Using English at Work：01 Arriving at Work(1)

ESLPod.com presents "Using English at Work," a special 10-episode course to teach you the English that people use in a typical day at work.

I'm Dr. Jeff McQuillan, from the Center for Educational Development in beautiful Los Angeles, California. I'll be your host for this series.

In this course, each lesson has three parts.

First, we will hear a story read slowly, talking about a part of my day at work.

Second, I will explain the vocabulary we used in the story, providing examples of how the new words should be used.

Third, we will hear another version¹ of the story, this time at a normal pace - a normal speed.

To give you a chance to hear different voices speaking English the voice used in the stories is not my voice, although it is a story about me and my day at work.

Are you ready? Let's begin with lesson one: Arriving at Work.

I woke up this morning and thought, "TGIF!" I have been looking forward to the weekend and all I need to do is to get through one more day of work.

I drive to work and pull into the parking lot next to my office building.

I stop at the security² gate. I put my key card into the card reader and the security arm goes up.

I drive into the parking structure and find a parking spot.

I make sure that my parking permit is showing in the windshield and I lock up.

I get my briefcase³ out of the back seat and walk toward⁴ the building. It's a short walk and I'm there in no time.

When I get there, I take out my badge⁵ and put it around my neck before I go through the main entrance of the building.

Employees are supposed to wear their badges⁶ at all times at work so that the security guards know that we belong there.

One day last week, I forgot my badge at home and I had to get a visitor's pass for the day.

My coworker made fun of me all day.

He kept asking me if he could get me some coffee and when I was leaving. What a joker!

1 version   

n.版本；型号；叙述，说法

参考例句：

• His version of the events is pure supposition.他对这件事的说法纯属猜测。
• What is your version of this matter?你对这件事情的看法 怎么样？

2 security   

n.安全，安全感；防护措施；保证(金)，抵押(品)；债券，证券

参考例句：

• A security guard brought him down with a flying tackle.一名保安人员飞身把他抱倒。
• There was tight security at the airport when the President's plane landed.总统的专机降落时，机场的保安措施很严密。

3 briefcase   

n.手提箱，公事皮包

参考例句：

• He packed a briefcase with what might be required.他把所有可能需要的东西都装进公文包。
• He requested the old man to look after the briefcase.他请求那位老人照看这个公事包。

4 toward   

prep.对于，关于，接近，将近，向，朝

参考例句：

• Suddenly I saw a tall figure approaching toward the policeman.突然间我看到一个高大的身影朝警察靠近。
• Upon seeing her,I smiled and ran toward her. 看到她我笑了，并跑了过去。

5 badge   

n.徽章，证章，标记，标识，象征

参考例句：

• Every student should carry a school badge.每个学生都应该佩带校徽。
• The olive leaf is a badge of peace.橄榄叶是和平的象征。

6 badges   

n.徽章( badge的名词复数 )；象征；证章；[美国俚语]警察

参考例句：

• Mayors wear chains round their necks as badges of office. 市长们戴着象征职位的项链。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The badges come in twenty different colors and shapes. 这种徽章有20种不同的颜色和形状。 来自辞典例句