Chloe: Uh, Matt? The Internet isn't working. How can we log on to the website?



Matt: Oh yeah.



Professor: So Winnie, what is Matt's solution for fixing the computer?



Chloe: 他出馊主意说，去网络公司的网站找他们的联络电话，然后打过去问问是不是网络出问题了！



Professor: Exactly. But that's impossible because the Internet is down.



就是！Chloe的问题就是不能上网，Matt却要上网查东西，这不是瞎出主意么！对了，Professor, Chloe说 Internet is down, 就是说网坏了吧？



Professor: Yes. For example, you can say "I couldn't go to work today because the subway is down." You can also say that your E-mail or phone service is down.



我明白了。希望Chloe不是因为什么急事需要上网，要不然都让这个假行家Matt给耽误了!



Professor: Well, let's listen next time to find out!



A: 原来， Chloe can't surf the Internet, 上不了网，请了她的好朋友Matt来帮她看看。Matt说，这不是hardware problem,硬件问题，就是software problem，软件问题。Matt让她reboot the computer,重启电脑，然后就没招啦! 这个Matt，根本就是个水货嘛!



B: Yeah, not everyone has the same level of expertise as I have....(A: ugh...) seriously though, people who pretend to know things just irritate me. I knew this guy in college, he looked great on paper, but he constantly got fired after being hired for just two to three months. It turns out the only real skill he had was to interview well and brag about himself on his resume.



A: Yep. 不懂装懂最烦人了! 不过虽然被炒鱿鱼是很惨，炒别人的鱿鱼其实也不容易! 今天的Business Etiquette里，部门经理Peter就得开除一名雇员，这不，他正在跟同事讨论该怎么办，咱们一起去听听吧!



礼节美语 - You're Fired - Part I



部门经理 Paul Chen 和他的上司 Sue Krammer 要开除一名雇员。



P: Sue, I really need your help with this one.



S: Oh? What's the problem?



P: I've been asked to fire Tom Smith.



S: Oh...yeah...firing someone is hard. I've had to do it many times.



P: I hate it. It's probably the worst part of my job as a manager.



S: But...it has to be done and somebody's got to do it. In this case...you.



Paul 要解雇 Tom Smith, 问 Sue 该怎么做。Sue 说，开除手下确实是一件头痛的事情，但 Somebody's got to do it. 总要有人去做。



P: I know...I just want some advice on how to do this properly.



S: Well, let's review Tom's case, shall we? First question: Have you given him fair warning?



P: I believe so. I spoke to Tom in March and in May. I informed him he was on probation.



S: OK...so he knows he's on thin ice. So this action isn't going to be a complete surprise to him, right?



P: No. He should understand by now that the company is not really happy with his performance.



Paul 说，他事先警告过 Tom. I informed him he was on probation. on probation 意思是留职查看。换句话说，He knows he's on thin ice. on thin ice 如履薄冰，在这的意思就是他知道公司对他的表现不满意，知道自己可能会丢饭碗。



S: I think you should simply give Tom a list of behaviors the company has found unacceptable and then fire him. You can't allow him to drag you into an argument or debate. In this case you are merely the messenger and it's really not personal.



P: And if he promises to change and do better?



S: You have to firmly but politely let him know that the time for improvement has passed.



Sue 建议，可以列举Tom种种令人不满的表现，然后告诉他被解雇了，不给他争辩的机会。You can't allow him to drag you into an argument or debate。因为Paul只是传达上级的决定，you are merely the messenger。你只不过是个传信的，It's not personal. 不是针对个人，只是公事公办而已。如果Tom保证改过自新呢？Sue 建议，要 firmly but politely 既坚定又客气地告诉他，没有机会了。



S: Are you planning on asking him to sign a release form?



P: Yes. The policy is if you voluntarily sign a paper accepting your termination, you get 6 weeks of severance pay. Otherwise, if you wish to challenge the decision, you get just two weeks.



S: Ok...good. So go ahead and call him in. Remember: keep it simple. Inform him of the decision and tell him why, then explain the severance deal.



P: Ok...here goes. (Picks up phone) Kathy, please ask Tom to come in...thanks.



公司规定，如果员工自愿 voluntarily, v-o-l-u-n-t-a-r-i-l-y, voluntarily 签字接受解雇的决定，就可以得到六个星期的遣散费 severance pay, severance is spelled s-e-v-e-r-a-n-c-e, 否则只有两周。Sue 最后提醒 Paul, 要 keep it simple. 越简洁越好。



A: Paul解释说，他已经告诉Tom: he was on probation, 留职查看，he knows he's on thin ice, 如履薄冰。Sue说，解雇他的时候要keep it simple,越简洁越好，让他知道这是上级的意思，you are merely the messenger, 你只是传信儿的。最重要的是: You can't allow him to drag you into an argument or debate. 不给他争辩的机会。



B: That's why I think I can never be a manager.



A: Ehmm?



B: It's awful to have to fire someone and take away their livelihood. I just don't think I can do that.



A: Yep. 领导可不好当啊! Paul终于把Tom叫到了办公室，准备动手了! 咱们赶快接着去听听吧!



礼节美语 - You're Fired - Part II



Tom Smith 被叫到部门经理 Paul Chen 的办公室。



Tom: Good morning, Paul. How are you?



P: I'm well, thanks. Take a seat. This is Sue Krammer from the head office.



T: Hi, Sue.



S: Hi.



P: Tom, there's no easy way to say this so I'm just going to say it. We are letting you go.



Paul 开门见山，告诉 Tom 公司决定解雇他。在这种情况下，要说 We are letting you go, 不能说 you're fired。



T: Go where?



P: Um...we mean we are terminating your employment here.



T: You mean you're firing me?



P: Um...yes.



T: Wow! Mind telling me why?



P: We've warned you about some of your unacceptable behaviors several times now. Also, we feel you are under performing or not up to the standards we demand here.



T: (belligerent) Really? How so?



Tom 显得很意外，气愤地质问道，Mind telling me why? 能告诉我为什么吗？Paul 解释说，公司觉得 you are underperforming, underperform, u-n-d-e-r-p-e-r-f-o-r-m, 意思是工作表现不佳，not up to the standards 不符合要求。Tom 很不客气地让 Paul 举例，这时候 Sue 说话了。



S: If I might interject, here. Tom, your file says that last month you called up a client and chewed him out...without authorization. Tom, that is simply unacceptable.



P: You are frequently late and we've received more than a few complaints about your abrasive style with co-workers.



T: All right...but I have good explanations for all of that. You see......



S: I don't want to interrupt, Tom, but it's important that you understand that this decision comes down from the top. Paul and I are just the messengers. It would be best if you understood that this decision is final.



Tom 上个月在电话里 chewed a client out 痛骂客户。chew someone out 是严厉责骂的意思。此外，他上班还经常迟到，对同事态度粗鲁，he has an abrasive style with co-workers. Tom 想争辩，Sue 果断地说，这是上头的决定，the decision comes down from the top, and the decision is final. 是不可改变的。



T: So I'm fired and that's that?



P: Yes, you are being let go. But we would be happy to help you in any way we can.



S: If you need a general reference letter we can provide one, but if they call and ask if you were fired we will have to tell the truth. That's the law.



P: We can offer a six week severance package if you accept your termination.



T: Fine. I'll pack up my stuff and be out of here by Wednesday.



S: Thanks for understanding, Tom. We wish you well.



P: Yeah. Please do email me if you have further questions.



Tom 无可奈何地问，so I'm fired and that's that? 我就这么被开除了？回答当然是肯定的。公司愿意给他写例行推荐信，但如果用人单位打电话了解情况，公司也不能隐瞒他被解雇的事实。Tom 同意在解聘书上签字，收拾东西走人 pack up and be out of here。



A: See Mike, you really need to listen to your supervisor, me, otherwise you run the risk of being fired! For example, I really like cupcakes...



B: (sarcastically) Really? I would have never guessed........



A: a 好了同学们，这次节目时间就到这里了。

climate [´klaimit]   n.气候；特殊气候地带   (初中英语单词)

actually [´æktʃuəli]   ad.事实上；实际上   (初中英语单词)

argument [´ɑ:gjumənt]   n.辩论；争论；论证   (初中英语单词)

incident [´insidənt]   n.小事件；事变   (初中英语单词)

vacation [və´keiʃən, vei´keiʃən]   n.假期；休庭期；腾空   (初中英语单词)

computer [kəm´pju:tə]   n.计算机；电子计算器   (初中英语单词)

consult [kən´sʌlt]   v.商量；磋商；请教   (初中英语单词)

expert [´ekspə:t]   n.&a.专家；内行   (初中英语单词)

connection [kə´nekʃən]   n.联系；关系；联运   (初中英语单词)

contact [´kɔntækt]   n.接触；联系 v.联络   (初中英语单词)

working [´wə:kiŋ]   a.工人的；劳动的   (初中英语单词)

solution [sə´lu:ʃən]   n.解答；解决；溶解   (初中英语单词)

everyone [´evriwʌn]   pron.=everybody 每人   (初中英语单词)

seriously [´siəriəsli]   ad.严肃；严重，重大   (初中英语单词)

pretend [pri´tend]   v.假装；借口；妄求   (初中英语单词)

constantly [´kɔnstəntli]   ad.经常地；不断地   (初中英语单词)

interview [´intəvju:]   n.&vt.接见；会见；交谈   (初中英语单词)

review [ri´vju:]   v.&n.复习；回顾；检查   (初中英语单词)

debate [di´beit]   n.&v.讨论，辩论   (初中英语单词)

messenger [´mesindʒə]   n.使者；送信人   (初中英语单词)

firmly [´fə:mli]   ad.坚固地，稳定地   (初中英语单词)

improvement [im´pru:vmənt]   n.改进，改善，进步   (初中英语单词)

release [ri´li:s]   vt&n.释放；放松；赦免   (初中英语单词)

otherwise [´ʌðəwaiz]   ad.另外 conj.否则   (初中英语单词)

challenge [´tʃælindʒ]   n.&vt.向….挑战；怀疑   (初中英语单词)

employment [im´plɔimənt]   n.工作；职业；雇用   (初中英语单词)

interrupt [,intə´rʌpt]   v.中断；打扰   (初中英语单词)

reference [´refərəns]   n.参考；参照；出处   (初中英语单词)

package [´pækidʒ]   n.包(裹) vt.组装   (初中英语单词)

producer [prə´dju:sə]   n.生产者；演出人   (高中英语单词)

outbreak [´autbreik]   n.(战争等的)爆发   (高中英语单词)

budget [´bʌdʒit]   n.&vi.(做)预算；安排   (高中英语单词)

technical [´teknikəl]   a.技术的；专门性的   (高中英语单词)

irritate [´iriteit]   vt.激怒；刺激   (高中英语单词)

politely [pə´laitli]   ad.温和地；文雅地   (高中英语单词)

client [´klaiənt]   n.委托人；顾客   (高中英语单词)

weekend [´wi:kend, ,wi:k´end]   n.周末休假   (英语四级单词)

totally [´təutəli]   ad.统统，完全   (英语四级单词)

peanut [´pi:nʌt]   n.花生(米)   (英语四级单词)

discount [´diskaunt]   n.&vt.(打)折扣   (英语四级单词)

hardware [´hɑ:dweə]   n.五金器皿   (英语四级单词)

subway [´sʌbwei]   n.地铁；地道   (英语四级单词)

policy [´pɔlisi]   n.政策；权谋；保险单   (英语四级单词)

livelihood [´laivlihud]   n.生活，生计   (英语四级单词)

assured [ə´ʃuəd]   a.确实的 n.被保险人   (英语六级单词)

taking [´teikiŋ]   a.迷人的 n.捕获物   (英语六级单词)

speaking [´spi:kiŋ]   n.说话 a.发言的   (英语六级单词)

bowman [´bəumən]   n.(弓箭)射手   (英语六级单词)

termination [,tə:mi´neiʃən]   n.终止，结束；结局   (英语六级单词)

supervisor [´su:pəvaizə, ´sju:-]   n.管理人；监督人   (英语六级单词)