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2011年ESL之商务英语 21 Describing One’s Skill Level

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21 Describing One’s Skill Level

GLOSSARY1

intern2 – a person, usually who is still a student, who works in an organization fora short period of time to learn how to do something and prepare for a futurecareer

* Last summer, Jezra was a finance intern on Wall Street and learned a lot aboutthe stock market.

cubicle3 – a small work area within a larger office space, with a desk, computer,and telephone surrounded by four short walls that do not reach up to the ceiling

* I hate making phone calls from my cubicle, because my co-workers can heareverything I say.

basic – the minimum or standard type of something, without anything additionalor impressive

* We were going to buy the basic model of this car, but then we started addingfeatures like leather seats and a fancy stereo.

adept4 at – very good at doing or using something

* To improve our website, we need to hire someone who is adept at Java.

up to snuff – meeting the standards or expectations for something; at asatisfactory level

* Make sure your essay is up to snuff or the teacher will give you a failing grade.

proficient5 – very good at doing something; an expert; with an advanced level

* How many years did you have to work before you became proficient in makingfancy wedding cakes?

photocopier6 – a machine that makes many copies of the text or images thatappear on a piece of paper

* The photocopier was working fine yesterday, but now that I need to makecopies of the agenda for today’s meeting, it won’t even turn on!

fax machine – a machine that uses phone lines to send the text or images on apiece of paper to another fax machine in a different location, where it is printedout onto a piece of paper

* I don’t have a fax machine in my home office. Can I scan the document andemail it to you instead?

expert – someone who has a lot of knowledge on a topic; someone who knowsalmost everything about something

* Beth is an expert in ancient Greek and Roman art.

one hand tied behind (one’s) back – able to do something very easily, withoutany difficulty

* Daryl has been building homes for more than 20 years, and he can almost do itwith one hand tied behind his back!

body part – one section of one’s body, such as an arm, leg, hand, or foot

* Tae-young chose to get a tattoo7 on his back, rather than a more visible bodypart.

to master – to become very good at doing something so that one doesn’t haveany doubts about it

* It can take many years of practice to master the violin.

to get the hang of – to learn how to do something; to become familiar enoughwith something to use or do it correctly

* Cooper is a good skier8, but it took him a while to get the hang of snowboarding.

break room – a room in an office building where workers go to eat and/or rest forshort periods of time during the day

* I wish it were quieter in the break room so we could take a quick nap beforegoing back to work.

vending9 machine – a large machine that people put coins into to receive smallpackages of food or drinks

* The sodas10 in this vending machine cost $1.25 each!

to know inside and out – to know something very well; to have knowledgeabout all parts or aspects of something

* Hinton grew up in New York City, so he knows the city inside and out.

to excel – to do something very well; to be a master at doing something

* Wei excelled in her graduate courses in marketing11.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1. Which of these machines accepts money?

a) A photocopier.

b) A fax machine.

c) A vending machine.

2. What is the first thing Tony shows Elaine on the tour?

a) The desks where each employee works.

b) The mailboxes where each employee receives documents.

c) The cots where employees can take naps on breaks.

______________

WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN?

basic

The word “basic,” in this podcast, means the minimum or standard type ofsomething, without anything additional: “The basic cable package offers 20channels, but you can pay extra to receive premium12 movie channels.” The“basics” refers to the most fundamental or important principles of something:

“She learned the basics of music theory as a child, but she has forgotten a lot ofit since then.” The word “basically” is used when one is summarizing somethingor putting something in simpler terms: “A lot of ingredients go into making a goodsoup, but basically, you need meat and/or vegetables that are fresh.” Finally, thephrase “basic training” refers to the period of time when people enter the militaryand receive intense instruction to prepare them for their work: “Basic training isreally difficult, but if you can make it through the first few weeks, you’ll be fine.”

master

In this podcast, the verb “to master” means to become very good at doingsomething so that one doesn’t have any doubts about it: “If you want to masterthe art of watercolor painting, you’ll have to buy better paints and paintbrushes.”

The verb “to master” can also mean to overcome something, or to succeeddespite a challenge or difficulty: “Once Hal learned to master his impatience13, hebecame a very successful leader.” As a noun, a “master” is a person who is incontrol of something or is an expert in something: “He is a master champion ingolf.” A “master” can also refer to the original version of something: “Please don’tgive away the master copy. Make copies of it instead.”

CULTURE NOTE

The Internship15 ExperienceStudents and “recent graduates” (people who recently earned a diploma orfinished a course of study) can participate in internships to “obtain” (get) valuablejob experience and “network” (meet; make connections) with people in their“chosen industry” (the field one wants to work in). Many internships are “unpaid”

(the intern does not receive any money), and even the “paid” internships areusually not very well paying. Internships can also be “for credit” (giving thestudent academic credits that can be used to earn a degree, like a class) or “notfor credit,” and interns14 usually have to write a report describing their experiencein for-credit internships.

Internship experiences “vary widely” (are very different) depending on theindustry and the organization. Some interns are disappointed when their work isprimarily photocopying16 or getting coffee for the regular employees. But otherinterns become an “integral” (important; necessary) part of the organization. Thebest internships are generally opportunities to work on a specific project thatbenefits the organization, but that regular employees do not have enough time tocomplete on their own. Interns working on specific projects have “autonomy” (theability to make one’s own decisions), but can also “turn to” (ask for help from)employees when they need guidance or additional information.

Many businesses offer internships as a way to “vet” (review the qualifications of)potential employees. If a supervisor17 is pleased with an intern, he or she mayencourage the intern to return to the organization after graduation by making an“attractive” (desirable; with nice benefits) job offer. The intern’s familiarity withthe organization and the “work culture” (how people interact within theorganization), makes the transition into the new job easier, and the companyknows how well qualified18 the new employee is, because it has already workedwith him or her as an intern.

______________

Comprehension Questions Correct Answers: 1 – c; 2 – a

COMPLETE TRANSCRIPT19

Welcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 728: DescribingOne’s Skill Level.

This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode 728. Can you believeit?! I’m your host, Dr. Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center forEducational Development in beautiful Los Angeles, California.

Visit our website at eslpod.com. Why? Well, we want you to become a memberof ESL Podcast, my friend, and be able to download the Learning Guide for thisepisode, which will make your life much easier and happier.

This episode is a dialogue between Elaine and Tony, using vocabulary todescribe how good you are at doing something. Let’s get started.

[start of dialogue]

Elaine: Welcome to your first day as an intern in our company office. Let meshow you around. This is the main office area with a cubicle for each employee.

Are you pretty good with computers?

Tony: Actually, my computer knowledge is pretty basic. The only thing I’m adeptat is videogames. I’m not up to snuff on actually doing work on one.

Elaine: Okay, well you should be proficient by the end of your internship. Overthere is where we keep the photocopier and fax machine. Have you used thembefore?

Tony: I’m an expert on the copier. I can use it with one hand tied behind myback. I’m particularly good at photocopying body parts.

Elaine: Uh, great.

Tony: But the fax…I’ve only used one once and I never quite mastered it.

Elaine: I’m sure you’ll get the hang of it pretty quickly. And this is the breakroom. You have your standard refrigerator and vending machines.

Tony: Hey, I’m really good with vending machines. That’s one machine I knowinside and out.

Elaine: How could I have guessed that the one thing you really excel at isworking the vending machine?

[end of dialogue]

Elaine says to Tony, “Welcome to your first day as an intern in our companyoffice.” An “intern” (intern) is a person, usually a student, who works in anorganization for a short period of time – a month, two months, maybe a year – tolearn how to do something and to prepare for their future doing that kind of job.

Lots of organizations have interns; they are young students, either still in collegeor just graduated from college, that perform different jobs. Sometimes they arepaid, sometimes they are volunteer; you don’t get paid but you do getexperience. I think I need an intern here at the Center for EducationalDevelopment. You know, someone to bring my coffee in the morning – or mytea, as the case may be. Well, Elaine is welcoming – is saying hello to Tony,who is an intern. She says, “Let me show you around.” Let me give you a tour;let me tell you where everything is. She then says, “This is the main office areawith a cubicle for each employee.” A “cubicle” (cubicle) is a small work areawithin a larger office space. Typically, it has a desk, a computer, a telephone.

There are walls around it, but the walls don’t go all the way up to the ceiling.

That’s a cubicle.

Elaine then asks Tony, “Are you pretty good with computers?” Tony says,“Actually, my computer knowledge is pretty basic.” When we say our knowledgeabout something is “basic,” we mean that it isn’t very much; it’s the minimum thatyou need to know; you could be much, much better; it’s very low, very beginninglevel. “Basic” has a number of different meanings in English however; take alook at our Learning Guide for some more of those. Tony says, “The only thingI’m adept at is videogames.” “To be adept (adept) at (something)” means to beable to do something very well, to be very good at doing or using something.

“He’s adept at certain programming languages,” Java and PHP – I don’t know –something you’re good at. Tony says he’s adept at videogames, but “I’m not upto snuff on actually doing work on one.” “To be up to snuff” (snuff) means toperform at a satisfactory level, to meet someone’s expectations, to be goodenough to do something. I am up to snuff on recording20 podcasts; I’m able to doit. I can’t do a lot of other things, but I am up to snuff on the recording partanyway.

Elaine says, “Okay, well you should be proficient by the end of your internship.”

Your “internship” is the time that you are an intern. “To be proficient” (proficient)means to be good at something, to be very good at it. You might be an expert oryou might just have a lot of knowledge, but you are very good at what you do.

We often talk about proficiency21 in languages, being able to speak them andunderstand them and so forth22. Elaine says, “Over there is where we keep (wherewe have) the photocopier and the fax machine.” A “photocopier,” morecommonly called a “copying machine” or just a “copier,” is a machine thatproduces an image on a piece of paper from what you give it. So it sort of takesthe image and reproduces it onto a piece of paper; that’s a copying machine. A“fax machine” is a machine that uses phone lines to send images of paper toanother machine – another fax or fax machine. Fax machines are becoming lessand less common now, with the Internet and email.

Tony says, “I’m an expert on the copier.” “To be an expert” means to besomeone who knows almost everything about something. You could be anexpert on ancient Greek art or an expert on how to fix your car. Tony is anexpert on copying machines. He says, “I can use it with one hand tied behind myback.” The expression “to have one hand tied behind your back” means you cando something very easily, without any difficulty. To tie your hand would be totake a piece of rope or string so that you couldn’t move your hand. If you tied itbehind your back, you could only do something with one hand – with one arm.

The idea is that you’re so good you don’t need both arms – both hands to do it.

Tony, again, is making a little bit of a joke here. He says, “I’m particularly good at(I’m very good at) photocopying body parts.” A “body part” is a part of your body:

your arm, your leg, your hand, and so forth. Sometimes in offices as a jokepeople will take pictures of their head or other parts of their body and give themto someone as a joke. So Tony is an intern who’s making a joke. Elaine is notreally happy with this joke; she says, “Uh, great.” She doesn’t really mean“great,” she says it in a way that makes us understand that she doesn’t reallythink the joke is very funny.

Tony says, “But the fax…I’ve only used one once and I never quite mastered it.”

“To master (something)” is to become very good at something; it’s to become anexpert. Elaine says, “I’m sure you’ll get the hang of it pretty quickly.” “To get thehang (hang) of (something)” means to learn how to do something, to learn how todo something correctly. She says, “this is the break room.” A “break room” is aroom in an office where you can go to eat, to relax. Many employees get a break– a 15 minute break every morning and every afternoon in addition to their, say,30 minute lunch break, and this is where you can go in the building. It usuallyhas chairs and tables, sometimes machines that sell things: candy and soda,coffee, etc. Elaine says, “You have your standard refrigerator (your normalrefrigerator) and vending machines.” We just explained a “vending machine,” it’sa machine that you put money into and it gives you food or drink or other things.

Tony says, “Hey, I’m really good with vending machines.” I know how to usethem very well; again, another joke. He says, “That’s one machine I know insideand out.” “To know (something) inside and out” means to know it very well, tohave knowledge of all the different parts of something. Elaine says, “How could Ihave guessed that the one thing you really excel at is working the vendingmachine?” The first part of this question, “how could I have guessed,” means itshould have been obvious. It’s a kind of a strange expression, but what she’ssaying is it is obvious, knowing you – or knowing what I do about you, that in thiscase you really excel at working with the vending machine. “To excel” (excel), asa verb, means to do something very well, to become a master at doingsomething. We have the adjective “excellent,” which is related. Elaine says thatTony really excels at working the vending machine, meaning using the vendingmachine.

Now let’s listen to the dialogue, this time at a normal speed.

[start of dialogue]

Elaine: Welcome to your first day as an intern in our company office. Let meshow you around. This is the main office area with a cubicle for each employee.

Are you pretty good with computers?

Tony: Actually, my computer knowledge is pretty basic. The only thing I’m adeptat is videogames. I’m not up to snuff on actually doing work on one.

Elaine: Okay, well you should be proficient by the end of your internship. Overthere is where we keep the photocopier and fax machine. Have you used thembefore?

Tony: I’m an expert on the copier. I can use it with one hand tied behind myback. I’m particularly good at photocopying body parts.

Elaine: Uh, great.

Tony: But the fax…I’ve only used one once and I never quite mastered it.

Elaine: I’m sure you’ll get the hang of it pretty quickly. And this is the breakroom. We have your standard refrigerator and vending machines.

Tony: Hey, I’m really good with vending machines. That’s one machine I knowinside and out.

Elaine: How could I have guessed that the one thing you really excel at isworking the vending machine?

[end of dialogue]

We want to thank our master scriptwriter, a true expert, Dr. Lucy Tse, for thisscript.

From Los Angeles, California, I’m Jeff McQuillan. Thank you for listening. Comeback and listen to us again here on ESL Podcast.

English as a Second Language Podcast is written and produced by Dr. Lucy Tse,hosted by Dr. Jeff McQuillan, copyright 2011 by the Center for EducationalDevelopment.


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 glossary of7xy     
n.注释词表;术语汇编
参考例句:
  • The text is supplemented by an adequate glossary.正文附有一个详细的词汇表。
  • For convenience,we have also provided a glossary in an appendix.为了方便,我们在附录中也提供了术语表。
2 intern 25BxJ     
v.拘禁,软禁;n.实习生
参考例句:
  • I worked as an intern in that firm last summer.去年夏天我在那家商行实习。
  • The intern bandaged the cut as the nurse looked on.这位实习生在护士的照看下给病人包扎伤口。
3 cubicle POGzN     
n.大房间中隔出的小室
参考例句:
  • She studies in a cubicle in the school library.她在学校图书馆的小自习室里学习。
  • A technical sergeant hunches in a cubicle.一位技术军士在一间小屋里弯腰坐着。
4 adept EJIyO     
adj.老练的,精通的
参考例句:
  • When it comes to photography,I'm not an adept.要说照相,我不是内行。
  • He was highly adept at avoiding trouble.他十分善于避开麻烦。
5 proficient Q1EzU     
adj.熟练的,精通的;n.能手,专家
参考例句:
  • She is proficient at swimming.她精通游泳。
  • I think I'm quite proficient in both written and spoken English.我认为我在英语读写方面相当熟练。
6 photocopier WlwzlN     
n.复印机
参考例句:
  • You've left your master in the photocopier.你把原件留在影印机里了。
  • If the photocopier stops working,just give it a clout.如果那部影印机停止运转的话就敲它一下。
7 tattoo LIDzk     
n.纹身,(皮肤上的)刺花纹;vt.刺花纹于
参考例句:
  • I've decided to get my tattoo removed.我已经决定去掉我身上的纹身。
  • He had a tattoo on the back of his hand.他手背上刺有花纹。
8 skier skier     
n.滑雪运动员
参考例句:
  • She is a skier who is unafraid of danger.她是一名敢于冒险的滑雪者。
  • The skier skimmed across the snow.滑雪者飞快地滑过雪地。
9 vending 9e89cb67a07fe419b19a6bd5ee5210cc     
v.出售(尤指土地等财产)( vend的现在分词 );(尤指在公共场所)贩卖;发表(意见,言论);声明
参考例句:
  • Why Are You Banging on the Vending Machine? 你为什么敲打这台自动售货机? 来自朗文快捷英语教程 2
  • Coca-Cola had to adapt almost 300,000 vending machines to accept the new coins. 可口可乐公司必须使将近三十万台自动贩卖机接受新货币。 来自超越目标英语 第5册
10 sodas c10ddd4eedc33e2ce63fa8dfafd61880     
n.苏打( soda的名词复数 );碱;苏打水;汽水
参考例句:
  • There are plenty of sodas in the refrigerator. 冰箱里有很多碳酸饮料。 来自辞典例句
  • Two whisky and sodas, please. 请来两杯威士忌苏打。 来自辞典例句
11 marketing Boez7e     
n.行销,在市场的买卖,买东西
参考例句:
  • They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
  • He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。
12 premium EPSxX     
n.加付款;赠品;adj.高级的;售价高的
参考例句:
  • You have to pay a premium for express delivery.寄快递你得付额外费用。
  • Fresh water was at a premium after the reservoir was contaminated.在水库被污染之后,清水便因稀而贵了。
13 impatience OaOxC     
n.不耐烦,急躁
参考例句:
  • He expressed impatience at the slow rate of progress.进展缓慢,他显得不耐烦。
  • He gave a stamp of impatience.他不耐烦地跺脚。
14 interns b9fd94f8bf381b49802b6b686cb9d5ac     
n.住院实习医生( intern的名词复数 )v.拘留,关押( intern的第三人称单数 )
参考例句:
  • Our interns also greet our guests when they arrive in our studios. 我们的实习生也会在嘉宾抵达演播室的时候向他们致以问候。 来自超越目标英语 第4册
  • The interns work alongside experienced civil engineers and receive training in the different work sectors. 实习生陪同有经验的国内工程师工作,接受不同工作部门的相关培训。 来自超越目标英语 第4册
15 internship oqmzJB     
n.实习医师,实习医师期
参考例句:
  • an internship at a television station 在电视台的实习期
  • a summer internship with a small stipend 薪水微薄的暑期实习
16 photocopying b83769281b2a4f269213b3d485dfdc3e     
v.影印,照相复制(photocopy的现在分词形式)
参考例句:
  • All photocopying machines need careful usage, and regular cleaning and maintenance. 所有照像复制机都需要小心使用、定期擦洗和维修。 来自辞典例句
  • A trademark used for a photocopying process or machine employing xerography. 商标名,用于采用静电复印术的影印过程或机器。 来自互联网
17 supervisor RrZwv     
n.监督人,管理人,检查员,督学,主管,导师
参考例句:
  • Between you and me I think that new supervisor is a twit.我们私下说,我认为新来的主管人是一个傻瓜。
  • He said I was too flighty to be a good supervisor.他说我太轻浮不能成为一名好的管理员。
18 qualified DCPyj     
adj.合格的,有资格的,胜任的,有限制的
参考例句:
  • He is qualified as a complete man of letters.他有资格当真正的文学家。
  • We must note that we still lack qualified specialists.我们必须看到我们还缺乏有资质的专家。
19 transcript JgpzUp     
n.抄本,誊本,副本,肄业证书
参考例句:
  • A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
  • They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。
20 recording UktzJj     
n.录音,记录
参考例句:
  • How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间?
  • I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。
21 proficiency m1LzU     
n.精通,熟练,精练
参考例句:
  • He plied his trade and gained proficiency in it.他勤习手艺,技术渐渐达到了十分娴熟的地步。
  • How do you think of your proficiency in written and spoken English?你认为你的书面英语和口语熟练程度如何?
22 forth Hzdz2     
adv.向前;向外,往外
参考例句:
  • The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
  • He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。
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