跟读练习: Business English - Lesson 1 - Business English Course | Business English Conversation - 通过视频学习英语口语
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You're listening to Business English Pod, the Business English Podcast for professionals on the move.
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In this Business English Pod episode, we'll be looking at ways to give and ask for opinions.
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We'll be looking both at more formal or careful language as well as at more informal or direct language.
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Giving and asking for opinions is a very important part of meetings and discussions of all types.
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First, let's listen to a more formal situation.
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We'll be listening to part of a meeting at Digisoft, a multinational software company.
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Sheila, a vice president, is talking to Walt, George, and Bruce, three software engineers, about the deadline for the new software release.
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Release here means launch, that is, bring the product onto the market.
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So, let's move on to the topic of release date.
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Gentlemen, when do you think we'll be able to launch this product?
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Walt?
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Well, I tend to feel that we should probably be able to start testing the product in April.
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That means that if all goes well, we can have a first release in May or June.
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I see.
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Thank you, Walt.
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What's your reaction to that, Bruce?
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May or June?
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Well, from my point of view, that sounds about right.
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Excuse me, may I come in here?
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I wonder if I could say something.
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Go ahead, George.
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What would you like to add?
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Well, it seems to me that May is much, much too early.
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Actually, we are still having some pretty major problems with bugs in the update engine, and I just don't see how we will be able to fix those bugs.
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Okay, now let's listen to George, Bruce, and Walt walk into the break room right after the meeting.
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Sheila, their boss, is not here.
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This is a more informal situation.
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Hey guys, did you see the Chelsea-Lewithful game last night?
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What did you think, Walt?
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Quite a game, huh?
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Chelsea looked pretty good.
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You always have to rub it in, don't you, Bruce?
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You know I'm a Liverpool fan.
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How about you, George?
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Actually, that was one of the greatest games I've ever seen.
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But the way you guys keep telling the boss we can finish the product by May, none of us are going to have time to watch any more football games.
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We're all going to be working overtime every night, burning the midnight oil.
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So now you've heard both formal and informal conversations.
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First, let's look at the formal conversation.
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How does Sheila ask for her employees' opinions?
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Sheila is in charge.
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She is the boss and the chairperson of the meeting.
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One way for her to ask for an employee's opinion is simply to say his name with a rising intonation or tone.
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Gentlemen, when do you think we will be able to launch this product?
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Sheila also uses some other ways to ask for her employees' opinions.
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All these ways are relatively formal.
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They signal that this is a formal meeting.
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She says, I see.
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Thank you, Walt.
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What's your reaction to that, Bruce? And?
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Go ahead, George.
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What would you like to add?
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Together with these speakers, try some other formal phrases for asking for an opinion.
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How do you feel about that, Cecilia?
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Could you please share your thoughts on that, Sam?
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What's your view on this, Richard?
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Tony, what's your feelings on this?
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Now, let's look at the language Walt, Bruce and George use to express their opinions in a formal situation.
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Walt says...
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Well, I tend to feel that we should be able to start testing the product in April.
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This language, I tend to feel that, shows a careful, formal tone.
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Walt uses this tone because he is talking to his boss, and perhaps because he's not sure whether or not the others will agree with him.
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Let's keep listening.
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I see.
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Thank you, Walt.
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What's your reaction to that, Bruce?
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May or June.
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Well, from my point of view, that sounds about right.
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Bruce, likewise, uses more formal, careful language.
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Well, from my point of view, this makes him sound more polite, since he's talking to his boss.
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In addition, it gives him time to think.
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Giving yourself time to think is another reason to use these phrases.
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How about George?
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How did he offer his opinion?
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Excuse me, may I come in here?
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I wonder if I could say something.
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Go ahead, George.
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What would you like to add?
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Well, it seems to me that may is much, much too early.
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Think about the ways that George uses to express his opinion.
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I wonder if I could say something and, well, it seems to me that these ways of expression are quite careful.
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George has a good reason to be careful, doesn't he?
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He disagrees with his colleagues.
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Now let's practice some further formal or careful phrases for expressing your opinion.
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I have the impression that he didn't really want to come.
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Don't you think that that's a little early?
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I tend to feel it's a bit too early to start.
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Next, let's turn to the more informal discussion between Walt, Bruce, and George.
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Remember, they're in the break room right after the meeting.
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Bruce asked George and Walt, Hey guys, did you see the Chelsea-Louisville game last night?
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What did you think, Walt?
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Quite a game, huh?
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Chelsea looked pretty good.
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This is an informal, relaxed discussion among colleagues.
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You can tell it's informal because Bruce uses the informal word, guys, to address George and Walt.
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Also, he says, what do you think?
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This is an informal way to ask for an opinion.
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Walt says, You always have to rub it in, don't you, Bruce?
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You know I'm a Liverpool fan.
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To rub something in is an idiom.
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It means to remind someone on purpose of something that is uncomfortable or painful.
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Here it's done as a joke.
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It sounds like Walt is a Liverpool fan and he's unhappy because Chelsea won the game.
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Let's keep listening.
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How about you George?
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Actually that was one of the greatest games I've ever seen.
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How about you is another direct way to ask for an opinion.
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Next, notice how George starts his sentence with actually.
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Actually is a direct or informal way to state an opinion.
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It shows us that George has something new or surprising to say.
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With George, practice more direct ways to state an opinion.
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The point is we're doing very well in this market.
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The way I see it, we're heading for trouble.
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Obviously, there's only one choice.
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Basically, I think we have two options.
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Finally, let's listen to the end of the dialogue again.
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How about you, George?
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Actually, that was one of the greatest games I've ever seen.
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But the way you guys keep telling the boss we can finish the product by May, none of us are going to have time to watch any more football games.
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George means that if Bruce and Walt keep telling the boss that they can meet the May deadline, everyone is going to have to work very hard.
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In fact, they're going to have to work so hard that they won't have any time to watch football games.
背景与上下文
在现代商务环境中，沟通技巧至关重要，特别是在会议和讨论中。此次英語課程的內容是由一位副总裁和软件工程师的对话构成，专注于如何有效地询问和表达意见。无论是正式的会议还是非正式的讨论，正确的语言应用都能帮助您在职业生涯中取得成功。通过分析这段对话，学习者将掌握如何在商务沟通中提供和请求意见，从而提升他们的口语表达能力。
日常交流的五个常用短语
- “我认为…” – 这个短语用于表达您的观点，例如“我认为我们应该在四月开始测试这个产品。”
- “从我的角度来看…” – 用于更正式地分享您对某事的看法，比如“从我的角度来看，这样安排是合适的。”
- “请问我能插一句话吗？” – 在讨论中请求发言的礼貌方式，适合正式场合。
- “老实说…” – 用于引入一个直接的观点，像是“老实说，我觉得这个时间有点早。”
- “你们怎么看？” – 一种轻松的询问方式，适合在非正式环境中使用，例如“你们怎么看昨晚的比赛？”
逐步模仿指南
提升英语口语的有效方法是通过模仿，即“shadow speak”。以下是您可以遵循的逐步指南：
- 听取原始对话：反复听这段对话，确保您能理解每一句话的意思。
- 逐句跟读：在听的同时，尝试逐句模仿发音和语调。这有助于改善您的发音和流利度。
- 分析用法：注意演讲者使用的表达方式和措辞，特别是如何在正式与非正式场合中转换。
- 练习反馈：与他人练习这些短语并请求反馈，尤其是针对您的语言流利度和表达方式。
- 定期复习：定期回顾这些短语，并在日常生活中实际运用，以巩固记忆。
通过“shadowspeak”练习和参与“雅思口语练习”，您将能够更自信地在各种商务场合表达自己的意见。在“看YouTube学英语”的过程中，运用这些技巧将极大增强您的沟通能力。
什么是跟读法？
跟读法 (Shadowing) 是一种有科学依据的语言学习技巧，最初开发用于专业口译员的培训，并由多语言者Alexander Arguelles博士普及。这个方法简单而强大：您在听英语母语原声的同时立即大声重复——就像是一个延迟1-2秒紧跟说话者的影子。与被动听力或语法练习不同，跟读法强迫您的大脑和口腔肌肉同时处理并模仿真实的讲话模式。研究表明它能显着提高发音准确性，语调，节奏，连读，听力理解和口语流利度——使其成为雅思口语备考和真实英语交流最有效的方法之一。