L5-U1-P3-1 Listening : Emma's Best 1
Emma's Best 1
Emma's Best is a small but growing health food company.
It was started in 1995 by a married couple who were tired of working for large companies.
The two founders were Ed and Emma Smith, both health-conscious vegetarians.
Despite the risks, Ed and Emma wanted to start their own business.
They knew it would be hard work, but they were determined to try.
Their plan was to create a business that provided healthy food to busy people.
They wanted it to be something they could be proud of.
(They wanted their new company to be something they could be proud of.)
What did they want to proud of ? -Their new business.
Their plan was to create a business that ...provided healthy food to busy people.
(1) Emma's Best is a small but growing health food company.
(2) It was started in 1995 by a married couple who were tired of working for large companies.
(3) The two founders were Ed and Emma Smith, both health-conscious vegetarians.
(4) Despite the risks, Ed and Emma wanted to start their own business.
They wanted to start their own business despite the risks.
Their plan was to create a business that provided healthy food to busy people.
(1) Emma's Best is a small but growing health food company.
(2) It was started in 1995 by a married couple who were tired of working for large companies.
(3) The two founders were Ed and Emma Smith, both health-conscious vegetarians.
(4) Despite the risks, Ed and Emma wanted to start their own business.
When they started the company, organic food was becoming more popular.
People were becoming more food conscious and worried about food safety.
In fact, people were willing to pay higher prices for food that was free of harmful chemicals.
In addition, an increasing number of people had little time to go shopping and cook at home.
They wanted meals that were healthy but easy to prepare.
There were very few frozen meals available at the time, and none of them were vegetarian or organic.
There was a gap in the market.
What was becoming more popular when they started the company? -organic food
To be conscious of something means to be ...aware of it.
There were very few frozen meals available at the time.
People were becoming more food conscious and worried about food safety.
Ed and Emma immediately saw the opportunity and launched their first product.
It was a frozen pasta meal with a mix of vegetables and a delicious cream sauce.
The market response was enthusiastic and profitable beyond their expectations.
Their product was an instant success.
To their surprise, it was soon being eaten by millions of people, not only vegetarians or those interested in organic foods.
It was being bought because it was easy to prepare and it tasted good.
And of course it was healthy.
To their surprise it was soon being eaten ...by a wide variety of people.
It was a frozen pasta meal with a mix of vegetables and a delicious cream sauce.
They knew it would be hard work, but they were determined to try.
To be more conscious of something means to be more aware of it.
Ed and Emma immediately saw the opportunity and launched their first product.
What was the market response to their first product? - enthusiastic and profitable
Ed and Emma immediately saw the opportunity and launched their first product.
They knew it would be hard work, but they were determined to try.
To be more conscious of something means to be more aware of it.
There were very few frozen meals available at the time, and none of them were vegetarian or organic.
Other products followed in rapid succession.
As a result, at the end of 5 years, the company was producing over 100 frozen meals.
Since then they have increased the number of meals to over 150, including pizzas, sandwiches and snacks.
Their foods are carried by natural food stores and supermarkets throughout North America.
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Other products followed in rapid succession.
Since then they have increased the number of meals to over 150, including pizzas, sandwiches and snacks.
Emma's Best is a small but growing health food company.
People were willing to pay more for food that was free of harmful chemicals.
In fact, people were willing to pay higher prices for food that was free of harmful chemicals.
It was started in 1995 by a married couple who were tired of working for large companies.
Other products followed in rapid succession.
Since then they have increased the number of meals to over 150, including pizzas, sandwiches and snacks.
People were becoming more food conscious and worried about food safety.
People were willing to pay more for food that was free of harmful chemicals.
Their foods are carried by natural food stores and supermarkets throughout North America.
It was started in 1995 by a married couple who were tired of working for large companies.
L5-U1-P3-2 Listening : Emma's Best 2
Emma's Best 2
Although they have expanded their production facilities and increased the number of employees, they have remained a private company.
They enjoy the fact that they are a family-owned business, sensitive to the needs of their customers.
They don't have to worry about pleasing shareholders.
Rather than paying dividends to shareholders, Emma's Best has a profit-sharing plan that benefits its employees.
What kind of company is Emma's Best? - It's a private company
They enjoy the fact that they are a family-owned business, sensitive to the needs of their customers.
Dividends are that are paid to the shareholders.
Bonuses and salary increases keep employees happy and motivated to work hard.
As a result, employee turnover is low and the company has been recognized as one of the best companies to work for.
In addition, Emma's Best supports local charities, especially those that provide healthy food to children from low-income families.
Given its success, the company feels an obligation to contribute to society.
In spite of the fact that other companies now produce similar products, Emma's Best remains the market leader.
Their total commitment to quality has made the difference and they are proud of their accomplishments.
What helps to keep employees happy and motivated? -Bonuses and salary increases
Bonuses and salary increases keep employees happy and motivated to work hard. As a result, employee turnover is low and the company has been recognized as one of the best companies to work for. In addition, Emma's Best supports local charities, especially those that provide healthy food to children from low-income families.
It was being bought because it was easy to prepare and it tasted good.
( Their product was an instant success. )
Other products followed in rapid succession.
If employees are happy and motivated, employee turnover is usually low.
(They have remained a private company.)
As a result, employee turnover is low and the company has been recognized as one of the best companies to work for.
Rather than paying dividends to shareholders, Emma's Best has a profit-sharing plan that benefits its employees.
L5-U1-P3-3 Vocabulary : Feelings & Attitudes
Feelings & Attitudes
People are often nervous or apprehensive before performing in front of an audience.
People who are really nervous may feel tense, which is the opposite of relaxed.
Sometimes, taking a deep breath can help a nervous person feel more relaxed.
When someone is nervous their muscles often tense up and their heart rate increases.
Someone who strongly believes in their ability to do something is often confident.
The best way to build confidence is to practice what you're going to do until you can do it with ease.
The key to building confidence and reducing nervousness is effective and frequent practice.
Someone with confidence can perform at a higher level than someone who is nervous.
To be indifferent means to not care one way or the other about something.
If you are indifferent to a person or project, it means that the person or project isn't important to you.
People who are indifferent may value anything or anyone but themselves.
People who are indifferent are often cold and uncaring about others.
To be appreciative is to be thankful or grateful for something.
If someone does something nice for you, you should appreciate it.
It's important to show your appreciation for someone's support or help.
If someone does a favor for you, you should show your appreciation by thanking them.
"To be depressed" is the opposite of "to be happy".
When someone is depressed, they feel very sad.
Depression can be caused by disappointing news or by failing to reach a goal.
When people are depressed, they are usually pessimistic about the future.
When you are really sad, you may be depressed.
If someone does a favor for you, you should appreciate it.
If you don't care about anything, then you may be indifferent.
Someone who has practiced a lot and believes in his or her ability is confident.
This is how many people feel just before giving a performance? nervous
People are often nervous or apprehensive before performing in front of an audience.
Someone who strongly believes in their ability to do something is often confident.
To be indifferent means to not care one way or the other about something.
Depression can be caused by disappointing news or by failing to reach a goal.
"To be depressed" is the opposite of "to be happy".
When you are really sad, you may be depressed.
It's important to show your appreciation for someone's support or help.
When people are depressed, they are usually pessimistic about the future.
When someone is nervous, their muscles often tense up and their heart rate increases.
L5-U1-P3-4 Vocabulary : Types of Character
Types of Character
Aggressive people often push their own ideas or try to force others to follow them.
Someone who is passive will usually not resist the efforts of others.
A passive person is often seen as weak and easy to control.
An aggressive person pushes or attacks and a passive person doesn't resist.
An optimistic person believes in a positive future.
Optimists see a glass as half full rather than half empty.
The opposite of an optimist is a pessimist.
Pessimists see a glass as half empty rather than half full.
A pessimist sees things with a negative light and has little hope for the future.
Sensitive people are emotional and have strong feelings about things.
It's important to be careful when dealing with sensitive people, because it's easy to upset them.
Insensitive people don't seem to be aware of or care about the feelings of others.
He doesn't realize when she's upset because he's quite insensitive to the feelings of others.
It's important to know how to act around extremely sensitive people.
A mean person doesn't treat other people well or with kindness.
Mean people often enjoy making people suffer for their mistakes.
"To be kind" is the opposite of "to be mean".
Nobody ever asks him for help because he's mean and selfish.
He was really mean to her when she disagreed with him and he told her to shut up.
He was really mean when he told her how badly she had performed.
Conceited people have a very high opinion of themselves.
They often talk about how great they are and tend to exaggerate their strengths.
Modest people don't show off their strengths, but are often very good at what they do.
Modest people are often overlooked in a job interview because they fail to comunicate their strengths.
Conceited people often exaggerate their abilities and can fool people into believing them.
A person who doesn't like to fight or resist is passive.
Someone who sees a glass as half empty rather than half full is pessimistic.
A person who enjoys making others suffer is mean.
A person who likes to show off and talk about herself is conceited.
It's important to be careful when dealing with sensitive people because it's easy to upset them.
Mean people often enjoy making people suffer for their mistakes.
They often talk about how great they are and tend to exaggerate their strengths.
Modest people are often overlooked in a job interview because they fail to communicate their strengths.
An optimistic person believes in a positive future.
"To be mean" is the opposite of "to be kind".
He doesn't realize when she's upset because he's quite insensitive to the feelings of others.
He was really mean to her when she disagreed with him and he told her to shut up.
L5-U1-P3-5 Dialogue : Arranging an Appointment
Arranging an Appointment
W: Ace Industries, may I help you? This is Sue Mitchell speaking.
M: Hi, Sue, This is Ben Wang of Job Link.
W: Oh, hi Ben, how are you? I've been expecting your call.
M: I'm sorry to be late. I've been traveling.
This is Sue Mitchell speaking.
I've been expecting your call.
W: It seems like everyone is traveling these days.
M: That's for sure. I'm away more than I'm here. Anyway I'm calling to see if we can arrange a meeting.
W: Good. There are several matters I'd like to discuss with you.
M: Sure, would later this week be possible?
W: Let me see. According to my schedule, I'll have some time Thursday afternoon and Friday morning.
Anyway I'm calling to see if we can arrange a meeting.
There are several matters I'd like to discuss with you.
What does he suggest that they meet? -later this week
What is the purpose of the meeting? -She wants to discuss several matters.
M: How long do you think we'll need?
W: I think an hour should be enough.
M: That should be fine. Would Thursday at 3:30 work for you?
W: Yes, that's fine.
I think an hour should be enough.
How long does she think the meeting should be? -An hour.
W: OK, I'm looking forward to seeing you at 3:30 on Thursday.
M: Right, see you then, and thanks.
W: You are welcome, Ben. Take care.
I've been expecting your call.
Would later this week be possible?
Would Thursday at 3:30 work for you?
Anyway I'm calling to see if we can arrange a meeting.
OK, I'm looking forward to seeing you at 3:30 on Thursday.
I'm sorry to be late.
How long do you think we'll need?
He suggest that they meet later this week.
According to my schedule, I'll have some time Thursday afternoon and Friday morning.
There are several matters I'd like to discuss with you.
M: Hi Sue, I'm sorry, but something urgent has come up, so I'd like to change the time for our meeting on Thursday.
W: Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. What about Friday morning?
M: That should work. How early?
W: I'm usually here by 9:00. Could you be here by then?
M: Yes, that shouldn't be a problem.
W: OK, Friday at 9:00.
M: Once again, sorry for the last minute change.
How does he end this conversation? -He makes an apology.
What time does she suggest for the meeting? - Friday at 9:00.
Could you be here by then?
Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.
Once again, sorry for the last minute change.
I'm sorry, but something urgent has come up, so I'd like to change the time for our meeting on Thursday.
What is the purpose of the conversation? - change the meeting
Which expression is more polite, A or B? - I'd like to change the time.
That should work.
Yes, that shouldn't be a problem.
What about Friday morning?
I'm sorry, but something urgent has come up, so I'd like to change the time for our meeting on Thursday.