11/28 (Wed.) - 11/30 (Fri.)

実践ビジネス英語

実践ビジネス英語　　　Wednesday, November 28

1) Lyons says inviting contractors and other temporary workers to a holiday party is treating them as regular employees and taking on the consequent legal risks, but not inviting them may cause offence. He also warns that inviting employees plus spouses can seem to exclude unmarried couples and urges Umemura to clarify when the party ends. Collins recommends not trying to coax reluctant employees to attend.

                                                            • -

Office Holiday Party (4)

                                                            • -

2) tricky: Lyons means something difficult that takes skill or caution to do or deal with. You could say something like, "Convincing John will be "tricky." He'd... he really doesn't like the idea." "Trick" can mean the key or the secret to something, like, you might say, "The 'trick' to be in frugal is planning, planning, planning."

3) assume: Lyons uses "assume" to mean take on oneself. Like, a guarantor on a loan assumes the responsibility to pay if the original borrower can't return the money.

4) feel left out: Fell excluded, in other words, not part of some group. For example, "it's important to invite new employees to lunch or out for drinks so they don't 'feel left out.'"

5) hospitable: Welcoming someone or something politely, generously. Country A might be particularly 'hospitable' to foreign investment or immigration. "Hospitable" can also refer to a pleasant, supportive environment, as in, "The waters in this area are not 'hospitable' to oyster farming."

6) on the face of it: When first considered, Lyons means, at first glance. There's usually an implication that something is not what it seems or is more complicated than it appears. Like, "'On the face of it,' this seems like a great price, but there are actually all these hidden surcharges."

7) add another wrinkle: We all lament the wrinkles in our faces, iron out the wrinkles in our clothes. But Lyons is using this expression to mean add another problem or another factor that makes a situation more complex. I was just reading an article about financial planning for married couples and various challenges they face, and it said, "A large age difference can 'add another wrinkle' because people of different ages often prioritize different things."

8) after party: These are a staple in Japan, aren't they? Follow up patties held after some main event. As far as I know, English doesn't number successive parties ah... the way you do in Japanese.

9) advise against something: Collins would recommend that someone not do something, in other words. A financial adviser might say, "I'd advise against investing in a restaurant. It's a very risky industry."


===============================


実践ビジネス英語　　　Thursday, November 29

1) Lyons recommends leaning towards nonreligious decorations at the party, while Collins doesn't feel a dress code is necessary and says she usually aims for clothing somewhere between jeans and formal wear. Asked what Umemura should do as a participant, Lyons suggests paying attention to other people's body language, being friendly and making an effort to connect with coworkers he hasn't spoken too much.

                                                            • -

Office Holiday Party (5)

                                                            • -

2) gathering: This is a good general word for events at which people will gather together. You might read about a "gathering" of international scientists or a "gathering" of anime fans. Or someone could ask you, "Are you free this weekend? We are having some people over. Just a small 'gathering.'"

3) rule of thumb: This refers to a rough rule or principle that can be used in certain situations. The image is measuring something roughly with your thumb, not precisely with a ruler or other device. Another idiom using "thumb" is "stick out like a sore thumb," which means very conspicuous, glaringly different from one’s surroundings. Like a sore thumb that's being held away from the other fingers. So if I wore jeans to a party where everyone else was wearing nice clothes, I'd stick out like a sore thumb.

4) learn toward: This is to incline toward something, tend to favor it in terms of our opinion or wish. So you could say, "Marty 'leans toward' high risk investments. So he tends to favor high risk investments, choose them." Or "We are trying to decide between Hawaii and Bali. Personally, I'm 'leaning toward' Bali."

5) secular: Not related to religion, Lyons means. So secular holiday
decorations would probably include things like colored lights and snow flake designs.

6) religious sensibilities: Lyons is using "sensibilities" to mean the way we feel, react regarding a particular subject. So if something offends my moral "sensibilities," it goes against my sense of what is moral or right. I just read an article that warned travelers to be respectful of local "sensibilities" when taking pictures. In other words, not every country or place has the same feelings, the same rules when it comes to photography, the article was saying.

7) dress code: Rules, requirements about how people should dress. A company "dress code" might require that male employees wear ties. Or a school "dress code" might say girls can't wear very short skirts.

8) あるジョブサーチエンジンに書かれていた定義
In general, business casual means dressing professionally, looking relaxed yet neat and pulled together.

9) pushy: Disagreeably aggressive or self-assertive, like someone is pushing at others to get what they want. We've all had to deal with "pushy" sales people, haven't we? ... who follow us around and try too hard to get us to buy something.


=========================================


実践ビジネス英語　　　Friday, November 30

                                                                • -

Office Holiday Party (6)

                                                                • -

1[S]: In our current vignette, Umemra Seiji asks Steve Lyons and Alyce Collins for advice about planning H&B's upcoming holiday party. One point they discuss is the danger of people drinking too much and embarrassing themselves as a result. What's your policy when it comes to alcohol at holiday parties, Heather?

2[I]: My first rule at any gathering where alcohol is served is to make sure to eat something before I start drinking. The difference is truly dramatic. I've always felt the effects of alcohol much more quickly on an empty stomach.

The one time in my life, I really drank too much, back in far younger days. It was because I was having a great time at a party talking to lots of people and I didn't notice that I wasn't eating anything.

Luckily, I didn't confess my love for anyone that night, but I felt
absolutely awful after I got home and the next day. So now I often get juice or iced tea or leave my first drink untouched on the table until I've had time to down some food.

3[S]: To encourage people to limit their drinking, Collins and Lyons suggest things like having a bartender serve the alcohol or having people pay for drinks.

4[I]: Those seem like very good ideas. The easier something is to do, the more likely a person is to do it. So I'm sure adding extra steps such as having to ask a bartender for a drink or take money out of your wallet would serve as a break to some extent. And perhaps a bartender could also keep an eye out for people who seem to be getting too tipsy.

A friend of mine in the States said some holiday parties limit how much they'll allow drinking by handing out drink coupons. He said in his experience that was more of a cost containment measure. But it could serve to prevent people from imbibing too much at the same time. And perhaps daytime parties would be a good idea. Personally I'd being inclined to drink less during day light hours, but perhaps that's just innocent little me.

5[S]: The conversation also touches on who should be invited and such risks as offending unmarried couples if invitations go out to employees and spouses. Collins suggests saying spouse or partner instead.

6[I]: And I suppose some people could even take offense of that feeling they were being slighted if they weren't in a relationship. I can understand why Umemura's head starts spinning and all the things he has to consider. If I were planning an office holiday party, I'd probably specify employees and adult guests. That may seem unfair to people with children, but I think it's perfectly appropriate to say that children can't attend a company party where alcohol is being served. That's one area where I would definitely err on the side of caution.

7[S]: What about your interactions with others at holiday parties? Are there any specific things you try to do?

8[I]: Well, I like Lyons' advice very much about making an effort to get to know people you haven't spoken too much. But honestly speaking, I probably haven't done that enough. It's very easy to gravitate toward people we're already friendly with, isn't it? I have to make a conscious effort at future events. I do always make sure to talk to my superiors, you know, to wrap up the year on a positive, friendly note. Oh, what about you, Mr. Sugita?

9[S]: Ours is usually a New Year's party, but I also try to talk to people I don't usually talk with much and try not to drink much.


much and try not to drink much.