BBC English at Work Episode 21: Don't panic!
BBC白領工作英語第21集： 別慌！ Asking for help 請求幫助用語
Narrator: 你好，歡迎回到 Tip Top 貿易公司，眼下人人都在議論著 Anna 剛剛被提升的消息。 Paul 宣布由 Anna 來充任該公司新設立雷射水果庫存管理系統的領導。
Denise: (On phone) Yes Anna... the new girl... she's done really well although I don't know what experience she's got.... anyway, about the hairdresser you mentioned, oh I loved his aftershave...
Tom: (to himself) I can't understand it. I've got all the experience and all the ideas... she's just such a...
Anna: (interrupting) Tom. Sorry to interrupt, I just wanted to check you're OK with me leading this strategy for stock management.
Tom: Oh of course. Yeah, you deserve it.
Narrator: Anna 姿態不錯嘛！
Anna: But Tom, now you must help me.
Tom: Eh?!
Narrator: Anna! 求人幫助時，不能這麼講話。難道你忘了我一直在教你要注意禮貌？
Anna: Be polite – yes you keep telling me that.
Narrator: 如果你需要別人幫忙，一定要請求，不能命令，即使是 Tom 也不例外!
Anna: Oh right. I'm in a bit of a panic. I've never done this before. I don't know where to begin.
Narrator: 很簡單，你可以這樣對同事說: 如果你能幫忙那麼我將非常感激。I would be most grateful if you could give me some help. 請問你能不能給我提些建議？Please could I ask you for some advice? 我知道你很忙，不過能不能佔用你幾分鐘時間？I know you're busy but could you spare me a few minutes of your time please? 來吧，試一試!
Anna: Right, thanks. I'll try. Erm, excuse me Tom. Sorry about earlier. I'm a little nervous about leading this strategy thing and I would be most grateful if you could give me some help... please?
Tom: Of course Anna. Why didn't you say, I'd be delighted. I've lost count of the number of projects I've lead over the years.
Anna: Great, thanks. So... where do you think I should begin?
Tom: Give me a few minutes and I'll find some of the excellent work I did last year. Basically, you'll just need to copy it. Hold on...
Paul: Ah Anna... just popping out for some biscuits... err, how's the stock management strategy coming along?
Anna: Oh very good Paul. Actually, please could I ask you for some advice please?
Paul: Yes of course... although I don't know if I'll be of much use!
Tom: ...now where did I save those damn documents!
Anna: I'm very grateful for this opportunity but I'm a little unsure of where to start. Tom is looking for some of his old work but...
Paul: Really?! To be honest, this isn't Tom's speciality. At a time like this I would ask Denise.
Anna: Denise?!
Paul: Yes... she may only be the office assistant but she always has words of wisdom. Right, custard creams or chocolate digestives?
Anna: What?
Paul: Biscuits?
Anna: Oh... custard creams please. Err, Denise, I know you're busy but could you spare a few minutes of your time please?
Denise: Of course Anna, always happy to help you.
Anna: Well, you know the stock management control system?
Denise: The one you've now got to work out... well done for getting that!
Anna: Thanks. It was OK writing it down for Paul but how do I put it in to practice? There's just too much to do!
Denise: Calm down Anna. You'll be fine. The first thing you need to do is to look at our current system.
Anna: Look at our current system. How do I do that?
Denise: Easy! Just take the lift down to the warehouse and speak to Mr Ingle and then write down what you find; and draw up an action plan of tasks you need to do, like a shopping list. I'm very good at those.
Anna: Go and see Mr Ingle? Oh do I have to?
Denise: He's OK really Anna. If you approach him in the right way he won't bite your head off!
Anna: What! Bite my head off?! Oh, well, if he won't bite me... then I suppose I should go and see him. Thanks for your advice Denise, I could kiss you! Right, I'm going to go and see him right now.
Narrator: 一定要有一個行動計劃! 一個好的想法。 幹得不錯 Denise, 你比人們印象的更聰明! Anna 你幹的不錯，看來這些禮貌用語都派上用場了。 I would be most grateful if you could give me some help. Please could I ask you for some advice? I know you're busy but could you spare me a few minutes of your time please? 記住如果你沒主意了儘管請求別人幫忙就是了... 不過最好別去找 Tom, 不知道他現在 怎麼樣?
Tom: Here Anna, I've got them. Look, all my ideas from my last stock control project... pages and pages of them. Just copy these, they're brilliant. Anna? Anna!
Paul: Too late, I've just seen her in the lift. Fancy a custard cream Tom?
Narrator: Anna 去找那位動不動就發脾氣的INGLE先生去談話。希望她別忘了使用禮貌請求用 語，否則對方才不會買帳呢 – 那樣可就糟了! 我們下次再會。
Listening Challenge 聽力挑戰:
What does Denise advise Anna to do first when planning the stock management strategy? Denise 建議 Anna 在計劃股票管理策略時要首先做什麼？
Answer: To look at the current system. 答案: 要先看看現在的系統。