VOA慢速英语2021 工作中进行英语会话的技巧

 

Tips for Better Conversations in English at Work

When we are learning¹ a new language, carrying on a conversation can be difficult. It is even harder when there is the added pressure of doing a job well using the new language. One of our readers, Emre, works² at a job that requires him to talk with customers in English. He recently asked for advice on how he can improve his listening skills.

我们学习一门新语言时，很难进行对话。当有额外的压力要用新的语言做好工作时，难度就更大了。一位名叫埃姆雷的听众，他在工作中要用英语与客户交谈。他最近就如何提高听力技巧向我们寻求意见。

There are probably many other readers who use English in their daily work, too. So today, we will suggest some simple learning strategies³ to improve your ability to listen and carry on conversations.

可能还有很多听众在日常工作中使用英语，所以今天，我们将提出一些简单的学习策略，提高听力以及进行对话的能力。

A learning strategy⁴ can be a thought or an action you take to make learning easier.

学习策略可以是你为了使学习更轻松而采取的一种想法或行动。

Here are four strategies for you to consider.

以下是可供考虑的四种策略。

Predict. The first strategy is to predict what you will hear. Maybe your customers sometimes say they have problems with placing an order on your website. You can think about the ways they usually ask about that problem. What words do they often use in that kind of conversation? For example, customers may often use the word "order."

预测。第一个策略是预测你将听到什么。也许你的客户有时会说他们在你的网站上下订单有问题，你可以想想他们通常问这个问题的方式。他们在这种谈话中经常用什么词？例如，客户可能经常使用“订单”一词

Focus. The next strategy is to prepare a list of those words and listen for them when a customer begins talking with you. I call this "focusing when you listen." The next time you are listening to a customer, pay attention to the key words that help you understand their question.

集中。下一个策略是准备出列有这些单词的清单，并在客户开始与你交谈时注意听。我称之为“倾听时集中注意力”。下一次你在听客户讲话时，请注意那些帮你理解他们问题的关键词。

Ask. Next, think about what you can say to the customer to let them know you need a little help understanding them. You can let the customer know you are an English learner.

询问。接下来，想想你能对客户说些什么，让他们知道你需要一些帮助来理解他们的话。你可以让客户知道你正在学英语。

There are two questions you can ask. At the beginning of the conversation, you can ask, "Would you please speak more slowly?"

你可以问两个问题。在谈话开始时，你可以问：“请说慢点好吗？”

The other kind of question is one I call, "asking to clarify⁵." Remember, you predicted some of the words your customers may use. You should listen closely⁶ for those words. When you hear one, you can ask the customer a short question to be sure. "Did you say you want to order?"

另一类问题我称之为“要求澄清”。记住，你预测出客户可能会使用的一些词。你应该仔细听这些词。听到一个时，你可以问客户一个简短的问题来确定。“你是说要订购吗？”

You can prepare your answers to customers' questions and rehearse them in your free time. You may want to keep a notebook with your usual answers. You can practice saying them out loud to yourself.

你可以准备好回答客户问题的答案，并在空闲时练习。你可能想把总出现的答案记在笔记本上。你可以练习大声对自己说出这些问题。

Finally, you can put all these actions and thoughts together. Let's say a customer calls and says:

最后，你可以把所有这些行动和想法放在一起。假设有客户打电话说：

I want to order some face cream but I cannot find the button for ordering.

我想订些面霜，但找不到订购按钮。

You are not sure of the product the customer wants. But you did note the words "order" and "button," so you can ask a question to clarify the customer's request. You rehearsed this question:

你不确定顾客想要什么产品，但是你注意到了“订单”和“按钮”这两个词，所以你可以问一个问题来澄清客户的要求。你可以练习这个问题：

Are you looking for the button to order?

你在找订购按钮吗？

The customer says, "Yes." Then, you can ask another question that you practiced.

顾客说：“是的。”然后，你可以问另一个你练过的问题。

May I ask the name of the product you want to order?

请问您要订购的产品名称？

We hope that these four strategies will help you to better deal with your customers in English. Learning English takes time and effort, but sometimes a few good strategies make things easier.

我们希望这四种策略能帮助你更好地用英语与客户打交道。学英语需要时间和努力，但有时一些好的策略会让它变得更容易。    

Another way you can prepare is to listen to English movies and podcasts as often as you can. The more you listen to conversations in English, the more you will understand over time.

另一个你可以准备的方法是，尽可能多地听英语电影和播客。你听的英语会话越多，随着时间的推移，你就越能理解得更多。

I'm Jill Robbins.

我是吉尔·罗宾斯。  

1 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

2 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

3 strategies   

n.策略( strategy的名词复数 )；战略；战略学；对策

参考例句：

• Several steps and strategies have been developed to minimize these risks. 有关人士发展了若干措施和方法以减少这些风险。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法
• Different threats require different strategies. 对付不同的威胁需要不同的策略。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件

4 strategy   

n.方法，策略，战略

参考例句：

• The only way to take the enemy position is by strategy,not by forceful attack.只可智取，不可强攻。
• Tactics differs from strategy.战术有别于战略。

5 clarify   

v.澄清，阐明，使变得清晰；净化

参考例句：

• I am happy to clarify any points that are still unclear.我愿意说明任何仍然不清楚的地方。
• Can you clarify this long sentence?你能把这个长句子解释清楚吗？

6 closely   

adv.紧密地；严密地，密切地

参考例句：

• We shall follow closely the development of the situation.我们将密切注意形势的发展。
• The two companies are closely tied up with each other.这两家公司之间有密切联系。