Level B2 Business English
Lesson 36
Office Talk - Expressing Frustration
オフィスの会話 いらいらを表現する

1
PHRASE OF THE DAY
今日のフレーズ

Why does it always take him so long to....
なんで彼は、、、するのにいつもそんなに時間がかかるのかな?

2
SITUATION
状況

Sandra is worried about the completion of a project and is discussing it with Paul.
サンドラはプロジェクトが完成できるかが気がかりで、ポールと話し合っています。

3
DIALOGUE
ダイアログ

Directions: First repeat after your tutor and then practice each role.

Paul
Hi Sandra. What’s wrong? You look really stressed out. Work getting you down?
Sandra
Oh, hello Paul. Yeah, it’s this latest project I’m working on with Tim. Everything seems to be going wrong. I don’t know how we’re going to get it finished on time.
Paul
Why, what’s happened?
Sandra
Well, last week I had to take a few days off due to that weird flu bug, so that put us behind schedule. Then, this morning I had a problem with my computer and accidentally deleted some work. On top of that, there’s Tim. I mean he’s a nice guy but he works at a snail’s pace. Why does it always take him so long to make decisions?
Paul
I know what you mean. Tim does take his time over things. He’s good at what he does, but he’s not exactly a workhorse. It’s bad news about your computer as well. You couldn’t help being sick though. You’ve had some bad luck that’s all.

4
VOCABULARY
語い

Directions: First repeat after your tutor and then read aloud by yourself.

stressed out
ストレスが溜まって
snail’s pace
かたつむりのペース※遅いことの例え
weird
奇妙な
workhorse
働き者、 馬車馬大きく貢献する人

5
LANGUAGE FOCUS
今日のポイント

Why does it always take him so long to....
なんで彼は、、、するのにいつもそんなに時間がかかるのかな?
Office Talk - Expressing Frustration

Directions: First repeat after your tutor and then read aloud again by yourself.

They get on my nerves.
I can’t stand it when….
It makes my blood boil.
The thing that gets me the most is…
It’s like talking to the wall.
That really bugs me.
Why do they always….?
I’m sick of….

6
ACTIVITY
練習

Activity 1: How do you “vent frustration?” What is the best way to “relieve stress?” How do you deal with frustrations at work? Try to give as much detail as possible.

Activity 2: You are the manager of a large company. You must reprimand an employee that has been causing a lot of frustration at the office. Below are the list of grievances:
•poor communication with staff
•inability to make decisions
•lack of participation at meetings and staff events
•lethargy: general lack of enthusiasm at work
•stubbornness: unwilling to consider different views

HINTS
complaint
苦情
indecisive
優柔不断
grievances
不満
lackadaisical
やる気のない
lethargy
無気力
reprimand
叱責
satisfied
満足する