Using English at Work：07 Arriving at Work(7)

My coworker made fun of me by asking whether he could get me some coffee and asking when I was leaving, because those are the types of things that you would ask a regular visitor; to be nice, you may offer to get them some coffee.

I wasn't angry, though. I said, "What a joker!" meaning that my coworker is always making funny jokes like that; he's a joker.

Now that we've talked about the new vocabulary, let's listen as I describe the first part of my day again.

This time, I'm going to speaking more quickly, at the speed that a native speaker would use.

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 security¹ 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 briefcase² out of the back seat and walk toward³ the building. It's a short walk and I'm there in no time.

When I get there, I take out my badge⁴ and put it around my neck before I go through the main entrance of the building.

Employees are supposed to wear their badges⁵ 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!

I hope that listening to me talk about arriving at work has taught you some new vocabulary that you can use in your own workplace.

Our first lesson has ended, and in the next lesson I'm going to talk about checking my mail, email, and voicemail.

This course has been a production of the Center for Educational Development, in beautiful Los Angeles, California. Visit our website at eslpod.com.

This course was produced by Dr. Jeff McQuillan and Dr. Lucy Tse. Copyright⁶ 2008.

1 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。

2 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。

3 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。

4 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。

5 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

6 copyright   

n.版权，著作权

参考例句：

• He retained the copyright of his book.他保留此书的著作权。
• This company has a proprietorship of the copyright.这家公司拥有版权所有权。