ラジオビジネス英語 Lesson（71）
8月7日(水)
The meeting is coming to an end. The final topic is work-life balance.
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What's the main question about working from home?
-The question is how many days a week they should allow remote work.
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Let's move on to the final point, work-life balance. We have flexible working hours in place, and we've managed to keep over time within reasonable limits.
-Indeed. For our non-Japanese staff, over time used to be a major concern, but they're relieved to find that this isn't the case anymore.
-Excellent. The main challenge we're facing now is meeting the increasing demand for more opportunities to work from home, right.
-Yes, the question is how many days a week we should allow remote work?
-I'm currently discussing this with the marketing team.
-We'll see how it goes.
-Nicole. Thank you for your active participation. Your insights are invaluable. I'm planning to travel to London next week. so let's touch base again when I reaturn.
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flexible working hours
be relieved
work from home
work at home
insight
invaluable
touch base 連絡を取る
ｰｰｰ
invaluable 貴重な
- Your insights are invaluable.
- The feedback from customers is invaluable for improving our products.
- Your contributions to the charity are invaluable.
( incredibly, highly, extremely + valuable)
- Nicole, I want to say that I appreciate your input today.
- We had disagreements sometimes but that's also part of the process, right?
- It's those diverse viewpoints that often lead to the best outcome.
- We're committed to our shared goals. * common goals
- Let's keep the momentum going.
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ラジオビジネス英語 Lesson（70）
8月6日(火)
Michio and Nicole are identifying issues related to the work process and foreign employee's relationships with Japanese managers.
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What do foreign staff really want from Japanese managers?
-They want straightforward feedback on their work in performance.
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Regarding the work process, many non-Japanese staff seem stressed about consulting with different department for example.
-Actually, I understand that well. In my previous workplace, a foreign affiliated firm, the reporting line was clear and authority was given to the head of each department. So most decisions were made quickly.
-You're on the same page as them. They may understand this cultural difference in theory, but in real life, they often find the process slow.
-I see. How about their relationship with their Japanese managers?
- They appreciate Japanese managers' politeness. But what they really want is straightforward feedback on their work in performance.
-They want comments on areas for improvement, right? This will be addressed in a training session for Japanese managers next month.
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foreign affiricated firm
reporting line
authority
be on the same page
in theory
straightforward
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in theory
- They may understand this cultural difference in theory, but in real life, they often find the process slow.
- I understand the concept of leadership in theory, but implementing it effectively requires real-world experience.
- I know the importance of exercise in theory, but it's not easy to practice it.
*exercise
They know this cultural difference intellectually.
understand .. in one's head
They understand this cultural difference in their head.
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They want comments on ares for improvement, right?
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Japanese managers tend to deliver criticism in a way that minimizes conflict.
So non-Japanese employees may interpret this as vague or unclear feedback.
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Japanese managers may not have received sufficient training in providing feedback to a multicultural workforce. They need to be made aware of the importance of feedback in improviing foreign employees performance and motivation.
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ラジオビジネス英語 Lesson（69）
8月5日(月)
The topic of the discussion shifts to the work environment. Michio asks how Nicole feels about it.
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In what kind of situation in particular, does Nicole feel tense?
-During meetings.
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So, on to the next topic, the work environment. The results of our recent surey left me somewhat uncertain.
-In what way?
-Despite our effort to arrange Japanese language and culture courses for not-Japanese statt, they feel pressured to conform to Japanese business customs. Can I ask how you personally feel?
-Well, I can relate to that feeling. For example, I still find myself feeling tense especially during meetings.
-Meeting make everyone nervous. You don't have many language issues, do you?
-I think the nervousness is more about my social proficiency rather than my Japnanese ability. Forein employees try hard to adapt to unwirtten rules, but they are often confused by the differences in sommunication styles. The fear offending people is big for foregners in Japan.
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conform to
relate to に共感する <-I can relate to that feeling.
tense
nervous -> nervousness
proficiency 熟練・熟練度・習熟度
unwritten rule
offend
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leave ... uncretain
- The results of our recent surey left me somewhat uncertain.
- The ambiguous response from the manager left the team uncertain.
- The sudden change in plans left us uncrtain.
touch?
Synonyms: feel, finger, handle, paw
These verbs mean to bring the hands or fingers into contact with so as to give or receive a physical sensation: gently touched my hand; felt the runner's pulse; fingered the worry beads; handle a bolt of fabric; fans who pawed the celebrity's arm. -> move.
feel unsure
The results of our recent srvery left me feeling a bit unsure.
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Meetings make everyone nervous.
The fear offending people is big for foregners in Japan.
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I understand that feeling well. When I worlked in the U.S, I encountered many situations where things were done differently from Japan. So I was always worried about whether my words and actions were making the other person feel uncomfortable.
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At one point, I thought it would be bad unless something changed. So I switched to a mindset of enjoying different cultures. Since then, I've started to enjoy discovering the differnecess.
I think this mindset might be the key to working in a differnt culture. What do you think?
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ラジオビジネス英語 Interview（3-1）
8月2日(金) Brett Cline
When did Mr. Cline get the opportunity to go to Japan for the first time?
-It was when he was working for small startup compnanies.
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Thank you for joining our program. So shall I call you Mr. Cline?
- Thank you for having me and my friends and colleagues call me Brett. So that would be okay.
-Oh, Brett-san, that's a good idea. So my first question is could you please share with us about your background and about the current company you're working at?
-Yes. Thank you Shibata-san. So when I was younger I was always interested in electoronics. And I actually started programming my first computer at around 12 years old. I knew that I wanted to be involved with computers and I knew that I wanted to be involved with programming and electornics in some way, but I didn't know exactly in what way would be. And then, I eventually went to Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, and I have an electrical and a computer engineering degree from Northeastern and throughout the years in University, I worked for a number of different engineering firms such as general electric which is a company that's over 100 years old and I went on to working for other companies when I was in my 20s that were involved in computer design or in semiconductor design and this gave me kind of the taste for continuing down to semiconductor path. Eventually, I found myself working for small startup companies. And those startup companies gave me some opportunities to learn different aspects but also gave me my first trip to Japan somewhere around I think it was 2001. And now I work for a scale up company I'll call it, called ..ship was founded in the Czech Republic in 2014. We create computer processors and we're using a new technology called risk 5. And these processors are commonly used in semiconductor designed for many of the electooronics that you see today and probably what we're using on the internet as we talk, you can think of these computer processors as the brain of an electoronic chip or an electronic system. And codeship's unique capability is allown our customers to build custom computer processors for their specific designs, and so this helps them improve their performance or reduce their costs or even reduce power usage. And my job at the company is chief commercial officer and I'm reponsible for worldwide sales and corporate marketing.
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semiconductor
The word seminconductor comes from the prefix semi, which means partial. And conductor which is something that allows something to move or pass through such as how metal is a conductor for electrocity. So a semiconductor is a material that allows electrocity to pass through partially. A kind of part conducor, part insulator.
taste for に対する興味・を好むこと
Getting a taste for something means to get at least a basic understanding and appreciation for it. Getting a taste for something is similar to how you might want to eat something again after tasting it. Mr. Cline mentioned that his experiences gave him a taste for continuing dwon the semiconductor path. This means that his experiences gave him sufficient knowledge and sparked enough interent to continue working with semiconductors.
scale up company 成長過程にある企業
A scale up company or a scale up is a company that has achieved profitabilty and has grown in scale. Scale refers to growth or growing where revenue increasingly greater than costs. Once they demonstrate certain sustained criteria for growth.
computer processor
A computer processor is also know as a processor or CPU. It's the hardware that functions as the brain of the computer.
Risk five
Risk 5, an acronym spelled out as R-I-S-C-v stands for reduced instruction set computer 5. Mr. Cline mentioned that risk 5 is one of the new technologies his company is using to help improve performance as well as reduce costs and powr usage.
allow 可能にする
In this case to allow means to let someone do something or let someone have something. To permit. Mr. Cline mentioned that his company allows customers to build custom computer proceessors, meaning his company gives customers the option to build custome computer processors.
chief commercial officer
A chief commercial officer or CCO is an executive at an organization, who is responsible for the commercial aspects such as sales, marketing, customer outreach and so on. Mr. Cline mentioned that his job as CCO includes worldwide sales and corporate marketing.
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develop a passion
I was born and raised in Tokyo, where I devloped a strong passion for public transportation systems and large cities.
give a foundation
My liberal arts degree gave me a solid foundation in Intercultural understanding.
pursue a career
Growing up, I was always interested in cross-border trade, which led me to pursure a career in a general trading company.
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gain a perspective
Having lived in several countries, I have gained a unique perspective on world affairs.
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Eventually, I found myself working for small startup companies.
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ラジオビジネス英語 Lesson（68）
8月1日(木) イベント参加者への通知
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Subject: Invest in Japan, 2024, conference approaching soon.
Dear Invest in Japan, 2024 delegates,
This is a friendly reminder that the 17th invest in Japan conference is just around the corner on Thursdy, August 29th. We're excited to welcome you and offer valuable insights into investing in Japan Financial markets. We've cimpiled a list of frequently asked questions where you might find answers to any queries you may have. See you soon in Tokyo.
Yoshida Yuri
Invest in Japan, 2024 organizing committee.
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*committee
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- I have a quick question regarding transportation from the airport.
*a quick question ちょっと質問がある - I have a brief inquiry about transportation choices avilable from the airport.
advise
[ædˈvaɪz]
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Subject: Invitation to Navigating emerging markets seminar.
Regards,
*cordially 心から, 誠意をもって
->You are cordially invited to 案内する
-> Early bird gets the worm.
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- I may need to make a decision closer to the event date.
まじかになってから => closer to the event date - I might need to postpone my decision until nearer the time.
-> Here I used "mirror the time" and "might" instead of may.
That's one way of putting it.
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Dear Yuri,
Thank you very much for the invitation. I appreciate the opportunity to gain insights into emerging markets. My availability depends on the schdule of my ongoing project I'm certainly interested. But I may need to make a decision closer to the event date.
Regards,
Tom
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What was your impression of this email?
-This email conveys his intention to go if he can. He carefully explains that he can't decide until nearer the time, but he's clearly interested.
-Thank you.
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- We'd love to have you join us.
- Thank you for investing your time in our seminar. We trust it was time well spent.
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ラジオビジネス英語 Lesson（67）
7月31日(水)
Michio and Nicole are discussing what career paths mean for non-Japanese employees. Michio recalls a story when he hears Nicole's remark.
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In terms of loyalty, what is important for non-Japanese employees?
-It's important to be given a pivotal part to play in the company's success.
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For non-Japanese employees, career paths aren't just about skill development and job changes. They're about gaining decision-making autonomy and contributing to the company in return.
-That reminds me of a conversation I had with Peter in New York the other day. We talked about the loyalty to the company. He mentioned that in Japan loyalty can be a spiritual connection. But for non-Japanese employees, being given a pivotal part to plya in the company's success is more important.
-That's a valid point. I think those who leave must have struggled to get a clear picture of the company's expectations.
-I see. The issue could potentially see improvement if managers clarify the purpose of the job and role expectations when assigning tasks.
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decision making autonomy 自分の裁量で決められること
remind A of B
royalty
pivotal 極めて重要な
valid 妥当な・根拠のある
potentially
clarify
assign
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remind ... of ...
- That reminds me of a conversation I had with Peter.
- That traditional Japanese house reminds me of the house where I lived in my childhood.
- That song reminds me of my school trip in high school.
That brings to mind a conversation I had with Peter.
prompt ... to recall ...
That prompts me to recall a chat I had with Peter.
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Narisol appreciated how our company values input from all levels of the organization. She mentioned that in her previous U.S company decisions were often made at the top without much consideration for input from lower levels.
Otto felt that suggesting ideas boosted his confidence, which increased his job satisfaction. He said, it's refreshing for him to see how a collaborative approach to decision making leads to more innovative solutions.
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ラジオビジネス英語 Lesson（66）
7月30日(火)
meritocracy
[mɛrɪˈtɔkrəsi]
A system in which advancement is based on individual ability or achievement.
aspiration
[ˌæspəˈreɪʃən]
=> career asparation
career aspiration 仕事の大望/野心
Michio, the HR manager is discussing the challenges of career development for non-Japanese employees with Nicole.
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What is the percentage of foreign managers at the company?
-It's 25 percent.
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Regarding career growth, our performance evaluation systme has shifted toward meritocracy. I believe our foreign employee is appreciate the change. What concers do they have?
-Naturally they welcome the change, but they feel the transition from a seniority-based system to a merit-based system is somewaht slow.
-Slow? Transforming such a long standing social norm takes time. There's no such thing as a perfect system.
-Michio san, please don't take it personally. You asked about their concers, so I'm giving them to you. Some have pointed out that the proportion of foreign board members is still average for a listed company.
-Hmmm. True. However, foreign managers now account for 25 percent of all managers. Isn't that seen as an opportiunity?
-It's encouraging, but they still struggle to see a clear career path.
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meritocracy 実力主義
seniority based
merit-based
somewhat
there's no such thing as (+a ...)
-> There's no such thing as a free luch.
Don't take it personally.
proportion
listed company
account for
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account for ...
- Foreign managers now account for 25 percent of all managers.
- Personnel costs account for the majority of the company's cost.
- In India, Japanese cars account for about 50 percent of passenger car sales.
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ラジオビジネス英語 Lesson（65）
7月29日(月)
Fujiwara Michio, manager of the human resources department at a pharmaceutical company based in Tokyo discusses with hie subordinate Nicole how to improve the retention rate of foreign employees.
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What's the main factor behind the departure of non-japanese employees?
-It's compensation. 報酬
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Hi Nicole, how was your weelend?
-Hi Michio san, it was very relaxing. I managed to catch up on some reading. It was the perfect weather for staying indoors. How about you?
-Great. Thank you. I spent some quality time with my family. So let's get down to business, shall we? We've been facing the issue of non-Japanese staff leaving our company prematurely. Let's dig deeper into the reasons for their departure. Coulld you share your thoughts on this?
-Sure. It's evident that compensation is a major factor, but there are other reasons as well. Some are seeking opportunifies for career advancement, a positive work environment, or better work-life balance.
-You've mentioned several factors. Shall we examine each one more closely?
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catch up on -> I managed to catch up on some reading.
quality time
get down to business
prematurely
dig deeper into
departure 退職
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dig deeper into
- Let's dig deeper into the reasons for their departure.
- We need to dig deepr into the research to uncover hidden trends.
- Let's dig deeper into the root cause of the problem.
* root cause 根本原因
-> delve : 探究する, 詮索/ 掘り下げる・掘る
Let's delve into what drives their decision to leave.
uncover
Let's uncover the underlying reasons behind their decision to depart.
* underlying reasons behind...
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Some are seeking opportunifies for career advancement, a positive work environment, or better work-life balance.
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a positive work environment
I think there are three things to consider. Career development, work-life harmony, and above all, a comfortable workplace culture.
There are three key aspects to take into account. Career prospects, healthy work life integration, and most importantly, a supportive work atmosphere.
*, and most importantly, / and crucially, / and foremost
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ラジオビジネス英語 Interview（2-8）
7月26日(金) Kailene Falls
The conversation with Kailene was really thought-provoking for me. Listening to her journey I fest it was evident she faced quite a few challenges. Especially when she first arrived in Japan. What stands out to you most about her experiences?
-I'd say Kailine's perseverance. It's surprising that despite the initial setbacks, she didn't give up and eventually found a job. I can't imagine the frustration of constantly hearing it isn't the hiring season and feeling like there's no way in.
-It's incredible how Kailene just kept pushing, isn't it? It must have taken a lot of soul searching to recognize her own artistic inclinations and capitalize on them to carve out unique space for herself in the industry.
What strikes you about her approach to her career shift?
-Two things. First, its's the way she found her niche in food illustration by combining her love for drawing with her fascination for Japanese cuisine. Second, it's her transition from digital to traditional art. It's not easy to break away from a skill set you've mastered and start something new, especially in the creative field.
-I agree. Kailene recognized the importance of finding her unique style and was willing to take that leap. It's a testament to the importance of pursuing work that not only pave the bills but also brings joy and sataisfaction. By the way, what do you think of her advice on combining hobbies with language study?
-Well, I wish I had received that kind of advice when coming to Japan. I sometimes feel like language learning can be tedious, but when you tie it to something you're passionate about, it becomes much more enjoyable and sustainable.
-Absolutely, I believe Kaylene'd advice would resonate with the listners of this program as well. Her story serves as a reminder that with passion and perseverance. You can turn what you love into your job.
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Thought-provoking 考えさせられる
Something that makes you think mentally stimulating. Mr. Shibata said that he found the conversation with Kailene thoguht-provoking. This means that the conversation was food for thought, or generated new ideas and considerations.
Soul serching
Thinking deeply about something or self-examining the conscience. Introspection. Reexamining, tightly held beliefs. Here's an example, Members of the community did some soul searching after the tragedy in order to prevent another one. This means that the community members were reflecting on what happened and looked for answers or solutions. Even if they were difficul to accept.
inclination
A tnedency towards something. A disposition. An urge or leaning. Mr. Shibata mentioned Kailene's artistic inclinations or what she usually does artistically. Another example would be, I have no inclination to become an athlete. We can imagine that based on this person's lifestyle and preferences, they have not desire to become an athlete.
carve out 経歴などを作り上げる・道を切り開く
To carve is to cuto into something to make a shape or space such as carving a wooden statue. Using this image to ccarve out, meants to make space for something. To work hard to establish something like a career.
To forge, or create. Mr. Shibata tallked about Kailene carving out space for herself in the industry. This means she had to work hard to make a place for herslef in the industry.
strike
In this case to strike means to leave an impression. Mr. Shibata asked me, what strikes you about her approach to her career shift? He's asking about what stands out to me about her approach or what impressions I have about her approach.
break away from
To stop using or doing something. To separate from something that is not beneficial. I mentioned that it's not easy to break away from something you've mastered and start doing something new. This means that it's hard to transition away form something you've mastered and start something new. Another ecample would be, My doctor says I need to break away form drinking alcohol. This person will have to give up alcohol because it's not for them even though they enjoy it.
testament
A testament is something tha serves as proof of something or shows that something is a fact. It can also be a sign of something. An example would be, sales of this products are on the rise. It's atestament to its popularity and usefulness. This means that rising sales serves as proof, make ti clear or signify that the product is popular and useful.
Pave the bills 生活費を生み出す
If something like a job paves the bills, it provides enough money to cover basic living expenses such as rent or mortgate water power, gas and so on. Mr. Shibata talked about pursuing work that not only pave the bills but also brings joy and satisfaction. This means work that provides enough money to get by, enough money to live on or provides enough money for basic expenses in addition to bringing joy and satisfaction.
tedious 面倒な
Something you don't want to do and find boring or dull. Something that takes a long time and isn't enjoyable at all. For example, the child doesn't want to do his homework because he thinks it's tedious. He doesn't like doing the same kinds of math problems over and over.
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Listening to her journey, I felt it was evident she faced quite a few challenges especially when she first arrived in Japan.-> What stands out to you most about her experiences?
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It must have taken a lot of soul searching to recognize her own artistic inclinations and capitalize on them to carve out unique space for herself in the industry. -> What strikes you about her approach to her career shift?
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By the way, what do you think of her advice on combining hobbies with language study?
-Well, I wish I had received that kind of advice when coming to Japan.
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Our office environment survey suggests that many feel background music could enhance the office atmosphere. The workspace is currently very quiet and voices carry easily making people reluctant to communicate. -> What do you think about the survey results?
-There seem to be many things to consider. Regarding background music, we could experiment with it for trial period. We need to create an environment suitable for smooth communication.