Level B1 Business English
Lesson 16
Past Continuous Story Telling
過去進行形で話す

1
PHRASE OF THE DAY
今日のフレーズ

The new Director was turning things around.
新しい部長は業績を回復させました。

2
SITUATION
状況

Robert is asking John how they are making progress.
ロバートはジョンに、どのように業績を伸ばしているのか聞いています。
男性2人が話をしている写真

3
DIALOGUE
ダイアログ

Directions: First repeat after your tutor and then practice each role.
課題： 先生の後に続いてくり返した後、それぞれの役を練習してみましょう。

Robert
Your company has made progress on improving after the Lehman Crisis. What did you do?
John
Everyone thought the company would fail at that time, but our new director was turning things around.
Robert
Well, what is the secret?
John
We eliminated our inefficiency and waste after the economic crisis.
Robert
I see. For example?
John
We forged a solid footing. Our director backed out of some future investment projects. He woke us up and saved our situation.
ロバート：君の会社は、リーマンショックの後も業績を伸ばしたね。何をやったの？

ジョン：あの時は誰もがダメだろうと思っていたけど、新しい部長が業績を回復したんだ。

ロバート：どんな秘策かい？

ジョン：経済危機の後、非効率や無駄を取り除いたんだ。

ロバート：なるほど。具体的には？

ジョン：まずは足元を見直そうと部長は長期的投資プロジェクトから手を引いたんだ。部長は我々社員の目を覚まさせ、結果、危機を脱することが出来たんだ。

4
VOCABULARY
語い

Directions: First repeat after your tutor and then read aloud by yourself.
課題： 先生の後に続いてくり返した後、今度はひとりで発音してみましょう。

make progress
進歩を遂げる
eliminate
取り除く
forge a solid footing
足元を固める
Lehman Crisis
2008年リーマンショック
inefficiency and waste
非効率と無駄
back out
手を引く
turn around
（業績を）回復させる
saved our situation
危機を脱する

5
LANGUAGE FOCUS
今日のポイント

The new Director was turning things around.
新しい部長は業績を回復させました。
What Were You Doing at the Following Times?

その時、何をしていましたか？

Directions: First repeat after your tutor and then read aloud again by yourself.
課題： 先生の後に続いてくり返した後、今度はひとりで発音してみましょう。

QUESTION: What were you doing ~
質問してみましょう

EX) ( yesterday morning )
…when you heard about the promotion?
…last night in the office?
…when I interrupted you?
I was negotiating with my client.

I was out to dinner with my family.

I was preparing the documents for the meeting.

I was just rechecking our numbers from the sales department.

6
ACTIVITY
練習

Activity1: Fill in the blanks below with the correct grammar.
練習1： 下記の空欄を正しい文法の形に直して埋めましょう。

Tom and I visited our client last week. We ( meet )__at the airport. We ( talk )__about how to approach to the client while we ( wait )__for our flight. When we arrived at their office, the manager ( welcome )__us. We ( do )__a great presentation. After the presentation, we ( go )__to dinner. During dinner we ( enjoy )__ a magic show when the lights went out. Everyone( panic )__. But it was just part of the show.

Activity2: You were with your client for one week so please tell your tutor what you did. (where did you go, what did you do etc.)
練習2： （練習1の続きとして）あなたはクライアントと１週間一緒に行動しました。残りの６日間何をしたか、先生に説明してみましょう（どこに行った、何をしたなど）。

Hints

past simple vs. past continuous

past simple ⇒ Use a specific point in time for actions and states which we see as completed in the past.

past continuous ⇒ Use for past events which went on for a period of time, when we want to emphasize the continuing process of an activity or the period of that activity or to describe a “background action” when something else happened.