Suggestions at Work

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Today's English Lesson

Suggestions at Work

Our company has been growing very quickly and I was put in charge of reorganizing our office space to accommodate several new employees. I asked my co-worker, Petra, for her advice.

A: I was thinking of dividing up two of the larger offices into four smaller offices. What do you think about that? 

B: Well, it seems to me that doing that would only solve part of the problem. Have you considered converting the conference room into offices?

A: I'm not sure that will work. We don't have another meeting space if we do that. What are your thoughts on turning the coffee room into one large office with cubicles?

B: In my opinion, that's not going to be a very popular solution.

A: The way I see it, there are no easy solutions and that may be the best one. Do you have any other suggestions?

B: No, none that would really work. In my opinion, the only solution is to divide up the executive offices. But, I know, I know. That's not going to happen. My suggestion is to ask a few more of the old employees. Maybe they'll think of something.

A: I think you're right. It's not going to be an easy decision and I can use all the help I can get

put in charge of: responsible for     مسئول عن

Accommodate: make room for    يسكن

What do you think about    ما رأيك في؟

it seems to me that    رأيي هو

Have you considered converting: have you thought about    هل فكرت في؟

I'm not sure    لا (بطريقة مهذبة)

What are your thoughts on    ماذا عن؟

coffee room: break room   

Cubicles: a little office inside  a bigger office    مقصورة صغيرة (مثل العنابر)

In my opinion    في رأيي

The way I see it    رأيي هو

Do you have any other suggestions    هل لديك مقترحات اخري

executive    تنفيذي

I can use all the help I can get: you need others to help you    يقال هذا التعبير عندما يردي الشخص ان يساعده اشخاص اخرين

Small Talk at a Business Lunch

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Today's English Lesson

Small Talk at a Business Lunch

A: Hello, are you Banda?

B: Yes, and you must be Adam. It's nice to meet you at long last.

A: Yes, you too. Thanks for agreeing to meet with us about the new account. My associate, Susan Kim, should be here any minute. Would you like something to drink while we're waiting?

B: No, thanks. I'm fine. Did you have a nice holiday?

A: Yes, I did. My family and I went to Tahoe to ski and the weather was great. How about you?

B: I stayed in L.A. and it was sunny the entire weekend. We spent most of the time at home but we did go see King Kong on Christmas day.

A: How did you like it?

B: It was better than I expected. But, you know, I think I would have enjoyed skiing in Tahoe even better. Do you go there often?

A: No, not much. My wife doesn't like to ski. She prefers vacationing where it's warmer, like Hawaii.

B: I don't Blame her. I really enjoyed it there when we went a few years ago. I'd like to go back sometime soon.

A: Yes, me too. Oh, here's Susan now. Let me introduce you

 .

you must be: sure you r …    بالتأكيد انت السيد ....(تقال عند رؤية شخص لاول مرة ولكن واضح لك من هو)

at long last: after a very long time    بعد وقت كبير جدا(باللغة العامية: اخيرا)

associate    مرافق – زميل في العمل

should be here any minute: in a very short time    في وقت قصير

Did you have anice holiday: did you have a good time

   

How about you?    ماذا عنك؟ : تقال عندما يسألك شخص عن شيء وتريد ان تسأله هو الاخر

How did you like it: did you like it?and why?    ما رأيك في

vacationing    قضاء الاجازة

I don't Blame her    لا استيطيع ان اقول انها مخطئة: اوافقها الرأى

Let me introduce you.    دعنى اقدمك لها

Job Layoffs

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Today's English Lesson

Job Layoffs

A: So, have you heard the news?

B: No, what's up?

A: I just heard that the company is planning to lay off 20 percent of the employees in the next two months.

B: You're kidding! I knew they were looking for some way to cut costs with the lower profits this quarter, but I didn't think that they would start laying people off.

A: Yeah, it's hard to believe. That'll be hundreds of people losing their jobs. It's not just the salary. It means losing benefits, too. You know, I hope it's not going to be Sebastian. With three kids and a wife who's sick, that would really be a blow.

B: When will we know who's getting axed?

A: I don't know if we'll get any warning. We might just get a pink slip on a Friday afternoon. Well, I'm going to start job hunting right now.

B: That's a good idea. The first thing I'm going to do is to call all of my friends and business contacts to let them know I'm on the market. Hopefully, I'll get a line on something soon. Thanks for letting me know.

A: Sure. If I hear anything else, I'll let you know.

B: Thanks. I'll do the same.

heard the news: do you know about this    هل عرفت ذلك؟

What's up?: what is  going on?    ماذا حدث؟

to lay off: to fire    يفصل

You're Kidding: joking    يمزح( تقال عند سماع شيء لا يمكن او صعب تصديقه)

to cut costs: reduce or lower costs      يقلل التكاليف

cost X income or profit  


lower profits this quarter    ارباح اقل خلال هذا الربع (3 شهور) من العام
    
lower: less  اقل
    
quarter: 3 months: 25%    ربع

salary    الراتب

benefits    المزايا (مثل التأمين الصحي....ولكن ليست مميزات نقدية)

blow    مصيبة


getting axed: getting fired: got the axe    يفصل عن العمل

pink slip    فصل باللغة العامية (استمارة 6 )

job hunting: search for a job    البحث عن وظيفة

business contacts    الاشخاص( الاصدقاء و المعارف) العاملين بالشركات

on the market: looking for job    يبحث عن وظيفة

get a line on: get information     يحصل علي معلومات من


letting me know: telling me     اخباري - اعلامي

Diversity at Work

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Today's English Lesson

Diversity at Work

A: What were you and Richard talking about earlier? It looked intense.

B: Yeah, Richard said something to me that I didn't appreciate.

A: Oh, no. I know how insensitive he can be. What has he done now?

B: He asked me how long it took me to learn English.

A: But, you were born and raised in California!

B: Yeah, but I get that sometimes. It doesn't matter how many generations my family has lived in the U.S., we'll always be foreigners in their eyes.

A: What a racist! How can you stand working with the guy?

B: You know, Richard isn't such a bad guy. He made the comment out of ignorance, not malice.

A: So, what did you say when he asked you how long it took you to learn English?

B: I told him 28 years. And, he knows I'm 28 years old since I just celebrated my birthday last week. He was puzzled for a minute, and then he got it.

A: Are you sure he really got the message?

B: Yeah, I'm pretty sure since I then asked him how long it took him to learn English.

A: That's hilarious ! What did he say?

B: He said, "36 years," and we both laughed about it. He apologized and now, it's all good.

A: I'm glad. I bet he won't make that mistake again

Diversity    تنوع – اختلاف( المقصود هنا جنسيات و ثقافات مختلفة)

Intense: very serios    منفعل – حاد-  قوي

didn't appreciate:  didn’t like    يقدر – يعجب بـ

Insensitive: insensible    غير حساس – عديم الحس – متبلد الشعور

What has he done now?    لا تعني ماذا فعل ولكنها تعني انه فعل شيىء خاطيء في الماضي وفعل شيىء اخر الان بالعامية(عمل ايه تاني؟)

Raised: grew up    تربي – نشأ وكبر

I get that: that kind of commects        اتلقي مثل هذه الكلمات

Generations    اجيال

in their eyes: in their opinion    في رايهم

Racist: prejudiced    عنصري (يحكم علي الناس باشكالهم والوانهم)

How can you stand    كيف تستطيع تحمل

the comment out of ignorance:didn’t know    لم يعرف

malice    حقد - ضغينة

Puzzled: confused    مرتبك -حائر

got it: understand it    يفهم

got the message: got the main idea    يفهم المقصود

Hilarious: very funny    مرح – مضحك - فرحان

it's all good. : no problems    كل شييء علي ما يرام

Preparing a Paper

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Today's English Lesson

Preparing a Paper 

Student: I wonder if I could ask you some questions about our paper, professor. Do you want us to cite our sources in the footnotes?

Professor: You should use endnotes for longer explanations. Otherwise, just follow the style sheet I passed out for citations in your paper.

Student: I see. And what about the cover page? Is there a special format for that as well?

Professor: Do you have the handout I passed out with you? If you look at the bottom of that, you'll see that that you should follow the format of the American Psychological Association, 5th edition.

Student: Okay, I guess I missed that

I wonder if I could ask you    للسؤال عن شيء( اكثر الطرق تذهبا للسؤال)


cite    يستشهد(بالمصادر التي حصل منها علي المعلومات)

sources    مصادر

footnotes    ملاحظات هامشية

endnotes    ملاحظات في نهاية ورقة

style sheet    كتيب يوضح طريقة الكتابة

citations    استشهاد

cover page    ورقة الغلاف

handout    نشرة - بيان

passed out

   

Psychological Association    الجمعية النفسية (جمعية الطب النفسي)

missed    فاته