それでは6回目です。
Curiosity Killed the Cat? (6)
TALK THE TALK
Satoshi Sugita: Our current vignette starts off with topics of conversation that aren't appropriate for work. What topics would you stay away from, Heather?
Heather Howard: I agree with the A&A staff. Definitely do not talk about your salary or detailed financial matters. A friend of mine made that mistake and it ended up affecting his relationship with one of his co-workers. In a nutshell, my friend had some tax-related complaints. But by talking about them he inadvertently revealed his salary level. It was good deal more than the person he was talking to and it made things awkward for a while. My friend works very hard for his money but it affected how the co-worker viewed him. It would have been best if the whole issue had just never been part of their relationship. My friend told me that ever since then he's confined complaints like that to his spouse and his parents.
inadvertently 不注意に、気付かずに、うっかりして、何の気なしに、うかつに(も）(｢英辞郎 on the WEB｣)
confine A to B AをBに閉じ込める、とどめる(｢英辞郎 on the WEB｣)
Satoshi Sugita: That's probably wise. That conversation also talks about paying personal compliments. And when and if that should be done? What are your thoughts?
Heather Howard: Tricky, hmm, very tricky. I would say keep such a remarks light, brief and infrequent. If a man sees a female co-worker with a new haircut, for example, he's probably safe saying something along the lines of "Oh, new haircut? Looks nice" and leave it at that. Don't go into a lengthy spiel about how it brings out her eyes or anything. And just say things like that once in a while: maybe once a month, tops. If it happens too frequently, she might start to feel that that's what you notice instead of her work. It is also a good idea hold off on such compliments until you know the person fairly well, until you've established a generally relaxed, platonic relationship, and she knows that a compliment is just a compliment not an attempt to put a moves on her.
spiel 〈話〉大げさに話す〈話〉大げさな演説、客寄せ口上(｢英辞郎 on the WEB｣)
hold off on 控える
put the moves on (人）に言い寄る、(人）をナンパする、(人）を口説く(｢英辞郎 on the WEB｣)
Satoshi Sugita: What would you say to avoid too personal topics if another person brought them up?
Heather Howard: I'd probably say "Oh, I'm sorry. I have a personal policy not to talk about that subject at work". I just don't wanna jeopardize my relationship with anybody. So I'd stick the philosophy of "better safe than sorry" and just don't talk about it.
Satoshi Sugita: Another subject under discussion in this vignette is warring. Are you a worrier, Heather?
Heather Howard: Me? Yes. I have been a massive worrier for many years. But actually I recently came across a line of movie dialogue that has greatly helped me in that regard. Basically a character said, "Worrying means you suffer twice". That really, really struck a chord with me. And it has helped me put worrying aside a lot of time. Like Grace and Salmans say, worrying can help solve a problems by encouraging us to envision the future and prepare for it. But once we've done what we can do regarding some issue or problem, we need to let things take their course. At that point it's out of our hands. So lately when I find myself obsessing over something, I repeat that line in my head; "Worrying means you suffer twice". Ant it really calms me.
take its course 行くところまで行く、決着をつける(｢英辞郎 on the WEB｣)
LISTENING CHALLENGE
CHALLENGE 1: Listen to the telephone conversation and fill in the details in the text.
Okay? Here we go.
Man: Thank you for calling Tel and Travel. This is Mark Tomlin.
Woman: Hi, Mark. This is Julian Solderman from Liever's Co. I'm not sure if you remember me. But we spoke last year.
Man: Hello, Miss. Solderman. Of course I remember. Nice to hear from you again. What can I do for you?
Woman: I need some brochures ― quite a number of them in back. Everyone's hounding me for the same kind we got from you last year: the ones with the coupons.
Man: Sure. How many would you like?
Woman: Could you send me ― maybe 80?
Man: 80 of the domestic brochures?
Woman: You have international ones, too?
Man: Yes, we do.
Woman: Great! Could you include maybe 30 of those?
Man: Of course. When do you need everything by?
Woman: Oh, there's no real hurry. Do you think we can get them by the 6th of the month?
Man: Definitely. Is the address the same, on 15th street?
Woman: Yes.
Man: Alright. That should be no problem at all. I'll give you a call when we ship them.
The answers are:
1. 80
2. international brochures
3. 6th of the month
4. 15th
CHALLENGE 2: When will the meeting be held?
A. Monday morning.
B. Tuesday morning.
C. Tuesday afternoon.
Okay. Let's listen.
Woman: Sam, do you think we can reschedule the monthly department meeting on Monday the 20th for 2 p. m. instead of the usual 10 a. m? One of our top clients just called and they're only available until noon that day. I really need to meet with them.
Man: Okay. Let me see here. Normally I'd say no problem. But there's a manager's meeting from 3 p. m. And those usually run till the evening.
Woman: I see. Well, how about Tuesday then?
Man: Tuesday looks like it would work. Same time as usual. I'll send out an announcement.
Woman: That would be great, Sam.
The answer is B. Tuesday morning.
JUST IN JEST
Reading while sun bathing makes you well-red.
日光浴をしながら読書をすると ―
解説
well-readにすると「博識の」という意味になる。ここでは一字違いのredが使われている。発音はreadもred同じ、ということで「日焼けして真っ赤になる」well-redと「博識になる」well-readをかけたもの。
現代英語は明日になります。