《管理英语4》Unit 7 Listening and Speaking 2
导语
听说Mable留学回国了，好久不见了，真的很想她。我已经等不及要去找她，听她说说她留学的收获，你也一起来吧。
听我与Mable谈论国内外职场文化的差异。
对话演练
(Melinda is talking with Mable, a returned overseas student about cultural differences in the workplace.)
（梅琳达正与归国留学生梅布儿谈论职场上的文化差异。）
Melinda：Ah, Mable. Welcome back to China.
梅琳达：梅布儿，欢迎回到中国。
Mable：So pleased to see you again. I missed you so much. You haven't changed a bit.
梅布儿：再次见到你真高兴，太想你了，你可一点儿都没变。
Melinda：Neither have you! Do tell me everything you experienced abroad, especially about cultural differences.
梅琳达：你也没变啊。快给我讲讲你在国外的经历，尤其是文化差异方面。
Mable：Great changes have taken place in companies in the U.S. and abroad because of globalization. Companies not only deal internationally on a widespread basis, but they hire workers from various backgrounds. It is very important to observe cultural differences in order to maintain employee loyalty, happiness and communication.
梅布儿：由于全球化，美国和国外的公司发生了翻天覆地的变化。各公司不仅在全球范围内做生意，还招聘背景各异的员工。为了保持员工的忠诚度、幸福感和顺畅交流，注重文化差异是非常重要的。
Melinda：What cultural differences are there?
梅琳达：有哪些文化差异呢？
Mable：Generally speaking, they fall into four categories: religion, nationality, region and lifestyle.
梅布儿：一般可分为四种文化差异：宗教、国家、地区和生活方式。
Melinda：Religious differences are important because they have great effects on company food choices, work availability and so on.
梅琳达：宗教差异影响公司的食品供应、出勤率，等等，因而很重要。
Mable：You said it. As for food choices, you can never serve food including pork to Muslims. Another thing, you are not supposed to ask someone to work on a Saturday whose religion forbids them to do so.
梅布儿：对。说到食品供应，你可千万不能向穆斯林人提供含猪肉的食品。还有一点，有些宗教禁止星期六工作，你可不能叫他们星期六去上班。
Melinda：What about nationality, then?
梅琳达：那国家方面呢？
Mable：Well, every nationality has its own cultural differences that diversify your workplace. Observing these differences is crucial to the performance and loyalty of your employees.
梅布儿：不同国家有着不同的文化差异，这些差异使得各职场的文化异彩纷呈。注重这些差异对提高员工的工作效率和忠诚度至关重要。
Melinda：Can you give us an example?
梅琳达：你可以举个例子吗？
Mable：Sure. For instance, some countries use a shorter work week to do the same amount of work. If your employee comes from this culture, you are not supposed to ask him or her to work 40 hours a week. Otherwise, he or she may feel this is unfair or insulting.
梅布儿：当然可以。比如有些国家每周工作的时间较短，但工作却没少做。如果员工是来自这种文化的国家，不要让他们每周工作40小时，否则，他们会认为受到不公的待遇，或者认为这是一种侮辱。
Melinda：Listen, I hate to break this up, but I've got to attend a meeting in fifteen minutes.
梅琳达：嗯，我真不想打断你，但十五分钟之后我要去参加一个会议。
Mable：I've got to run some errands myself.
梅布儿：我也要去办点事。
Melinda：We'll have to do this again sometime.
梅琳达：我们另找时间再聊。
Mable：Yes, it's been fun.
梅布儿：好的，这次交谈可真愉快。
Useful Expressions
• Express comparison or contrast
… it is more important for the company to give the creative members the chance to explore creative approaches and ideas rather than constrict and confine them.
… how do you compare their company and ours?
I would say both cultures have their own advantages.
If we are more creative while maintaining our collaborate culture, we will work wonders.
For instance, some countries use a shorter work week to do the same amount of work.
• Express changes or differences
… new ways of thinking are encouraged and new approaches to problems are accepted.
You haven't changed a bit.
Great changes have taken place in companies in the U.S.
What cultural differences are there?
… every nationality has its own cultural differences that diversify your workplace.
