ビジネス英語ディクテーション

ただ聞こえてきたままにタイプしてアップしてるだけの地味なブログです。

2010年10月

 
 
 
Business Communication in Action 実践ビジネス英語

Hello, everybody.こんにちは。みなさん。

Hello and welcome to the show. This is Chris Matsushita. Let's take a look at conversation at work.
こんにちは。番組にようこそ。クリス松下です。実践的な会話を見てみましょう。
 
The Interview
 
 
C: Shimoyamada san, it's really nice to meet you. And welcome to the show.
 
M: Thank you very much for inviting today.
 
C: Yeah, I think as you're working with people,
it gets a little bit easier to understand their pronunciation.
That's what I usually tell people: It just takes a little while to get used to the accents. 
And of course it happens among native speakers as well.
 
M: Right. It's always fun to understand there are many other, you know, type of English.
 
C: Yeah.
 
M: That's for sure.
 
C: It's not easy finding things to talk about with people that you don't know really well. 
So that's one of the reasons Sugita san tries to pick up many topics that are current
that people are actually talking about around the time that the programs broadcast.
Are there any things that were particularly helpful for you?
 
M: Yes. I still remember the vignette called "Job Interview".
A while ago, I went through a job interview.
And I was lucky to find out that the interview was very similar to what was in the textbook.
Thank you for giving me such a great hint just before my interview.
 
C: Oh, I'm glad to hear we were on the mark with the contents of the program as well.
 
S: Never turn down a call from a headhunter.
 
C: Oh! I'd have probably just about the opposite reaction.
I feel like if I don't record it, I might not continue listening.
 
M: Okay. I did try many things including recording.
But I tended not to listen to them because I had myself an excuse that:
Maybe I'll do it later.
 
C: I see.
 
M: But there was no such later.
 
C: I see. Yeah. I've had that experience as well.
 
C: So although you could already speak English fairly well, you still chose to listen to the program.
Why did you do that?
 
M: What attracts me is Mr. Sugita. I was once reading his profile in the textbook,
and wondered, "What is Mr. Sugita's true job?"
 
C: Ah huh.
 
M: An English teacher? A business person? Or an author?
So one day I decided to buy one of his books and I find it fascinating,
and become a big fan of Mr. Sugita.
Also I like reading Mr. Sugita's はじめに in the textbook, because reading his 文字 message
makes me feel closer to him although he is on the other side of the radio.
 
C: I find them pretty interesting too myself.
 
M: So that net is I like Mr. Sugita very much.
And this is the only reason why I could continue to listen to the program.
 
C: Ah hum.
 
C: I think after talking to these three people, we found ahhh that you can improve your English
by doing almost anything as long as it's something that suits you.
 
 
C: I'm glad to hear you say that, 'cause so many people worry about speaking correctly. 
I think they get paralyzed by thinking about correctness.
 
M: I think it's still important to speak right English.
However it's your attitude.
 
C: Yeah.
 
M: ... to participate as a team, as a team player.
 
C: Ah huh. Yeah.
 
M: That's what I think is the most important.
 
C: Even.. even with native speakers, they're, they're supporting you, they want you to...
 
M: All right.
 
C: ... go ahead and don't be afraid and work together.
So yeah. Very good. There does need to be a balance.
But I think people naturally want to do things correctly and they took the balance a little too far
to that side.
 
C: Yeah, I think it's very important what you just said.
All of it ahhh finding a way that suits you to study, and continuing to study,
and having some kind of a goal or purpose to your study.
Otherwise it just gets to be empty practice.
 
C: Thanks so much, Shimoyamada san.
It's been really nice meeting you.
 
M: Thank you very much, Chris.
 
C: Yeah.
Think about what they said. Maybe one of them has a good idea that'll work really well for you.
Everybody's so impressive.
 
C: You can do it.
 
C: Goodbye.

 
 
 
Business Communication in Action 実践ビジネス英語

Hello, everybody.こんにちは。みなさん。

Hello and welcome to the show. This is Chris Matsushita. Let's take a look at conversation at work.
こんにちは。番組にようこそ。クリス松下です。実践的な会話を見てみましょう。
 
The Interview
 
C: It's nice to meet you Ogushi san. I'm glad you can come talk with us.
 
Miyuki Ogushi: Thank you very much for having me.
 
C: Right. But I didn't get an MBA. I got an MA at teachers' college.
 
C: Congratulations! That's great.
 
M: Thank you very much.
 
C: Yeah.
 
M: Now that you mentioned it.    Same here.
 
C: I think those are very hard to learn through textbooks.
 
M: Ummm. Yes. I think so.
 
C: Because textbooks... 'Cause they have a teaching point.
They're very... even the best ones are fairly unnatural.
 
M: Ummm.
 
C: And those phrases just pop in naturally, I think with native speakers.
 
M: Yes. And you know those phrases are actually important...
 
C: Ah huh.
 
M: ...for the daily conversation with ... you know, friends and you know with the business partners.
So in that way, I was very glad to learn those phrases from this program.  
 
C: Good. NHK has all kinds of different English programs. 
Why did you decide to start listening to Business English?
 
M: I was an exchange student while ... while I was ahhh studying at the university.
 
C: Ah huh.
 
M: I was in Canada and I came back to Japan. And I was afraid to lose what I learned there.
So I really wanted to maintain my ahhh English speaking capability.
So ahhh before going to Canada, I was listening to ラジオ英会話.
But after coming back, I started listening to this so that I can maintain the vocabulary
that I learned and the phrase that I learned.
And ahhh it worked.
 
C: Very good.
 
C: So one of the important points of your study notes is the repeating and  remembering again.
"Oh! Yeah! I remember it. I learned that before. "
 
M: Ummm.  Yeah. And ahhh one more thing is when you ahhh create a , like a beautiful notes.
 
C: Right.
 
M: You want to ahhh see it again.
 
C: Right.
 
M: So when you create this, ahhh you use it.
 
C: Ah huh.
 
M: And ahhh you know after that, you come back to this note.
 
C: Take a look at it.
 
M: Yeah.
 
C: Wow! I did that.
 
M: Yeah.
 
C: That's a good idea for kids' learning.
 
M: Yes.
 
C: And I think adults should do the same thing.
 
M: Yes. I think so.
 
C: Yeah.
 
C: That's a good idea when you don't have to use your head to think about something else.
 
M: Yeah. So it naturally, it became my habit to listen to the radio in that way.
 
C: Ah huh. Good idea.
 
M: So by the way, you've been doing this program for years.
So I just wanted to know what the motivation for you is.
 
C: What to continue make this program?
 
M: Yes, yes.
 
C: I think what I really like about it is it makes me think about using English, 
not just pour it out like native speakers do.
But I have to think about why one thing is better than another.
And I have to try to explain it clearly so that people can understand it.
But I've been interested in language for as long as I can remember.
 
C: Ogushi san, I was really glad to hear you say you have to make it kind of a everyday habits,
so you're not thinking "I have to go study".
But you just kind of pick it up, because that's what you do, like brushing your teeth every day.
 
M: Yeah. That's sure.
 
C: And, and part about having fun, I think, is equally important.
 
C: It was really nice meeting you.
 
M: Thank you very much.
 
 
C: Goodbye.
 

C: Oh, how did you get started doing that?
 
T: I like traveling and visiting place of scenic beauty and talking with people having different cultural
backgrounds or so.
I challenged to take an exam for a licensed guide and I passed.
 
C: I see. So like Osaka city has a license or...
 
T: No. This is a national license.
 
C: A national license. Oh, very good. And when did you do that? A few years ago?
 
T: About 20 years ago.
 
C: 20 years ago?
 
T: Yes.
 
C: So you have a lot of experience of guiding people all around Japan.
 
T: Yes. I enjoy a lot.
 
C: Ah huh huh. Very good. Ah.. you've been doing it for a long time.
You have quite a bit of experience.
But at the beginning, what did you find most difficult?
 
T: For the beginning stage, I remember holding a text.
 
C: Ah huh.
 
T: I couldn't react properly to what they asked.
 
C: I see.
 
T: So, making a amiable atmosphere is the most important.
 
C: Ah huh. Yes. Everybody feels comfortable.
 
T: Yes.
 
C: And they feel they can ask you questions that aren't typical guide book questioned.
 
T: Ah huh.
 
C: Can you tell us the connection you see between the radio program study
and being a tour guide?
 
T: In this program, you sometimes introduce some of the interesting topics such as:
"Why do Japanese wear masks?"
 
C: I remember that one.
 
T: That was a question I was asked by foreigners quite often.
 
C: Ah. So the program can give you direct support for being a tour guide.
 
T: Yes. Very much.
 
C: Ah huh.
 
C: What attracted you to radio programs? I know that BBC also has some.
But radio education is just not all that common.  
 
T: Well, that is a very good question.
Generally speaking, radio language learning program is available at an affordable cost.
Without expensive device programs can be heard almost everywhere in Japan.
I feel NHK radio programs are so well-organized.
The listeners can choose the right one according to their level and purposes.
 
C: Ah huh. There is a wide variety of programs, isn't it?
 
T: Yes.
 
C: Ah huh.
 
T: Speaking of this program, it gives me ample opportunities to brush my English.
I can learn not only varieties of vocabulary but also its background and nuance,
because Chris san gives us detailed explanation in English for several few words.
On top of that, topics picked up for vignettes are very timely and informative.
And it has help me broaden my knowledge and perspective.  
 
C: That's a good idea. And everybody always has to wait somewhere for a few minutes.
 
T: Yes.
 
C: All that English around you, and you still listened.
 
T: Yes. We have no excuse to get away this program.
 
C: Ah huh. Very good. Thank you.
 
C: Yeah. Thank you very much for coming.
 
 
 
C: So long.

 
 
 
Business Communication in Action 実践ビジネス英語

Hello, everybody.こんにちは。みなさん。

Hello and welcome to the show. This is Chris Matsushita. Let's take a look at conversation at work.
こんにちは。番組にようこそ。クリス松下です。実践的な会話を見てみましょう。
 
The Interview
 
Chris Matsushita: And some of you may have just started listening to us this month.
I hope you'll find some good things in the program and be able to sticks with us
for many months to come.
 
C: I'm very happy to say I think our guest today will have many tips and points to help you
continue also.
 
C: Welcome to the show, Asaka san.
 
C: Wow! That's a long time.
 
C: Because you're driving, that really makes you rely on your ears to study, doesn't it?
 
Toshihiro Asaka: Yes. I have to ... I rely on my ears.
 
C: Ah huh. Oh, I'm glad to hear you don't read while you're driving.
 
T: Yeah.
 
C: Ah huh. That's a good idea: write down the things you wanna check up... uhmm, later.
 
C: So you've been somewhat formally studying this program with your study group?
 
T: Yes.
 
C: Have the members stayed about the same?
 
T: Some members ahh.. were transferred on business.
But they come back even after they're transferred
 
C: Wow! It must be a really group since they come back after they've been transferred away.
 
T: Yes. I'm happy to welcome them back.
 
C: Yeah. Very good.
 
C: Ah huh. So some of your members don't actually have to use English for work.
They've joined your group because it's an interesting group. And they like improving English.
 
T: Yes. Ah.. Some of them do so.
 
C: Ah huh.
 
C: Wow! That's a long time.
 
T: Yes.
 
C: Wow! Take up what I say. I'm very impressed, thank you.
 
T: Everybody appreciates it very much.
 
C: That's a good idea, 'cause I think a lot of people are able to do studying fairly well.
Everybody's used to studying on their own.
But using it is very tough, isn't it?
 
T: Yes.
 
C: It's hard to find opportunities.
 
T: We have to use it, the advice. We cannot master the usage.
 
C: Yeah. I've had that experience.
Learning something: it come in and then it goes away if you don't use it.
 
T: Yeah. Practice makes perfect.

C: Yeah. Exactly.
 
T: Yes.
 
C: I always suggest that people do that kind of practice whey they're at home in the bath.
 
T: Yes. I do myself.
 
C: Oh! Very good.
 
C: I'm glad that's useful, 'cause people tell me doing the business part of English is not so bad,
but then when they have free time or they're eating lunch or something,
they have a hard time talking about other topics.
 
T: Yes. We have to relax in order to make a good business.
 
C: Yes. And if you can't chat with your counterparts, it's very difficult to build up
a nice relationship, isn't it.
 
T: Yes. I agree with it very much.

Monday, October 25, 2010
Hello, everybody. You're listening to 5 minute English.
Hi! I'm David Neale.
Let's practice English together.
And I'm Vicki Glass. 
Welcome to our program.
Let's build up your English muscles.
Are you ready? Here we go.
Let's read out loud.
One. Now listen.
 
You look pretty tired.
Why don't you take a quick nap?
Don't you ever take a rest?
 
I love your enthusiasm.
But I wish you'd be more careful.
You've been making careless mistakes.
 
Thanks for the recent pictures. 
I can't believe your children.
It's as though they grew up overnight.

Let's check. Let's try.
Here's a message for you today.
You can gain confidence in your English by practicing.
練習すれば自分の英語に自信が持てるようになります。
 
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Let's read out loud.
One. Now listen.
 
Sam looks different these days.
He's so cheerful and healthful.
What's happened to him?
 
I have something to tell you.
Come closer.
It's a secret.
 
I heard you were looking for a job.
Is that still true?
They have an opening at my friend's farm.
 
Here's a message for you today.
Hard work always produces better results. 頑張れば必ずいい結果が出ます。
 
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Let's read out loud.
One. Now listen.
 
Did you hear about the staff meeting? 
Doug and Phil were both there.
Those two love to argue.
The fir started to fly immediately
And they didn't let up for an hour.
 
Are you going anywhere today?
I have to stay here at my desk.
But there are some things I need.
If you're going out, let me know.
I'll give you a shopping list.
 
cf.
make the fur fly = get the fur flying 大騒ぎを引き起こす
The fur starts to fly. 激論が始まる。
 
Let's check. Let's try.
Here's a message for you.
It takes time to strengthen your English muscles. 
英語の筋肉を鍛えるには時間がかかります。
 
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Let's role play.
One. Now listen. 
 
A: Hello, this is Ron Williams.
B: Hi! Ron. It's me. Judy.
A: Judy! Hi! How are you?
B: I need to ask you a favor.
 
A: Have you seen Marcus today?
B: He's taking a day-off.
A: That's too bad. I need to talk to him.
B: He said we could call him at home.
 
A: Who wants another drink?
B: It's getting late. Maybe we should go.
A: Oh, come on! I'm buying.
B: In that case, just one more.
 
Let's check. Let's try.
Here's a message for you today.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Let's listen and answer.
One. Now listen.
Make full use of your spare time.空き時間をフルに活用しましょう。

Did you go to the biology lecture on Friday.
I sure did. I noticed that you weren't there.
I know. Can I borrow your notes?
Yes. But I'm afraid they're pretty sketchy.
 
Q: What does the woman say? - Her notes are not detailed or reliable.
 
Don't stand so close to the edge of the platform.
The next train doesn't stop here. 
It's an express.
And it comes whishing by really fast.
 
Q: Where are they? - At a train station.
 
Do you remember that landscape I painted about a month ago?
I put it up for sale on the Internet.
Believe it or not, somebody actually bought it.
Do you know what that means?
Now, I'm a professional artist?
 
Q: What did the man most likely use? - An online auction website.
 
Let's check. Let's try.
Here's a message for you today.
You're the one who decides how much you improve. どれだけ上達するかを決めるのはあなたです。

Saturday, October 30, 2010
Let's listen and answer.
Now listen.
 
There are lots ways to advertise.
You have plenty of choices.
The type of ads you should use depends.
How many people do you want to reach?
To launch a new product line, you need to spend a lot.
Magazines, newspapers, TV and so on.
They'll cost you big money.
But for something like a garage sale, you can do it a lot cheaper.
Just post some fliers on telephone poles.
Hundreds of people will see them.
And dozens will show up.
In some cases, you might have to get permission in advance though.
 
Q1: What is the woman talking about? - Different ways of advertising.
Q2: What does the woman say about the telephone poles?
- They provide space for posing messages.
Q3: Who would most likely be interested in the talk?
- Someone who wants to make a  business more popular.
 
Let's check. Let's try.
Here's a message for you today.
Keep at it and you'll get there. 諦めずに続ければ目標に到達します。

Sunday, October 31, 2010
Let's listen and write.
One. Now listen.
 
A car is coming from behind. 車が後ろから来るよ。
I did it absentmindedly. うっかりやつちまった。
Who spilled the beans? 秘密を漏らしたのは誰?
Don’t push your luck. 調子に乗るな。
This is the moment I’ve been waiting for.
この瞬間を私はずっと待っていた。
 
Let's check. Let's try.
Here's a message for you today.
The more the better.  I’m talking about practice.
やればやるほどいいんです。練習の話です。
 


Charice with CELINE Dion Complete Version...

小2の女の子:「TJ、今日は作文ないの?」
 
TJ:「うん。たまには休みたいでしょ」
 
女の子:「ううん。いつも楽しみだから、今日も学校から走ってここまで来たのに…」
 
TJ:「えっ!!!」
 
以下はサンプル
 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Lady Gaga は、生まれながらの天才とも思えるが、かなりの努力家でもある。
以下の文章を読んで、「努力することの大切さ」というテーマで書きなさい。      (~二〇〇字)
 
Lady Gaga
4歳で楽譜なしでピアノが演奏できるようになり、13歳になるころには初のピアノ・バラードを作曲。
14歳からニューヨークのクラブでパフォーマンスを開始し、17歳で、これまで世界で20人しか早期入学が許されていないニューヨークにあるティッシュ・スクール・オブ・アート(ニューヨーク大学の芸術学部)に入学する。そこで彼女は音楽を本格的に学び、エッセイや論文を書くことによって作詞作曲技術を改善した。大学1年生のときにニューヨーク大学を休学して芸術活動に専念する。     Wikipedia より
 
***********************************************************************************
 
辛いことがすごく多くて、楽しいことがとっても少ないのが人生です。
現実は厳しく、自分の思い通りにはいきません。
たとえどれだけ恵まれているかのように見えている人でも、たいへんな人生を送っています。
次の文章を読んで、「過酷な人生を生き抜くためにはどうすべきか」というテーマで書きなさい。                                                                                                   (~二〇〇字)
 
 ある作家の短編にも、こういう話があります。母親が仙人のところにいって、「うちの息子たちは本当にいい孝行息子なので、どうかこれから幸せいっぱいで苦しみのない暮らしをさせてやってください」と頼みました。仙人は引き受けてくれましたが、母親が家に帰ると息子たちは死んでいたのだそうです。
 つまり、なんの苦労もなく辛いこともなく生きてはいけないんだ、という寓話なんです。そういう人生はあり得ない、と。
 誰でも、社会に出て働くようになったら、子ども時代や学生時代に味わった辛さなんて目じゃなかった、と気づかされることでしょう。
 辞めたいのならいつでもお辞め。明日から食っていけなくなるよ。そういう厳しい環境の中で仕事をしていかなければならないのです。
                               下地敏雄著 「下地先生の教え」 より

***********************************************************************************
 
以下の詩を読んで、
「好きな人にフラレてしまったらどのようにその辛さを克服したらよいか」というテーマで書きなさい。                                                              (~二〇〇字)
 
会いたくて会いたくて震える  君想うほど遠く感じて
もう一度聞かせて嘘でも あの日のように「好きだよ」って…
今日は記念日 本当だったら 二人過ごしていたかな きっと君は忘れて あの子と笑いあってるの?
ずっと私だけにくれてた言葉も優しさも 大好きだった笑顔も全部 あの子に見せてるの?
Baby I know 君はもう私のものじゃないことくらい
でもどうしても君じゃなきゃダメだから You are the one
「幸せになってね」と 君の前じゃ大人ぶって そんなこと心の中じゃ 絶対に思わない
Baby I know 誰より君の全てを知ってるのに
でもどうしてもあの子じゃなきゃダメなの? So tell me why
                                        ~Kana Nishino~
 

 
岩本 Susan: Business Communication in Action 実践ビジネス英語

杉田敏: Hello, everybody.こんにちは。みなさん。

I: Hello and welcome to the show. This is Susan Iwamoto.
Let's put our communication skills to work.
こんにちは。そして番組にようこそ。スーザン・岩本です。コミュニケーションの技術を応用しましょう。

Prenup Agreement  (6)
 
Talk the Talk
 
S: The subject of prenuptial agreements comes up in our current vignette.
Goto Yoko is surprised to find out how much more common they are in the U.S. and in Japan.
So Susan, did you sign a prenup before becoming Mrs. Iwamoto?
 
I: Absolutely not.
Actually when my husband and I got married, neither one of us had a great fortune to safeguard.
So it really wasn't an issue.
However if he had broached the subject, it's safe to say an argument would have ensued.
Call me a hopeless romantic.
But as Yoko noted, it shows a lack of trust in a relationship.
 
cf. broach ~を話題に出す :  broach the subject marriage 結婚話を切り出す
 
S: With a high divorce rate in the States, you could argue that is a sensible approach for people
who want to protect their assets.
As Tony Hughes noted, this is a particular concern to older couples who may be on their
second or third marriage.
They may have a lot more to lose if things don't work out.
 
I: Well, I have to admit I can understand their motivations in that case.
In fact, according to one study, 20 percent of those who had been previously married
opted for a prenup, while only about five percent of those on their first marriages did.
People who have been married before may be planning on leaving money to their children
from a previous relationship and want to ensure that their kids' inheritance isn't endangered. 
I imagine couples in this situation may be more amenable to the idea of a prenuptial agreement.
However with the younger couples, it's a different story.
 
S: How so?
 
I: Let's imagine a young couple gets married and decide to raise a family.
They have a few kids and the wife decides to quit and become a stay-at-home mom.
Let's say a few years down the road, the relationship sours and they decide to get a divorce.
If she have signed a strict prenup, she may suddenly find herself in dire economic straits.
Often taking a few years' off of the career track can really hinder one's earning power.
The sacrifice she made was for the family.
And I think she should be able to count on some financial security as a result.
cf. in dire straits: It means you are in a very dangerous or precarious position.
 
S: According to Tony, it may be a question of using the right toothpaste before you ask
you're intended to sign a prenup.
 
I: I remember that commercial. It was amusing.
And it did highlight just how difficult it must be to have that discussion.
 
S: Jack Wakimoto mentioned some interesting clauses in prenups including penalties
for adultery and even weight gain.
 
I: Talk about an awkward conversation, I've read about this regarding celebrity marriages.
At the risk of something like a gossipmonger, I remember hearing about one very famous couple
with a strict adultery clause in their prenup.
The male half of the couple had a reputation for philandering in the past.
And his fiancee, a famous actress, demanded a heavy penalty for adultery.
It's rumored that he will have to pay her 5 million dollars if he cheats.
 
S: That's a good incentive to stay on the straight and narrow.
Jack also mentioned that his brother signed something similar to a prenup when going into
business with a friend.
Of course adultery isn't an issue in this case.
 
I: Let's hope not.
I may be against prenups in principle, but I think a sound partnership agreement is a
sensible idea, and one that has become more and more common in recent years.
As Jack said, it's wise to have an exit strategy in mind.
Even if you trust your partner, it's not unusual for business partners to have differences
of opinion about company strategy.
Sometimes they can work it out, but often they decide to go their separate ways.
Having a clear exit strategy can make that process a lot smoother, and hopefully enable them
to continue to have a good personal relationship.
 
 
That's all for today.では今日はここまでにしましょう。

Thanks for joining us. 参加していただいてありがとうございます。

 
 
 
Business Communication in Action 実践ビジネス英語

Hello, everybody.こんにちは。みなさん。

Hello and welcome to the show. This is Chris Matsushita. Let's take a look at conversation at work.
こんにちは。番組にようこそ。クリス松下です。実践的な会話を見てみましょう。
 
Prenup Agreement (5)
 
Goto says the detailed agreements are very different from what she's used to in Japan.
Most businesses there are based more on trust.
Hughes says that Americans value trust too.
Goto asks about postnups, which Wakimoto says, are sometimes just updated prenups. 
 
 
Many a friendship.
The phrase "many a" might be a bit difficult to use if you're not used to it,
because "many" usually talks about something plural.
But it's combined with "a".
"Many a" is used when you have a large number of instances and you want to emphasize
that each instance is important.
It's not just a large number. It's many many specific individuals or instances.
 
There's a matching phrase, "nary a", which means not one, not even one, or none.
So, for example, you could say, "Nary a friend showed up when I really needed help".
And it sort of focuses on how many various friends I had and none of them,
not even one came to help.
 
cf. nary :  Not one: "Frequently, measures of major import . . .
glide through these chambers with nary a whisper of debate" (George B. Merry).
 
"Exit strategy" is a phrase that comes probably from the military.
And it's used to talk about if things go badly wrong, how will the arm, the military get themselves
out of a very bad situation?
 
"Buyout" in this case, Wakimoto is using it as a noun.
It refers to the purchase of all the interests in a company.
More simply you could say, it's buying a company.
You can also use the word "buyout" to talk about the financial incentive a company might
give to one of its employees when they want that employee to either take early retirement
or to resign voluntarily. 
 
You can often hear "buyout" described as a "leveraged buyout".
In that case, leveraged is referring to using debt so that you can afford to buyout
another company. 
 
Goto uses the phrase "more on trust". That's only half of the comparison.
She's saying that in Japan trust is more important than actual contractual agreements
which are the more important part of the mix in the U.S.
 
There's a three-word phrase that you hear in the U.S. sometimes "trust but verify".
 
cf. Trust, but verify was a signature phrase of Ronald Reagan.
He used it in public, although he was not the first person known to use it.
When Reagan used this phrase, he was usually discussing relations with the Soviet Union
and he almost always presented it as a translation of the Russian proverb
"doveryai, no proveryai" (Russian: Доверяй, но проверяй)
 
The question "what's this I hear about something?" - you have to put your own noun in there-
is often used for a really current topic. 
It means that Goto's heard something about it but she doesn't really know much about it.
And she expects everybody else to know what she's asking about, because it's so current.
 
Another really common set is pre and post natal. 
So that's talking about the baby before it's born and directly after it's been born.   
 
Hughes uses the verb "reflect" to talk about how the postnup shows the changing situation
of the partners in the marriage.
"Reflect" has many meanings.
In this case, it means "make manifest" or "make something apparent", "make it clear".
 
 
 
That's all for today.では今日はここまでにしましょう。
 
Please tune in again for part 6.

 
 
Business Communication in Action 実践ビジネス英語

Hello, everybody.こんにちは。みなさん。

Hello and welcome to the show. This is Chris Matsushita. Let's take a look at conversation at work.
こんにちは。番組にようこそ。クリス松下です。実践的な会話を見てみましょう。
 
Prenup Agreement (4)
 
Wakimoto lists some of the thing prenups might cover including adultery,
housekeeping and even weight gain.
He says the basic idea of a prenup is to plan for the future. 
He thinks this is a good idea for business too.
His brother has a detailed agreement with his business partners.
 
 
"Such as" is kind of a prompt to get an example from the speaker.
She could have said, "for example" as well.
 
In English "adultery" is the formal word to talk about either a husband or a wife
having sex outside of the marriage.
There's all kinds of slang for this.
Few of the very common ones are cheating, sneaking around or even playing around.

Nathaniel Hawthorne  The Scarlet Letter 緋文字

"Out on the street" is a phrase you can use in many situations to mean you were kicked out.
It could mean kicked out of your house, meaning perhaps you're homeless.
Sometimes the homeless are street people. 
It can also mean you're jobless.
You were kicked out of your job. They kicked you out on the street.
 
be out on the street
 
"Out in the open" is a phrase you can use in English when you're not actually outside
in a field, an open space, an open area.
But you can use it to talk about things that are clear or transparent
 
Wakimoto talks about his brother having signed a detailed agreement.
He could have said, "He inked it", which is a bit more like slang,
because you sign with a pen that has ink in it.
He could have also said, "concluded it", which doesn't focus on the signing of it,
but it has pretty much the same meaning.
 
Wakimoto uses the verb, the phrasal verb "set out".
In this case, it means lay out clearly, spread things out, make everything clear.
Earlier Wakimoto also used the noun, "outset".
These are actually not related to each other.
To set something out is to display it or show it clearly.
Outset is a noun that means beginning, the start.
Usually it's the start of something that's going to continue for quite a long time.
Something that you expect to continue and progress.
 
at the outset
 
"Proactive" is a word that's often misused.
If you think about the fact that it actually means anticipatory, you're anticipating something,
and then taking action.
You'll always use it in the right away.
Earlier Hughes used the phrase, the time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.
This is a perfect example of proactive behavior.
You're anticipating a problem and handling it when it's easy to handle.
 
 
That's all for today.では今日はここまでにしましょう。
 
Talk to you again soon.

「わが友 本多宗一郎」 井深大
 
「死神ブログ」 窪依凛
 
「模倣犯」上・下 宮部みゆき
 
「理由」 宮部みゆき
 
「小暮写眞館」 宮部みゆき
 
「沈黙のアイドル」 赤川次郎
 
 
--------------------------------------
 
「わが友 本多宗一郎」 井深大 …うん、二人とも素晴らしい。
 
「死神ブログ」 窪依凛 …うーん、あまりに現実感に乏しいな。
 
「模倣犯」上・下 宮部みゆき …これは文句なし。素晴らしい。
 
「理由」 宮部みゆき …これはまぁまぁかな。
 
「小暮写眞館」 宮部みゆき …うーん、暇つぶしにはなる。
 
「沈黙のアイドル」 赤川次郎 …宮部本に比べるとかなり薄い印象。

Monday, October 18, 2010
Hello, everybody. You're listening to 5 minute English.
Hi! I'm David Neale.
Let's practice English together.
And I'm Vicki Glass. 
Welcome to our program.
Let's build up your English muscles.
Are you ready? Here we go.
Let's read out loud.
One. Now listen.
 
This stew has a secret ingredient. Can you tell what it is? Well, it's a pinch of cinnamon.
 
That star. It just moved. Now it's blinking. Oh, wait. It's an airplane.
 
The sun feels warm today. But there's a chill breeze. It's going to be a cold night.
Let's check. Let's try.
Here's a message for you today.
Be positive and keep practicing. 前向きに練習を続けましょう。
 
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Let's read out loud.
One. Now listen.
 
Who wants to hear a joke? Doesn't anybody want to hear a joke?
Hello? I'll tell it anyway.
 
I think we need a new light bulb. This one seems to have burned out.
I thought it was supposed to last ten years.
 
I'm going to have a new suit made.
Look at these fabric samples. Which one do you like best?
 
Here's a message for you today.
Nothing good ever comes out of negative thoughts.
否定的に考えていたら何もいいことはありません。
 
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Let's read out loud.
One. Now listen.
 
 
Your voice sounds a little hoarse.
Do you have a sore throat?
There's a cold going around.
I have a touch of it myself.
Here's a throat drop if you want one.
 
Kids. Thank your mother for this dinner.
She worked hard to prepare this meal.
It's not so easy.
You try it sometime. You'll see.
 
Let's check. Let's try.
Here's a message for you.
If you give up now, you'll regret it later. 今諦めたら後悔しますよ。 
 
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Let's role play.
One. Now listen.
 
A: What would you like for dinner?
B: Nothing for me. I'm not feeling well.
A: You've got to eat something.
B: How about a little chicken soup then?
 
A: Have you seen my reading glasses?
B: No, I haven't.
A: They've been missing for about a week.
B: Maybe that means you can live without them.
 
A: Long time no see, Kevin.
B: I know. I've been really busy.
A: Too busy to call your friends?
B: Too busy even to eat or sleep.
 
Let's check. Let's try.
Here's a message for you today.
Excuses will only delay your improvement. 言い訳をしていたら上達が遅れるだけです。
 
Friday, October 22, 2010
Let's listen and answer.
One. Now listen.

That's an interesting building.
Would you call the style modern or post modern?
Aren't they basically the same thing?
No. There's a critical distinction between them.
 
Q: What are they discussing? - Architecture.
 
I think you need to project more self-confidence.
Quit apologizing for everything.
People won't respect you if you don't respect yourself.
 
Q: What is the man doing? - Giving advice.
 
I think something is wrong with this phone.
Cheryl said she called me several times.
But I never heard the phone ring.
The ring must be broken or something.
Or maybe the volume has turned down too low.
 
Q: What's the problem? - She missed some phone calls.
 
Let's check. Let's try.
Here's a message for you today.
Start practicing if you have time to make an excuse. 
言い訳する時間があるなら練習を始めましょう。

Saturday, October 23, 2010
Let's listen and answer.
Now listen.
 
Information wants to be free.
That's the motto of the Internet.
It makes copying information easier than ever before.
In the old days, information wasn't digital.
Copying things was much more difficult.
Books were written by hand and they had to be copied by hand.
Now you can bypass the whole process.
It can be done with a push of a button.
This changes the idea of what it means to own information. 
It also shakes up the whole idea of what a copyright is.
 
Q1: What is the overall topic? - Information and how we access it.
Q2: Who is most likely speaking? - An Internet expert.
Q3: Why does the man mention books? - As an example of old technology.
 
Let's check. Let's try.
Here's a message for you today.
If you give up now, what good will it do? 今諦めて何になるんですか。
 
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Let's listen and write.
One. Now listen.
 
1 I'll believe it when I see it.
2 Don't be a stranger.
3 He's full of confidence.
4 We can't afford any carelessness now.
5 I've got a lot on my plate today.
 
Let's check. Let's try.
Here's a message for you today.
Practice and develop your natural talents. 練習してもって生まれた才能を伸ばしましょう。

 
 
 
Business Communication in Action 実践ビジネス英語

Hello, everybody.こんにちは。みなさん。

Hello and welcome to the show. This is Chris Matsushita. Let's take a look at conversation at work.
こんにちは。番組にようこそ。クリス松下です。実践的な会話を見てみましょう。
 
Prenup Agreement (3)
 
Hughes describes a TV commercial he saw using the discussion of a prenup
to sell toothpaste.
Wakimoto finds the commercial clever but goes on to say that a prenup is one of
the most awkward things to talk about.
He says that prenups focus not only on material things but also on what partners
expect of each other.
 
 
The phrase "I guess I can see that" is a kind of reluctant agreement.
When you're agreeing but you'd really rather not, you can use this phrase.
 
TV commercial is the way people in the U.S. general English speakers usually refer to
advertisements on television. 
If you use the phrase CM, most people won't know what you're referring to.
 
"Grand prix" is the way English speakers approximate this phrase which actually
comes from French.
The French pronounce it a little bit differently. 
And if you haven't heard it pronounced, it's very difficult for English speakers to say.
"Grand" is not a problem. But "PRIX" doesn't look like an English word.
 
Sometimes when people use this phrase, they snap their fingers while they say the word
"that". Just like that. 
 
Something described as million dollar is high class, it's expensive, it's something very wonderful.
So a million dollar smile is a wonderful, perfect beautiful smile.
Another phrase with million dollar is look like a million dollars, which you'll often hear shorted to
"look like a million".
 
The sentence "you can anything with the smile" includes the meaning
that people will accept it happily.
A variation of that is "smile when you say that".
But that's a bit more of a warning.
 
Silverware is often used in English to mean valuable, household items.
Sometimes you could talk about somebody stealing the silverware, for example.
And they don't mean only the silverware.
They mean small, valuable things from around the house.
Something that goes south is something that goes bad.
I think it comes from thinking about maps and graphs at the same time.
On a map usually south is at the bottom.
And when you look at, for example, a graph of business results, they're going badly.
When sales go down, it goes, the graph goes down in the same way that south is down on a map. 
 
"Spell out" is a phrase that's used nowadays to mean make plain or to make something
absolutely clear, make it transparent.
It comes from the custom of spelling something that people couldn't understand
by hearing through listening.
 
 
That's all for today.では今日はここまでにしましょう。
 
Goodbye.

 
 
 
Business Communication in Action 実践ビジネス英語

Hello, everybody.こんにちは。みなさん。

Hello and welcome to the show. This is Chris Matsushita. Let's take a look at conversation at work.
こんにちは。番組にようこそ。クリス松下です。実践的な会話を見てみましょう。
 
Prenup Agreement (2)
 
Hughes says marriage is a contract for social and economic consequences.
Wakimoto says that the recession might be a reason for the growth in prenups
since people want to protect their assets.
Hughes observes that these days more people get married later when they have
more material wealth to look after.
 
 
Of course, they should trust each other.
 
"Ramification" is kind of an interesting word.
The way Hughes uses it here is a very common way to use it.
And it means an outgrowth or consequences or maybe even result.
Although the core meaning of it is much more kind of a branching out of effects.
Many things come from it.
You can also use the word to talk about actually something that branches or something
that's a subordinate part.
 
The sentence "the time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining" comes from
a speech that John F Kennedy gave in 1962. 
It's often used in English nowadays to talk about doing something before you have the need.
 
Wakimoto uses the phrase "a cold dose of reality".
People often are not too pleased with reality so they don't want to look at it.
"Cold" sounds uncomfortable. And "dose" usually refers to medicine.
You take a dose the proper amount.
So a cold dose of reality is something you really don't want, but you should take your medicine
and look the truth in the face.
 
painful reality
 
Wakimoto uses the word "like" to mean "about" in this sentence.
Like 18 years ... about 18 years. 
You can also use "like" to mean "for example". 
 
"Till death do us part" is one of the phrases in the traditional marriage vows in the U.S.
It might be in old English speaking countries, I don't know.
The way of thinking was that when you get married God joins you.
And what God joins people because they're not Gods shouldn't separate
A variation of the phrase is "as long as you both shall live".
 
Hughes's speaking a little bit cynically here talking about the for rich or for part,
because this was also part of the vow, meaning whether your financial situation is good or bad
you won't separate from each other with that as a basis.
 
"Love doesn't conquer all" refers back to an ancient Roman poem, I think. A saying anyway.
That says "love conquers all things" let us surrender to love,
which is a very nice romantic idea.
But I think Wakimoto is a bit more realistic when he says, "Love doesn't conquer all".
 
"Tie the knot" is an idiom often used to talk about getting married.
You're being tied together with a knot that's hard to undo.
There's a lot of slang for getting married.
You could say, "You're getting hitched" like horses get hitched to a wagon tied together.
You could say, "You're being spliced". A splice is kind of joining.
 
 
That's all for today.では今日はここまでにしましょう。
 
So long.

 
 
 
Business Communication in Action 実践ビジネス英語

Hello, everybody.こんにちは。みなさん。

Hello and welcome to the show. This is Chris Matsushita. Let's take a look at conversation at work.
こんにちは。番組にようこそ。クリス松下です。実践的な会話を見てみましょう。
 
Prenup Agreement (1)
 
Goto, Wakimoto and Hughes are chatting about prenuptial agreements.
Wakimoto says there are no national statistics since they're not public documents.
But they do seem to be in the news a lot recently.
Hughes says a good prenup can help prevent fights over money, property and child custody.
 
 
"Prenuptial agreement" is a fairly long phrase.
So lots of times it's been shortened down to "prenup" in English.
 
English speakers often use the phrase, "Is it just my imagination?" when they think they've
observed something but they're afraid they might be mistaken.
You could say, "Am I imagining this?" and continue with, "Or".
Another similar phrase is, "Am I seeing things?"
But you'd use that when you actually do see something that you think can't be true.
 
The word "celeb" in English is a shortened form of "celebrity".
And I've heard it quite a bit recently.
It tends to be used in a much more informal, pretty much slang kind of a way.
I've read that it's even used as a verb sometimes in British English.
But I don't remember hearing it used that way in English.
So, for example, I think you could say, something like, "It was a big party and it well-celebed",
meaning lots of celebrities came.
 
Those two meanings of mogul come from different backgrounds.
When you're skiing and talking about moguls, it's referring to a small hill.
And it comes from a dialect of German.
When you're talking about an important person, 
it's often used to talk about important people in business.
It comes from Mongolian actually.
And it refers to people in India nowadays of Muslim background who centuries ago
came into India from Mongolia.
 
"Friends in the law business" is probably another way to say "friends who are lawyers".
But Wakimoto might also be referring to paralegals and people who do legal work but aren't
lawyers who've been approved by the bar association.
 
"Jaded cynic" is almost a set phrase in English, because someone who's cynical,
someone who's a cynic is probably already jaded.
Doubling up like this makes a phrase even stronger.
Someone who's jaded is worn out or tired or they've had too much of everything
so they're feeling pretty dull.
 
naive / gullible
I agree with that.
You can't use it with the same meaning as it seems to be used in Japanese.
But you have to use it in a right context.
Like children should be naive.
Worldly children is usually not such a good thing,
because it means they've seen too much too early.
 
 
 
That's all for today.では今日はここまでにしましょう。
 
I'm glad you could join us.
 

都城市のお店でいちばんおいしい食べ物は、ずばり、これ。
 
この写真ではわかりにくいけど、ひとつひとつのフルーツがすっごくおっきくて、しかも美味しい。
 
850円だけど、このおいしさでこの値段は、安い。
 
10月なのに、でっかいスイカもしっかりとさしてあった。
 
Tanaka Fruits  http://www.tanakafruits.com/index.html   phone 0986-22-3377
 
宮崎県に来たら、 そのまんま東 の県庁なんかじゃなく、ここを訪れるべき。
 
イメージ 1

Monday, October 11, 2010
Hello, everybody. You're listening to 5 minute English.
Hi! I'm David Neale.
Let's practice English together.
And I'm Vicki Glass. 
Welcome to our program.
Let's build up your English muscles.
Are you ready? Here we go.
 
Let's read out loud.
One. Now listen.
 
Are you listening to me? Look at me when I talk to you. I don't want to repeat myself.
 
Bob gave me a pen from his trip. You tilt it and the surf board moves.
He seems to have to given one to everybody.
 
Have you been smoking again? I thought you'd quit. But I can smell it on your jacket.
 
Let's check. Let's try.
Here's a message for you today.
Excuses will do you no good. 言い訳は何の役にも立ちません。
 
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Let's read out loud.
One. Now listen.
 
How can you sit still all day?  I have to get up every hour or so.
My back hurts if I don't stretch my legs.
 
The door bell just rang. It must be the mail carrier. I'm expecting some registered mail.
 
Can you come to my office today? There's something I want to discuss.
We can't do it over the phone.
 
Here's a message for you today.
It's up to you whether you'll get better or not. 上達するかどうかはあなた次第です。
 
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Let's read out loud.
One. Now listen.
 
Our trip plan is almost complete. The exact dates aren't set yet.
But we know all the destinations. We'll start in London and we'll end up in Athens.
 
Yes! I did it! I finally won this video game. It took hours of practice. What a triumph!
But maybe it's been a pathetic waste of time.
 
Let's check. Let's try.
Here's a message for you.
The harder you work, the sooner you'll reach your goal.
頑張れば頑張るほど、それだけ早く目標に到達します。
 
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Let's role play.
One. Now listen.
 
 
A: I met someone you know last night.
B: At the cocktail party? Who was it?
A: Her name was Amanda Cooper.
B: Mandy! How's she doing?
 
A: Have you ever eaten eels before?
B: Eels? That's like eating snakes.
A: Try them. You won't be sorry.
B: Okay. I like exotic foods. Give me a taste.
 
A: It's supposed to rain tomorrow.
B: Are you sure?
A: Of course not. That's impossible.
B: I guess you're right.
 
Let's check. Let's try.
Here's a message for you today.
Every time you practice, you get closer to your goal.
練習するたびに目標に近づいているのです。
 
Friday, October 15, 2010
Let's listen and answer.
One. Now listen.

We have a pet cat and a pet rabbit.
Really? Do they get along together?
They don't pay much attention each other.
I guess that's better than having pets that fight.
 
Q: What problem does the man mention?- Pets that fight.
 
You know that vacant lot nearby? I saw workers there today.
You know what that means? A building is going up there soon.
I wonder what it will be.
 
Q: Who did the woman see? - Construction workers.
 
I know it doesn't seem sunny.
But you should put on some sun block.
It's the UV rays you have to watch out for.
You can't see them.
But they pass right through those clouds.
You can burn just as easily today as on a sunny day.
 
Q: How can the weather best be described? - Cloudy.
 
Let's check. Let's try.
Here's a message for you today.
Procrastinators will never reach the goal. 先延ばしにしていたら決して目標に到達しません。

Saturday, October 16, 2010
Let's listen and answer.
Now listen.
 
I took my kids to the park last Saturday.
I just wanted them to have some fun and I wasn't expecting it cost much.
But there was transportation and museum tickets.
Dinosaur tours in the gift shop.
And the clown was selling balloons shaped like dinosaurs.
They each had to have one of those.
Then we went to the zoo and had lunch and ice cream and popcorn.
And the train seal show and animal movie cost extra.
I ended up spending a month's worth of fun money.
 
Q1: Where did they go? - To the park.
Q2: Why was the woman surprised? - It cost a lot of money.
Q3: What does the woman say they ate? - Ice cream and popcorn.
 
Let's check. Let's try.
Here's a message for you today.
More practice brings more confidence. もっと練習すればもっと自信がつきます。

Sunday, October 17, 2010
Let's listen and write.
One. Now listen.
 
1 He has severe mood swings.   彼は感情の起伏が激しい。
2 I'll pretend I didn't hear that.  それは聞かなかった振りをするよ。
3 Don't agonize over it.      それで苦しむことはないわ。 
4 You shouldn't mouth off like that. そんなふうに口答えをすべきではない。
5 He got what he asked for.    彼は自業自得よ。
 
Let's check. Let's try.
Here's a message for you today.
You won't get anywhere without perseverance. ねばり強さがなければどうにもなりません。

 
岩本 Susan: Business Communication in Action 実践ビジネス英語

杉田敏: Hello, everybody.こんにちは。みなさん。

I: Hello and welcome to the show. This is Susan Iwamoto.
Let's put our communication skills to work.
こんにちは。そして番組にようこそ。スーザン・岩本です。コミュニケーションの技術を応用しましょう。

Early to Rise (6)
 
Talk the Talk
 
S: Our current vignette kicks off early in the morning at Great Lakes.
Goto Yoko and Melinda Kinkaid discover that they aren't the only ones who like to get
a head start on the day.
How about you, Susan. Are you an early bird, or a night owl?
 
I: I'm a night owl aspiring to be an early bird. Well, that's not entirely true.
I do enjoy staying up late and often find that I'm very productive then.
However as Melinda noted most people are forced to adapt an early bird lifestyle
due to the reality of work schedules and commutes.
Being a night owl who has to get up early can lead to one tired bird during the day.

S: Have you tried to change your ways?
 
I: Sure. And there's something very satisfying about getting up at the crack of dawn
and checking off a number of things on my to-do list before 9 a.m.
As Melinda noted, it's a great chance to be productive before the typical work day
destructions of phone calls and e-mail begin.
 
S: Jack Wakimoto seem to be struggling with his attempt to turn into a morning lark.
 
S: Yes. And I can relate.
I'd like to follow Benjamin Franklin's sage advice:
"Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise."
However, staying up late is a hard habit to break.
Like Jack I plan to go to bed early but then I get on the computer,
read or make a phone call to the States.
And before I know it, it's after midnight.
I generally go to bed between 12 and 2 depending on my schedule for the next day.
But I'm sure I would feel much more alert in the mornings
if I can get under the covers by 11.
Now, Sugita san, I know that you're an early bird.
Your e-mails to me often come with a time stamp of 4 or 5 a.m.
What time do you usually hit the hay?
 
S: It varies. Sometimes I go to bed as early as 8 o'clock when I'm really tired.
But most of the time, I'm in bed by 10.
 
I: Were you always an early bird? Or are you a reformed night owl?
 
S: I used to work on evening papers in Tokyo and Cincinnati.
And I usually arrive in the newsroom by 6 or 7 o'clock.
So the early bird life style has been with me over the years.
Paul Pearson mentioned that you may have different strength depending on your chrono type.
For example, morning people tend to be healthier and more conscientious.
Those who stay up late are said to be more creative and flexible.
 
I: Well, I'd like to consider myself creative and flexible.
But I wouldn't mind a little more of the discipline that's often associated with early birds.
Yoko noted that it seems sensible to go to bed early and rise with the sun.
Well, I'm not quite ready to be in bed by 8 or 9 p.m.
I do quite find it much easier to wake up in the summer.
It's much easier to get up when there's sunlight streaming the windows.
I sometimes take advantage of this by squeezing an early morning run before heading to work.
On the other hand, dragging oneself out of bed before the sunrises in the winter is a chore.
 
S: Melinda mentioned that some people who get by on a few hours of sleep at night may
take naps to recharge during the day.
Of course that's not a realistic option for many business people.
 
I: That's for sure.
I read an article recently about a famous tech company that has placed special nap pods
in various common areas at their headquarters.
These pods look a little like lounge chairs with a kind of helmet or bubble that covers
the top half of your body, leaving your legs sticking out.
They are supposed to provide just the right setting for a power nap, allowing employees
to recharge and work at a higher level of productivity for the rest of the day.
Well, this may not catch on it in many companies.
I have noticed here in Japan that people are quite adept at napping on the trains.
A long commute can be a great chance to catch some Z's
especially if you are fortunate enough to nab a seat.
However, even straphangers have learned to nap while standing up,
and I remember doing that myself back when I had a long commute.
 
 
 
That's all for today.では今日はここまでにしましょう。

Thanks for joining us. 参加していただいてありがとうございます。

オレの所は、主として英語・数学を教える私塾なんだけど、
 
中学生には、5科目全部やってる。
 
ひとりで5科目も教えるなんてウソっぽい、って思ってたんだけどね。
 
でもね、できることもあるんだ。
 
例えば、社会の勉強の仕方とかね。
 
もちろん、苦手な分野はある。特に、理科の生物分野なんて悲惨かも。
 
でも、「オームの法則」や「圧力」などはすごく好き。そもそも計算問題にしても中1の方程式止まりだしね。
 
それに、中学生で勉強嫌いだ、っていう子に限って、かなりテストの成績のことを気にしてる。
 
オレは点数とかはほとんど気にもしてないんだけど、
 
それでも、「TJ、わたし、理科の点数、すごく上がったよ」って嬉しそうに報告してくれると、正直、嬉しい。
 
学校のやり方を踏襲するだけでは面白みがないから、いろんなところから文章を拝借して、
作文のテーマにしたりもしてる。
 
最近のテーマは…
 
以下の文章を読んで、「一日一日を大切に生きるにはどうすればよいか」というテーマで書きなさい。       (~二〇〇字)
 
『お前が無駄に過ごした「今日」は、昨日死んだ誰かが死ぬほど生きたかった「明日」なんだ。』
                                              AC(公共広告機構)
 
 
もちろん、学校の先生からは、「これほどのテーマを200字だなんて字数が少なすぎる」、
ってお叱りを受けそうだけど、中学生には200字書くのだってかなりたいへんなこと。
ちなみに、この作文は小学生にもやってもらってる。
小学生がやたらとびっくりするくらい出来の良い作文を書くときも、当然の事ながら、ある。
 
 
 

 
 
 
Business Communication in Action 実践ビジネス英語

Hello, everybody.こんにちは。みなさん。

Hello and welcome to the show. This is Chris Matsushita. Let's take a look at conversation at work.
こんにちは。番組にようこそ。クリス松下です。実践的な会話を見てみましょう。
 
Early to Rise (5)
 
Pearson says he takes a walk around the office when he gets sleepy
and feels refreshed when he's done.
Kinkaid says that there have been a few people at Great Lakes whose performance suffer
because of sleep deprivation.
Goto says it makes sense to her to sleep at sunset and rise with dawn.
Pearson observes that Goto's circadian rhythm seems to be well-adjusted.
 
 
The way Kinkaid says this line: "I don't think that's a luxury we can afford" is kind of interesting.
In English you can put the negative part of a sentence in various positions depending on
your meaning.
So Kinkaid is saying that her opinion is not that Great Lakes can afford a luxury.
She could have put the negative into the second part of the sentence.
I think that's a luxury we can't afford...
 
"Walkabout" is kind of an interesting word.
I think it's more common in the British Commonwealth countries,
or even the former Commonwealth countries.
Pearson uses it here to talk about getting a promise desk and taking a walk or strolling
around the office a bit probably to stretch his legs, a little bit of exercise or often
wake you up too.
I don't think people in the U.S. would use the word "walkabout" in this way.
Although in the context, it's very easy to understand what he's getting at.
 
MBWA = Management By Walking Around/About
 
"Nugget" is something that's small and compact
and usually it's something that's valuable as well.
Gold is often described as being a nugget or nuggets of gold.
A similar word is "lump". But lumps are not necessarily valuable.
 
"Sans" is a word directly from French although it's pronounced mostly English style. 
In English, always pronounce the final "s".
Some people pronounce it the way Wakimoto did "sans". 
But you'll also hear it pronounced "sans".
 
"Par" is a word that means "average" or "usual" in that situation.
It's the same word that's used in golf.
"Par for the course" is golfing term.  And it's also an idiom in English in any situation.
If you're below bar, you're below average.
 
Circadian may seem like sort of a difficult word.
It was coined in 1959. "Circa", the beginning of it means "about".
And "dien", the ending of it is related to the word for day in Latin.
So a circadian rhythm is a rhythm that takes about a day around 24 hours.
 
cf. circadian : coined 1959 from L. circa "about" + diem, accusative singular of dies "day".
The original use is in circadian rhythm.
 
Pontificate is a verb that's used to mean speak like you're better than other people.
It's related to a word for the pope, the Pontiff, when you spell it with a capital "P", especially,
means the pope, the head of the Catholic Church in Rome.
 
cf. pontificate: 1818, "to act as a pontiff," from pp. stem of M.L. pontificare, from L. pontifex.
Meaning "to assume pompous and dignified airs, issue dogmatic decrees" is from 1825.
Related: Pontificated; pontificating.
 
pontiff: c.1600, "high priest," from Fr. pontif (early 16c.), from L. pontifex, title of
a Roman high priest.
Used for "bishop" in Church Latin, but not recorded in that sense in English until 1670s,
specifically "the bishop of Rome," the pope.
Pontifical, however, is used with this sense from mid-15c.
 
 
"The day's a-wasting" is a fairly common phrase you hear people say
when it's time to get started.
You can also say "time's a-wasting" when you need to get started, doing something.
The phrase "a" plus the ing-form of the verb is rather stylized these days in English. 
In mainstream no special dialect U.S. English, it's used only for special effect.
 
 
That's all for today.では今日はここまでにしましょう。
 
Please tune in again for part 6.

 
 
 
Business Communication in Action 実践ビジネス英語

Hello, everybody.こんにちは。みなさん。

Hello and welcome to the show. This is Chris Matsushita. Let's take a look at conversation at work.
こんにちは。番組にようこそ。クリス松下です。実践的な会話を見てみましょう。
 
Early to Rise (4)
 
Kinkaid says that many of the world's leaders are morning people.
Goto says she thinks that most people fall between the two types.
Pearson says Great Lakes values both types and has a good mix.
The team starts talking about sleep and meth about people known
for reportedly not sleeping much at night.
Kinkaid observes that many of them took naps.
 
 
movers and shakers 世界を動かす人たち
  
The phrase "it makes for" might be a little bit difficult to use.
If you think of it as sort of a set phrase, "it makes for a" where it refers to some situation
or conditions you're describing,
and then after "a", you put a noun that stands for that whole situation.
So in this case, they are talking about different types of people and how they act and
whether they're early morning or late night people.
That whole situation, it makes for a good mix in this case.
 
The phrase "at the crack of dawn" is often used to talk about very very early,
when the sun first comes up.
Nobody's quite sure why the word "crack" is used to describe "dawn".
In my imagination, it was because sometimes when you see dawn, especially if it's cloudy,
it does look like the earth is cracking open at the horizon and the light is beginning to shine in.
But most of what I've read is that crack tends to stand for moment or instant in this case.
If you think of a gun being shot, the noise it makes can be described as a crack.
It's sort of a very quick and sudden opening or breaking.
 
In English, if you have no say in something, it means your opinion doesn't count,
nobody cares what you think even if you speak, nobody's gonna listen to you.
 
Pearson uses the idiom "hit the hay", which means "go to bed".
A very similar phrase is "hit the sack".
And they're relating to each other.
You can hit the hay or hit the sack even these days in English, because beds or mattresses,
especially cheap ones used to be made of hay put into a bag, put into a sack.
Nowadays we still use both idioms to mean "go to bed".
But I don't think anybody sleeps on hay anymore unless they happen to be at a farm
and take a quick nap in the afternoon.  
 
If you get a jump on something, you get a head start on it.
It means you've gone ahead. And so you have sort of an advantage.
 
When you get by, you manage to do something, but you probably don't do it very fully,
you don't do it very well. It's just barely good enough.
 
It might seem a little strange to talk about something that's true as being too true.
This is a sort of a meaningless emphasis, I guess.
Kinkaid is agreeing very strongly with what Pearson said.
 
These kinds of naps: naps of course means sleep during the daytime.
But you could call it a catnap, which is a short, refreshing nap.
You could say they snoozed during the day.
Snooze is a way of sleeping that's a little bit light, but refreshing.
Or you could say, they nod it off during the day.
 
 
 
That's all for today.では今日はここまでにしましょう。
 
Goodbye.

2010/10/4(月) http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/tjqfd020/60625243.html

2010/10/5(火) http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/tjqfd020/60629811.html

2010/10/11(月) http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/tjqfd020/60658101.html

2010/10/12(火) http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/tjqfd020/60662029.html

2010/10/18(月) http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/tjqfd020/60690475.html

2010/10/19(火) http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/tjqfd020/60694974.html

2010/10/18(月) http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/tjqfd020/60722350.html

2010/10/19(火) http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/tjqfd020/60726960.html

Monday, October 4, 2010
Hello, everybody. You're listening to 5 minute English.
Hi! I'm David Neale.
Let's practice English together.
And I'm Vicki Glass. 
Welcome to our program.
Let's build up your English muscles.
Are you ready? Here we go.
Let's read out loud.
One. Now listen.
 
Where were you last night? We were at the restaurant at 7. But you never showed up.
 
Wait a minute. I've got something in my eye. There. I think it's okay now.
 
I'm no doctor. But I know a flu when I see it. You should go home and rest.

Let's check. Let's try.
Here's a message for you today.
Hard work and good luck go together. 頑張ればいいことがあります。
 
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Let's read out loud.
One. Now listen.
 
I've found the book you wanted. It's been out of print for decades. I ordered a used copy.
 
I didn't know you wrote poetry. You should show it to people. Why not set up a website?
 
Where have you been? I haven't see you in a while. I called you a couple of times last week.
 
Here's a message for you today.
Making persistent efforts is the best way to success.
ねばり強く頑張ることが成功への最善の方法なのです。
 
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Let's read out loud.
One. Now listen.
 
Have some more pasta. And how about some of the broccoli. Are you sure you'e eating enough?
You eat like a bird. You're not on a diet again, are you?
 
All right, everyone. Sorry to throw a wet blanket on things.
But break time is over. It's time to get back to work. We've still got half a day ahead of us.
 
Let's check. Let's try.
Here's a message for you.
Your daily effort is sure to pay off. 日々の努力は必ず報われます。
 
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Let's role play.
One. Now listen.
 
A: My computer just froze up again.
B: Turn it off and then on again.
A: Are you sure that's the best solution?
B: It always works for me.
 
A: Your apartment is so spacious.
B: You think this is spacious?
A: Well, it's bigger than my place.
B: Have you thought of moving?
 
A: Did you hear about the Kelly's?
B: The Kelly's across the street?
A: Yes. Ms. Kelly just had twins.
B: Oh, my! That'll keep them busy.
 
Let's check. Let's try.
Here's a message for you today.
Daily practice is the key to better English. 
毎日練習することが英語上達の秘訣です。 
 
Friday, October 8, 2010
Let's listen and answer.
One. Now listen.

 
 
Have you ever been horseback riding?
No. But I'd love to give it a try.
Can you come to my brother's ranch on Sunday?
Absolutely. I'll set the day aside for it.
 
Q: When will they go horseback riding? - Sunday.
 
Check out this website.
It's a collection of top 10 lists.
You name it, they'll rank it.
Sports teams, movies, cars, politicians.
They even rank ice cream flavors.
 
Q: What does the man recommend? - Visiting a website.
 
Tom is an amazing eater.
We had lunch together the other day.
He finished the whole meal and said, "I could use another sandwich."
So I jokingly said, "Why not order two or three?"
And he said, "Just one. I'm trying to lose weight."
 
Q: Where did the woman most likely talk to Tom? - At a restaurant.
 
Let's check. Let's try.
Here's a message for you today.
Being lazy won't get anything done. 怠けていたら、何にも成し遂げられません。

Saturday, October 9, 2010
Let's listen and answer.
Now listen.
 
It's important to stay in touch with old friends.
To tell you the truth, I learned that from my wife.
She faithfully writes letters, cards and e-mails to everyone she knows,
even people she just met briefly ten years ago. 
She still knows them and stays in touch.
Everywhere we go in the world, she seems to have friends there.
I myself never keep up with old friends.
So I lose touch with them overtime.
Most of the friends I have now are people I met through my wife.
 
Q1: What does the man's wife do? - Keeping touch with friends.
Q2: What do we know about the man? - He has traveled overseas with his wife.

Q3: What does the man say about his friends? - He met most of them because of his wife.
 
Let's check. Let's try.
Here's a message for you today.
Do it now. Don't put it off. 今やりましょう。先に延ばしてはいけません。

Sunday, October 10, 2010
Let's listen and write.
One. Now listen.
 
1 He had everybody in stitches. 
2 He is so easy to be with.
3 This place has its own flavor.
4 I'm all booked up this week.
5 The story really depressed me.
 
Let's check. Let's try.
Here's a message for you today.
Everything depends on your hard work. 全てがあなたの頑張り次第なのです。

 
 
 
Business Communication in Action 実践ビジネス英語

Hello, everybody.こんにちは。みなさん。

Hello and welcome to the show. This is Chris Matsushita. Let's take a look at conversation at work.
こんにちは。番組にようこそ。クリス松下です。実践的な会話を見てみましょう。
 
Early to Rise (3)
 
This time you'll hear Pearson say he's surprised to see so many of his team in the office
so early and worry aloud about trouble brewing.
Goto tells him it's just that they're busy and want to get a head start.
Kinkaid says that Wakimoto has turned over a new leaf.
Pearson observes that morning and evening people both have good but different skill sets.
 
 
Pearson uses the verb "brew" together with the word "crisis".
"Brew" originally is referred to the process of making beer.
You can also use it for making coffee.
Something that takes a bit of time to work itself up into something recognizable
can be said "to brew".
So crisis brew, storms brew. And in both of those cases, you could also they're blowing up. 
The wind is becoming stronger. They're becoming more and more noticeable.
And they're turning into something that you can't ignore.
 
a problem brewing / crisis brewing
 
There's a program in the U.S. called "headstart" that helps kids from less well-off families
get a good start in school.
They start working with these kids before they enter compulsory education.
 
A "harsh task master" is someone who imposes work on you.
And usually it's hard or continuous work that you'd really rather not do. 
A task master, because of that, I think usually has a somewhat negative meaning.
Although I think I've always seen the phrase together with the word "harsh" to make it clear.
 
Kinkaid uses two interesting phrases here.
The first one is "turn over a new leaf".
This is an idiom that means "get a new start".
When I first heard this phrase, when I was a kid, I thought it referred to actual leaves.
And I imagined a caterpillar, some other small insect like that, turning leaves over,
or rolling a leaf over to make use of it.
But actually the phrase refers to books.
The pages in a book can be called "leaves".
And if you turn over a new leaf, you have a completely new page.
 
Kinkaid also uses a phrase "on the straight and narrow".
Usually you use this phrase to talk about somebody who's doing things properly and correctly,
who's keeping his nose clean to use another phrase.
A person who's following the rules and living the right way.
 
It's sometimes used to talk about somebody who had been in prison and comes out
and decides to live correctly and not get into trouble again with the police.
Most people seem to think the phrase comes originally from the Bible,
although it was never used in exactly this formation.
 
"To burn the candle at both ends" means to get up early and stay up late.
And it's usually used a bit negatively, because most people can't do that for very long.
 
A couple other words you could use instead of saying active during the morning or evening
are diurnal and nocturnal.
They're a little more formal sounding.
And most of the time, when I hear them, they're used to describe the general habits of
some kind of living creature. 
Thought about that way, humans are diurnal.
We are not really designed for living and doing everything at night,
although we can do things at night.
Nocturnal describes animals that do things at night.
For example, owls are active at night.
They do most of their eating and living when it's dark.
 
 
That's all for today.では今日はここまでにしましょう。
 
So long for now.
 

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