Interactive transcript · 216 lines
Hello, everyone.
大家好。
Welcome back to TalkCast Speaking, your favorite spot for mastering everyday English conversation.
欢迎回到 TalkCast Speaking，这里是你掌握日常英语对话的最爱之地。
I'm your host, Sarah.
我是你的主持人 Sarah。
Today, we are diving into a topic that almost every working professional has to face, giving a
今天，我们将探讨一个几乎每个职场专业人士都必须面对的话题，即进行
status update, or in other words, reporting your progress at work.
状态更新，换句话说，就是在工作中汇报你的进展。
Whether you're speaking to your manager, your team, or a client, knowing how to explain what you've
无论你是对经理、团队还是客户说话，知道如何解释你所
done and what you're doing is a superpower.
做过的事情以及正在做的事情都是一种超能力。
And joining me today to tackle this topic is Kevin, a junior marketing assistant who is navigating
今天和我一起应对这个话题的是凯文（Kevin），一名正在
the exciting world of international business.
探索国际商业这一激动人心世界的初级市场助理。
Welcome, Kevin.
欢迎，凯文。
Hi, Sarah.
嗨，Sarah。
Thanks for having me.
谢谢你接待我。
I am so excited to be here, but to be honest, I'm also a little nervous.
我很兴奋来到这里，但老实说，我也有一点紧张。
Every Monday morning, my team has this progress meeting, and whenever my boss asks, Kevin, can you
每周一早上，我的团队都会开这个进展会议，每当我的老板问起：凯文，你能
update us on your project?
向我们更新一下你的项目吗？
My heart just starts racing.
我的心就开始狂跳。
I never know how to start, and I always feel like I sound super awkward.
我从来不知道如何开口，而且我总觉得自己听起来超级尴尬。
Oh, Kevin, you are definitely not alone.
哦，凯文，你绝对不是一个人。
I hear this from so many of my students.
我从很多我的学生那里听到过这种说法。
It's completely normal to feel that way.
有那种感觉是完全正常的。
In fact, second language acquisition research shows that workplace meetings can cause some of the
事实上，第二语言习得研究表明 ，职场会议会引发一些
highest levels of language anxiety.
最高程度的语言焦虑。
But don't worry.
但别担心。
Today, we are going to build a solid scaffold for you, step by step, so that by the end of this
今天，我们将一步一步为你建立一个坚实的脚手架，以便在本次
episode, you'll actually look forward to your Monday meetings.
单集结束时，你其实会开始期待周一的会议。
Let's start with how you normally open your update.
让我们从你通常如何开启汇报开始。
Imagine your boss just asked you for a progress report.
想象一下，你的老板刚刚向你索要一份进展报告。
What would you say?
你会说些什么？
Well, usually I say something like, Hello, boss.
嗯，我通常会说：你好，老板。
I want to report my work progress to you.
我想向你汇报我的工作进展。
Is that okay?
这样行吗？
It sounds correct in my head because I translated it directly from Chinese.
在我的脑海里听起来很正确，因为我是从中文直接翻译过来的。
I love your honesty, Kevin.
我喜欢你的诚实，凯文。
And that is actually a classic mistake.
而这其实是一个经典的错误。
Let's look at this with our error correction lens.
让我们用错误纠正的视角来看看这个。
You said it, I want to report my work progress.
你说了，我想汇报我的工作进展。
While people will understand you, it sounds incredibly formal, almost like a soldier reporting to a general.
虽然人们会理解你，但这听起来极其正式，几乎像是一个士兵在向将军汇报。
In a modern collaborative workplace, we prefer softer, more conversational terms.
在一个现代的协作职场中，我们更喜欢更柔和、更具对话性的词汇。
Instead of report progress, we say give an update or share an update.
而不是说 report progress，我们说 give an update 或 share an update。
Also, calling your manager boss directly in conversation is a bit old -fashioned in English.
另外，在对话中直接称呼你的经理为 boss 在英语中有点老派。
It's much better to use their first name or just skip the title altogether.
最好是直呼其名，或者干脆跳过称呼。
So a much more natural way to start is, I wanted to give you a quick update on, or here's where we
所以一个更自然的开场方式是：我想给你快速更新一下……
stand with the project.
或者我们目前项目的状况。
Let's try saying those.
让我们尝试说一下这些。
Ah, okay.
啊，好的。
So I shouldn't say report progress or hello boss.
所以我不应该说 report progress 或 hello boss。
Got it.
明白了。
Let me try.
让我来试试。
I wanted to give you a quick update on the new campaign.
我想给你快速更新一下关于新活动的情况。
Wow, that actually feels much smoother and less stiff.
哇，这实际上感觉更流畅，也没那么生硬了。
Spot on.
完全正确。
Beautifully done, Kevin.
干得漂亮，凯文。
Notice how you linked give and ah to sound like give -a, and update and on to sound like update on.
注意你是如何把 give 和 ah 连读成 give-a 的，以及把 update 和 on 连读成 update on 的。
It flows so naturally.
它听起来非常流畅。
Now let's talk about the actual status of your project.
现在我们来谈谈你项目的实际现状。
Things can go three ways.
事情通常有三种走向。
They are going perfectly according to plan.
它们完全按照计划完美进行。
They are going faster than planned, or the scary one, they are delayed.
它们比计划进行得更快，或者说那个可怕的情况——它们被延误了。
We have three classic idioms for this.
我们有三个经典的习语来形容这种情况。
If everything is going as planned, we say we are on track.
如果一切按计划进行，我们就会说我们在步入正轨。
If we are faster, we are ahead of schedule.
如果我们更快，我们就提前完成计划了。
If we are delayed, we are behind schedule.
如果我们延误了，我们就进度落后了。
These are absolute must -haves for your vocabulary list.
这些是你的词汇表中绝对必备的词汇。
Oh, I've heard those before, but I always mix them up.
哦，我以前听过这些，但我总是把它们弄混。
So on track is like a train staying on its metal tracks, right?
所以 on track 就像一辆火车停留在它的铁轨上，对吧？
It means everything is normal. Exactly.
这意味着一切正常。完全正确。
What a perfect analogy, Kevin.
多么完美的类比啊，凯文。
The train is on the tracks, moving smoothly toward its destination.
火车在铁轨上，平稳地向它的目的地驶去。
And let's pay attention to the pronunciation here.
让我们注意这里的发音。
When we say on track, we often blend the N in on and the TR in track.
当我们说 on track 时，我们经常把 on 里的 N 和 track 里的 TR 混合发音。
It sounds like on track.
听起来像是 on track。
Try to repeat after me.
试着跟着我重复。
We're on track.
我们在正轨上。
We're on track.
我们在正轨上。
Like that? Perfect.
像那样？完美。
Now, how about we talk about the grammar we use to describe what we have actually done and what we
现在，我们来谈谈用来描述我们实际上已经做过的事情以及我们的语法怎么样？
are currently doing?
目前正在做的事情？
This is where many English learners get tripped up.
这就是许多英语学习者容易被绊倒的地方。
Kevin, if you finished the market research last week and you are currently writing the report, how
凯文，如果你上周完成了市场调研，并且你目前正在写报告，你将如何
would you say that?
你会这么说吗？
I would say, I have finished the market research last week and now I am write the report.
我会说，我上周完成了市场调研，现在我写报告。
Okay, let's pause there.
好的，我们到这里暂停一下。
This is a very common grammatical trap for Chinese speakers because Chinese verbs don't change form
对于说中文的人来说，这是一个非常常见的语法陷阱，因为中文动词不会改变形式
to show time.
来显示时间。
Let's do some quick scaffolding here.
我们在这里做一个快速的铺垫。
For completed actions, especially when we mention a specific time like last week, we must use the
对于已完成的动作，特别是当我们提到像上周这样具体的时间时，我们必须使用
simple past tense.
一般过去时。
So I finished, not I have finish.
所以应该用 finished，而不是 I have finish。
If we want to emphasize that the work is completed and we are looking at the current result, we can
如果我们想强调工作已经完成并且我们在看当前的结果，我们可以
use the present perfect tense, I have finished.
使用现在完成时，I have finished。
But remember, never use yesterday or last week with have finished.
但请记住，切勿将 yesterday 或 last week 与 have finished 连用。
On the other hand, for ongoing tasks, we use the present continuous tense, I am writing.
另一方面，对于进行中的任务，我们使用现在进行时，I am writing。
So putting it all together, I finished the market research last week and I'm currently writing the report.
所以综合起来，我上周完成了市场调研，我目前正在写报告。
Do you see the difference?
你看出区别了吗？
Ah, yes.
啊，是的。
So I finished for the past and I'm writing for the present.
所以我用 finished 表示过去，用 writing 表示现在。
Let me try that.
让我试试。
I finished the market research last week and I am currently writing the report.
我上周完成了市场调研，我目前正在写报告。
That makes so much sense when you explain it that way, Sarah.
当你这样解释时，这就太有道理了，萨拉。
It's like separating the done from the doing. Exactly.
这就像把已完成的事和正在做的事分开一样。完全正确。
Done versus doing.
已完成对比正在做。
You're getting the hang of it so quickly.
你很快就掌握诀窍了。
Now, building on that idea, let's look at a very useful sentence pattern that brings these elements together.
现在，在此基础上，让我们来看看一个非常有用的句子句型，它将这些元素结合在一起。
In the business world, we love to use the phrase on track to verb by date.
在商业世界中，我们喜欢使用“按期完成某事”这个短语。
For example, we are on track to launch the new website by Friday.
例如，我们有望在周五前推出新网站。
It shows a clear goal and timeline.
它显示了清晰的目标和时间表。
Let's try to use this pattern.
让我们尝试使用这个模式。
Kevin, can you use this to say that your team is on track to finish the campaign design by next Tuesday?
凯文，你能 用这个来表达你的团队有望在下周二前完成活动设计吗？
Let me try.
让我试试。
We are on track to finish the campaign design by next Tuesday.
我们有望在下周二前完成活动设计。
You nailed it.
你干得漂亮。
That was 100 % correct and sounded incredibly professional.
这100%正确，而且听起来极其专业。
Now, let's move to a slightly more advanced and delicate topic, delivering bad news.
现在，让我们转向一个稍微高级且棘手的话题，即传达坏消息。
What happens if you are not on track?
如果你没有按计划进行会怎么样？
What if your project is behind schedule?
如果你的项目落后于进度怎么办？
In English -speaking business culture, how you communicate a delay is actually more important than
在英语商业文化中，你如何沟通延误实际上比
the delay itself.
延误本身更重要。
In high -context cultures, people might try to avoid mentioning a problem directly.
在高语境文化中，人们可能会尽量避免直接提及问题。
But in Western business culture, which is very low -context and direct, transparency is highly valued.
但在非常低语境且直接的西方商业文化中，透明度受到高度重视。
However, we still want to be diplomatic and polite.
然而，我们仍然希望保持委婉和礼貌。
Oh, yes.
哦，是的。
This is my biggest nightmare.
这是我最大的噩梦。
Usually, if I'm late, I just say, sorry, I cannot finish on time.
通常，如果我迟到了，我就会说，对不起，我无法按时完成。
But it feels so negative.
但这感觉太消极了。
And I always feel like my boss is disappointed. Right.
而且我总觉得我的老板很失望。对的。
Saying I cannot finish sounds very final.
说我无法完成听起来非常绝对。
And it doesn't show that you are trying to solve the problem.
而且这并没有表现出你在努力解决问题。
Let's learn how to soften the blow and stay proactive.
让我们学习如何减轻打击并保持积极主动。
Instead of we have a big problem or I cannot finish, we can use words like slight delay, minor
与其说我们有个大问题或者我无法完成，我们可以使用诸如轻微的延迟、微小的
roadblock, or hiccup.
路障，或者小插曲之类的词。
For example, we've run into a slight delay with the design.
例如，我们在设计上遇到了轻微的延迟。
Or we've hit a minor roadblock.
或者我们遇到了一个次要的障碍。
This sounds much more professional because it suggests the problem is temporary and manageable.
这听起来专业得多，因为它暗示问题是临时的且可控的。
Oh, hiccup.
哦，打嗝。
Like when you eat too fast and go hiccup.
就像你吃得太快然后开始打嗝。
That is a hilarious word to use in business.
在商业中用这个词真是搞笑。
Yes, exactly.
是的，完全如此。
Just a tiny temporary interruption.
只是一个微小的临时中断。
We also use a great idiom here.
我们这里也使用了一个很好的习语。
To give someone a heads up.
给某人一个提前通知。
This means to warn someone about a situation before it becomes a major problem.
这意味着在情况变成大问题之前提醒某人注意某个情况。
For example, I wanted to give you a heads up that we might be slightly behind schedule, but we are
例如，我想提醒你，我们的进度可能稍微落后了，但我们正在
working to resolve it.
努力解决它。
This is a massive pragmatic strategy.
这是一个巨大的实用策略。
It shows you are in control and proactive.
这表明你处于控制之中且积极主动。
Oh, I love that.
哦，我喜欢那个。
To give a heads up.
给予提前通知。
It sounds like you were telling them to look up because something is coming.
这听起来像是你告诉他们抬头看，因为有东西要来了。
So I can say, I wanted to give you a heads up that we've run into a slight delay. Brilliant. Yes.
所以我可以这样说，我想提醒你我们遇到了轻微的延迟。太棒了。是的。
And to make it even better, always follow up the bad news with a planned action.
为了做得更好，一定要在坏消息之后跟进一个计划好的行动。
For example, but we are working to resolve it and expect to be back on track by Wednesday.
例如，但我们正在努力解决它，并预计在周三前回到正轨。
This turns a negative update into a constructive conversation.
这把一个消极的进展更新变成了一次建设性的对话。
Another great phrase to show you are keeping everyone informed is to keep you in the loop or to keep
另一个展现你让每个人都保持知情的绝佳短语是“保持联系”或者……”
you updated.
让你随时更新。
For instance, I'll keep you in the loop as soon as I have more information. Wow.
例如（For instance），我一有更多信息就会让你知晓。哇。
Keep you in the loop.
让你保持在群内（随时知情）。
I like that image of a loop or a circle, meaning keeping someone inside the circle of information.
我喜欢那个环或圈的意象，意思是让某人呆在信息圈里面。
That's a great idiom.
那是一个很棒的习语。
It really is.
确实如此。
It's used constantly in emails and spoken English.
它在电子邮件和英语口语中被频繁使用。
Now, Kevin, let's put all of this together.
好了，凯文，让我们把所有这些整合起来。
We've learned the opening, the done and doing grammar, how to use on track and how to handle delays
我们已经学习了开场白、完成时与进行时的语法、如何使用“步入正轨”以及如何处理延误……
with a heads up.
……通过一个提前通知。
Let's do a quick simulation.
让我们做一个快速模拟。
Imagine we are in your Monday morning meeting.
想象一下我们在你周一早上的会议上。
I am your manager and I ask you for an update on the social media campaign.
我是你的经理，我向你索取社交媒体活动的最新进展。
But here's the catch.
但玄机就在这里（问题来了）。
The copywriter is sick, so there is a slight delay, but you plan to finish it by Thursday. Ready?
文案撰写人生病了，所以有点小延误，但你计划在周四前完成。准备好了吗？
Let's go.
我们开始吧。
Hi, Kevin.
嗨，凯文。
Could you give us a quick update on the social media campaign?
你能给我们简单更新一下社交媒体活动的进展吗？
Okay, let me try this.
好的，让我尝试一下。
Hi, Sarah. Sure.
嗨，莎拉。当然。
Here's where we stand with the campaign.
这就是我们目前对该活动的现状。
I finished the target audience analysis last week, and I'm currently working on the visual design.
我上周完成 了目标受众分析，目前正在进行视觉设计。
However, I wanted to give you a heads up that we've run into a slight delay because our copywriter
然而，我想提前通知你，由于我们的文案生病了，我们遇到了一点小延误……
is out sick.
……请假生病了。
But don't worry, we are working to resolve it, and we are on track to wrap everything up by Thursday.
但别担心，我们正在努力resolve它，并且我们有望在周四前完成所有工作。
I'll keep you in the loop.
我会让你随时知情（保持联系）。
Wow, Kevin, that was absolutely outstanding.
哇，凯文，那真是杰出的表现。
You used where we stand, correctly separated, finished, and currently working, softened the bad news
你正确使用了“我们所处的状态”，恰当地分开了已完成和目前正在进行的工作，用……缓和了坏消息……
with heads up and slight delay, offered a solution with a clear timeline and closed with keep you in
……用“提前通知”和“轻微延误”，用清晰的时间表提供了一个解决方案，并以“让你随时知情”结尾。
the loop.
保持知情。
If I were your manager, I would be so impressed by your professionalism and clarity.
如果我是你的经理，我会对你的专业精神和清晰度印象深刻。
Oh my gosh, thank you, Sarah.
哦天哪（gosh），谢谢你，莎拉。
I actually felt so much more confident saying that.
说实话，这样说让我自信多了。
It felt structured and natural, not like I was just translating word for word.
感觉很有条理（结构化）且自然，不像是逐字逐句地翻译。
I feel like I'm finally ready for my Monday meeting.
我觉得我终于为周一的会议做好准备了。
You absolutely are.
你绝对是。
And that is the power of having the right linguistic tools and structures.
这就是拥有正确的语言工具和结构的力量。
Before we wrap up today's episode, let's do a quick recap of the four key takeaways for our
在我们结束今天的节目之前，让我们对今天听众的四个关键收获做一个快速回顾。
listeners today.
……听众。
First, remember to use give an update or share an update instead of the stiff report progress.
首先，记得用“give an update”或“share an update”，而不是那句生硬的“report progress”。
Second, use the simple past for completed actions with a specific time and present continuous for
第二，对有具体时间的已完成动作使用一般过去时，对……
ongoing ones.
……进行中的动作使用现在进行时。
Third, use on track, ahead of schedule, or behind schedule to clearly state your status.
第三，使用“on track”、“ahead of schedule”或“behind schedule”来清晰地陈述你的进度。
And fourth, when delivering bad news, use softening words like slight delay or minor roadblock.
第四，当传达坏消息时，使用诸如“slight delay”或“minor roadblock（小障碍）”之类的缓和词。
Give a heads up and offer a clear plan to resolve it.
提前打招呼，并提供一个清晰的计划来解决它。
Those are such practical tips, Sarah.
这些都是如此实用的建议，莎拉。
For everyone listening, my advice is to write these phrases down on a sticky note and put it on your
对于所有收听的人，我的建议是把这些短语写在便签纸上，然后贴在你的
computer screen before your next meeting.
在您下次会议前的电脑屏幕。
It really helped me.
它真的帮助了我。
That is an excellent practical tip, Kevin.
这是一个极好的实用建议，凯文。
Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us today.
非常感谢你今天与我们分享你的旅程。
To all our wonderful listeners, thank you for tuning in to Talkcast Speaking.
致我们所有的优秀听众，感谢大家收听 Talkcast Speaking。
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave us a review, and share this podcast with your
如果你喜欢这一集，请订阅我们，给我们留言，并将此播客分享给你的
friends or colleagues.
朋友或同事。
If you want to unlock exclusive learning materials and transcript analyses, consider joining our
如果你想解锁独家学习资料和文稿解析，可以考虑加入我们的
Talkcast membership.
Talkcast 会员身份。
And finally, please leave a comment below telling us what oral English topics you'd like us to cover
最后，请在下方留言告诉我们，你希望我们在节目中探讨什么英语口语话题
in our next episode.
在我们的下一期节目中。
We love hearing from you.
我们很乐意听到您的来信。
Until next time, keep practicing, keep staying in the loop, and we'll see you next week. Bye!
下次见，继续练习，保持关注，我们下周见。再见！
Bye, everyone.
再见，大家。
Thanks, Sarah.
谢谢你，萨拉。
Thank you.
谢谢你。
