Unit 08
I disagree
職場攻略/辦公日常
Workplace English/Communication in Workplace
BRAIN STORM
Share your ideas with your teacher and try to make sentences.
Have you ever disagreed to an opinion made by a friend?
VOCABULARY
Repeat these sentences after your teacher.
1. cost-savings (phr.) 節省開支的
Have you come up with a cost-savings proposal?
您是否提出了節省成本的建議？
2. laying off (n.) 裁員
We’ve got to do everything we can to avoid layoffs.
我們必須盡一切可能避免裁員。
3. called this meeting (phr.) 召開這次會議
Our Director called this meeting.
主任召集了這次會議。
4. come up with (v.) 想出
Yes, I had come up with a proposal.
是的，我想出了一個建議。
5. going through (phr.) 經歷
We are going through bankruptcy.
我們將要破產了。
6. I see things a bit differently (phr.) 我不這麼認為
Sorry, I see things a bit differently.
抱歉，我看到的情況有所不同。
7. keep up (v.) 繼續
We have to keep up with the trends.
我們必須緊跟潮流。
8. cutbacks (v.) 裁減
I don’t think we’re going to be able to make significant cutbacks without reducing staff.
我認為在不減少人員的情況下我們將無法大幅削減成本。
Dialogue
Read the dialogue aloud with your teacher.
Now, I think we all know why I’ve called this meeting today. The company has been going through some difficult times and we need to come up with a cost-savings proposal. I think we have to consider laying off some staff.
現在，我想我們都知道為什麼我今天要開這個會。 公司目前正在經歷一段艱難的時間，我們需要想一些節省開銷的方 案。 我認為我們必須考慮裁掉一些員工。
Sally, I see things a bit differently. You know, our team has already been working a lot of overtime. We can’t keep up this level of production with fewer staff.
Sally，我的看法有點不同。 你知道，我們的員工已經在經常加班了，如果員工數量減少我們是沒辦法保持這樣的生產力的。
Henry, I appreciate your point of view, but unless we make some significant cutbacks the whole company could go under.
亨利，我很感謝您的觀點，但除非我們進行重大削減，否則整個公司可能會倒閉。
Well, I’d hate to see layoffs; I think there are other ways to reduce costs like cutting all overtime pay. Then hopefully…
嗯，我很不想見到裁員;我認為還有其他削減開支的方法。 比如砍掉所有加班費。 那樣的話希望…
I’m sorry Jessica, but I think that’s completely out of the question. Without overtime pay we cannot continue production. If we don’t keep the production going then…
不好意思Jessica，但我認為這個是完全不可能的。 如果沒有加班費，我們就無法繼續生產。 如果我們不能保持生產的話…
Please Henry, let’s not exaggerate here. I don’t think it’s so black and white. The point I’m making is…
什麼？ 天哪！ 怎麼會的？ 壞消息是什麼？
Okay guys, we’ve got to stop arguing. Let’s all calm down, work together, and we can find a way out of this mess, okay?
行了你們，我們不要再爭論下去了。 讓我們都冷靜下來，一起想辦法然後解決這個爛攤子，好嗎？
Expansion
Make a conversation with your teacher.
hate to see
1.Susan, I don’t think that’s a good idea; I’d hate to see us launch the website before we’re ready.
2.Please be careful when inputting the data in this spreadsheet; I’d hate to see you have to do it again.
3.Make sure you finish this on time; I’d hate to see you get in trouble from Mr Kohler.
called this meeting…
1.Thanks for coming everyone. I called this meeting to review our budget for the next quarter.
2.Lilly called a staff meeting; apparently there is a big announcement.
3.Jerry, can you call a meeting to discuss this issue next week?
Grammar
without
The preposition “without” is used to refer to the absence of something.
1.This is way too risky an investment! It’s like jumping out of an airplane without a parachute!
2.Without you, I’m nothing! Please come back to me!
3.Without frequent watering and plenty of sunshine, this plant will die.
4.This business plan will be tough to implement without investors.
5.Can you imagine a world without war?
DISCUSSION
Make a conversation with your teacher.
1.Do you think it is important to be correct all the time? Why or Why not?
