Advanced Conversation Material #17 Globalization at Work Exercise 1: Read Aloud A. Read the article below. (3-4 minutes) 次 の 文 章 を 読 んでください ( 所 要 時 間 目 安 :3~4 分 ) I like working with people here. I ve learned a lot of new things. We learn so much from you, too. You re a valued member of our company. P a g e 1
The modern workplace is a globalized one. Opportunities to work with people from other cultures have shaped the way people work. Many countries have opened their gates to the rest of the world. For instance, several European and American investors have expanded their businesses in East Asian countries like China, Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Several Asian companies have also ventured into many Western countries. As a result, people from different nationalities and cultures became more connected as they participate in the global market. Because of this, most people today have learned how to be sensitive in dealing with other cultures. Their interactions with different nationalities have helped them become familiar with politically correct behavior and language. They ve developed a more understanding attitude when dealing with other cultures. Through international connections, new opportunities to work with other people in different settings have opened. These opportunities have changed people s work attitude and methods. B. Quick Q&A (2-3 minutes) 1. Are there many foreigners who work in your country? 2. Have you ever had a chance to work with someone from another country? 3. If you had a business, would you open branches abroad? Why or why not? 4. What industries in your country do foreigners usually work in? 5. In what countries do women have limited job opportunities? P a g e 2
Exercise 2: Say It! (3 minutes) Read each word and sample sentence below. Next, use the word in your own sentence. 次 の 単 語 と 例 文 を 読 んでから それぞれの 単 語 を 使 って 自 分 でも 文 を 作 ってみましょう Sample Sentence Your Own Sentence sensitive 繊 細 な gender bias 性 差 別 global market 世 界 市 場 offensive 攻 撃 的 な diverse さまざまな I don t want to talk about sensitive issues at work. 職 場 では 繊 細 な 話 題 に 触 れたくない Our company views men and women as equals. We have policies to prevent gender biases. わが 社 は 男 女 を 平 等 に 見 ており 性 差 別 はしない 方 針 です Companies enter the global market by tying up with foreign investors. 企 業 は 海 外 の 投 資 家 と 組 んで 世 界 市 場 に 参 入 する I ve become more careful when speaking with my foreign colleagues to avoid being offensive. 外 国 人 の 同 僚 と 話 すときは 攻 撃 的 にならないように 特 に 注 意 している Hiring people of different nationalities creates a diverse workplace. 多 国 籍 の 人 材 を 採 用 することで 職 場 の 多 様 化 を 図 る P a g e 3
Exercise 3: Complete the Dialogue (5 minutes) Complete the dialogue using your own answers. You can use any of the new vocabulary words and expressions, if possible. 好 きな 言 葉 を 入 れて 会 話 を 完 成 させましょう 今 日 学 習 した 単 語 や 表 現 を 使 っても 構 いません Have you met our new co-worker? I heard he s from the UK. (pretend that you ve already met the new co-worker; tell your tutor positive things about this new colleague) That s good to hear. I haven t met him yet. Actually, it ll be my first time to work with a foreigner. (tell your tutor one positive benefit of working with foreigners) I think so, too. I m quite hesitant to speak with him as I might say something offensive. (suggest to your tutor a way on how to avoid being offensive) Yeah, you re right. Thanks for that. I m excited to get to know him. (tell your tutor why cultural differences at work shouldn t be a problem) P a g e 4
Exercise 4: Defend Yourself! (5 minutes) Pick your stand on each of the following items. Explain your choice. Your tutor will be asking follow-up questions. Make sure you can convince him/her! 次 のテーマについて あなたの 意 見 に 合 う 考 えを 選 択 肢 から 選 び その 理 由 を 説 明 してください それについて 講 師 が 質 問 するので 納 得 させられるように 答 えてください OPTION A OPTION B Hiring foreigners vs. Hiring local employees Skilled foreign workers should be prioritized over local workers. Hiring local workers can be more beneficial for a company rather than hiring foreign employees. Working with different races I would have no problem having a foreign boss and co-workers. I d rather work with people from my own country and culture. Meetings with overseas colleagues Urgent discussions involving lots of details can be done immediately through virtual meetings. I d rather wait for a colleague to arrive and talk to him/her in person about difficult business matters. P a g e 5
Exercise 5: Conversation Starter (5 minutes) Pick one of the four scenarios below, and start a conversation with your tutor. 次 の 4 つのシナリオから 好 きなものを 選 んで 講 師 と 会 話 を 始 めましょう What do you think about Western work styles? Try to describe your impression of them first, and then give your opinion. How can a company prepare for globalization? Share some ways on how to gear up for the global market. Pretend that your tutor is a foreign coworker. Ask about his/her country s working style. Come up with possible negative effects of cultural diversity at work. P a g e 6