithy said. | Rithy said (that) he was shipping the coffee beans that day. | Present Continuous ➔ Past Continuous today ➔ that day |
| "I have paid the export tariff," Sophea explained. | Sophea explained (that) she had paid the export tariff. | Present Perfect ➔ Past Perfect |
| "Will you outsource the packaging?" he asked. | He asked if I would outsource the packaging. | Yes/No Questions use if/whether. will ➔ would |
| "The market is saturated!" he claimed. | He claimed (that) the market was saturated. | Using specific reporting verbs (claimed, warned, admitted). |
Grammar Practice - Part 1: Tense Shifts
Grammar Practice - Part 2: Reported Questions & Verbs
3. Reading: Expanding Horizons in Battambang
The vibrant city of Battambang has always been a cultural hub, but recently, local entrepreneurs like Sophea and Rithy have set their sights on the global market. Sophea, an artist and teacher whose intricate paintings depict traditional Cambodian life, recently realized that the domestic market for fine art was becoming saturated. She mentioned that she had decided to seek out a niche market overseas, targeting collectors in Europe and North America who appreciate Southeast Asian culture.
During a busy afternoon at his cafe, Rithy told Sophea that he was experiencing his own challenges with global trade. "I'm trying to import a specialized espresso machine from Italy, but the supply chain is completely disrupted," he explained. Rithy noted that the delays were affecting his ability to serve his customers efficiently. Furthermore, he added that he wanted to export his premium roasted coffee beans wholesale to cafes in Japan, but he was struggling with the logistics of international shipping.
Sophea sympathized with him, pointing out that she had also faced unexpected hurdles. She explained that she had recently dealt with a minor embargo on certain wooden frames she used, which forced her to outsource her framing materials from a different supplier. "Last week, an international gallery owner asked if my artwork was ready for the exhibition in Paris," Sophea said. She replied that she had arranged everything, despite the sudden fluctuation in shipping costs.
Global trade can be incredibly lucrative, but it requires patience and a deep understanding of international regulations. Rithy asked Sophea whether she had to pay a high tariff when her paintings arrived in France. She confirmed that the import taxes were indeed steep, but the international exposure was worth the investment.
Through their ongoing conversations, Sophea and Rithy realized that participating in global trade was a steep learning curve. However, they agreed that while the logistical nightmares and fluctuating costs were stressful, the opportunity to share Battambang's art and coffee with the world was a powerful motivator. Rithy proudly stated that his first coffee shipment to Tokyo had finally cleared customs. By navigating these complex systems together, the artist and the cafe owner are proving that small businesses in Cambodia can successfully compete on a global scale.
Reading Comprehension
4. Listening: A Conversation at the Cafe
Sophea drops by Rithy's cafe to give him an exciting update about her artwork. Listen to their conversation and note how they report past conversations.
Listening Quiz
5. Speaking: Roleplay Practice
Imagine you are helping Rithy report a difficult phone call to Sophea. Transform the direct speech in the prompt into reported speech.
"They told me that there was an embargo, and they asked if I could wait two weeks."
6. Writing: Your Turn (Formal Email)
Look at the model email below. Notice how Rithy uses a formal tone and Reported Speech to refer to previous communications while discussing global trade terms.
Dear Mr. Tanaka,
I am writing to follow up on our phone call yesterday. During our conversation, you mentioned that you were looking for a new supplier for your cafe in Tokyo. Furthermore, you asked whether we could provide a wholesale discount on our premium beans.
I spoke with our logistics partner this morning. They assured me that despite recent fluctuations in shipping costs, they could handle the export without any major delays. I have attached the new pricing sheet, which includes all estimated tariffs.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
Rithy (Battambang Coffee Roasters)
Your Turn to Write
Imagine you are Sophea. Write a formal email to a gallery in Paris. Use the template below to report what was said in a previous meeting and include at least two vocabulary words.
Dear Gallery Director,
I am writing to you regarding the upcoming exhibition. In our last meeting, you stated that . You also asked if I .
I am happy to report that I have resolved the issues with the (vocab word). My local supplier promised that they .
Please let me know if you require any further documentation for the customs (vocab word).
Sincerely,
Sophea
