Interactive transcript · 244 lines
Hello, everyone.
大家好。
Welcome back to another episode of TalkCastSpeaking, the podcast where we make English natural,
欢迎回到 TalkCastSpeaking 的又一期节目，这是一个让英语变得自然、
practical, and fun.
实用且有趣。
I am your host, Amelia, and today we are diving into a topic that almost every professional has to
我是你们的主持人阿米莉亚，今天我们要深入探讨一个几乎每个专业人士都必须
deal with at some point.
在某个阶段应对的话题。
Yes, we are talking about working overtime.
是的，我们今天的主题是加班。
Whether you call it OT, extra hours, or burning the midnight oil, requesting and discussing overtime
无论你称之为 OT、额外工时还是开夜车，请求和讨论加班
can be a bit tricky, especially in a second language.
都可能有点棘手，尤其是在说第二语言时。
To help us navigate this, I am joined today by a special guest.
为了帮助我们应对这一点，今天我邀请了 一位特别的嘉宾。
Let's welcome Brian.
让我们欢迎布莱恩。
Hi, Brian.
嗨，布莱恩。
How are you doing today?
你今天过得怎么样？
Hi, Amelia.
嗨，阿米莉亚。
Thanks for having me.
谢谢你邀请我。
To be honest, I am a little tired today because I had to stay late at the office last night.
老实说，我今天有点累，因为昨晚我不得不很晚才离开办公室。
In fact, this topic is perfect for me.
事实上，这个话题对我来说再完美不过了。
As a junior software engineer, my project deadlines are always tight, and I often find myself
作为一个初级软件工程师，我的项目截止日期总是很紧，我经常发现自己
working late.
工作到很晚。
But whenever I need to ask my manager for overtime approval or compensation, I get super nervous.
但每当我需要向经理申请加班批准或补偿时，我都超级紧张。
I never know what to say, and I always feel like I might sound incompetent or complain too much.
我从不知道该说些什么，总是觉得自己听起来可能很无能或者抱怨太多。
I really need your help today.
我今天真的需要你的帮助。
Oh, Brian, I completely understand.
哦，布莱恩，我完全理解。
You are definitely not alone in this.
在这方面你绝对不是一个人。
Many English learners feel uncomfortable talking about overtime.
许多英语学习者在谈论加班时感到不舒服。
They worry that saying they need more time makes them look slow at their job.
他们担心说自己需要更多时间会显得他们在工作上反应迟钝。
But actually, in Western corporate culture, requesting overtime is often seen as a standard
但实际上，在西方公司文化中，请求加班通常被视为一项标准的
professional procedure.
职业程序。
As long as you communicate it clearly, politely, and with the right justification.
只要你沟通得清晰、礼貌，并且有充分的正当理由。
Today, we are going to learn how to do exactly that.
今天，我们将学习如何确切地做到这一点。
We will look at some core vocabulary, common mistakes to avoid, and some magic sentence patterns you
我们将看一些核心词汇、要避免的常见错误，以及一些神奇的句型，你可以
can use immediately.
立即使用它们。
How does that sound?
听起来怎么样？
That sounds fantastic.
听起来棒极了。
Let's do it.
让我们开始吧。
Actually, can I start with a question?
实际上，我能以一个问题开始吗？
Yesterday, I wanted to tell my boss that I needed to work late.
昨天，我想告诉我的老板我需要加班。
So I sent him a message saying, I want to apply overtime because my work cannot finish.
所以我给他发了一条消息说，我想申请加班因为我的工作完不成。
He replied with a simple okay, but it felt a bit awkward.
他简单地回复了一个好，但感觉有点尴尬。
Did I make a mistake there?
我在那里犯了错误吗？
Ah, that is a classic example.
啊，那是一个经典的例子。
I am so glad you shared that, Brian.
布莱恩，我很高兴你分享了这一点。
This brings us to our first major learning point, the difference between Chinglish and natural English.
这把我们带到了我们的第一个主要学习点，即中式英语与自然英语的区别。
Let's break down your message using our three -step correction method.
让我们使用我们的三步纠正方法来剖析你的消息。
First, the error.
首先，这个错误。
I want to apply overtime.
我想申请加班。
In English, overtime is a noun or an adverb.
在英语中，overtime 是名词或副词。
We don't apply overtime directly.
我们不能直接申请加班。
If you want to use the word apply, you must say apply for overtime.
如果你想用 apply 这个词，你必须说 apply for overtime。
However, in daily office conversations, apply for sounds a bit too formal, like you are filling out
然而，在日常办公室对话中，apply for 听起来太正式了，就像你在填写
a legal document.
一份法律文件。
Instead, we say request approval for overtime or simply work overtime as a verb phrase.
相反，我们用动词短语说请求批准加班或者直接说加班。
Oh, I see.
哦，我明白了。
So apply for is grammatically correct, but maybe too formal for a quick message.
所以 apply for 语法上是正确的，但对于简短的信息来说可能太正式了。
And apply overtime without for is incorrect.
而且不加 for 的 apply overtime 是不正确的。
What about the second part of my message?
那我信息的第二部分呢？
My work cannot finish.
我的工作无法完成。
Why did that feel awkward?
为什么那听起来很尴尬？
Great question.
好问题。
Saying my work cannot finish is a literal translation of the Chinese In English, work doesn't finish itself.
说“my work cannot finish”是对中文的字面翻译，在英语中，工作是不会自己完成的。
You finish the work.
是你完成工作。
More importantly, saying I can't finish my work might accidentally imply that you are struggling
更重要的是，说我无法完成工作可能会无意中暗示你正在挣扎
with your speed or skills.
在你的速度或技能方面。
To avoid this, we want to shift the focus to the workload or the deadline.
为了避免这一点，我们希望将焦点转移到工作量或截止日期上。
For example, you can say due to a heavy workload or to meet the upcoming deadline.
例如，你可以说由于工作量大或为了赶上即将到来的截止日期。
This sounds much more professional because it blames external factors, not your personal ability.
这听起来专业得多，因为它归咎于外部因素，而不是你的个人能力。
Let's try to put those two corrections together.
让我们试着把这两处修改结合起来。
How would you rewrite your sentence now, Brian?
布莱恩，你现在会怎么重写你的句子？
Let me try.
让我试试。
Um, due to a heavy workload, I need to work some overtime to meet the deadline.
嗯，由于工作量大，我需要加一会儿班来赶截止日期。
Is that better?
这样好点了吗？
That is absolutely beautiful.
这绝对太棒了。
You nailed it.
你搞定了。
It sounds professional, clear, and proactive.
它听起来专业、清晰且积极主动。
Let's practice the pronunciation of work overtime quickly.
让我们快速练习一下 work overtime 的发音。
Listen closely to how the words link together.
仔细听这些词是如何连在一起的。
Work overtime.
加班。
We don't say work overtime with a pause.
我们说 work overtime 时中间没有停顿。
The K sound at the end of work slides right into the O sound of overtime.
work 结尾的 K 音直接滑入了 overtime 的 O 音中。
Try saying it after me.
试着跟我一起说。
Work overtime.
加班。
Work overtime. Wow.
加班。哇。
Linking those words makes it sound so much smoother.
把这些词连起来听起来流畅多了。
It feels less robotic. Exactly.
感觉不那么机械了。没错。
That is the secret to sounding natural.
这就是听起来自然的秘诀。
Now let's build on this and look at some magic sentence structures.
现在让我们在此基础上看看一些神奇的句子结构。
If you need to request overtime approval before you actually do the work, you can use this template.
如果你在实际开始工作前需要请求加班批准，你可以使用这个模板。
I'd like to request approval for number hours of overtime this week to do something.
我想请求批准这周加班几个小时来做某事。
For instance, I'd like to request approval for two hours of overtime this Thursday to finalize the
比方说，我希望申请本周四加班两小时来最终确定
code migration.
代码迁移。
This structure is great because it is specific.
这个结构很好，因为它很具体。
It tells your boss exactly how much time you need and what you will achieve.
它确切地告诉你的老板你需要多少时间以及你将实现什么。
That is a very useful template.
这是一个非常有用的模板。
It makes me sound organized.
这让我听起来很有条理。
But what if my boss asks me why I need the extra hours?
但是如果我老板问我为什么需要额外的时间呢？
What are some good ways to explain the reason?
有什么好方法来解释原因吗？
Excellent question.
极好的问题。
Let's look at some common professional reasons and the collocations we use for them.
让我们看一些常见的专业原因以及我们用于它们的搭配。
If the project is very urgent, you can say, we are on a very tight schedule.
如果这个项目非常紧急，你可以说，我们的时间非常紧。
If there is a sudden issue, you can say, an unexpected issue came up.
如果出现突发问题，你可以说，一个意料之外的问题出现了。
Or if you have to wait for someone else before you can finish your part, you can say, I am waiting
或者如果你在完成自己那部分之前必须等待其他人，你可以说，我正在等待
on feedback from the client.
根据客户的反馈。
Let's try a quick practice.
让我们做一个快速练习。
Imagine you are working on a bug that suddenly appeared in the system and you need to stay late
想象一下，你正在处理一个在系统中突然出现的漏洞，你需要熬夜
tonight to fix it.
今晚把它修复。
How would you tell your boss?
你会怎么告诉你老板？
Okay, let me think.
好的，让我想想。
Hi boss, an unexpected bug came up in the system today.
嗨，老板，今天系统里出现了一个意料之外的漏洞。
Since we are on a very tight schedule, I'd like to work overtime tonight to fix it.
既然我们的日程非常紧，我想今晚加班把它修好。
How was that?
觉得怎样？
That was fantastic, Brian.
那真是太棒了，布莱恩。
You used an unexpected bug came up and on a tight schedule perfectly.
你把“出现意外漏洞”和“时间紧迫”这两个表达用得完美极了。
You are getting in the hang of this so quickly.
你这么快就掌握了其中的门道。
Now, let's talk about the cultural and compensation side of things.
现在，我们来聊聊文化和薪酬方面的事情。
In many Western companies, if you work overtime, you are entitled to either overtime pay or comp time.
在许多西方公司，如果你加班，你有权获得加班费或调休。
Do you know what comp time means, Brian? Hmm.
你知道调休是什么意思吗，布莱恩？嗯。
Is it short for something?
它是某个词的缩写吗？
I know compensation, but comp time is new to me.
我知道薪酬，但 comp time 对我来说挺新鲜的。
Does it mean getting paid extra?
它的意思是拿额外的工资吗？
Not quite, but you are close.
不完全是，但你猜得很接近了。
Comp time is short for compensatory time off.
Comp time 是补偿性休假的简称。
In some places, they call it time off in lieu or toil.
在某些地方，人们称之为替代休假或调休。
It means that instead of getting paid extra money for your overtime, you get to take equivalent paid
这意味着你加班不会拿到额外的现金，而是可以获得同等时长的带薪
time off later.
假期以后再休。
For example, if you work four hours of overtime this week, you can take four hours off next Tuesday.
例如，如果你这周加班四个小时，你可以在下周二休假四个小时。
It's a very common practice, especially for salaried office workers.
这是一个非常普遍的做法，特别是对于拿固定年薪的办公室职员来说。
Oh, that is amazing.
哦，这太棒了。
I would actually prefer extra time off sometimes.
有时候我其实更想要额外的假期。
But how do I ask about this without sounding greedy?
但我该怎么问这件事，才不会显得很贪婪呢？
It feels a bit awkward to bring up money or time off with my manager.
跟经理谈论钱或休假感觉有点尴尬。
I completely understand that feeling.
我完全理解那种感觉。
The key here is to use polite, indirect questions.
这里的关键在于使用礼貌、间接的提问。
Instead of saying, do you pay me for this?
而不是直接说：“你会为此付钱给我吗？”
Which is too direct and aggressive.
这样会显得太直接、太有侵略性了。
You can use this phrase.
你可以用这个短语。
Are these extra hours eligible for overtime pay or comp time?
这些额外工时符合加班费或调休的条件吗？
Or you can ask, how should I log these hours?
或者你可以问：“我该如何记录这些工时？”
This is a very safe and professional question.
这是一个非常稳妥且专业的问题。
To log hours means to officially record your working hours in the company's system.
记录工时是指在公司系统中正式记录你的工作时间。
By asking how to log them, you are naturally prompting your boss to explain the policy.
通过询问如何记录，你自然而然地促使老板向你解释相关政策。
Ah, how should I log these hours?
啊，“我该如何记录这些工时？”
That is a brilliant phrase.
这是一个绝妙的表达。
It sounds so professional and completely natural.
它听起来非常专业且极其自然。
I will definitely use that one.
我一定会用这个。
Speaking of logging hours, what if I already worked the overtime because of an emergency and now I
说到记录工时，如果我因为紧急情况已经加过班了，现在我
need to report it after the fact?
需要事后再汇报呢？
That happens all the time.
这种事情经常发生。
In that case, you want to inform your boss as soon as possible and explain the necessity.
在这种情况下，你最好尽快通知老板并解释其必要性。
You can use this structure.
你可以使用这个句型结构。
Just wanted to give you a heads up that I put in some extra hours yesterday to resolve the server crash.
只想跟你提前打个招呼，我昨天为了解决服务器崩溃的问题加班了。
I've logged it in the system.
我已经在系统里登记过了。
Here, give you a heads up is a wonderful casual idiom that means to inform you or to warn you.
这里，“给你提个醒”是一个极好的随性习语，意思是通知你或警告你。
And put in some extra hours is a very common alternative to work overtime.
而“投入一些额外的时间”是加班的一个非常常见的替代方案。
Oh, give you a heads up and put in some extra hours.
哦，给你提个醒并投入一些额外的时间。
I love those.
我喜欢那些。
They sound much warmer than just saying I worked overtime.
它们听起来比单纯说我加班要温暖得多。
Can I try using them in a full sentence?
我能尝试在一个完整的句子中使用它们吗？
Please do.
请便。
Go ahead. Okay.
请继续。好的。
Hi, Sarah.
嗨，萨拉。
Just wanted to give you a heads up that I put in two extra hours last night to assist the client
只是想给你提个醒，我昨晚多加了两小时来协助客户
with their onboarding.
进行他们的入职培训。
I will log those hours today.
我今天会记录这些工时。
How did that sound?
听起来怎么样？
Absolutely perfect.
绝对完美。
Your tone was friendly, professional, and confident.
你的语调友好、专业且自信。
If I were your boss, I would be very impressed with that communication.
如果我是你的老板，我对那次沟通会非常印象深刻。
You see, when you structure it this way, you aren't complaining.
你看，当你以这种方式组织它时，你并不是在抱怨。
You are showing your dedication and keeping your manager informed.
你展现了你的奉献精神，并让经理知情。
It is a win -win situation. Wow.
这是一个双赢的局面。哇。
I feel so much better about this now.
我现在对这件事感觉好多了。
It really is about using the right scaffolding or templates to express myself without feeling guilty.
这实际上是关于使用正确的脚手架或模板来表达自己，而不会感到内疚。
By the way, Amelia, I sometimes hear my colleagues say they are burning the midnight oil or burning
顺便说一句，阿米莉亚，我有时听到我的同事说他们在开夜车或
the candle at both ends.
两头烧蜡烛。
Are those idioms okay to use with a boss?
这些习语跟老板用合适吗？
That is a great observation, Brian.
这是一个很好的观察，布莱恩。
Yes, those are very common idioms.
是的，那些是非常常见的习语。
Burning the midnight oil means working late into the night, and burning the candle at both ends
开夜车意味着工作到很晚，而两头烧蜡烛
means working from early morning until late at night, which often leads to exhaustion.
意味着从清晨工作到深夜，这通常会导致筋疲力尽。
While these are great for casual conversations with your coworkers, for example, wow, you're burning
虽然这些非常适合与同事进行随意的对话，例如，哇，你今晚在
the midnight oil tonight, I would avoid using them in formal written overtime requests to your boss.
开夜车，但我会避免在给老板的书面正式加班申请中使用它们。
In formal requests, stick to professional terms like working overtime, putting in extra hours, or
在正式请求中，坚持使用诸如加班、投入额外时间等专业术语，或者
extending my hours to keep the tone businesslike.
延长我的工时以保持语气公事公办。
That makes total sense.
这完全说得通。
Keep the idioms for the water cooler chats and keep the formal requests professional.
把习语留给茶水间闲聊，让正式请求保持专业。
Got it. Exactly.
明白了。确实如此。
Now, to make sure you have fully mastered this, let's do a quick role play.
现在，为了确保你已经完全掌握了这一点，让我们做一个快速的角色扮演。
Imagine I am your manager, and you need to request approval to work late this Friday because the
想象我是你的经理，你需要请求批准这周五工作到很晚，因为
client suddenly requested a major change to the website design.
客户突然对网站设计提出了重大更改。
The launch is next Monday.
发布是在下周一。
How would you approach me?
你会如何向我提出呢？
Okay, let's do this.
好的，就这么办吧。
I'm ready.
我准备好了。
Hi, Amelia.
嗨，阿米莉亚。
Do you have a quick minute?
你有一分钟时间吗？
Sure, Brian.
当然，布莱恩。
What's on your mind?
你在想什么呢？
Well, the client just requested a major change to the website design today.
嗯，客户今天刚对网站设计提出了重大更改。
Since our launch is next Monday, we are on a very tight schedule.
既然我们的发布在下周一，我们的日程非常紧凑。
I'd like to request approval for three hours of overtime this Friday to implement these changes.
我想申请这周五加班三小时来实施这些更改。
Also, I wanted to ask how I should log these extra hours.
另外，我想问一下我应该如何记录这些额外的工时。
Are they eligible for comp time?
他们有资格享受调休吗？
Brian, that was incredible.
布莱恩，那太不可思议了。
You explained the urgency clearly, stated exactly how many hours you needed, and asked about the
你把事情的紧迫性解释得很清楚，准确说出了你需要几个小时，并询问了
compensation policy in a highly professional and polite way.
薪酬政策，表现得非常专业且礼貌。
As your manager, I would immediately say approved.
作为你的经理，我会毫不犹豫地表示批准。
Thank you so much for putting in the extra effort, Brian.
非常感谢你付出的额外努力，布莱恩。
Yes, please log those hours as comp time.
可以，请把这些工时记录为调休。
How did that feel?
那种感觉怎么样？
Honestly, it felt amazing.
老实说，感觉棒极了。
Having those specific phrases in my mind made me feel so much more confident.
脑海中有这些具体的短语，让我感到更有自信。
I didn't feel like I was begging or complaining at all.
我一点也不觉得自己是在乞求或者抱怨。
It just felt like a normal business transaction.
这感觉就像是一笔正常的商业交易。
And that is exactly what it is.
而这正是它的本质。
Language is a tool, and once you have the right structures, you can navigate any workplace situation
语言是一个工具，一旦你掌握了正确的结构，你就能应对任何职场局势
with ease.
并轻松自如。
Well, we are almost at the end of our episode today, so let's do a quick recap of the core points we
好了，我们今天的节目快要接近尾声了，让我们来快速回顾一下我们
learned today.
今天学到的核心要点。
First, remember to avoid the Chinglish phrase, apply overtime.
首先，记得避免使用中式英语短语 apply overtime。
Instead, use request approval for overtime or put in extra hours.
相反，要用 request approval for overtime 或者 put in extra hours。
Second, avoid saying my work cannot finish because it can sound unprofessional.
第二，避免说 my work cannot finish，因为这听起来很不专业。
Instead, focus on external reasons like due to a heavy workload or to meet the tight deadline.
相反，要专注于外部原因，比如由于工作量大或是为了赶紧迫的截止日期。
Third, we learned the term comp time, which is compensatory time off, and how to politely ask about
第三，我们学习了 comp time 这个词，也就是补偿性调休，以及如何礼貌地询问
it using, are these hours eligible for overtime pay?
它，比如用“这些工时有资格获得加班费吗？”
Or how should I log these hours?
或者“我该如何记录这些工时？”
And finally, remember to save casual idioms like burning the midnight oil for your co -workers and
最后，切记把像 burning the midnight oil 这样随意的习语留给同事，
keep your communication with your boss professional.
而与老板的沟通要保持专业。
This has been so helpful, Amelia.
这太有帮助了，阿梅利亚。
I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
我感觉卸下了千斤重担。
I can't wait to put these phrases to use next time I need to work late.
下次我需要熬夜时，我迫不及待地想把这些短语派上用场。
Thank you so much.
非常感谢。
You are very welcome, Brian.
不用客气，布莱恩。
You did a fantastic job today.
你今天表现得太棒了。
To our listeners out there, we encourage you to try using these phrases in your daily work life.
对于广大听众，我们鼓励大家在日常工作生活中尝试使用这些短语 。
Practice writing a mock email to your boss or saying the sentences out loud.
练习给老板写一封模拟邮件，或者大声朗读这些句子。
If you enjoyed this episode, please consider joining our TalkCast membership, subscribing, and
如果 你喜欢这期节目，请考虑加入我们的 TalkCast 会员，进行订阅，并
sharing our podcast with your friends.
把我们的播客分享给你的朋友。
Your support means the world to us.
你们的支持对我们来说意义重大。
What oral English topics are you struggling with?
你们正在苦恼什么英语口语话题？
Please leave a comment below and let us know.
请在 下方留下评论让我们知道。
We might just choose your topic for our next episode.
我们很可能会在下期节目中选用你的话题。
Until next time, keep practicing, keep speaking, and take care.
下次见，坚持练习，坚持开口说，保重。
Bye, everyone.
再见，大家。
Bye, everyone.
再见，各位。
Thanks for listening.
谢谢收听。
