一起聽英語 216 開放式辦公

你更喜歡開放式的辦公室還是有個屬于自己的辦公空間，看看大家的不同回答!

Feifei: Hello and welcome to another episode of 6 Minute English with

me Feifei,

Neil: And me Neil.

Feifei: And how are you today Neil?

Neil: It's all good today thank you! I've got a really good question

for you today…

Feifei: Ooh a question – ask away!

Neil: Which do you prefer Feifei: Open-plan offices or small private

offices?

Feifei: Open-plan offices or small private offices? Ooh, I much prefer

open-plan offices – much friendlier.

Neil: Yes of course because you're a very friendly person... let's

hear from some of our friends and colleagues to find out what

kind of office they prefer…

Insert

Vox 1: In my opinion as a Brazilian, open-plan offices can be very

good and effective because it's easy for people to

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communicate and put ideas across; but at times we need

some quiet space to concentrate and get the job done.

Vox 2: In China, people would love to have their own private offices

because we are very noisy and people arguing quite a lot

sometimes, there is a lot of noise. So to have your own

private space would be great, but unfortunately nowadays

what we get is open-plan offices.

Vox 3: In Indonesia, there are more open-plan offices these days, the

good thing is that we can improve collaborations with other

teams or departments. However, we sometimes face problems,

for instance, as it's really hot in Indonesia lots of people prefer

to have air conditioning be set really cold whereas there are

also people who can't really stand cold air like me. So this can

create a tension among staff.

Feifei: Air conditioning! It drives me crazy! Actually it isn't the air

conditioning that drives me crazy Neil, it's you: I keep asking

you to turn it down and 2 minutes later you turn it back up

again!

Neil: Feifei you always turn it too low. And you drive me crazy

because you never ask me if you can turn it down. You just do

it without saying anything. It really annoys me. It's so rude!!

Feifei: Rude? Do you think so? I think this is a case for Business

Betty…

Neil / FF: It's Business Betty!!!

BB: Hello! Is everything alright?

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Feifei: We need your help Betty. Neil and I keep arguing about the

A/C. He says I'm rude!

Neil: A/C meaning air conditioning. She is rude!

BB: Calm down both of you and let me help. If you're working in

an open-plan office, it's really important to consider the needs

and feelings of the people working around you. If you want to

ask someone to do something, it's always a good idea to use a

very polite request. Start with the phrase 'Would you mind…'

and follow it with an -ing verb. Can you give us an example

Feifei?

Feifei: Would you mind turning off the air conditioning?

BB: Very good. Neil?

Neil: Would you mind opening a window?

BB: Lovely. If you want someone to stop doing something, use the

word 'not' before the -ing verb. Neil?

Neil: Would you mind not smoking in the kitchen please?

BB: Excellent. Feifei?

Feifei: Would you mind not using my computer?

Neil: Would you mind not leaving the door open?

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BB: If you want your co-workers' permission to do something, say

'Is it ok if I…' and then say what you want to do. Examples

please?

Feifei: Is it ok if I turn the air conditioning on?

Neil: Is it ok if I use your phone?

Feifei: Is it ok if we have a meeting in here?

BB: If someone asks your permission, you can say yes. Neil, how

would you do that?

Neil: Sure, no problem, go ahead.

BB: Very good. Of course, you might decide to say no, Feifei:

Feifei: I'd rather you didn't, if you don't mind.

BB: And remember, the English words please, thank you and sorry

always make a big difference! Both together now:

Neil / FF: Please, thank you, sorry.

BB: Very polite. Well done. Now: Is it ok if I leave?

Neil: Yes of course, go ahead.

FF: Thanks Betty!

BB: Goodbye.

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Neil: There she goes. Radiant as ever! Do you think she was a bit

angry with us?

Feifei: Noooo…. So Neil. Do you think it's about time we did a roleplay?

Neil: Only if I'm the boss!

Feifei: Sorry, there's no boss this week.

Neil: What do you mean there's no boss? There's always a boss…

Feifei: We're co-workers in an open-plan office. You want to open the

windows and use my computer and -

Neil: - and things like that. So I have to make some polite requests,

right?

Feifei: That's right! Ready?

Neil: Bring it on!

Role-play

Neil: Hello, Feifei. How are you today?

Feifei: Fine thanks, just finishing this report. What can I do for you?

Neil: I just wanted to ask: Would you mind turning off the air

conditioning?

Feifei: Oh, ok, sure.

Neil: It's just a bit cold in here, thanks.

Feifei: Oh, sorry, of course, no problem.

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Neil: And I wanted to say, we've got some visitors coming over this

afternoon, so is it ok if we have a meeting in here?

Feifei: Yes that's ok with me, but would you mind keeping the noise

down please?

Neil: Yes, of course.

Feifei: And would you mind tidying up after the meeting? It was left

in a bit of a mess last time.

Neil: Sure, I'm busy all afternoon though, so I'll have to leave it

until the evening.

Feifei: I'd rather you didn't, if you don't mind. We need to use the

room again at 4pm.

Neil: Oh, ok, I'll do it sooner then.

Feifei: Thanks.

Feifei: And that's the end of today's role-play! How was it for you?

Neil: It was very, very polite!

Feifei: That's British culture for you!

Neil: And that's all we've got time for today. Feifei, would you mind

joining me soon for another episode of 6 Minute English?

Feifei: Of course! See you next time.

Neil: Join us again, wherever you're working.

Feifei: Bye!