Tips for Better Conversations in English at Work
在工作中更好地用w88中文交谈的技巧
When we are learning a new language, carrying on a conversation can be difficult. It is even harder when there is the added pressure of doing a job well using the new language. One of our readers, Emre, works at a job that requires him to talk with customers in English. He recently asked for advice on how he can improve his listening skills.
我们在学习一门新语言时，进行对话是很困难的。而当你需要用好新语言来完成工作时尤甚。我们的一位读者埃姆雷的工作要求他用w88中文与客户交谈。他最近就如何提高听力技巧寻求建议。
There are probably many other readers who use English in their daily work, too. So today, we will suggest some simple learning strategies to improve your ability to listen and carry on conversations.
可能还有很多其他读者在日常工作中也需要使用w88中文。所以今天，我们将提出一些简单的学习技巧来提高你的听力和进行对话的能力。
A learning strategy can be a thought or an action you take to make learning easier.
学习技巧指能让学习变得更容易的想法或做法。
Here are four strategies for you to consider.
以下有四种技巧供大家参考。
Predict
预测
The first strategy is to predict what you will hear. Maybe your customers sometimes say they have problems with placing an order on your website. You can think about the ways they usually ask about that problem. What words do they often use in that kind of conversation? For example, customers may often use the word “order.”
第一个技巧是预测将听到的内容。也许你的客户有时会说他们在你的网站上下单有问题。你可以想想他们通常提问的方式。他们在这种对话中经常使用什么词?例如，客户可能经常使用单词“order预订”。
Focus
专注
The next strategy is to prepare a list of those words and listen for them when a customer begins talking with you. I call this “focusing when you listen.” The next time you are listening to a customer, pay attention to the key words that help you understand their question.
第二个技巧是准备一份这些词的清单，当顾客开始和你交谈时，倾听他们说话。我把这叫做“倾听时集中注意力”。下次你听客户说话的时候，要注意那些能帮助你理解他们问题的关键词。
Ask
提问
Next, think about what you can say to the customer to let them know you need a little help understanding them. You can let the customer know you are an English learner.
接下来，想想你该说些什么以便让客户明白你需要帮助才能理解他们的话。你可以让客户知道你正在学习w88中文。
There are two questions you can ask. At the beginning of the conversation, you can ask, “Would you please speak more slowly?”
你可以问两个问题。谈话开始时，你可以问“请您说慢一点，好吗？”
The other kind of question is one I call, “asking to clarify.” Remember, you predicted some of the words your customers may use. You should listen closely for those words. When you hear one, you can ask the customer a short question to be sure. “Did you say you want to order?”
另一个问题我称之为“以提问促理解”。记住，你已经对客户可能会用到的词语做过预测了，你应该仔细听这些词。一旦听到其中一个词，你可以向客户提问以便确定。“您刚才是说想要订购吗？”
Rehearse
演练
You can prepare your answers to customers’ questions and rehearse them in your free time. You may want to keep a notebook with your usual answers. You can practice saying them out loud to yourself.
你可以把回答客户问题的答案准备好，并在空闲时间演练。你可能想在笔记本上记下你常用的答案，并练习对着自己大声说出来。
Putting them together
整合
Finally, you can put all these actions and thoughts together. Let’s say a customer calls and says:
最后，你可以把所有这些行为和想法放在一起。假设一位客户打电话说:
I want to order some face cream but I cannot find the button for ordering.
我想订购面霜，但是我找不到订购按钮。
You are not sure of the product the customer wants. But you did note the words “order” and “button,” so you can ask a question to clarify the customer’s request. You rehearsed this question:
你不确定客户想要的产品是什么，但你已经把“order” 和“button”两个词标注了，所以你可以提问来明确客户的需求。你将问题复述如下：
Are you looking for the button to order?
您是找订购的按钮吗？
The customer says, “Yes.” Then, you can ask another question that you practiced.
顾客回答说：“是的。”然后，你可以再问另一个你练习过的问题。
May I ask the name of the product you want to order?
请问您是想要订购那一款产品呢？
We hope that these four strategies will help you to better deal with your customers in English. Learning English takes time and effort, but sometimes a few good strategies make things easier.
希望以下四个技巧能帮助大家更好地用w88中文和客户沟通。学习w88中文需要时间和努力，但有时几个好技巧能使学习变得简单。
Another way you can prepare is to listen to English movies and podcasts as often as you can. The more you listen to conversations in English, the more you will understand over time.
另一个你可以准备的方法是尽可能多地听w88中文电影和播客。你听的w88中文对话越多，随着时间的推移，你能理解的就越多。
I’m Jill Robbins.
吉尔·罗宾斯报道。