WORKPLACE
ENGLISH
For Beginners
LESSON
4
Small Talk
Small Talk
Checklist
In this lesson, you will learn about . . .
• Finding out how someone is doing
• Talking to someone you don’t know well
• Talking about the benefits at a company
Small Talk
Get Ready
1. How do you start a conversation
with a stranger?
Key words/phrases:
introduce oneself
ask how he or she is doing
Welcoming a Newcomer
2. What would be your dream career?
Key words/phrases:
traveling salesman
work in IT
own a company
Small Talk
3. What company benefits are
important to you?
Key words/phrases:
paid vacation days
company trips
company parties
birthday gifts
health insurance
Part A: Checking on the Newcomer
Open with default media player
Part A: Checking on the Newcomer
LISTENING COMPREHENSION
F
T
T
Part A: Checking on the Newcomer
關心新同事
凱德拉發現她的新同事戴夫心情似乎不太好。
凱德拉：嘿，戴夫。你好嗎？
戴夫：嗨，凱德拉。我今天有點不開心。我已經在這裡工作好幾個禮拜了，但對
於一些工作職責還是有問題。
凱德拉：喔，你對自己太嚴格了啦。沒人期待你在這麼短的時間之內就將工作做最
好。
戴夫：真的嗎？
凱德拉：事實上，很多人都說他們覺得你表現得很棒。
戴夫：謝謝妳告訴我。那讓我感覺有自信多了。
凱德拉：是啊，只要繼續保持好表現就好。如果你需要幫忙，儘管讓我知道。
戴夫：事實上，能請妳提醒我該如何把新帳號輸入到電腦裡嗎？我記不起所有的
步驟。
凱德拉：當然。過來我的位子吧，我再為你解釋一次。
戴夫：讓我拿本記事本，好把內容全寫下來。這樣我就不會忘記了。
凱德拉：那是個好主意。
Part A: Checking on the Newcomer
LANGUAGE NOTES: Word Bank
1. notice [`not6s] v. 注意到
I noticed that you didn’t go to lunch today. What’s
wrong?
我注意到你今天沒去吃午餐。怎麼了嗎？
2. upset [9p`s5t] adj. 不高興的；心煩的
Kyle was upset because he wasn’t given a raise.
凱爾因為沒加薪而心情不好。
3. duty [`djut6] n. 責任；義務
One of your duties is to open the office for everyone in
the morning.
你的職責之一是早上為大家開辦公室的門。
Part A: Checking on the Newcomer
4. perfect [`p-f6kt] adj. 完美的；理想的
Josh was the perfect person for the job.
喬許是這個職位的最佳人選。
5. confident [`k3nf4d4nt] adj. 有信心的；有把握
的
It’s important to feel confident when you go on an
interview.
當你參加面試的時候，感覺有自信是很重要的。
Extension
confidence n. 信心
Annie didn’t have the confidence to sing in front of her
class.
安妮沒有信心在全班面前唱歌。
6. remind [r6`ma6nd] v. 提醒；使想起
Nobody reminded me that the project was due today!
沒有人提醒我這個案子的截止日期是今天！
Part A: Checking on the Newcomer
Extension
a) remind + sb + to V. 提醒某人做某事
Please remind me to call Sally when we get home.
到家時請提醒我打電話給莎莉。
b) remind + sb + of + N. 使某人想起某人事物
You remind me of a friend I had in high school.
你讓我想起一個我中學時的朋友。
7. account [4`ka8nt] n. 帳戶
I opened an account here last year.
我去年在這裡開立了一個帳戶。
LANGUAGE NOTES: Phrases
have trouble with sth 做某事不順利或有問題
I’m having trouble with this task.
這個任務我做得很不順利。
Part A: Checking on the Newcomer
(be) hard on sb/oneself 對某人／自己嚴厲
Why were you so hard on Greg?
你為什麼對克雷格這麼嚴厲？
a short amount of time 一段很短的時間
We only have a short amount of time to work on this.
我們只有很短的時間能從事這項工作。
in fact 事實上
A: Did you know that Kayla was fired?
你知道凱拉被開除了嗎？
B: Yes. In fact, I was the one who fired her.
知道。事實上，我就是開除她的人。
Part A: Checking on the Newcomer
come over 從某處過來
Dinner’s at six, so come over around five thirty.
晚餐是六點，所以五點半左右過來吧。
LANGUAGE NOTES: Usage Tips
keep up the good work 保持好表現
keep up 意思是「趕上、跟上；繼續保持」，keep up the
good work 常用來鼓勵他人要繼續保持好表現。
Your sales numbers increased by 20 percent last
month. Keep up the good work!
你上個月的業績增加了兩成！繼續保持好表現！
Part A: Checking on the Newcomer
ENGLISH CORNER
Part A: Checking on the Newcomer
come over
trouble
perfect
notice
remind
In fact
Part A: Checking on the Newcomer
Part A: Checking on the Newcomer
Sample Dialogue
A: Hey, Daniel. What’s wrong?
B: I’m having trouble with the new phone system. I
don’t think mine works.
A: Would you like me to help you with that?
B: That would be great!
A: OK. All you need to do is put in a person’s
extension number, and then you’ll be connected
to him or her right away.
B: Oh! I was putting in the full number, not just the
extension! Thanks for your help.
Part B: Making Conversation
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Part B: Making Conversation
Listen and fill in the blanks.
D
C
Part B: Making Conversation
B
A
Part B: Making Conversation
LISTENING COMPREHENSION
a
c
b
Part B: Making Conversation
進行對話
瑞秋在午休時間和新同事戴夫說話。
瑞秋：嗨，戴夫。我很開心我們終於有機會聊天了。那麼，你來這裡之前是在哪
裡上班呢？
戴夫：我在AC冷氣公司當業務。
瑞秋：那很有趣耶。你為什麼決定轉行呢？
戴夫：嗯，我那時必須經常出差。我想要一份不會讓我累垮的新工作。
瑞秋：我了解了。我聽說當一名四處奔波的業務員很辛苦。
戴夫：喔，是啊。那份工作不好做。
瑞秋：那麼，還有什麼是你喜歡在這兒工作的原因呢？
戴夫：我真的很喜歡所有的新同事。你們人都很好，也很歡迎我。我上班時總是
感到很開心。
瑞秋：很高興聽到你這麼說。我們也很開心有你加入。
戴夫：謝謝。我希望這份工作我能做很久。
Part B: Making Conversation
LANGUAGE NOTES: Word Bank
1. salesman [`selzm4n] n. 業務員
（女業務員用saleswoman，用salesperson 則不分性
別皆可使用）
I’ve never worked as a salesman before.
我以前從沒做過業務員的工作。
2. career [k4`r6r] n. 職業；生涯
Having a degree is important for a person’s career.
擁有學位對一個人的職業生涯是重要的。
3. travel [`tr1vy] v. 旅行；旅遊
I have to travel a lot for my job.
我因為工作必須經常出差。
Part B: Making Conversation
4. difficult [`d6f4~k4lt] adj. 困難的
This task is too difficult for me to do alone.
我一個人做這份工作太困難了。
Extension
difficulty n. 困難；艱難
Tom is having difficulty in school this year.
湯姆今年有學校課業上的困難。
5. welcoming [`w5lk4m6;] adj. 歡迎的；款待的
Everyone has been welcoming to the new worker.
每個人都很歡迎新同事。
Part B: Making Conversation
LANGUAGE NOTES: Phrases
wear out 使精疲力竭
Carrying that box has worn my arms out.
搬那個箱子讓我的手臂累壞了。
what else 其他還有什麼
What else do we need to finish today?
我們今天還需要完成什麼呢？
Part B: Making Conversation
ENGLISH CORNER
c
e
a
b
d
Part B: Making Conversation
Part B: Making Conversation
c
a
Audio
Transcripts
Alan: Hi, Irene. Where do you work now?
Irene: Right now, I have a job at a stationery store.
Alan: What do you do there?
Irene: I’m a cashier.
Alan: Where did you work before?
Irene: I used to work at a seafood restaurant.
Alan: Why did you want to change careers?
Irene: I hated working with food because I would always
smell bad by the end of the day!
Part C: Company Benefits
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Part C: Company Benefits
B
D
Part C: Company Benefits
A
C
Part C: Company Benefits
LISTENING COMPREHENSION
F
T
F
Part C: Company Benefits
公司福利
瑞秋和鮑伯帶他們的新同事戴夫去吃晚餐。
瑞秋：戴夫，很開心你能和我們一起出來。
鮑伯：現在你可以告訴我們你對公司真正的感想啦！
戴夫：事實上，我覺得很棒。薪資很不錯，還有很多很棒的福利。
瑞秋：你說得沒錯。你知道我們公司會在每位員工生日時贈送購物中心的禮券嗎？
戴夫：不，我不知道。
鮑伯：我們每年也可以參加員工旅遊。公司會支付交通和住宿費。
瑞秋：有人告訴我今年的旅遊將會去日本。
戴夫：那太棒了！你們知道是什麼時候嗎？
瑞秋：在六月的第一個週末。
戴夫：喔不！我想我那時不能去。
鮑伯：別擔心。如果你不能去，你會拿到一筆可用於個人度假的旅遊津貼。
戴夫：哇！那真的很慷慨耶。
Part C: Company Benefits
LANGUAGE NOTES: Word Bank
1. salary [`s1l4r6] n. 薪水；薪資
The salary was too low, so I didn’t take the job.
因為薪水太低了，所以我沒接受那份工作。
2. benefit [`b5n4f6t] n. 福利；好處
One of the benefits that my company offers is free
lunches on Fridays.
我公司的其中一項福利就是週五提供免費午餐。
3. gift certificate [g6ft] [s0`t6f6k4t] 禮券
Everyone received a gift certificate to use at the new
coffee shop.
每個人都收到那家新咖啡廳的禮券。
Part C: Company Benefits
4. mall [m7l] n. 大規模購物中心
We opened a store in the mall last month.
我們上個月在購物中心開了一家店。
5. transportation [~tr1nsp0`te]4n] n. 運輸；交
通工具
I couldn’t go to the event because I didn’t have
transportation.
我沒去參加那個活動，因為我沒有交通工具。
Extension
transport v. 運送
We’ve hired a big truck to transport the furniture to the
new house.
我們雇用一輛大卡車來運送家具到新房子。
Part C: Company Benefits
6. amazing [4`mez6;] adj. 很棒的；令人吃驚的
Michelle is an amazing boss. All of her employees like
her.
米雪兒是個很棒的老闆。她所有的員工都喜歡她。
7. allowance [4`la84ns] n. 津貼；補貼；零用錢
We were given a food allowance when we had to go to
other cities to work.
我們得去外地工作時，公司會提供用餐津貼。
8. personal [`p-sxy] adj. 個人的
This is my personal computer, not the company’s.
這是我個人的電腦，不是公司的。
9. generous [`d.5n4r4s] adj. 慷慨的；大方的
The manager was generous and bought dinner for
everyone working late.
經理很慷慨地買晚餐給每個加班的人。
Part C: Company Benefits
generous
salary
benefit
transportation
amazing
Part C: Company Benefits
b
d
Part C: Company Benefits
Audio Transcripts
Tonya: Look at this, Jim! I got a gift certificate
from my company today.
Jim: Wow! Why did they give you that?
Tonya: It’s my birthday tomorrow.
Jim: That seems like a really nice benefit. Did
you get anything else?
Tonya: Yes. My coworkers took me to the mall to
have lunch.
REVIEW
Part A: Photographs
Listen and choose the sentence that best
describes the photo.
C
(A) The woman is feeling confident.
(B) The woman is really welcoming.
(C) The woman is very upset.
(D) The woman is generous.
B
(A) The man is giving the people gift
certificates.
(B) The salesman is helping his
customers.
(C) The salesman is asking the people
to come over.
(D) The man is having trouble with his
duties.
REVIEW
Part B: Question and Response
Listen and choose the best response to the sentence you hear.
A 3. You shouldn’t be so hard on yourself.
_____
(A) I know. I just want everything to be
perfect.
(B) No. It’s not very difficult.
(C) You’re right. I should get an allowance.
C 4. Can you remind me how to do this?
_____
(A) Yes. I’m so worn out.
(B) I think you’ll get a gift certificate.
(C) Sure. Come over here, and I’ll show you.
REVIEW
A 5. Thanks for being so welcoming!
_____
(A) No problem. I’m happy that you’re here.
(B) We have to get this done in a short amount of
time.
(C) I’m sorry it’s been so difficult to do.
B 6. Is your salary high enough?
_____
(A) No. I’m not sure how tall it is.
(B) Yes. I think my pay is pretty good.
(C) Yes. We need to get more benefits.
C 7. Are you feeling confident about your project?
_____
(A) No. It’s too easy for me.
(B) Yes. It’s making me upset.
(C) Yes. I’ve been working hard on it.
REVIEW
Part C: Short Conversation
Listen and answer the questions.
C
C
B
REVIEW
Audio Transcripts
Frank: Hi, Laura. I noticed that you looked upset, so I
came over to help you.
Laura: Thanks, Frank. I’m having trouble with my
computer. I don’t know why using it is so difficult
for me.
Frank: Don’t be so hard on yourself. You’ve just changed
careers, and it can take some time to learn how to
do everything.
Laura: You’re right. I’ve only been here a short amount of
time. I’m sure that in a few weeks I’ll be perfect at
my duties!
LESSON 4
Small Talk
-The End-