Narrator: 欢迎回来!Tip Top 贸易公司的团队正在准备推出他们的最新产品:革命性的仿真柠檬。他们正在进行集体创造性思维法,希望能成功推出这款新柠檬。
Tom: But it needs to be bright!
Anna: This is much more exciting.
Denise: But having three colours would work better.
Narrator: 这么吵,都在争来争去。Anna 的词汇量可受到挑战了。
Paul: Right, I'm taking the final decision: the colour scheme will be green and yellow, so that's that. Now, the first presentation will be to er, Mr, er, Slime.
Anna: Mr Lime.
Paul: Oh, er, Mr Lime - that bit of biscuit looked like an 's' – Mr Lime, thank you Annabel.
Anna: Anna.
Paul: Mr Lime and his team at Citrus Ventures. Ideas please!
Anna: Why don't we offer Citrus Ventures a special opening offer: 20% off Imperial Lemon orders made this month.
Paul: Hmm...
Anna: We could even do that for all our regular clients.
Denise: That would be a big risk.
Anna: No.
Denise: If we do that once, all our clients will start asking for 20% off everything.
Anna: No, I disagree.
Denise: We'll be bankrupt!
Anna: No, you're wrong.
Narrator: Er – Anna, 你可得小心点了,你这么说不同意Denise的观点可能不是最好的表达的方式。
Anna: I'm so frustrated! I can't think of the right words.
Narrator: 我们试试其他表达吧,比如:
Well, I'm not so sure about that... “我不是很确认这个观点”。
或者用 but 不过来做为你回答的开始。
或者,你可以更客气的说:I see your point, but actually I think … 我知道了你的观点,不过我个人认为….
Anna: I'll try.
Narrator: But be polite 还有千万别给人你很凶的感觉,而且说话还得给理由。不然你又得罪Denise了。
Anna: OK. Well, I'm not so sure about that. I think it will improve our sales of lemons and make our clients happy. Happy clients will come back to buy more.
Paul: Yes, that's a good point Annabe - Anna.
Tom: But 20% is a lot – maybe 5% would be better.
Anna: But if we're going to make a special offer, we should make it so good that everyone will say yes!
Denise: But people might think there's something wrong with our lemons and that we're desperate to get rid of them.
Anna: I see your point, but, if we explain this is just a special offer for special clients, they'll understand.
Paul: I like that idea. Good: 20% off for all regular clients just for this month. Anna, you'll be making the presentation to Citrus Ventures, so make sure you include that offer.
Anna: Yes.
Paul: Right, next, what photos do we have of the lemons...?
Narrator: 在工作时碰到需要告诉别人你有不同观点的时候,说话需要有点技巧。 Anna 最终是过关了。她用了一个很短的词语来开始她的答复:But... 然后用了一些其他的短语:
I'm not so sure about that......
I see your point, but actually I think...
接下来面对 Anna 的挑战是面对Citrus Ventures 做一个讲演,那会怎么样呢?我们下次再继续听。
Anna: I've got to do a good job, but it's going to take me ages. Oh well, I'd better get started, otherwise I'm going to be here all night.
听力挑战:
Anna 建议给本月订Imperial Lemon 皇家仿真柠檬产品的客户们多少折扣?
上期答案:
What kind of fruit was sent out to Mr Berry of Bluetree Enterprise?
什么样的水果被送到Berry 先生的Bluetree Enterprise 公司?
答案: redcurrants 红浆果