I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT CONVERSATION BETWEEN TAXI DRIVER AND PASSENGER WHO DO NOT KNOW ABOUT ENGLISH LANGUGE ,ASKING ABOUT DESTINATION AND ABOUT FARE.
NOT A TEACHER
(1) Say "Good morning/afternoon/evening" to the driver. Establish a
courteous situation.
(2) Speak slowly and clearly to the driver so that s/he understands you.
Also, remember that most taxi drivers in large American cities do not
speak English as a first language themselves.
(3) "Could you tell me the approximate fare to _____, please?"
(4) "I need a receipt. Will that be a problem?" (If possible, get
a receipt. It is your proof that you paid and proof of how much s/he
charged. You can always tell him/her: "I need a receipt for my
company" -- even if you really don't.)
(5) Whenever possible, ask someone at your hotel to help you get
a taxi. As in other countries, it is a sad fact of life that some taxi
drivers have dishonest meters. Sometimes a hotel might recommend
the more honest drivers.
(6) Whenever possible, tell the driver what route to take. Otherwise,
some drivers will take you the long way in order to run up the meter.
(Maybe someone at your hotel or a relative whom you are visiting
can help you in regard to this matter.)
(7) When your taxi arrives, be sure to write down the number (and the
taxi company's name) just in case you have to report him/her if there
is a serious problem.
(8) Keep your eye on the meter -- to see how much s/he is charging
you so that there is no shock when you arrive at your destination.
I hope that you have a nice trip wherever you are going and that
all of your taxi drivers are professional (courteous, careful, and
honest).
Sincerely,
James
P.S. If you feel that the driver was honest, be sure to give him/her
a good tip. Ask your hotel staff or relatives what they think a
reasonable tip is. For example, when I take a 3-mile ride, I always
give at least a $3 tip.
