アメリカのビジネス誌「TIME」が毎年発表している「今年の人」(Person of the Year)。2015年12月10日に「Person of the Year 2015」が発表されました。
発表記事では、今年の人について「 the World’s Most Powerful Woman 」(世界で最もパワフルな女性)と述べられています。
さてその人とは。
アメリカのビジネス誌「TIME」が毎年発表している「今年の人」(Person of the Year)。2015年12月10日に「Person of the Year 2015」が発表されました。
発表記事では、今年の人について「 the World’s Most Powerful Woman 」(世界で最もパワフルな女性)と述べられています。
さてその人とは。
「オフィス用品」に関する問題を解いてみましょう。
WE HAVE A NEW COPY MACHINE!
It’s nice to finally have a copy machine that works. Our last two machines were rather quirky and had to be serviced all too often. We decided to change manufacturers and to go for top of the line. The CopyMax 2000 is a pleasure to use but don’t overdo it—remember we’re trying to save paper. Each of you will be issued control cards that are to be inserted in the small scanner on top of the copy machine each time you use it. Copies can be made only when the cards are inserted. All the data at the time copies are made, including the number of copies, date and time will be recorded and carefully managed in a database. You may pick up your control cards from Jason in Supplies any time after February 11.
「オフィス用品」に関する問題を解いてみましょう。
From: Lori Piedmont
To: All Staff
Date: February 12
Re: Office supplies
There’s a new person in charge of office supplies. Monica Regis replaced Carla Yu as of Monday, February 10. Monica is the one to contact if you’re in need of anything from copy paper and printer cartridges to staples and paper clips. I recommend getting in touch with her with your orders well in advance of things running out as ordering supplies and having them delivered to the office can sometimes take up to 10 days. Our usual supplier has been short of certain printer cartridges recently, and filling these orders may take even longer.
オフィスでは、ペンやクリップ、ファイルなどの文房具からパソコンやプリンターまで、さまざまなオフィス用品(office supplies)が日々使われています。こうしたオフィス用品の在庫がなくなったり、故障したりしたときには、担当者や担当部署が発注をしたり、修理を依頼したりすることになっています。欠品や故障などの問題が発生し、その解決方法を相談するという話題は、テストのリスニングセクションで非常によく出題されます。オフィス用品名や問題の解決方法を示すフレーズを覚えましょう。
「出張」に関する問題を解いてみましょう。
To: Jeb Anderson
From: Lori Cox
Date March 17
Subject: Trip report
I heard from Ben that you are extremely busy now, filling in for Lucy who suddenly had to quit. However, I’d like to remind you that I need to have the expense report from the trip you made to Sydney earlier this month by Monday morning. Otherwise, there’s a chance you won’t be reimbursed during April. Be sure to attach all receipts, including those from all the meals you had during your trip, to the expense report. I also need a trip report from you, but that can come later; judging from your current circumstances, I’d be willing to wait until the first week of next month.
「社内会議」に関する問題を解いてみましょう。
Brookville Community Center
Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes
Saturday, December 1
Members present: 15
Members absent: 2
Opening: Dotty Powers (chairperson) opened the meeting at 6:30 p.m. and introduced Claire Hudson, the new treasurer.
Financial Report: The center is currently about $1,500 over budget. Proceeds from the upcoming Christmas fundraiser are expected to offset this. Ms. Hudson suggested that expenses be reviewed carefully to avoid going over budget next year.
Building Improvements: Mr. Petit of the Building Committee reported that construction of the back entrance ramp would begin as scheduled on January 10. The center can be accessed only through the front and Vine Street entrances until construction is complete.
Miscellaneous Business: Ms. Powers noted that the center’s youth basketball program was recently commended in an article in the Brookville Inquirer.
The meeting was adjourned by Ms. Powers at 7:30 p.m.
The next meeting will be held on Saturday, January 5, at 6:30 p.m. at the Brookville Community Center.
Minutes taken by Grace Tanaka, secretary.
「社内会議」に関する問題を解いてみましょう。
TO: Sales Department staff
FROM: Jud Birch
DATE: August 12
SUBJECT: Monthly meeting
Most of us will be attending the trade show at Borne Center on the 18th, so the meeting scheduled for that day has been postponed to the 20th. I reserved the main conference room for the 20th, but it is only available from 4 to 5 p.m. We have just one hour, which means all of us should review the agenda thoroughly before the meeting so we can cover everything effi ciently. I’ve attached a draft agenda to this e-mail. Make any additions you feel are necessary and send it back to me by tomorrow evening.
企業では、議論や意思決定、仕事の進捗報告などの目的で、頻繁に会議(meeting)が行われます。部署のスタッフで行う会議(staff meeting)、役員会議(board of directors meeting)、社外などで数日間行われる大規模な会議(conference)など、種類や規模もさまざまです。テストでは、会議の様子自体が出題されることはありませんが、会議の準備段階の話題は大変よく登場します。ここでは、会議の種類を表す語句と、社内会議開催までの流れの中で使われる語句を理解しましょう。
若者のおふざけパフォーマンスがSNSで一気に流行することは洋の東西を問わず見られる現象ですが、2015年11月-12月現在、アメリカを中心として、とある遊びがソーシャルメディア上を席巻しています。
その名もコンドームチャレンジ(Condom Challenge)。
日本語では「辛い」と表現される味覚。一口に「からい」といっても、食材や料理によってさまざまなタイプの「辛さ」があります。
英語では、辛さの内容の応じて使い分けることのできる複数の表現があります。スパイスが効いている、塩っ辛い、ピリっと辛い、というような辛さを一語で言い表現できます。
日本語の「キレる」は《堪忍袋の緒が切れる》という慣用表現に由来します。意味としては「我慢の限度を超えるほど怒りがわいた状態」のようにいえるでしょう。
英語では、「怒り」を示す英語表現(anger、rage、indignant、mad)などを使っても表現できますが、この他にも英語ならではの言い回しで「キレた」を表現できます。
研修会」に関する問題を解いてみましょう。
I’d like to remind you about next week’s training session for the new inventory control software. I will be conducting the session with assistance from Terry Williams of Oasis Software, which is the company that created this pioneering system. Controlling inventory has been a challenge for our firm, and this new software is expected to help us manage our inventory properly and efficiently. There are copies here of the instruction manual for the software. Take a copy with you when you leave and review it so you have some idea of what you’ll be working with next week.
「研修会」に関する問題を解いてみましょう。
New Employee Orientation
Tour of Bottling Facility
Monday, June 1
9:00 a.m.
Gather in front of company headquarters East Wing.
Board bus for 40-minute ride to Jackson Bottling Plant.
9:50 a.m.
Arrive at Jackson. Welcome by Otis Cooke, Plant Director (brief history of plant given by Mr. Cooke, who will also guide tour)
10:00-10:30 a.m.
Tour of production area (protective gear provided)
10:30-11:10 a.m.
Tour of bottling area and distribution center
11:15-11:45 a.m.
Break in plant cafeteria (sampling of beverages produced and bottled at Jackson; other refreshments also provided)
11:45-12:30 p.m.
Discussion with plant staff (Mr. Cooke to lead session)
12:35 p.m.
Board bus for ride back to headquarters.
研修会というと入社時の新人研修を思い浮かべるかもしれませんが、会社ではそれ以外にも、日常業務とは別に、スキルアップのためのセミナーや新しい社内制度や商品・販売方法の説明会など、さまざまな研修会が開かれます。研修会には、参加が義務付けられているものと、自発的に参加するものがありますが、後者への参加は自分の職能を高めようとする意欲を上司や人事部にアピールすることにもつながります。自発的に参加する研修では、参加登録の手続きをする必要があります。ここでは、テストによく出題される「新人研修」と2つの「スキルアップ研修」を取り上げます。
「歓送迎会」に関する問題を解いてみましょう。
TO: ALL HUMAN RESOURCES STAFF
FROM: MIMI GELLER
DATE: NOVEMBER 3
SUBJECT: PETE’S RETIREMENT PARTY
This is to let you know that Pete Lauren’s retirement party will be held on November 21 at the Holyoke Bar and Grill. R.S.V.P. by November 10; I hope all of you can attend. The party will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Dinner will be served between 6 and 7 p.m. after which there will be a short ceremony where we will honor Pete for the significant contribution he made to our company during his 20-year employment. The company will present Pete with a plaque and retirement gift, but we are taking a collection for a gift from all of us to Pete for being such a wonderful mentor and role model. If you would like to pitch in, please contact Jessie Orbison.
「歓送迎会」に関する問題を解いてみましょう。
To: Rick Deevers
From: Jan Ford
Date: May 6
Subject: Welcome party
Hi Rick,
I’m writing to remind you that as the designated organizers, we need to start putting the welcome party together for the new employees who’ll be joining our team next month. Ideally, the party would take place the week they start, which should be June 6. Let me confirm this first with Amanda. She’ll be back at work on Monday. As for the venue, we need to think about having the party catered if we’re going to use the cafeteria like we did last year. Don’t you think choosing an off-site location would be easier? Have them include food and drinks for a set price per person? In any case, let’s get together this week to see what we can come up with.
新入社員を迎え入れるときや、社員が辞職したり退職したりするとき、会社ではよく、歓迎会(welcome party)や送別会(farewell party)を行います。こうした会には、部署のメンバーで食事に行く場合と、ケータリング(catering)を手配して社内で行う場合があります。歓送迎会のまとめ役である幹事は、日時や場所を決めて関係者にお知らせを送り、必要な場合は参加者から参加費を集めたり、お金を集めて贈り物を購入したりします。テストでは、歓送迎会の手配について相談をしている場面や、会のお知らせメモやEメールがよく取り上げられます。