R541 Audio Deliverable
Audio 1: Papa
John's Pizza
Audio 2: Jimmy
John's Pizza
Process
1. I had to choose audio that kept to my requirement of “authenticity.” Phone calls are one of the only audio only conversational situations that are truly authentic in English language learning.
2. The context is ordering food over the phone. I chose two similar sounding food establishments: Papa John’s and Jimmy John’s. I wanted to emphasize that similar sounding names do not mean similar food offerings.
3. There are a few specific things that I wanted to accomplish with these audio clips
4. I needed some structure in the script, but didn’t want the conversation to sound scripted. Therefore, I did wrote a script that contained a solid structure, yet allowed actors to adlib the script.
5. I encouraged the actors to speak naturally, as they would on the phone. In conjunction with a loose script, the dialogue is very natural and believable.
6. In the Papa John’s audio, I had the employee answering the phone put the caller on hold. This is done quickly and he doesn’t wait for the caller to answer, “OK.”
7. The noise in the background is to simulate a common situation encountered when ordering food over the phone (especially at college pizza restaurants). I accomplish this noise with a combination of television “snow”, background music, pots and pans, and background conversations.
8. I recorded the background noise, the ringing phone, picking-up & putting down the phone receiver sounds, and the conversation in separate sessions as wave files using Sound Forge.
9. These were then mixed using Sound Forge.
10.
The final edits were converted to MP3 format, using a low sampling rate (to
reduce the size of the file) and as mono instead of stereo (to more accurately
simulate a phone conversation)
Audio Transcripts (ideoscripts)
This is an ideoscript. It’s a made-up word that means a script of ideas.
Rather than scripting out the dialogue, I will provide a timeline containing
turn-taking cues and the general content requirements for each turn.
This way, I hope not to get the kind of inauthentic interactions so prevalent
in ESL listening exercises.
I’m using two establishments with similar names to emphasize
that names can be deceiving.
Papa John’s Pizza
Ringing sound (caller’s
side)
Papa John’s Employee
“Papa John’s” (falling intonation, not really a question)
“Can you hold please”
(not really a question, but still with slightly rising intonation)
Doesn’t wait for an answer,
the hold music is on before the caller can get out a response.
Person Ordering Pizza
“Ok...” (the hold music is on before you can get out “OK”, the ‘k’ should be abruptly stopped by the music)
Papa John’s Employee
Thank the caller for holding
Ask if they would like the special – free cheese sticks with a large one-topping pizza.
Person Ordering Pizza
Tell them no.
Tell them you want a pizza with everything
Papa John’s Employee
Confirm that they want “The Works,” which is the Papa John’s pizza with everything.
Ask what size they want (small-10”, large-14”, or Big Papa-16”)
Ask which crust they want (Original or Thin)
Person Ordering Pizza
Agree that you want “The Works”
Add that you want hot peppers too.
Tell them which size you want.
Tell them which crust you want.
Papa John’s Employee
Confirmation statement (ok, size…, crust…, “The Works” with hot peppers).
Ask whether this is for delivery or pick-up.
Person Ordering Pizza
Explain that you want it delivered to an address (this will be online, so you may want to make one up)
Example - 815 N. Walnut,
Papa John’s Employee
Ask for their phone number
Person Ordering Pizza
Ex – 555-2415
Papa John’s Employee
“OK, your total is $14.35…Your pizza should be there in about 45 minutes”
Person Ordering Pizza
End conversation
Papa John’s Employee
End conversation
End.
Jimmy John’s Sandwiches
Ringing sound (caller’s
side)
Jimmy John’s Employee
“Hello, Jimmy John’s.”
Ask what they want (semi-polite, fast food manner)
Person Ordering
Hi
Ask what kind of [ham] sandwiches they have.
Jimmy John’s Employee
Pepe is an 8-inch Gourmet Sandwich on French bread with ham, provolone, lettuce, tomato and mayo
And the Gourmet Smoked Ham Club sandwich on Wheat or French bread with ¼ lb. of ham with provolone, lettuce, tomato, & mayo.
Person Ordering
OK.
Order one of the sandwiches
Ask for mustard
Jimmy John’s Employee
Is that for delivery?
Person Ordering
Yes
Jimmy John’s Employee
What’s your address
Person Ordering
Jimmy John’s Employee
OK, and you phone number
Person Ordering
555-1348
Jimmy John’s Employee
Thanks, your total is $7.25 and your order should be there in about 30 minutes.
Have a good night.
Person Ordering
Thanks. Bye.