美語訓(xùn)練班102

A: 歡迎大家來到這期的美語訓(xùn)練班! 我是楊琳!

B: 我是Mike! 楊琳，來告訴大家今天都要學(xué)什么!

A: Sure! 今天， 我們要給大家介紹一下在職場上非常有用的儀表姿態(tài)，談?wù)勗谵k公室里玩兒幽默該怎么樣把握程度，還要告訴大家怎么說“放任不管”。不過首先我們來--

B: Learn a word!

Learn A Word 1690 counseling

今天我們要學(xué)的詞是counseling. Counseling is spelled c-o-u-n-s-e-l-i-n-g, counseling. Counseling 是名詞，有咨詢的意思。比如，financial counseling 金融咨詢。Despite extensive support and counseling, 349 U.S. service members committed suicide in 2012. 盡管能夠得到廣泛的支持和心理咨詢，2012年還是有349名美國軍人自殺。有研究顯示，While the number of overweight and obese Americans is on the rise, the amount of weight counseling offered by primary care physicians has decreased. 美國超重和肥胖人口繼續(xù)上漲的同時，家庭保健醫(yī)生為患者提供的體重方面的咨詢幫助卻在減少。好的，今天我們學(xué)習(xí)的詞是 counseling, counseling, counseling...

A: 說到counseling 這個詞， 我認識的一對夫婦正在接受marriage counseling, 也就是婚姻出現(xiàn)問題，接受專業(yè)人士的咨詢幫助。

B： So what happened? What seemed to be their problem?

A: 據(jù)說是因為太太生孩子的時候和婆婆鬧了矛盾，結(jié)果幾年過去了，一直沒有解開心結(jié)。The tension in the family builds up over time, and eventually leads to their divorce!

B: That's no good. Whatever problem she has with her in-laws, perhaps the wife should just let it slide.

A: Let it slide? 這個短語我們要解釋一下。來聽words and idioms!

Words and Idioms 825 Let Slide

美國習(xí)慣用語第 825講

昨天我在辦公室復(fù)印文件，結(jié)果發(fā)現(xiàn)，復(fù)印機里的紙用得一干二凈，在我前面復(fù)印稿件的同事 Amy 竟然沒有按照辦公室里約定俗成的規(guī)矩把紙加好，后來我才知道，是老板當(dāng)時叫她去參加臨時會議，所以我就沒再計較。在英語里，這就叫l(wèi)et slide. Slide is spelled s-l-i-d-e. Let-slide. Let slide.

Slide 是下滑、滑落的意思。to let something slide 意思是說對某事采取放任的態(tài)度，聽其自然。盡管 Amy 把紙用光了，沒有填紙，讓我很不高興，但是我知道，她這么做不是故意的，而是迫不得已。That's why I chose to LET IT SLIDE. 我決定還是不跟她計較了。

在下面這個例子里，房東一開始對房客的處境還是挺同情的。讓我們聽聽他是怎么說的。

M: "After my tenant lost his job, I understood why he didn't have the rent on time. I decided to LET it SLIDE for a couple of weeks. Then I told him that he'd have to pay or plan to move out. I couldn't overlook what he owed me."

房東說：我的房客丟掉工作后，我知道他為什么會拖欠房租，所以頭幾個星期一直沒有催他，再后來，我告訴他說，如果再不付房租，就得搬走了，我不能再對他欠的房租不聞不問了。

我覺得這個房東已經(jīng)算得上是仁至義盡了。雖說有的事情不用過份計較，但是在教育孩子的問題上，我可是絲毫也不放松。我女兒最近在學(xué)校里學(xué)會了罵人，這在我們家可是絕對行不通的。每次發(fā)現(xiàn)她說臟話，我們都會嚴加管教，We're not LETTING IT SLIDE. 我哥哥就不一樣，他覺得說臟話也是小孩子成長的一部分。因此大部分時間，He lets it slide. 他往往都會聽其自然。好的，讓我們再來聽聽上面那段話。

M: "After my tenant lost his job, I understood why he didn't have the rent on time. I decided to LET it SLIDE for a couple of weeks. Then I told him that he'd have to pay or plan to move out. I couldn't overlook what he owed me."

我的一個鄰居，特別注意鍛煉身體，鍛煉固然是件好事，但是即使生病，他也不間斷，我覺得這就有問題了。他的醫(yī)生同意我的看法，讓我們一起聽聽他是怎么說的。

M: "When you're not feeling well, it's easy to LET exercise SLIDE. In fact, you should forget about working out for a while. What's important is to get proper rest so that your body can fully recover. Soon enough, you'll be ready to get back to your routine."

醫(yī)生說：身體不舒服的時候，很容易在鍛煉上懈怠。病人其實就應(yīng)該暫停鍛煉，重要的是好好休息，盡快讓身體康復(fù)，這樣用不了多久，就能恢復(fù)日常鍛煉了。

這倒是提醒了我，我該跟醫(yī)生預(yù)約，去檢查身體了。定期的身體檢查對保健非常重要，絕對不能懈怠。You can't let it slide. 定期去看牙也是一樣。我父親牙齒不好，但是又不肯去看牙醫(yī)，結(jié)果不到七十歲，牙齒就都掉光了。Perhaps if he hadn't LET his dental care SLIDE, he'd have all his teeth today! 如果他沒有在牙齒保健上推延懈怠的話，他現(xiàn)在還有滿口好牙呢!好的，我們再聽一下上面的例句。

M: "When you're not feeling well, it's easy to LET exercise SLIDE. In fact, you should forget about working out for a while. What's important is to get proper rest so that your body can fully recover. Soon enough, you'll be ready to get back to your routine."

聽了上邊這些例子，我倒要問問大家。如果聽到別人在背后辱罵你的朋友，你會怎么辦?Would you let it slide? 你會假裝沒聽見嗎?如果你發(fā)現(xiàn)同事把辦公文具拿回家，Would you let it slide? 如果你看見有人打孩子巴掌，Would you let it slide? 再比如，如果你的鄰居好幾個星期時間不割草，Would you let it slide?

Let something slide 這個習(xí)慣用語的歷史可以追溯到十六世紀下半葉。如果大家有什么問題，可以隨時跟我們聯(lián)系，I don't want you to let it slide. 好的，這次美國習(xí)慣用語就到此結(jié)束了。

下次節(jié)目再見。

A: 我倒覺得， It's not helpful if you always let the small things slide, 在所有所謂的小事上都放任，不計較，并不是好事。

B: Because?

A: 因為這樣一來，別人不知道你心里其實不高興，也不知道自己其實踩了你的地雷。

B: So you're saying we should set clear boundaries by telling people their behavior has upset us.

A: 對啊，把話都說開了好啊! 特別是職場上，有時候更需要讓別人知道你的底線在哪兒，不能瞎容忍。

B: Speaking of that, let's listen to today's Business Etiquette!

禮節(jié)美語BE-225 Body Language III

公司主管Andy又請專門研究肢體語言的Monica給公司銷售員 Sara和James培訓(xùn)。Andy說：

Andy: This morning we once again have business consultant Monica Wolf with us. Monica is going to speak to us today about body language and how it affects business relationships.

Monica: Hello again everyone! So....did you experiment with some of the pointers I gave you last time?

Sara: I did. I found that making a conscious effort to look people in the eye has been very useful. I think people find me more trustworthy now.

M: That's great!

Monica問大家有沒有嘗試著把上次她教的東西用到實踐中去。她用到的一個名詞 pointer 意思是指點，建議。Sara說，她發(fā)現(xiàn)，講話時有意識地看著對方的眼睛真的很有幫助，別人會覺得她更可靠，讓人信得過，trustworthy. 上面那段話里另一個語言點是，to make a conscious effort to do something 意思是有意識地去做某事。James說，

J: I've been working on my posture. I find when I stand up straight with my shoulders back, I actually feel more confident going into a business negotiation.

V: Wonderful! I'm so glad you applied the principles I shared with you. Today let's talk a little bit about attitude. What's the first thing you notice about a character like James Bond?

J: He's very cool and composed.

S: Yeah, he doesn't ever seem to get too worked up over anything.

James說，他也在有意識地改進自己的站姿和儀表，而且他發(fā)現(xiàn)，挺胸抬頭，真地會給自己平添一份自信。Monica聽說大家把上次講到的理論付諸實踐，很高興，說今天就來談?wù)劰ぷ鲿r的態(tài)度 attitude, 她問大家英國特工007 James Bond有什么特點。James和Sara都說，007很酷，很鎮(zhèn)定， composed, 處變不驚。這里用到的一個短語 worked up 是形容詞，意思是興奮，激動。Monica 說：

M: That's right! The reason he's so cool is because he's in charge of the situation and he knows it. People who are in charge don't get overly excited. So, what I recommend is that you try to appear to be in control by maintaining composure. If you find yourself in a very stressful business negotiation try to limit your body gestures and control the tone of your voice.

S: So even if I don't feel confident, I should try to fake it?

M: Yes. You'll be surprised that even if you're faking, you'll start to feel more in control. Try to reveal as few of your emotions as possible.

A: But of course you still have to appear friendly.

M: Absolutely. But like a poker player, you don't want to show your cards.

Monica說，James Bond 007 之所以老是那么淡定，是因為他知道，情況都在自己的掌握之中，所以建議大家一定要保持情緒的穩(wěn)定，參加十分棘手的談判時，要 limit your body gestures and control the tone of your voice 盡量減少肢體動作，控制自己的音調(diào)，越少暴露自己的情緒越好，就好象是在打撲克牌，不能讓別人知道你手里的牌。

A: wow, 看來，即使不淡定，也要裝淡定。 The fewer emotions you reveal, the more in control you appear to be, and the more respect you get from others. Right?

B: (Slowly, emotionless): I suppose that is right.

A: What are you doing, Mike?

B: I'm working on being composed. Do I look like James Bond now? 看我這樣子，多淡定啊!

A: No, you still look like Mike Bond.

B: Come on! Play along!

A: 算了吧，咱們還是繼續(xù)聽Business Etiquette吧。

禮節(jié)美語BE-226 Body Language VI

公司主管Andy又請專門研究肢體語言的Monica給公司銷售員 Sara和James培訓(xùn)。Monica說：

Monica: Okay, so we talked about composure. Let's go in the other direction now and talk about humor.

J: Ah, that's something that's always puzzled me. Is it a good idea to make jokes?

M: Research shows that people are more likely to accept an idea if it's wrapped in humor. But the point isn't about finding a really funny joke. Laughter is actually about bonding.

S: Yes....I've noticed that many times people at a meeting are all laughing about something that really isn't all that funny.

Monica接下來談到了幽默在生意場上的作用。他說，有調(diào)查發(fā)現(xiàn)，用幽默的方式把一件事情說出來，更容易被對方接受。但關(guān)鍵不是要講一個特別好笑的笑話，而是笑聲能加強人與人之間的紐帶。

M: That's right! They are not really joking....they are attempting to bond.

A: So go ahead and throw in a funny comment or a clever remark...but there's got to be some minefields we should avoid as well, right?

M: Yeah....don't make dirty, sexist or racist jokes or comments. And of course don't humiliate anyone.

J: I have a question. I'm never quite sure where to sit during a business meeting.

M: The ancient Chinese art of "Feng Shui" teaches that you should never sit with the door behind youand actually there's a scientific reason for that.

雖然及時講個笑話，或是發(fā)表一點幽默的評論能有助于調(diào)節(jié)氣氛，加強紐帶，但講笑話也有一些需要忌諱的地方，或者說是 minefield 雷區(qū)。Don't make dirty, sexist or racist jokes or comments. Monica說，不要講黃色笑話、性別歧視的笑話和種族歧視的笑話，而且不要 humiliate 羞辱別人。James問了一個很簡單的問題，那就是，開會的時候應(yīng)該坐在哪兒。Monica 說，按照中國風(fēng)水里的講究，后背不要對著門，這是有科學(xué)道理的，為什么呢?

M: When a person's back is placed towards an open space he becomes stressed; his blood pressure increases and his heart beats faster.

S: That makes sense! People subconsciously worry about getting attacked if they don't know what's lurking behind them.

J: Interesting. I'll be sure to sit facing the door from now on!

A: Monica, thank you for another great class! I think we all learned a lot today.

M: My pleasure! See you next time!

Monica 解釋說，如果后背對著開放的空間，那這個人就容易有壓力，血壓升高，心跳加速，因為他們不知道身后可能會隱藏著什么危險，They don't know what's lurking behind them. 所以會下意識地感到不安全，因此在選擇座位時，最好是臉沖著門。怎么樣，大家是不是也學(xué)到了一些以前不知道的事情呢?

A: 我倒沒聽說過開會背對著門風(fēng)水不好，離門近多方便啊，會議如果沒意思，馬上就能溜!

B: Is this the correct message we want to convey to our audience?

A: Okay, Mr. Worker of the Year, 那我們換個話題， 再來學(xué)個詞兒吧!

Learn A Word 1696 expansion

今天我們要學(xué)的詞是expansion. Expansion is spelled e-x-p-a-n-s-i-o-n, expansion. Expansion 擴展，擴充。The Kennedy Arts Center unveiled a $100 million expansion plan. 肯尼迪藝術(shù)中心宣布擴展計劃，耗資一億美元。President Obama supported the expansion of H1B visas from 65,000 to 115,000 a year. 美國總統(tǒng)奧巴馬支持將每年的外籍人員工作簽證發(fā)放數(shù)量從六萬五千個增加到11萬五千個。The Pentagon is moving toward a major expansion of its cyber security force to counter increasing attacks on the nation's computer networks. 美國五角大樓計劃擴充負責(zé)網(wǎng)絡(luò)安全的人員和能力，抵御美國電腦系統(tǒng)受到的越來越多的攻擊。好的，今天我們學(xué)習(xí)的詞是 expansion, expansion, expansion...

B: Speaking of expansion, I have an issue against the commercial real estate expansion in my neighborhood.

A: 怎么?你們家那邊的商業(yè)區(qū)又擴張啦?

B: 對啊! Now the developer is thinking about closing down a local park to make room for a shopping mall. Isn't that a horrible idea?

A: 關(guān)了小公園建商場?不是挺好么?逛街就方便了!

B: But we already have two shopping malls nearby and we need the park for exercise, hangout with friends, and to give kids a playground!

A: 你說得也有道理，你們家那邊最近是開發(fā)太快了點。

B: It's been developed like crazy!

A: 說到這個，咱們先來聽下面的words and idioms, 教一下Like crazy 這個短語。

Words and Idioms 826 Like Crazy

美國習(xí)慣用語第 826講

今天播音我差點兒遲到。本來出門挺早的，誰知道路上遇到車禍，堵了個水泄不通，原來半個小時的路，我足足開了一個半小時。我一停好車，就向辦公室飛奔，沖進演播室的時候，只剩下三分鐘的時間了。這倒讓我想起一個可以跟大家交流的習(xí)慣用語，叫l(wèi)ike crazy. Crazy is spelled c-r-a-z-y. Like-crazy. Like crazy.

大家都知道，crazy 是瘋狂的意思。Like crazy 就是不管不顧，象瘋了一樣?，F(xiàn)在你能想象我下車后往辦公室飛奔的樣子了吧!在下面這個例子中，一名雇員講述了他們公司最近是如何解決定單的難題的。讓我們一起來聽聽他是怎么說的。

M: "Our factory is expected to ship a new product by tomorrow, but the order isn't ready yet. That's why the boss has ordered extra shifts. If we work LIKE CRAZY, we'll meet the deadline. But that means there can't be any slowing down."

他說：我們工廠明天要運走一批新產(chǎn)品，但是到現(xiàn)在還沒有完成。所以老板決定加班加點。如果我們?nèi)σ愿暗脑?，就能趕在最后期限之前完成定單，這就意味著我們絲毫不能松懈。

這就要看老板的號召力，或是工人們的干勁了。不久前，我年邁的祖母不遠萬里，到美國來看我們。我們姐妹幾個人連續(xù)三天，沒日沒夜的打掃衛(wèi)生，準備飯菜。We cooked like crazy. 最后讓祖母在吃住上都格外滿意。

這讓我想起了每年的感恩節(jié)。美國人每年十一月最后一個星期四都要慶祝感恩節(jié)，感恩節(jié)最重要的一項節(jié)目就是感恩節(jié)大餐，包括火雞、蔬菜和甜點等，而且大家都要 eat like crazy 大吃特吃。

好的，讓我們再來聽聽上面那段話。

M: "Our factory is expected to ship a new product by tomorrow, but the order isn't ready yet. That's why the boss has ordered extra shifts. If we work LIKE CRAZY, we'll meet the deadline. But that means there can't be any slowing down."

剛才說到感恩節(jié)。感恩節(jié)過后的那天，對很多喜歡購物的人來說，恐怕比感恩節(jié)更為重要。讓我們聽聽其中的緣由。

M: "Have you ever heard of "Black Friday"? It's the day after Thanksgiving when stores sell electronics at significant discounts. Prices for such items as computers, plasma TVs, and MP3 players can be so low that customers stand in lines for hours, and then shop LIKE CRAZY. You've never seen such excitement!"

這個人說：你知道“黑色星期五”嗎?黑色星期五就是感恩節(jié)的第二天，商店大降價，電器類商品，例如電腦、液晶電視、MP3播放器都降價出售，很多顧客排好幾個小時的隊，瘋狂地購物，從來沒見過這么狂熱的。

這就叫“早起的鳥兒有蟲吃”。不過，我來美國這么多年，感恩節(jié)第二天早上從來沒有去排隊搶購過，原因很簡單，你不僅需要披星戴月地起床，還要在徹骨寒風(fēng)里排隊，這一點我可做不到。好的，我們再聽一下上面的例句。

M: "Have you ever heard of "Black Friday"? It's the day after Thanksgiving when stores sell electronics at significant discounts. Prices for such items as computers, plasma TVs, and MP3 players can be so low that customers stand in lines for hours, and then shop LIKE CRAZY. You've never seen such excitement!"

這個習(xí)慣用語最早是二十世紀二十年代前后出現(xiàn)的，可以跟like mad 通用。LIKE MAD, that's M-A-D, "MAD". LIKE MAD. 你可以說，為了錄音不遲到，I had to run like mad. 為了完成訂單，the employees worked like mad. 黑色星期五那天，the customers shop like mad.

最近，我同事的兒子象瘋了一樣學(xué)西班牙語。He is learning Spanish like crazy. 家里人很奇怪，后來才發(fā)現(xiàn)，原來他喜歡上了一個剛剛從阿根廷移民過來的姑娘。那個女孩不會英語，兩人無法溝通，小伙子為了愛情，苦學(xué)西班牙語，看來愛情也能成為學(xué)習(xí)的巨大動力。 好的，這次美國習(xí)慣用語就到此結(jié)束了。下次節(jié)目再見。

B: To preserve our local park, the residents in our town decide to write and call the government like crazy until they agree to stop the development project!

A: 好吧，祝你們成功! 好了,同學(xué)們，這次節(jié)目時間就到這里了。