Đây là Chương Trình Anh Ngữ Sinh Ðộng New Dynamic English, bài 118. Phạm Văn xin kính chào quí vị thính giả. Mở đầu bài học, để luyện nghe hiểu, quí vị nghe một câu hỏi, rồi nghe một mẩu đàm thoại trong đó có câu trả lời. Rồi sau khi nghe lại câu hỏi, xin trả lời. Sau khi nghe câu trả lời đúng, hãy lập lại.
Nhận xét là trong câu, Still, I understand her point, too.=Tuy vậy, tôi cũng hiểu lập trường của bà Graham, chữ ‘‘still” ở đây nghĩa như “nevertheless,” nghĩa là “măc dù vậy.” [Phân biệt với ‘‘still” nghĩa là “vẫn còn’’ như trong câu, ‘‘but I am still not happy with her decision,’’ nghĩa là ‘‘tôi vẫn không hài lòng về quyết định của bà ta.’’]
Cut 1
Language Focus: Questions Based on FIB Dialog
Larry: Questions.
Listen to the question, then listen to the dialog.
Eliz: Is Mr. Epstein happy with Ms. Graham’s decision?
(short pause)
Epstein: Well, it’s too bad, but I guess things worked out the way we thought they might.
Blake: Yeah, but this has been a valuable experience for us.
Now we know what our biggest problem will be with the North American market.
Epstein: Well, for me, of course, I’m still not happy. [still not happy=vẫn chưa hài lòng]
Eliz: Is Mr. Epstein happy with Ms. Graham’s decision?
(ding)
(pause for answer)
Eliz: No, he isn’t. He is disappointed.
(short pause)
Larry: Listen to the question, then listen to the dialog.
Eliz: In Mr. Epstein’s opinion, what was Shirley’s main concern?
(short pause)
Epstein: It’s just too bad that I... we couldn’t convince Shirley.
Still, I can understand her point, too. [still=dẫu vậy.]
She’s under a lot of pressure here to get this new operation going by October.
Eliz: In Mr. Epstein’s opinion, what was Shirley’s main concern?
(ding)
(pause for answer)
Eliz: He felt that her main concern was the October deadline.
(short pause)
MUSIC
Vietnamese Explanation
Trong phần tới, ta nghe cách diễn tả sự thông cảm (empathy). An idiom=một đặc ngữ hay thành ngữ. Shoes=giầy. To put yourself in someone else’s shoes=đặt mình vào hoàn cảnh hay địa vị một người khác [để dễ thông cảm với người ta.] Imagine yourself in that person’s situation=tưởng tượng mình ở trong hoàn cảnh người đó. Personal problems=vấn đề cá nhân, chuyện lo riêng.. To prevent someone from doing something=ngăn, cản trở, ai làm chuyện gì. Many managers understand that personal problems can prevent workers from doing a good job.=nhiều quản đốc hiểu rằng chuyện lo riêng có thể gây trở ngại trong công việc làm tốt của công nhân. To help find a solution=giúp tìm cách giải quyết.
Cut 2
Culture Tips: Empathy
Larry: Culture Tips
This Culture Tip answers the question: “How do American managers deal with their employees’ personal problems?”
Eliz: Welcome again to “Culture Tips” with Gary Engleton.
Today, our e mail question is “How do American managers deal with their employees’ personal problems?”
Gary: Most managers understand that personal problems can prevent workers from doing a good job.
Good managers will talk with their employees and get to know them.
And if there’s a problem, they will try to help find a solution.
Eliz: So they’ll try to understand the employee’s problem.
Gary: Yes. There is an important idiom in English.
It’s “ to put yourself in someone else’s shoes.”
Eliz: So you imagine yourself in that person’s situation?
Gary: Yes, if you can do that, then you can really understand them.
Eliz: Thanks, Gary. That was very interesting.
MUSIC
Vietnamese Explanation
Trong phần True or False sắp tới, quí vị nghe một câu đã học rồi tuỳ ý nghĩa bài học trả lời Ðúng hay Sai, True or False. To affect=ảnh hưởng đến. Personal problems can affect a person’s performance.=Những vấn đề cá nhân có ảnh hưởng đến hiệu năng làm việc của một người. The climate affected his health.=khí hậu làm sức khỏe anh suy yếu. Some plants are quickly affected by cold.=vài thứ cây hơi bị lạnh là héo. Phân biệt với danh từ ‘‘effect” kết quả, hậu quả, hiệu quả, ảnh hưởng, nghĩa như chữ result. Did the medicine have any effect? Thuốc có công hiệu gì không? Còn động từ to effect=gây ra; to bring about, to accomplish. We want to effect a change=chúng tôi muốn thực hiện một thay đổi.
CUT 3
Language Focus: True/False
Larry: True or False.
Eliz: Good managers try to understand other people’s feelings.
(ding)
(pause for an answer)
Eliz: True. Many American managers think it is important to get to know their employees.
(pause)
Eliz: Personal problems can affect a person’s job performance.
(ding)
(pause for an answer)
Eliz: True. Personal problems outside of work can prevent workers from doing a good job.
MUSIC
Vietnamese Explanation
Trong phần Ðàm thoại thương mại, ta nghe cách diễn tả tình cảm. Cô Rita Gonzales, quản đốc về sản xuất, production manager, có nhân viên trong nhóm là Cô Mary mới đây hay tới sở trễ. Mary, you’re a great employee, but you’ve been late a few times recently.=cô Mary à, cô là nhân viên giỏi, nhưng mới đây mấy lần cô đến sở làm trễ. I am sorry to hear that=tôi rất buồn khi nghe chuyện đó. I’m having childcare problems.=tôi đang gặp trở ngại kiếm nguời coi cháu nhỏ.
Make the time up=làm bù. Lunch break=giờ nghỉ ăn trưa. I’d like to start making the time up during my lunch break.=tôi muốn khởi sự làm bù vào khoảng thời gian tôi đến trễ trong giờ nghỉ ăn trưa của tôi. My husband and I take turns driving our son to a day care center=nhà tôi và tôi thay phiên lái xe đưa con trai chúng tôi đến trung tâm giữ trẻ ban ngày. My mother will need another month of rest.=Má tôi cần tĩnh dưỡng một tháng nữa. I’ll explain the situation to them=để tôi giải thích tình trạng này cho nhân viên biết. I’m sure they’ll understand=tôi chắc họ sẽ thông cảm.
Cut 4
Business Dialog: Expressing Feelings
Larry: Business Dialog
Rita Gonzales, a production manager at Harris Asphalt, Inc., is talking to Mary Zimmerman.
Mary, a member of Rita’s team, has been late for work several times in the last two weeks.
I’d like to start making the time up during my lunch break.
Eliz: Let’s listen to today’s Business Dialog.
Rita Gonzales, a production manager at Harris Asphalt, Inc., is talking to Mary Zimmerman.
Mary, a member of Rita’s team, has been late for work several times in the last two weeks.
SFX: office sounds
Rita: Mary, you’re a great employee, but you’ve been late a few times recently.
Mary: Rita, I’m really sorry, but I’m having childcare problems.
Rita: What’s going on?
Mary: Well, my mother used to take care of my son during the day.
But she got sick, and ...
Rita: Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.
Mary: Thank you. I think she’s going to be fine.
Rita: Oh, that’s good.
Mary: So now my husband and I take turns driving our son to a day care center in the morning.
Rita: Mary, I’m really sorry that you’re having these problems.
It must be very difficult for you.
Mary: Yes, it has been difficult.
Rita: How long will things be like this, do you think?
Mary: Well, my mother is feeling much better now.
But she’ll need at least another month of rest.
Rita: Well, that’s not too long.
Mary: I’m glad you think so, but I’m worried about what other people think.
Rita: Oh, don’t worry about that.
I’ll explain the situation to them.
I’m sure they’ll understand.
Mary: I’d like to start making the time up during my lunch break.
Rita: That sounds fair to me.
Mary: Thanks, Rita!
MUSIC
Vietnamese Explanation
Trong phần tới, ta nghe và lập lại những câu dùng để diễn đạt tình cảm.
Cut 5
Focus on Functions: Expressing Feelings
Larry: Focus on Functions: Expressing Feelings
Larry: Listen and Repeat.
Eliz: Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.
(pause for repeat)
Eliz: I’m really sorry that you’re having these problems.
(pause for repeat)
Eliz: It must be very difficult for you.
(pause for repeat)
Eliz: Oh, don’t worry about that.
(pause for repeat)
Eliz: I’m sure they’ll understand.
(pause for repeat)
MUSIC
Vietnamese Explanation
Trong đoạn Mách giúp văn hoá, Gary chỉ cho ta những câu thường dùng khi diễn tả tình cảm. I’m sorry to hear that=tôi buồn khi nghe chuyện đó. It must be very difficult for you.=chắc hẳn việc này rất khó khăn cho bạn. I’m sure they’ll understand.=tôi chắc họ sẽ thông cảm. Show sympathy=tỏ lòng ái ngại, thương cảm với ai. Understanding the personal feelings of others, and showing interest in their problems, is an important part of being a good manager. Thông cảm với những tình cảm cá nhân của người khác, và tỏ ra lưu tâm đến những vấn đề khó khăn của họ, là một phần quan trọng của một quản đốc giỏi. Manager=Quản đốc, quản lý, giám đốc, xếp, trưởng phòng.
Cut 6
Gary’s Tips: Expressing Feelings
Larry: Gary’s Tips.
Gary discusses expressing feelings in business situations.
UPBEAT MUSIC
Eliz: Now it’s time for Gary’s Tips with Gary Engleton!
Gary: Hello, Elizabeth! Today I’ll be talking about expressing feelings.
In today’s Business Dialog, Rita uses expressions that show that she understands Mary’s feelings and her personal situation.
When she hears that Mary’s mother is sick, she shows sympathy with the expression “I’m sorry to hear that.”
Mary: Well, my mother used to take care of my son during the day.
But she got sick, and ...
Rita: Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.
Mary: Thank you. I think she’s going to be fine.
Rita: Oh, that’s good.
Gary: Notice how Rita shows that she understands Mary’s feelings by using the expression “I’m really sorry.”
Rita: Mary, I’m really sorry that you’re having these problems.
It must be very difficult for you.
Mary: Yes, it has been difficult.
Gary: And later she tells Mary not to worry.
She is sure that the other people will understand Mary’s situation.
Mary: I’m glad you think so, but I’m worried about what other people think.
Rita: Oh, don’t worry about that.
I’ll explain the situation to them.
I’m sure they’ll understand.
Gary: Understanding the personal feelings of others, and showing interest in their problems, is an important part of being a good manager.
Thanks for joining us today for Gary’s Tips.
Eliz: Thanks, Gary!
MUSIC
FIB Closing
Eliz: Well, our time is up. Tune in again next time for Functioning in Business. See you then!
MUSIC
Vietnamese Explanation
Quí vị vừa học xong bài 118 trong Chương Trình Anh Ngữ Sinh động New Dynamic English. Phạm Văn xin kính chào quí vị thính giả và xin hẹn gặp lại trong bài học kế tiếp.