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English at Work
Episode1 36: The power struggle
Langua g e f or work ing with s omeone new
( Anna on the computer, singing to herself)
Narrator: Welcome back to English at Work where Anna is very… well, very happy!
You’re in a good mood Anna.
Anna: Well, I’m just back from France, where everything went really well. It was
quite an experience.
Narrator: Good. You got the contract for that big order. All you need to do now is to
deliver what you’ve promised.
Anna: I know ( singing to herself again) .
Denise: Hello Anna. Is Tom OK, he seems really grumpy since he got back from
France?
Anna: He’s fine. He just had to sleep on the sofa last night.
Denise: Really?! I’m sure that’s not what he was planning. Now, did Paul mention
he’s got a new member of staff for you to meet this morning?
Anna: No.
Denise: Typical! Well, she’s coming up in the lift with Paul now.
Anna: Oh, so who is she ?
Denise: It’s Rachel. Do you remember? S he’s the woman who Mr Socrates
recommended. He says she’s brilliant and allegedly one of his best
employees… oh, here she comes now.
Paul: …and this is our office. Ah, Anna, there you are. Did I mention before you
went to France, that Rachel is joining us for a while ?
Anna: No.
Paul: Ah… well… here she is. This is Rachel.
Rachel: Hi!
Anna: Hi. I’m Anna. I work here as a Sales Executive2.
Rachel: I know. You’re quite new aren’t you , ya ?
Paul: Not that new. She’s just won a great contract for us. Anyway, looks like
you two are going to get on like a house on fire. Anna, I’d like you to , sort
Rachel: Alongside? Shouldn’t I be in charge?
Paul: Yes… i t’s just , you know , you’re not famil iar with our office and Anna is,
sort of, across this new contract… so… if you don’t mind?
Rachel: OK. Just for now, but don’t think I’m going to be told what to do .
Anna: I’m sure you won’t be Rachel but maybe we could help each other?
Rachel: I’ll try.
Anna: Good! (To herself) Oh dear. This is awkward4. I’ve never worked with
anyone like this before.
Narrator: Well, now’s your chance Anna. Rachel may be awkward to manage but try
these phrases which may help things go more smoothly5. Say “I understand
you have lots of experience so I would like to use your skills to help with
the task.” And “together we can do this job really well.” But why not just
start by making her a cup of tea. Good luck!
Anna: Oh thanks. (To Rachel) Rachel, would you like a cup of tea? And then we
could talk about this contract.
Rachel: I don’t drink tea. Let’s just get down to business.
Anna: Oh, right.
Rachel: Now, I think you need to check your stock6 and make sure you’ve got your
oranges.
Anna: Err… It’s lemons actually.
Rachel: Whatever. Just get them and… you know… put them in a… thingy… a box.
Anna: Well, actually… I understand you have lots of experience so maybe we
could you use your skills for this task?
Rachel: Well, it’s tr ue, I do have lots of experience . Thanks for recognising that.
Anna: So maybe… we could work on this job… together?
Rachel: Oh ya, sure. Great. Of course. I can get hold of these oranges… err…
lemons, pronto. I know a man who can get some second - hand ones, it’ll
save us loads of money.
Anna: But what about the quality?
Rachel: Quality?! It’s the cost we’ve got to worry about. Keep up Hannah.
Anna: Anna.
Narrator: Come on Anna. Don’t let her boss you around. It’s time to stand your
ground. If she causes trouble say “let’s discuss this so we can agree on a
plan of action” or “please respect my decision and let’s move on.”
Anna: Hmm, OK, I’ll give it a try. (To Rachel) Rachel, I like your enthusiasm7 but…
can we discuss this so we can agree on a plan of action?
Rachel: Of course. Why didn’t you say? Come on discuss… discuss… talk !
Anna: Well, we pride ourselves on quality products and our Imperial8 Lemon is
particularly good… and I think our client9 is expecting that. S o I would like
to send them what I had promised in the contract .
Rachel: Oh ya, I see. But I’m not really sure you’re right .
Anna: Well, if you could just respect my decision this time and we can move on?
Rachel: Well, just this once Hannah . But I think I’m going to have to talk to Mr
Socrates about you.
Narrator: Well done Anna for standing10 your ground. It can sometimes be tricky
working with a new member of staff, but it’s important to try and develop a
good working relationship – remember business comes first! Let’s hear
I understand you have lots of experience , so I would like to use your skills
to help with the task.
Together we can do this job really well.
Let’s discuss this so we can agree on a plan of action.
Please respect my decision and let’s move on.
Tom: Hi Anna. Can’t believe we were in France this time yesterday.
Rachel: Oh hello, Tommy boy. Long time no see! This is a nice surprise.
Tom: Err… mmmm…
Anna: Have you two met before?
Rachel: We certainly have. Hey Tommy boy?
Tom: ( To himself) Oh no!
Narrator: Ha ha. Looks like Tom is lost for words – let’s hope he finds them in time
for the next episode of English at Work. Bye!
Listening Challenge
What fruit does Rachel think they are sending to the new client?
(Answer: oranges)
1 episode | |
n.(作品的一段)情节,插曲,系列事件中之一 | |
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2 executive | |
adj.执行的,行政的;n.执行者,行政官,经理 | |
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3 alongside | |
adv.在旁边;prep.和...在一起,在...旁边 | |
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4 awkward | |
adj.笨拙的,尴尬的,使用不便的,难处理的 | |
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5 smoothly | |
adv.平滑地,顺利地,流利地,流畅地 | |
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6 stock | |
n.存货,储备;树干;血统;股份;家畜;adj.存货的;平凡的,惯用的;股票的;畜牧的;vt.进货,采购;储存;供给;vi.出新芽;进货 | |
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7 enthusiasm | |
n.热情,激情;巨大兴趣;热衷的事物 | |
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8 imperial | |
adj.帝王的,至尊的;n.特等品 | |
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9 client | |
n.委托人,当事人,顾客 | |
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10 standing | |
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 | |
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11 hose | |
n.输水软管,长统袜;vt.浇园子,用管冲洗 | |
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