Business (Expert Chapter 1)｜ビジネス会話（上級１章）Lesson68: Changes in organizational structure

PART A_1

Let’s learn vocabulary. Listen and repeat the words and the sentences with your tutor.

PART A_2

1.　running at a loss
	-used to refer to a business that is operating without making any profit
	MCK Corporation is running at a loss for the past six months due to tight competition.
2.　payroll
	-a list of the people employed by a company showing how much each one earns
	The accounting department is responsible for the company’s payroll.
3.　layoff
	-an occasion when a company stops employing someone, sometimes temporarily, because the company does not have enough money or enough work
	The manufacturing company conducted a layoff due to financial loss.
4.　mount
	-to gradually increase, rise, or get bigger
	The company’s loss is mounting because of poor management.
5.　keep (something) under wraps
	-to keep something a secret
	The employee condoned his leader’s aggressive behavior to keep the serious matter under wraps.

PART A_3

Let’s make sentences using the vocabulary we’ve just learned.

PART A_4

1.　running at a loss
Answer:
2.payroll
Answer:
3.layoff
Answer:
4.mount
Answer:
5.keep (something) under wraps
Answer:

PART B_1

Let’s read the dialogue. After that, we’ll switch roles.

以下の会話文を読みましょう。終わったら交代してもう一度読みましょう。

PART B_2

Harry

Liam, I received your message about the planned restructuring of McBee Foods Corporation. Are you really going to do it?

Liam

Unfortunately, yes.

Harry

May I ask why?

Liam

Our competitors have overtaken us and we lost about 30% of the market share. We’ve been running at a loss for the past seven months. We have no choice but to restructure because we are losing money.

Harry

How do we go on this exactly?

Liam

Currently, we can’t keep everyone on the payroll. It’s crucial, but we need to conduct a layoff.

Harry

I agree although it will be distressing for some of our personnel. But how does the company benefit from this?

Liam

This decision will allow us to stop losses from mounting. We won’t have to pay as many people as we do now using money we don’t have.

Harry

That makes sense, but how will you break the news to the staff?

Liam

I will schedule a meeting with everyone. Just please keep this under wraps until I do.

PART B_3

Please summarize the conversation using your own words and expressions.

PART B_4

PART C_1

Let’s do a roleplay. Talk with me according to the situation below, using the expressions you just learned.

PART C_2

Your company plans to restructure due to its low sales in the past nine months. As the CEO, announce the restructuring plans to your employees using the following guide. Your tutor will pretend to be one of the workers.
1) Reason for restructuring: Low sales
2) Change to be implemented: Rebranding
3) Benefits of restructuring: Fresh/renewed company image and presence, hence attracting more customers

PART C_3

PART D_1

Let’s discuss today’s theme. Please answer the questions below.

PART D_2

1.	What are the recent changes in your company’s organizational structure?
2.	What are the common reasons for changes in companies’ restructuring?

REVIEW AND FEEDBACK

Now, let us review the things that you learned in this lesson.

ではこのレッスンで学んだことを振り返りましょう。

(Please give a short feedback on how your student did on your class.)

	Grammar 文法	Pronunciation 発音	Vocabulary 単語	Comprehension 理解
GOOD	文法の誤りはほとんどなく、完全な文章で話すことができる	ほとんどの単語をはっきりと正しく発音することができる	習った表現を適切に使うことができる	文章を理解し、質問に正しく答えることができる
FAIR	文法の誤りはあるが、完全な文章で話すことができる	発音の練習が必要な言葉がいくつかある	たまにミスはあるが、習った表現を適切に使うことができる	文章を完全に理解するのは難しく、質問に正しく答えられないときもある
POOR	文章で話すのは難しく、単語だけで話すことができる	発音の練習が必要である	習った単語と表現を少しだけ使うことができる	文章を理解するのは難しく、質問に答えるのは難しい

TUTOR FEEDBACK

GRAMMAR
Good:	Was able to speak in complete sentences with minimal grammatical errors.
Fair:	Was able to speak in complete sentences with evident grammatical errors.
Poor:	Was able to speak using words only.
PRONUNCIATION
Good:	Was able to pronounce most of the words clearly and correctly.
Fair:	Mispronounced a few words.
Poor:	Mispronounced most of the words.
VOCABULARY
Good:	Used appropriate expressions learned in class.
Fair:	Used appropriate expressions learned in class and made a few errors in word choice.
Poor:	Used only a few words and expressions.
COMPREHENSION
Good:	Was able to understand the passages and answer the questions correctly.
Fair:	Had a little difficulty in understanding passages and answering questions.
Poor:	Had a hard time understanding passages and answering questions.