ビジネスマンに捧ぐ～　英語学習に役立つ！PEGL事務局ブログ -19ページ目

Lost in Translation Part.16 ノート

和製英語と英語の違いを説明するシリーズLost in Translation
第16回の本日は”ノート”です。

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Lost in Translation　Part 16
ノート（Notebook）

In Japanese, the word ノート would most likely make you think of the picture below. In English, however, these are called notebooks. The word ノート (note) in English has many various meanings; however, none of those meanings is notebook.

One use of the word note is a short message that is written from one person to themselves or another person. Notes can be written on any surface- paper, hands, walls, mirrors, anything really. A common situation in which you might need to leave a note is when you answer the phone. If you answer the phone and are not able to find the person the caller wishes to speak to, you may ask them if they’d like you to give them a message. If they say yes, you would most likely write it down. This is a note.

Another kind of note is paper money. Notes in Japan would be the 1,000, 5,000 and 10,000 yen bills (not the 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 yen COINS). This term is more rare in common English; however, it is commonly used in banking. So, if you happen to be working for Mitsubishi UFJ, Mizuho or another bank in Japan that deals internationally, you may find this use of the word quite valuable.

Though there are many, many different meanings for note, we will only discuss one more because this blog can only be so long. Given that Valentine’s Day and White Day are fast approaching, the note we will discuss is the love note. A love note can be given at any time- not only on Valentine’s Day. It is given between two people who are in love. Usually, it is a short message on a piece of paper or shower mirror expressing their feelings.

These are just three examples of the meaning of note. If you wish to ask for a book of paper in which write, then you must ask for a notebook. Remember, if someone asks you, “Do you have any notes for me?” they are not asking you for a notebook- they are asking if you have any messages for them.

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※The English described in this blog is from an American perspective. Cultural reactions and vocabulary might be different in other countries like Canada, Britain and Australia.

Business Idioms#3 【Drag one’s feet】

職場で役立つイディオムを紹介するシリーズBusiness Idioms (B.I.)
第3回の本日は”Drag one’s feet”です。

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Business Idioms #3
Drag one’s feet

In today’s fast-paced business world things happen almost instantaneously; we communicate directly with people around the world as if they were in our office, we see news broadcast as it happens and company stock prices change in seconds. When it comes to hiring we often have to decide about the candidate before they leave our office, if we drag our feet the best candidates will often end up working somewhere else.

Drag one’s feet - to take to long to act on doing something or making a decision. Implies a lack of energy or enthusiasm for something. Someone who is not in a hurry.

“If we had had patented the product right away we would have dominated the market but we dragged their feet and the competition caught up to us.”

The offer

So you have interviewed for the position and despite you not blowing your own horn and perhaps because you are fully aware that you occasionally bite off more than you can chew they are very interested. They ask you to wait a few minutes while they step out of the room to discuss things in private.

Manager 1: Wow, he is a great candidate. He has the right background and the skill set we are looking for.

Manager 2: I totally agree, I think he is the person we have been looking for.

Manager 1: OK, so if we are in agreement let’s talk to HR tomorrow and have them draw up an offer letter and then schedule him to come back on Monday to make the offer.

Manager 2: Monday? I don’t think we can afford to drag our feet on this, we will run the risk of losing him to another company. Perhaps even our competition.

Manager 1: You are probably right, why don’t I get that offer letter put together right now and you take him for a tour of the offices while we wait.

As a candidate we often look at the manner with which the process is handled as a way to guage the level of interest and the level of professionalism the company operates at.

Manager 1: Thank you for your patience. While we were showing you around the facility I had our HR department draw up a contract offer for you. We really feel you are a perfect fit for the position and didn’t want to let you leave today without knowing that we want you to join the team.

Candidate: Thank you, I am very flattered. I really appreciate that and you have made me feel very wanted. It makes my decision easier as I can tell that this is the type of company I want to work for. So often companies drag their feet during the interview process and you are left wondering how serious they are about you. Thank again.

Manager 1: Don’t thank us. We feel it will benefit us all to have you join the team as soon as possible.
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Lost in Translation Part.15 リフォーム

和製英語と英語の違いを説明するシリーズLost in Translation
第15回の本日は”リフォーム”です。

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Lost in Translation Part 15
リフォーム　（Remodeling）

The Japanese word リフォーム has the same meaning as the English word remodel(ing). Usually, the Japanese word is used for remodeling a home, as in the picture below.

The English word reform, however, can’t be used in this way. Reform usually means the reform of a system rather than a building. For example: the U.S. government is currently trying to reform their healthcare system while Mrs. Baker is remodeling her living room.

Though the example uses the government, reform can be applied to any system. For example, there can be government reform, religious reform, school reform, etc…. You can think of it this way: remodel is an aesthetic change on the outside, while reform is a meaningful change within.

Here are some examples:

1A friend walks into John’s house and finds his kitchen is covered in plastic and all the cabinets are being changed.

“Hey, John. I didn’t know you were changing your kitchen.”
“Yeah, my wife wanted a more modern look, so we’re remodeling the kitchen. Next year, we’re going to remodel the living room.”

2.Two men are speaking about a newspaper article.

“Have you heard about the new healthcare bill the President is trying to get passed through Congress?”
“Yeah, it’s a whole new system, isn’t it?”
“Actually, it’s healthcare reform. Starting from scratch would be too troublesome and expensive.”

大前研一ライブ誕生秘話のご紹介

大前研一が２時間にわたり、
最新ビジネスニュースを解説する大前研一ライブ。

「自分が経営者だったら」
「私が事件になった企業からコンサルティングの依頼を受けたら」との立場で、
徹底的に問題の本質に斬り込む、思考訓練に最適なニュース番組として
ご好評をいただいております。

先日、2010年1月17日（日）に放送された
大前研一ライブでは、
「サンデープロジェクト」の放送終了に関連して

ＢＢＴおよび大前研一ライブの誕生エピソード、
大前研一はなぜ、民放に出るのを一切やめ、独自の放送局を立ち上げたのか
その秘話を語っていましたのでご紹介いたします。

約４分半の映像を
ぜひお楽しみください！

▼大前研一ライブ誕生秘話はこちらから（動画）▼
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucUPqYwgKgg

事務局・山口

B.I.#2 【To bite off more than you can chew】

職場で役立つイディオムを紹介するシリーズBusiness Idioms (B.I.)
第2回の本日は”To bite off more than you can chew”です。

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Business Idioms #2

To bite off more than you can chew.

It is quite common in an interview to be asked about your strengths and weaknesses. As we said last week it is sometimes necessary to blow our own horn in order to highlight our abilities and special skills but what about discussing our weaknesses? There is a chance you could be too honest and give them reason to think twice about hiring you. One weakness that I often hear is that the candidate has a tendency to bite off more than they can chew.

To bite off more than you can chew － to take on more than you can handle; as in a job or project.

“I think that on occasion I bite off a little more than I can chew and end up working long hours in order to complete the project on time.”

This indicates that you are aware of a tendency you have to take on too much work which I think most employers would take as a negative part of being hardworking and ambitious which is better than being lazy and difficult to motivate in my opinion.

Conversation 1

Interviewer: Well obviously you have a strong background and an impressive skill set. What do you think are your weaknesses or areas in which you would like to improve?

Candidate: I am very hardworking and strive for success which has on occasion lead me to bite off more than I can chew while working on some projects.

Conversation 2

Interviewer: It says here that you developed the new ad campaign for a major soft drink company.

Candidate: That’s correct. It was a huge undertaking and at times I felt that I had bitten off more than I can chew but the team pulled together and we managed to launch a very successful campaign.
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英語で人事考課面談を行なう時のヒント！特別講義映像プレゼント

PEGLのメルマガ「グローバルリーダーへの道」の読者に
毎月１回プレゼントしている特別講義映像。

今月は、グローバル人材育成の第一人者である
船川淳志講師の人気講義
「グローバルマネジャーのマインドとスキル」より

英語で人事考課面談を行う際に気をつけたいポイントを
鋭くついた講義をお贈りします

そろそろ人事考課が近い企業も多いと思います。

今年急に外国人を部下にもつようになり
その部下の初めての面談を前に不安を感じている方、

●会議室で２人になったらどうスタートしたら良いか？

●相手を正しく評価するにはどんな質問をするべきか？

●自分の評価と相手の評価に違いがある時の対処方法？

などなど、絶対に役立つ沢山のヒントを
ぜひこのプレゼント映像でゲットしてください！

＜プレゼント映像＞
講師：　船川淳志
講義：「グローバルマネジャーのマインドとスキル」
　　　　人事考課面談（１）『評価が違う！』
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　より一部編集してお届け

※映像の視聴方法は２月１１日（木）以降の配信分でお知らせします
※視聴期限は２月２０日（土）までですので、　
　読者登録はお早めにお済ませください

▼メールマガジンのご登録はこちら▼

大前研一の実践英語講座メールマガジン・グローバルリーダーへの道

今回のプレゼント映像では

人事考課に役立つ英語表現も紹介していますが、

職場で役立つビジネス英語シリーズとして

去年１年間お届けした

Weekly Workplace Word Wisdom(W.W.W.W.)

第50回でも勤務評定に役立つ表現をご紹介しました。

こちらもご参考までに！

http://ameblo.jp/pegl/day-20091207.html

事務局・山田

Lost in Translation Part.14 モーニングコール

和製英語と英語の違いを説明するシリーズLost in Translation
第14回の本日は”モーニングコール”です。

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Lost in Translation Part 14
モーニングコール　（Wake-up Call）

As we’ve seen so far, there are many words which have been adopted into the Japanese Language from English that have changed their meanings quite a lot. For example, we have looked at words such as マンション and ファイト. Then, we have looked at other words which are not so different- カンニング and バイク. The next word that we are going to look at is similar to the English word and might be understood in its Japanese form. The word is モーニングコール.

In English, the phrase ‘morning call’ would most likely mean something like the picture below.

This is an example that could be described as a ‘morning call’. In Japanese, this is a call at a hotel or inn that wakes its guest in the morning. However, in English this would be any call- at home or hotel- that just happens to be in the morning. It is not a call to wake you up, but could be anyone.

The translation of モーニングコール, however, is ‘wake-up call’. As with the Japanese word, a wake-up call is when you are staying at a hotel only. It is usually not used when you are at home.

An example in which people might be confused is if you were staying at a hotel and talking with your friends. If you said, ‘I have a morning call tomorrow,’ they would think that maybe your boss or spouse is calling to talk with you the next day. This is quite different from a wake-up call.

【お知らせ】PEGL懇親会を開催いたします

　＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿
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　◇… PEGLニュース …◇

　本日、2010年2月5日（金）PEGL懇親会を開催いたします。
　出席される皆様は、19:30にお知らせ済の集合場所にお集りください。
　
　本日のゲスト：Jonathan講師、Curtis講師、Quan Quan講師（TA）
　
　Looking forward to seeing you all!!!
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Business Idioms#1 【To blow my own horn】

職場で役立つイディオムを紹介するシリーズBusiness Idioms
第1回の本日は”To blow my own horn”です。

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Business Idioms #1

To blow my own horn

When being interviewed for a position by a western company you are often expected to talk about your strengths and weaknesses. Admittedly this is one of the most challenging things to do. It is not easy to speak highly of ourselves and while it is easier to think of our weak points we don’t want to offer too much and lose the position because we are too forthcoming with information.

To blow my own horn – to boast or brag about our own abilities or talents.

“I don’t want to blow my own horn but I did graduate at the top pf my class at Harvard.”

We often use the expression to soften what we are saying so it does not come across as bragging or being immodest. By saying : not to blow my own horn” we are acknowledging that what we are saying may sound boastful but it is a fact and is probably being said in response to a question.

　Conversation 1

Interviewer: It says here on your resume that you graduated from Harvard. How were your results?

Candidate: Well, I am not one to blow my own horn but I was fortunate to finish in the top 5 of my graduating class.

Interviewer: Wow. That is very impressive.

　Conversation 2

Interviewer: I understand that you have some experience with mergers and acquisitions. Can you tell me about your last project? What was your role?

Candidate: I worked closely with the client to ensure that they were comfortable with the process and that they understood the ins and outs of the deal.

Interviewer: In speaking with your boss he mentioned that you played a critical role in ensuring that the merger happened smoothly and he mentioned that without your efforts it might have fallen through.

Candidate: That is kind of him to say but I don’t want to blow my own horn, it really was a team effort.
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