Common Talk Weeklyshuang yu zhou kan


Foreign teachers
By Beverly

Have you ever had a class given by a foreign teacher? If so, you may have noticed interesting cultural differences. Since I am majoring in English, I have many chances to have such classes. The so-called "culture shock" sometimes occurs in class too.

I once had a teacher from the U.S. One day, he was telling the class of his experience meeting a beggar on Zhongshan Road. We were listening attentively, when he suddenly knelt down on the floor and walked a few steps forward on his knees, just like how beggars do in the streets. He meant to give us a clearer picture of the situation he was in, but every one of us was really shocked. We had never expected a teacher to kneel before us in class. In our minds, the word "teacher" is always associated with such words as "lofty", "respectable", "esteemed" and so on. How can a teacher lower himself to kneel before his students? However, a foreign teacher would do that.

On the other hand, foreign teachers may be shocked by Chinese students as well. One of my friends, who is studying abroad, told me in an email that she was highly impressed by the active exchange of views between foreign teachers and students in class. I understand what she means. My classmates and I remain silent and lower our heads to avoid eye contact with the foreign teacher when he asks us questions. Sometimes, he may get a response, but that is rare indeed. However, once the class is over, we would go up to the front and engage him with seemingly endless questions. Why is that? Chinese students are introverted by nature, but to the teacher, he has every reason to get annoyed with those after class questions.
Upon writing this article, I have begun to think that maybe such culture shock can hold benefits for educational reform.



小白领的电话英语
By Suky

朋友的公司里接到一个老外的电话, 接电话的MM接完电话已是满头大汗.其实办公室英语最常用的学那么两句就足够应付啦, 如果真有什么比较重要的事情, 对方自然会发mail或直接找老板谈啦.
1. I'll put her on the phone. Just a second.
我会请她听电话, 请等一下.
上面讲的put someone on the phone, 指的多半是只有一部电话时.但如果像公司里有许多分机, 则用"转接"(transfer或redirect)会比较恰当.同样的情况你可以说, "I'm transferring your call." (我帮你转接到她的分机.)
2. Would you mind holding for one minute﹖
你不介意稍等一分钟吧?
3. He's out for lunch. Would you like to try again an hour later﹖
他出去吃午餐了.你一小时后再打来, 好吗?
受中文影响, 许多人常会说成, "He went out for lunch." 其实went 是多余的, 通常老美只讲 be out for something .如果再简化一点, 单说, "He is on lunch." 或是 "He is on (lunch) break." (他正在休息.) 这样子也可以.
4. She is not here but you can call her machine.
她不在, 你可以打她的电话答录机.
记得喔! 通常人家讲 someone's machine百分之九十九都是指电话答录机, 你可别傻傻地问人, "Answering machine?"
5. I'm calling to check my order status.
我打电话来查看我订单的状况.
有人可能会说, "I ordered something yesterday. Can you check if you've shipped it or not." 这句话听起来是不是蛮笨的? 同样的情况老美都简单说 "I want to check my order status." 或是 "I want to track my order status." 就OK啦.
6. I was referred to you by Mr. Gordon.
是 Gordon 先生介绍我来的.
打电话到别人公司如果是有求于人的话,如应聘或是推销东西, 最常用的招数, 我是某某人介绍来的, 就是 "I was referred to you by someone." (注意, 介绍在这里用 refer 而不是用 introduce.)




Ask the Chef!
By the Chef



Profile of the Chef:
This chef is not just any chef, not only does he know everything there is to know about cooking, but also he is an absolute guru in Engish writing. Therefore, if you ever feel hungry or stuck in your English writing, you should go and ask the Chef!

This week's writing assignment:
You are supposed to finish a project by the end of this week, but something has happened and now it seems impossible to complete the project as scheduled. Please write an apology email to your boss and very politely ask for more time on your project.

Alex Chen wrote:
Dear Boss,
(1)I understand that I must finish the project before the end of this week. I was trying very hard in order to (2)beat the deadline, however, during this peak season I have to take over much more workload, at least twice as much as before. (3)As you may know, I have been working overtime till midnight for last two weeks, even at the weekend. (4)I would like to apologize for this, and would you please give me (5)some more time﹖ (6)Thank you for your consideration on this.
Best wishes, Alex Chen

Chef's comments:
1. 在道歉信的开头, 尽量简单直接地说明此信的目的, 避免"beat around the bushes".
2. "beat the deadline" 这个短语用得不错, 值得表扬.
3. "As you may know" 听起来不是很有礼貌, 可以直接说明你努力工作的事实.
4. 道歉时最好别用"would like to apologize", 因为用这句话道歉有点可笑, 老板对员工道歉都不能这么说, 更别说员工向老板道歉了.
5. 你要求延长的时间最好再具体一些, 如果实在没有办法具体, 应说明理由.
6. 还不知道老板对你的道歉的反应之前, 别急着感谢.你怎么知道你的老板会consider 的?所以最好用将来式, 如:"Your consideration will be highly appreciated."这样会显得更礼貌一些.

Chef's revised version
Dear Boss,
I am terribly sorry to tell you that the project cannot be finished by the end of this week as planned.
Recently, the workload all of a sudden increased. It is now at least twice as much as usual which totally messed up my schedule. After working overtime till midnight for the last two weeks, I realized this project cannot be done as scheduled. I am so sorry for that and would you please give me another week on this? I promise it will be nicely done by then. Your consideration will be highly appreciated. Thank you very much for your time.
Best wishes, Alex Chen

Next week's writing assignment:
You have been working very hard for a long time. Now you are thinking about taking some time off. Please write an email (less than 100 words) to your boss and politely ask for a week off.

编者按:
应广大读者的要求, 双语周刊隆重推出"Ask the Chef!" 栏目, 以帮助大家提高英文写作水平. 每周我们的"Chef"都会布置一项写作任务, 然后在读者来稿中选择一篇加以点评和修改.希望大家认真完成作业, 尊重"Chef"的辛勤工作.谢谢!
请把您的作业寄到:
common-talk@fj172.com


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