MR. RAMIREZ： Come in， Arnold. Have a seat.

　　ARNOLD： Good morning.

　　MR. RAMIREZ： Would you like something to drink？

　　ARNOLD： No， thank you. I just had two cups of coffee at my desk.

　　MR. RAMIREZ： So， you're a serious coffee drinker.

　　ARNOLD： Yes， it keeps me going. Sometimes I think I'm addicted¹.

　　MR. RAMIREZ： Well， coffee isn't such a bad thing.

　　Everyone has to have something.

　　For me， it's cigars. Are you a cigar smoker²？

　　ARNOLD： No， I've tried them. But I’m not really a smoker.

　　MR. RAMIREZ： Well， what would you like to talk to me about？

　　ARNOLD： I wanted to set up this meeting with you to discuss a little proposal³.

　　MR. RAMIREZ： I'm glad when people have new ideas around here. Tell me about it.

　　ARNOLD： It is about the staff meetings.

　　You know how we have a staff meeting every Tuesday.

　　MR. RAMIREZ： Yes.

　　ARNOLD： Well， I have been thinking about it.

　　And I believe we could do things more efficiently⁴ here.

　　MR. RAMIREZ： What do you suggest？

　　ARNOLD： The way it is now， the staff from all four branches get together once a week.

　　We meet for one hour. But I think a lot of time is wasted in transportation.

　　MR. RAMIREZ： You mean because people have to go across town to get here.

　　ARNOLD： Yes. Some people spend half of the morning on the road.

　　MR. RAMIREZ： That's true. But our staff meetings are very important， Arnold.

　　I don't know how we can function without them.

　　ARNOLD： I think they are important too.

　　That's why I want people to have a better attitude about them.

　　MR. RAMIREZ： I know a lot of people think the meetings aren't too useful.

　　I'm aware of that.

　　ARNOLD： Here's what I propose⁵.

　　I think we should meet once every two weeks， but meet for ninety minutes or more.

　　MR. RAMIREZ： Well.

　　ARNOLD： I also think the meetings should be more focused.

　　And I would be willing to take responsibility for that.

　　MR. RAMIREZ： You mean you want to run the meetings？

　　ARNOLD： No， not really run them. But I could help organize them.

　　I could discuss meeting topics with you， and then prepare a schedule for each meeting.

　　I could then send an e-mail to all the staff to explain the coming meeting.

　　This way the meetings would become more focused， and people would prepare better.

　　MR. RAMIREZ： Hmm. But we would meet every two weeks.

　　ARNOLD： I really think it would work.

　　The meetings could be longer， and better organized.

　　MR. RAMIREZ： I am not against the idea， Arnold.

　　It may really be more efficient， as you say. I'll tell you what we can do.

　　Why don't we try your proposal for a month， and see how it works⁶.

　　ARNOLD： Excellent. I would be happy to get started on it.

　　MR. RAMIREZ： I will call the managers.

　　Then tomorrow I'll tell you when we can schedule our first meeting in this “new style.”

　　仑米先生：进来，阿诺。请坐。

　　阿诺：早安。

　　仑米先生：你要喝点什么吗？

　　阿诺：不了，谢谢你。我才喝了两杯咖啡。

　　仑米先生：所以，你是一个严重的咖啡爱好者。

　　阿诺：是的，它让我持续前进。有时候我认为我有点上瘾。

　　仑米先生：嗯，咖啡也不是一个坏事情。

　　每个人都要有所喜好。

　　像我，就是雪茄。你抽雪茄吗？

　　阿诺：不，我尝试过。但我并不是一个吸烟爱好者。

　　仑米先生：嗯，你想跟我说些什么呢？

　　阿诺：我想借着这个会谈跟你讨论一个提案。

　　仑米先生：我很高兴这里能有人提些新计划，告诉我是什么。

　　阿诺：是有关公司重要干部的会议。

　　你知道我们每个星期二的干部会议。

　　仑米先生：是的。

　　阿诺：嗯，我一直在想。

　　我相信我们可以做得更有效率些。

　　仑米先生：那你的建议是？

　　阿诺：现在的方法是，四个分公司的干部每一周都会来这里一次。

　　我们开会一小时，但我认为绝大部份的时间都浪费在交通上。

　　仑米先生：你的意思是因为大家都要横越整个城市到这儿。

　　阿诺：是的，有些人花了一个早上在路程上。

　　仑米先生：没有错。但我们干部的会议是很重要的，阿诺。

　　我不知道没有他们我们如何能运作。

　　阿诺：我也认为他们很重要。

　　那就是为什么我要大家对会谈能有更好的态度。

　　仑米先生：我知道有一些人认为会谈并没有太大的用处。

　　我知道这个的。

　　阿诺：这是我的建议。

　　我认为我们应该每两个星期开一次会，但一次开九十分钟或是加长。

　　仑米先生：这个。

　　阿诺：我同时也认为议题应更明确。

　　我愿意对这件事负责。

　　仑米先生：你的意思是你要主持会议？

　　阿诺：不，并不是要主持会议。但我可以帮忙筹组。

　　我可以跟你讨论议题，然后准备每次会议的时程表。

　　我可以寄电子邮件给所有的干部解说下个会议。

　　这样的话会议就能更明确，大家也能准备得更充分。

　　仑米先生：嗯，但我们会每两个星期开一次会。

　　阿诺：我真的认为这是可行的。

　　会议时间可以加长，而且更有组织。

　　仑米先生：我并不是反对这个主意，阿诺。

　　这或许会更有效率，就像你说的。我告诉你我们能怎么做。

　　我们何不试试你的提案一个月，我们再来看成效。

　　阿诺：太好了，我已经迫不及待了。

　　仑米先生：我会通知所有的经理。

　　然后明天我会告诉你何时我们可以规划第一次的会议使用这个“新作风”。

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