010_A_Bad_Job

010_A_Bad_Job

Sometimes in the business world we have tell someone that their performance is not so good. In this episode we talk about the words; unaccepatable, inadmissible and unsatisfactory.

Kevin:

Hello and thank you again for downloading Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin Podcasting. A great place to review English words and phrases. This week I spoke with Nichibei student Kohei Tsuboi about a bad job.

Kohei:

Excuse me Mr. Jones. Do you have a moment.

Kevin:

Oh, Hi Kohei. What can I do for you?

Kohei:

I’ve got a small problem at work and I was wondering if you could help me.

Kevin:

What’s the situation?

Kohei:

Well, as you know I’m a manager and I have one staff member from America.

Kevin:

He’s the problem.

Kohei:

Exactly! He was very late completing an important report. Yesterday I got the report but it was so bad. Now I can’t pass it to my boss. How can I tell this staff member, in a clear way that his work is so bad.

Kevin:

Hmm. I see your problem. You need to communicate your view in a clear and professional way.

Kohei:

Exactly! Can you help me?

Kevin:

I’m sure with the opinions of some Nichibei teachers, we can get exactly what you need. First let’s speak with Nichibei teacher Arthur Stanley.

Kevin:

Hello Arthur. Do you have a moment for a question.

Arthur Stanley:

Sure. Go ahead.

Kevin:

This student, he’s a manager and he’s not sure how to express that a report he got from one of his workers is of very low quality in content, or as he said, ” very bad”. He needs to express this in a more professional way. What do you suggest?

Arthur Stanley:

I think unacceptable is a good word for this kind of situation.

Kevin:

Tell us about this word.

Arthur Stanley:

It means not satisfactory or not allowable. And although it’s strong, it isn’t personal and sounds professional.

Kevin:

Can you give this manager an example sentence?

Arthur Stanley:

How about, “Unfortunately your report is unacceptable”.

Kevin:

That does sounds professional.

Arthur Stanley:

It is. It’s standard business English.

Kevin:

Well thank you very much Arthur.

Arthur Stanley:

Glad I could help.

Kevin:

Next I found Nichibei instructor, Jeff Hull.

Kevin:

Hey Jeff. You got a minute?

Jeff Hull:

I’ve got class in fifteen minutes.

Kevin:

This should only take a minute.

Jeff Hull:

OK. What’s the situation?

Kevin:

OK. A manager needs to reject a report in English in a professional way.

Jeff Hull:

Was this report done by one of his workers?

Kevin:

Yeah, that’s right.

Jeff Hull:

How about telling him his report was unacceptable.

Kevin:

Ah well, we’ve already covered that word.

Jeff Hull:

In that case I’ll suggest the word inadmissible.

Kevin:

How does that compare with unacceptable?

Jeff Hull:

Perhaps it’s a little stronger, but it’s about the same.

Kevin:

And, what’s the meaning?

Jeff Hull:

Inadmissible basically means not allowed. Something which can’t be used for some situation. It’s used in legal situations too, so it has a serious sound to it.

Kevin:

Can you give him an example sentence?

Jeff Hull:

Hmm… “I am sorry to say that your report is inadmissible as it does not cover the requested points.”

Kevin:

That sounds great. Thanks.

Jeff Hull:

OK. You’re welcome.

Kevin:

For a final opinion I asked Kregg Johnston.

Kregg Johnston:

Hi Kevin.

Kevin:

Hi Kregg. Do you have a moment to help me out?

Kregg Johnston:

Sure what’s up.

Kevin:

Well OK, if you were a manager, what word would you use to communicate to a worker that a report they handed in was just bad!

Kregg Johnston:

I would simply say that their report was unsatisfactory. I think simple is best for most situations. Unsatisfactory simply means poor or not good enough.

Kevin:

What example sentence can you give us?

Kregg Johnston:

” The report which you gave me is unsatisfactory and needs to be rewritten as soon as possible.”

Kevin:

That should get some action.

Kregg Johnston:

It certainly should. It’s clear, simple and strong.

Kevin:

Thanks so much for your help Kregg.

Kregg Johnston:

Glad to be of help.

Kevin:

OK Kohei. You’ve just heard three words from three teachers. Which do you feel is best for your situation?

Kohei:

I think unacceptable is best.

Kevin:

Can you try an example of what you’re going to say?

Kohei:

“I have looked at your report and unfortunately I find it to be unacceptable. Please rewrite it as soon as possible.”

Kevin:

That’s good Kohei. You sound clear and professional.

Kohei:

Thanks for your help Kevin.

Kevin:

My pleasure. Let’s review the vocabulary for this episode. UNACCEPTABLE and INADMISSIBLE and UNSATISFACTORY. And that does it for this podcast but lets check once again with the office to see if Ms. Ono has any annoucements. Do you have anything?
Ms. Ono: Thanks for asking Kevin. (Japanese announcement)

Kevin:

And I’d like to say thank you to Koehi Tsuboi and all the teachers who helped out with this episode. To find out more about Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin, please visit www.nichibei.ac.jp, and follow the podcast link for information and transcript of this podcast. This podcast is a production of Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin and Live Mix Media.

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