C：还好，不过，我有点儿事想请教你。
A：How can I help you?
C：今天下班，我又要去参加公司的社交活动。
A：Where the point is to make business contacts and develop relationships with current or potential clients?
C：没错，就是要多认识点儿人，跟客户搞好关系。不过，我还是不太习惯这种活动。
A：What"s the problem?
C：自我介绍完，我就不知道该说什么了。
A：Well, The first thing is to prepare your conversation starters ahead of time.
C：怎么准备啊？
A：Find out who will be there so you will know whom you will be seeing.
C：然后呢？
A：Find out as much as you can about the guests. The more information you have about them and their business, the easier it will be to talk to them.
C：可我根本不知道谁会去啊？
A：I suggest you go ask your boss" assistant right now.
******
一个小时过后，陈豪和Amy又见面了。
C：Amy, 今天的活动是Jepson公司主办的。
A：I happen to know that Mr. Jepson, the president of the company, loves airplanes. He is a licensed pilot and owns quite a number of small planes.
C：Mr. Jepson自己有飞机，还有执照？太好了，我也喜欢飞机。
A：Well, see, you have something in common so you shouldn"t have any problems talking to him.
C：那其它人呢？
A：Be ready to ask people about themselves. Start your conversations with open-ended questions.
C：Open-ended questions, 那是什么样的问题啊？
A：Those are questions that begin with "how" and "why?" The kinds of questions that people almost have to answer with more than one word.
C：就是要问为什么，怎么样这类的问题， 是吗？
A：Right. Stay away from "when," "where" and "what" since it"s easy to give short answer to those questions.
C：不要问什么时候，在哪儿，哎呀，太复杂了。我恐怕记不住。
A：Oh, yes, you can. People like to talk about themselves so long as you continue to listen and act interested, they will continue to talk.
C：做个好听众当然没问题。我难道就不需要说话吗？
A：All you really need to do is repeat or comment on something the other person has said. Like with Mr. Jepson, you could ask how many planes he has?
C：他要是说25架呢？
A：Then you respond, "So you have 25 of your own airplanes?" That"s interesting. Tell me about them." And he"ll continue to talk.
C：好主意。我试试看。
礼节美语034讲
陈豪在北京的ABC美国公司工作。他这两天遇到了感情困扰，去找美国同事Amy讨个主意。
(Office ambience)
C：Amy, 我有点私事儿想请教你。
A：What is it, Chen Hao?
C：销售部来了一个新的女同事，叫Kate. 我想请她出去约会。
A：Then why don"t you?
C：因为我不知道咱们公司是不是允许同事谈恋爱。在我原来那家公司是绝对不行的。
A：You"re smart to check it out first. We used to have that policy, but our management decided that we spend so much time at work and with co-workers that it wasn"t fair to impose that restriction.
C：太好了，那我就准备约她今天晚上出去吃饭。
A：But there are a few issues you should consider if you are going to date Kate or any other co-worker.
C：你快说说。
A：Before you get serious, you need to discuss what you will do if things don"t work out. You will want to avoid any bad feelings between you.
C：是啊，我也是希望万一不行的话，彼此都能妥善处理，不要在工作上相互拆台。
A：That"s exactly what I mean. I have seen it happen. When co-workers stop dating, one or both will often try exact some sort of revenge in the office.
C：哎，先别想那么多了，人家还没同意晚上跟我出去吃饭呢。
******
MC：Amy第二天早上遇到了陈豪.
A：So how did your date go? Kate did accept, didn"t she?
C：挺好的，我们俩儿特别投机。不过，Kate说，跟同事谈恋爱，她也有不少顾虑。
A：What did she say?
C：她觉得，最好不要在办公室里谈我们的关系，如果别人问，我们也不否认谈恋爱，但是不会说得更具体。
A：Even if they pressure you? Some people can be pretty nosy and persistent. They"ll want to know every detail of your relationship.
C：我们会婉言拒绝。
A：I guess you"ll be seeing her again.
C：不瞒你说，我已经被她迷住了，老想找个借口往她办公室跑。
A：That is another danger of dating a co-worker.
C：你是说工作的时候容易分心吗？
A：That"s right. If your productivity and performance begin to suffer, others will notice and you will jeopardize your position.
C：对呀，如果真的影响到工作，对我们在公司的发展不利。这一点我倒是没想到。Amy, 你再提醒提醒我，都要注意些什么？
A： The first thing is to know the company policy. Decide how you will handle the relationship around the office and what you will do if things don"t work out.
C：我知道了。
礼节美语035讲
陈豪在北京的ABC美国公司工作，他在走廊上遇到了美国同事Amy。
(Office ambience)
C：Amy, 你有两分钟时间吗？我有点事儿想请教你。
A：Yes, but let"s step into my office so we don"t disturb anyone else. What is it?
C：今天，信息技术部的一个同事被老板叫去训了一顿，说他整天聊天儿。老板还说，你是来工作的，不是来社交的。
A：I agree. After all, that is what we are paid for and people who misuse company time are wasting company money.
C：可是，我记得你告诉过我，应该跟同事搞好关系。
A：I did. And one of the ways to do that is to engage in small talk or "chit-chat," as we say. You need to talk to your colleagues about things other than work.
C：聊工作以外的事儿？那我就更糊涂了。可老板说这是浪费工作时间啊。
A：It"s not wasting time if you do it at the appropriate times.
C：那什么才是合适的时间呢？
A：Basically, at the beginning of the day when everyone is getting their tea or coffee and starting to settle in; during breaks and at lunch. The end of the day is another good time to chat.
C：早上上班和中午吃饭的时候还好，可下班前大家都赶着回家，根本没人理我啊。
A：Chen Hao, I know this is important, but can we talk after work? I have a project to complete before the end of the day.
C：那好，一会儿见。
******
MC：陈豪跟Amy同路回家。
C：今天我特别注意了一下，发现很多人上班时间都在聊天。
A：Often people who have just competed a project or an assignment, need a break. They don"t always consider that their colleague may be in the middle of something and doesn"t have time to talk.
C：在这一点上，我自我感觉做得还不错。每次来找你，我都会先问你有没有时间。还有其他什么要注意的吗？
A：Location is important. Pay attention to where you are so that you don"t disturb the people who are working.
C：什么地方才不会干扰到别人呢？
A：A place like the break room or an office with a door will give you privacy as well as prevent others from being distracted by your conversation.
C：还有其他注意事项吗？
A：Yes. We haven"t talked about one of the most important - what you talk about.
C：聊天的内容还有规矩啊！
A：Small talk should not be viewed as a time to get personal and pry into people"s private lives. Nor should it be a time to spread gossip.
C：所以一是不能打听别人的隐私，二是不要散布小道消息。好，我知道了。谢谢你，Amy.
礼节美语036讲
陈豪在北京的ABC美国公司工作。他正在跟美国同事Amy讲话。
(Office ambience)
CH：Amy, 你有时间吗？ 我又遇到了点儿为难的事。
A：Well, tell me what the problem is and I"ll try to help.
C：有个很重要的客户，今天下午要来公司见我。
A：Why is that a problem?
C：你也知道，我的办公室特别小，看了也不是很体面。我怕会让客户小看我，以后不好打交道，所以有些紧张。
A：I see what you mean, but you have some options.
C：真的？那你快告诉我。