In
this third step, listen to the conversation again while you read
the transcription. Finally, read the glossary information, phrasal
verbs (highlighted in yellow) and notes at
the bottom. This step also means good practice for your reading
comprehension skills. To get information in Spanish, just place the
arrow of your mouse on any highlighted word without clicking.
(In Hector
Grant's office)
GRANT
Is the
Boardroom
ready for the meeting, Miss Corby?
It's in the folder. Also, a copy
of the
minutes of the last meeting.
GRANT
I shall need the drawing of the new extension. Where's that?
ELIZABETH
It's in the folder, too.
GRANT
You haven't forgotten anything?
ELIZABETH
I don't think so, Mr. Grant.
(The
meeting has just started)
GRANT
Well, gentlemen, I
don't think we need to read the minutes of the last meeting, as copies
of them have already been circulated to you (Murmurs of
agreement.) Right. The minutes of the last meeting are
taken
as read. Now,
let's
get on. Mr. Wiles, will you report, please, on
the result of your interview with the
Building Inspector?
PETER
Yes. The delay in getting
bye‑law
approval was largely owing to the fact that the architect had not
supplied detailed plans of the
foundations of the new
building.
PHILLIPSON
I've now given the Building inspector
the detailed plans.
As you know, at the speed we're growing,
I have felt right from the beginning that we ought to have planned a
much larger extension.
GRANT
No. We mustn't grow too quickly. Slow
but sure is the way this business will grow. But we
went over all this
in our original discussion, so
there's no point in going over it all
again.
PETER
But what will happen, Mr. Grant, when we
need to expand again? If we have to build another extension in a year
or two it will be exasperating to have
to go through all this work
again. It's taken a long time to get permission to build, and to
reorganise the
machine layout, not to mention the building
costs, which
go up every year. Wouldn't we be saving time and money,
if, even at this late date, we build six bays instead of only three?
JOHN
I'd like to have a regional sales office
on the new site, too.
PETER
If there's any additional space, Martin,
I need it for production or stores.
GRANT
May I remind you, gentlemen, that the
space you are arguing about does not exist. We
stick to our present
plan. Now, time's getting on. The next
item on the agendais
the report from the Personnel Manager about the additional labour
that's going to be required. So far, lan, we've had no difficulty in
obtaining
skilled workers, but is this situation likely to
continue or not?
IAN
Well, the position is this: skilled
labour is getting harder to find. There's plenty of unskilled labour,
and I think we should start a
training programme now. Then, by
the time the new extension is ready, we should have the right number
of trained men.
GRANT
Let's see. Phillipson, how long will the
factory take to build, once we've got our permission?
PHILLIPSON
If the
contractors are very
efficient I'd say five months, possibly less.
GRANT
Well, lan, can you produce enough
skilled workers in, say, six months from now?
IAN
Yes, I think so.
GRANT
Very well. I think we all agree that a
training programme should be started immediately (Murmurs of
assent). Good. You will minute that, Mr. Buckhurst, won't you?
Also, that Mr. Hampden will make an
estimate of the cost. Now
we come to item number three on the agenda. Peter?
PETER
Our I.D.C. was granted provided the Fuel
and Paint Stores were placed in a different position, to avoid the
danger of fire. Mr. Phillipson has now proposed that we rebuild the
present Managers' garage as a Paint Store. This would be a great
saving in time. It's on the other side of the delivery bay, and would
halve the time taken to unload and store the stuff.
IAN
Where shall we put our cars?
JOHN
Well, they can stand in the car park
like everyone else's.
GRANT
Just a minute, gentlemen. What is all
this going to cost?
PHILLIPSON
I propose to extend the present garage
to meet the west wall of the delivery bay and knock in a door here.
The present Paint Store can then be used for other storage.
PETER
Splendid. Just what we need.
GRANT
Very well... yes, this does seem a
sensible solution. If we are all agreed...? (Murmurs of “yes”).
Right, I presume there is no other business? (Chorus of “no’s”,
“don’t think so’s”). Very well, the meeting
is over. Thank you
very much, gentlemen...
GLOSSARY
& NOTES
Boardroom
The room in which the board,
or group of directors who control a business, meets(sala de directorio).
agenda
List
of points, items, to be discussed at a meeting
(agenda).
folder
A
kind of file in which papers can be kept. Usually the papers are loose
(carpeta).
minutes
A
written summary of what is said at a meeting. It is a legal requirement
in Great Britain that minutes are kept of board meetings, and all those
attending as directors must sign them(minutas de reunión).
taken as read
A
phrase used when it is decided not to read the minutes of the last
meeting aloud. According to rules governing official meetings, the
minutes must be read aloud if they have not previously been circulated(dadas por leídas, se supone que todos están al tanto).
to get on
To start
(arrancar, comenzar).
Building Inspector
In
Britain, as in most countries, you have to get permission from the local
government authority to construct new buildings. The building plans must
be submitted and accepted. Later the Building Inspector will come to
make sure you build exactly according to the plans(inspector de construcciones).
bye-law
Building
bye-laws
are rules and regulations drawn up by the government concerning building
in the area
(estatuto o reglamento).
foundations
All
buildings have foundations; nowadays they usually consist of a concrete
raft or metal piles driven deep into the ground
(cimientos).
to go on
To continue
(continuar).
to go over
To check out, to
examine (revisar, repasar).
there's no
point in
It makes no sense
(no tiene sentido).
to go through
To experience
(experimentar, volver a pasar).
machine layout
The
way in which machines are placed inside a building; the disposition of
machines
(distribución de la maquinaria).
to go up
To increase, to rise
(subir, los precios o costos).
to stick to
To keep, to adhere
(mantener, respetar).
item on the agenda
Item
means a subject to be discussed; the agenda is the list of these
subjects(tema o tópico de
la agenda a tratar o discutir).
skilled workers
Workers
who are expert in some particular general skill, e.g. capstan-lathe
setters, press setters, kiln operators or maintenance fitters. They
earn more than unskilled workers. Tradesmen are skilled workers
in a specific trade, e.g. bricklayers, carpenters, electricians and
painters
(trabajadores especializados).
training programme
A
plan for training unskilled workers in certain skills
(programa de entrenamiento).
contractors
An
outside firm doing a special job under contract. Usually associated with
building work(contratistas, especialmente de la construcción).
estimate
A
forecast of the cost of goods or services on which a decision to proceed
or not can be made(presupuesto, estimación).
to be over
To be finished
(dar por terminado, finalizado o concluido).
