商务秘书英语(第二版)
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Section Two Asking for Advice

Part A Situational Dialogues

Dialogue 1

Background:George, Cathy's colleague, wants to change his job and asks Cathy Lee for some advice.

A:George B:Cathy Lee

A:I'm thinking of changing a job and I need your advice.

B:Changing your job?Why?I thought you were quite happy with your current job.

A:Oh, that's a long story. In short, our boss hates me.What do you think I should do?

B:You really think so?I think you ought to talk with him to solve your problems.

A:No. It's hard to explain.But believe me, our problems cannot be solved.Can you give me some advice on how to find a new job?

B:If so, I recommend that you surf on the Internet to locate job vacancies.

A:Good idea!Thanks. I'll have a try.

Dialogue 2

Background:Because Cathy's colleague, Paul, lost the photos he and his girlfriend took during their first journey together, and he is now extremely anxious, expecting to get some help from Cathy eagerly.

A:Paul B:Cathy Lee

A:Cathy, I had lost the photos my girlfriend and I took in our first journey last week. I'm sure my girlfriend will get mad if she knows.What would you do if you were me?

B:Wow, it's terrible. She'll kill you.

A:I know. I really need your advice.

B:Well, if I were you, I would buy her a nice gift, then invite her to dinner, and finally make sincere apologies.

A:Do you think that will work?What if she won't forgive me?

B:Then I suggest that you send flowers to her every day until she cheers up.

Dialogue 3

Background:When general manager Mr.Smith sees the sales figures of the products last month, he wants to know Cathy's opinion on them.

A:Cathy Lee B:Mr.Smith

A:Mr. Smith, here are the sales figures of our products for last month.

B:How is that?

A:Good, but I think it could be better.

B:Why?Have you got any idea in your mind?

A:I suggest we build our own brand of our products and take a place in the up-market.

B:That's exactly the way I feel.

A:In that case, we can set higher price for our products and have a bigger market share, which will surely lead to more profits.

B:Exactly!

Practical Sentences

1.What are your views?

你的观点如何?

2.Can we get your opinions?

我们能听听你的意见吗?

3.Have you got any points you'd like to raise?

你有什么观点想发表吗?

4.What do you think of things like this?

你对这类事情怎么看?

5.We sincerely hope that all present will feel free to speak candidly and exchange their opinions constructively.

我们诚挚地希望在座的各位畅所欲言,并交流具有建设性的意见。

6.We are old friends.Please don't hesitate to speak your mind.

都是老朋友了,有什么就说什么,不用顾虑。

7.How would you like it to be?

你希望是什么样?

8.I'm asking you.Please give your suggestions.

我请大家提出自己的建议。

9.Please think loud;think out of the box.

请大家广开思路,不要太受限制。

10.Your comments and criticisms are always welcome.

欢迎评论和批评。

Make up dialogues in pairs according to the situational background.

Situation:Mr. Smith asks Cathy Lee and others in the office for some advice about the plan of new products.

Oral Practice-2

Directions:Mini-presentation. You are asked to give a short talk about three minutes on a business topic with one-minute preparation.

What is important when maintaining popularity of a product among consumers?

●High quality

●Dicounts

●After-sales service

●……

Part B Reading Module

Office Politics is Inescapable

Here is a message for people who say they can't stomach office politics:You will die a slow, painful career death, because there's no getting around office politics, and mastering them is essential to be able to steer your own career. Don't take that as bad news, though, because mastering office politics is good for your soul.Really.

The biggest political mistake is to assume that organizational politics doesn't exist. When we win on an issue, we call it leadership.When we lose, we call it politics.Office politics is inescapable because it's about dealing with the people.When there is a group of people—anywhere, even on the playground—there is politics.Let's say you pack up your bags and go to work in a national park, with trees and rivers.There will be politics about who has to take care of hikers when it's raining and who gets to stay dry, and if you are bad at politics, you will be wet every time.

Politics is part of society. And my guess is that you want to participate in society so that you can support yourself.But people who are good at politics are generally empathetic(they understand who needs what)and they have good self-discipline(they can moderate themselves so they are pleasant to be with).

But the ultimate form of politics is“intrapsychic”politics involving knowing who you are, what your goals are, and how to handle yourself in the midst of conflict. That kind of knowledge helps you decide which battles are worth fighting.For most people in today's workplace, office politics is about getting the best opportunities to learn and grow;the best training, the assignments that build skills the market values.

Office politics is part of being human, reflecting the reality of human nature. For example, people are generally favorably towards people they know, like and trust, even when they are trying to be impartial.People always have two jobs—a regular job and the other job of chief promoter for themselves.Whether you like it or not, how well you do has more to do with how well you promote yourself than just what a good job you do.

People who hate politics think they have to change who they are to succeed. Really, though, anyone who is being their best self—kind, considerate, expressive, interested in others—will do fine in office politics.So get to know yourself.Saying you just can't do politics is giving up on being your best self.

Reading Comprehension

Directions:Decide whether the following statements are true or false according to the text.

1.()Mastering office politics is necessary if you want to succeed in your career.

2.()The biggest political mistake is to try to change it.

3.()People who are good at politics are generally empathetic and well self-disciplined.

4.()Office politics is part of society but not a part of being human.

5.()People who hate politics think they have to change who they are to succeed.

Part C Writing Module

Introduction Letters

人们出于社交或公务的需要常会把自己认识或熟识的亲朋好友、同事同学,甚至上级领导介绍给第三方,让第三方了解被介绍人,并帮助解决被介绍人的某些实际问题。介绍信就是帮助实现这一目标的一种应用文体,分私人介绍信和官方介绍信两种,前者用语较随便,格式不拘;后者用语与格式都较规范、严谨。介绍信的篇幅通常不宜太长,内容涵盖被介绍人的个人情况及向收信,致以谢意和问候。

Specimen

Dear Sir or Madam,

This is to introduce the bearer, Zhang Le, the student of our department. He is sent to your company to shadow your general manager for a whole day.

Each summer vacation or winter vacation, we will call on our students to do some social practice as a way to know the society and develop various skills such as communication skills, business skills and teamwork skills. This summer vacation, we assigned our students the homework to shadow a general manager of a company or enterprise for a whole day in the hope of knowing his/her daily work and entrepreneurial characteristics.

We shall greatly appreciate your help if Mr. Zhang is provided with access to your general manager for a whole day and fulfill his social practice during the summer vacation.

Sincerely yours,

(Signature)

Economics Department

Practical Sentences

1.This letter will introduce to you my intimate friend, William Baker, who will be in Shanghai next week to do business.

我写这封信是想把我的挚友威廉·贝克介绍给你,他下周将去上海做生意。

2.Please allow me to introduce to you the bearer of this letter, Mr.Li Yunfan, who is my best student.

请允许我向您介绍持信人李云凡先生,他是我最优秀的学生。

3.It is a pleasure to introduce my American friend Jenny to you.

我很高兴向您介绍我的美国朋友珍妮。

4.Upon his departure for your city, I would like you to act as his sponsor with your long-established reputation in Harvard University.

在他去您所在的城市之际,我想请您凭借您在哈佛大学长久以来的声誉做他的担保人。

5.I hope you will enjoy his company, and I'll be very grateful if you can have time to show him around Shanghai.

我希望你会喜欢和他在一起,如果你有时间陪他逛逛上海,我将感激不尽。

6.Any kindness to him will be greatly appreciated by me.

我将不胜感激您对他的友好。

7.I will appreciate it if you can help.

您如能提供帮助,我将不胜感激。

8.Hoping this letter will find you in good health and spirits.

祝您健康快乐。

9.I shall deem it a great help if Mr.Smith is provided with whatever information he wants to have.

无论史密斯先生获得哪种他想要的信息,我想您都是帮了我的大忙。

10.I'd like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to you for appreciating a talent as much as I do.

我想向您表示衷心的感谢,因为您和我一样这么欣赏一个天才。

Practical Writing

Directions:Write an introduction letter to introduce your colleague, Jack, to your friend, Tom.

Subject:Jack will go to work in the city where Tom lives.

Part D Exercises for Consolidation

I.Fill in the blanks with words or expressions given.Change the form if necessary.

recommend forgive profit stomach assume reflect ultimate in short pack up be bad at

1.Her sad looks_________the nature of her thoughts.

2.I am_________that the present situation is going to continue.

3.The union leaders declared that the_________aim of their struggle was to increase pay and improve working conditions for the workers.

4.She isn't qualified to be a secretary for she_________communicating with others.

5.My advice is that it's best to_________and forget.

6.How could you_________all the violence in the film?

7.He_________his things and left without a word.

8.I'm not the person to_________how the job should be done.

9.This new invention will bring you great_________like a goldmine.

10.Things couldn't be worse, financially,_________we're bankrupt.

II.Translate the following Chinese sentences into English, and read them out.

1.现在我们真的需要像你一样的专家给出一些意见。

2.你对这个问题有什么看法?

3.有人要补充吗?

4.请坦率直言你的意见。

5.我极其荣幸地向您介绍我的老校长张先生。

III.Listen to the recording and fill in the blanks with words, phrases or sentences.

A:Mr. Smith, I've studied all your reports, and our company is making excellent progress.

B:Thank you, Cathy. What are your 1 for my new organizational structure?

A:I think you'll need a/an 2 to help you deal with 3 .That should do it for your headquarters here, but since your business is no longer just local, I also suggest 4 a Regional Office in the south.

B: 5 personnel there?

A:You'll need the same 6 as here, on a 7 .

B:Thanks for your 8 Cathy.Looks like I’ll need that assistant right away to help me set all this up.