今日、ラングリッチ主催のセミナーに参加するために六本木ヒルズ森タワーに行きました。そこでヒトメディア社長の森田正康さんが講演をされ、海外で求められるものとして、
- 信念
- 前向きさ
- 緊急対応能力
- 専門知識
- 言語
の５つが上から順に重要なことと、述べられていました。
言語はそれほど重要ではなく、それよりも信念が重要であると。
言語については
スピーキングでは自分の意見を言うこと
リスニングではリアルタイムに対応する能力
が重要であるということでした。
日本人は上記２能力が弱いので、海外では不利になると。
また、目標とするジャンルを定め、その専門用語をまず覚えることが大事である。一般的な英語（あいさつとか）はそのうち身につく、ということでした。
大人の英語学習は、子供のそれとは違うので幅広く手を広げてはいけないということでした。
会場には海外で働きたいという若者が多く、英語学習が「勉強自体が目的の英語」から「使うための英語」に変わりつつあるのかなという潮流の変化を感じました。
3.実践ビジネス英語 2013/4 Lesson 1 The Power of Small Talk 4,5,6
■前回の復習です
cold snap
low-pressure trough
to level with you
come off
neck of the woods
you name a subject
acquired skill
turn over a new leaf
There you go
break the ice
put someone at (their) ease
ritualized exchange of pleasantries
by way of reply
non-committal
"Functioning," "Harried" or "Dynamite"
■意味を考えてみよう。今日取り上げる単語が含まれています
Current events can be a good subject too, as long as you steer clear of controversial topics.
And you can't go too far wrong if you talk about sports.
That's a good way to get the conversational ball rolling.
Small talk helps you appear gregarious, witty and civilized, and establishes a rapport that can lead to more substantive topics.
No matter how banal the subject may be, having something interesting to say can make a positive impression on the other person.
A potential employer or client may notice your ability to think on your feet, and that's all to the good.
Anyway, spring is in the air!
Saying something good - or bad- about their body isn't kosher.
★steer clear of, ...を避ける（ようにする）
take care to avoid or keep away from:
ex) steer clear of fatty food
★you can't go too far wrong if, ...であれば大きな問題はない、...であればたいていうまくいく
go wrong
develop in an undesirable way
★get the ball rolling, 始める、口火を切る
start (or get or set) the ball rolling
cause something to start happening:
ex) The out-going General Manager has started the ball rolling!
★substantive, 本質的な、重要な
having a firm basis in reality and so important:
ex) There is no substantive evidence for the efficacy of those drugs.
efficacy 効力、効き目
★banal, 平凡な、陳腐な
so lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring:
ex) Songs with banal, repeated words.
★think on one's feet, 素早く判断する、機転を利かせる
react to events decisively, effectively, and without prior though:
ex) I am sort of thinking on my feet here as I react to the information from my two correspondents and from other sources.
★That's all to the good. それはいいことだ。
all to the good
to be welcomed without qualification:
ex) This sort of process is going on throughout the country, and is all to the good.
★be in the air, あたりに漂っている、気配が感じられる
in the air
in circulation; current:
ex) There's a rumor in the air that we're moving to a new location.
★kosher, まともな、適切な、合法の
<informal> genuine and legitimate:
ex) She consulted lawyers to make sure everything was kosher.
■もう一度読んでみよう
Current events can be a good subject too, as long as you steer clear of controversial topics.
And you can't go too far wrong if you talk about sports.
That's a good way to get the conversational ball rolling.
Small talk helps you appear gregarious, witty and civilized, and establishes a rapport that can lead to more substantive topics.
No matter how banal the subject may be, having something interesting to say can make a positive impression on the other person.
A potential employer or client may notice your ability to think on your feet, and that's all to the good.
Anyway, spring is in the air!
Saying something good - or bad- about their body isn't kosher.
■前回の復習の答えです
cold snap, 急な冷え込み、突然の寒波
low-pressure trough, 気圧の谷
to level with you, 正直に言って、正直なところ
come off, (...のように)見える[振る舞う]
neck of the woods, 地域、場所
you name a subject, どんな話題でも
acquired skill, 習い覚えた技術、後天的な能力
turn over a new leaf, 心を入れ替える、心機一転する
There you go. いいね。そうだ。その調子。
break the ice, （話などの）口火を切る、糸口を見つける、緊張をほぐす、場を和ませる
put someone at (their) ease, （人）を安心[リラックス]させる
ritualized exchange of pleasantries, 儀礼的[形式的]なあいさつのやりとり
by way of reply, 返事として
non-committal, 当たり障りのない、あいまいな
"Functioning," "Harried" or "Dynamite", 「機能しています」「困り果てています」あるいは「ダイナマイト」
