Lesson #61 Communication Problems June 25, 2009
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before lesson
“I can appreciate the rainy days but I prefer cool clear sunny weather“, “recently, I haven’t been as cost-conscious (or money conscious) as I used to be
cf. cost-conscious, money conscious; 金に執着している、金銭に対する執着が強い
emergency situation: ex. Calm the caller (line on fire department)
call center(cc): Please mam/sir. / Please calm down./ Speak slowly and clearly. I need your name, address (more details a little) and the type of building you live in.
caller responds
cc: You are doing great! Now do you see any flames or fire?
caller responds
cc: Good. Now listen to me carefully. Set off the fire alarm. Then take the stairs to the outside. Do not! Do not! use the elevator! The Fire Department is on the way!
phrases when I can’t catch callers saying.
Sorry, what did you say?/ I didn’t get the bit about…/ I’m sorry I can’t hear you. It’s a bad line./
Would you mind saying that again?/ Could you spell it, please?/ could you please explain?…
Lesson June 24, 2009
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Phrase: you’re eating it up! | to take up a hobby | take up skiing | to get sidetracked | keep track of… | lose track of… | get off track | stay on track | get back on track | null set
Lesson 60 Are you following me? June 18, 2009
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Repetition Gambits
I’m not sure if I understand. Could you please explain?/ Does this mean that? I’m confused. Could you please repeat that?/ Sorry, you’ve lost me./I don’t understand. You have confused me./ I didn’t get the bit about …
Checking Gambits
Have I explain myself well?/ Have I been clear?/ Are you (still) with me?/ OK so far?/
anyway when I talk with someone I’m being too wordy, so those phrases are very very useful for me.
Ouch! June 7, 2009
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Two weeks ago, I slipped on the stairs and threw out my back. I still have back pain. Yeah Im really careless.
So, I couldn’t walk for long time and no motivation to take photos, then Im having kind of frustration. But the past few days I took some, so became happy 
Anyway June is the season for hydrangea which is one of my favorite plants in Japan, and we can see these flowers everywhere. Yap I took pics of it.
lesson on May 23 May 31, 2009
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First, note some quate from Dann who is my fav. teacher, though he has left me and went to other school..
He’s a swine. not swine flu / You dog!(you cheat/dirty)/ The pigs are coming! (pig=police)/ Run around like a headless chicken=Someone who runs around very busily cragily no order./ You have the memory of a goldfish./He’s as slippery as a snake./ breed like rabbits./ He’s as jumpy as a frog=He’s very nervous.. Oh! Most of them are bad meanings..
others on 23
SLR camera=single lens reflex camera
What a pity!← used especially when “something is wasted” or “there was a lot of effort, but the result was bad“
What a nuisance!← used especially when “something was very bothersome(煩わしい、厄介な) to do“
How shall I put it?/ Let’s put it this way…/ The best way I can answer that is … =I already have an answer, but I don’t know a good way to say it.
