【一起听英语】准时

准时在西方文化中显得尤为重要，准时是一个人为人处世的重要品质。

Feifei: Hello I'm Feifei and welcome to another episode 1 of 6 Minute English.

Neil: Hi, I'm Neil.

Feifei: Oh, here you are Neil, I was just about to start without you.

Neil: No need, no need, I'm never late for anything, you know that! Punctuality

is my middle name.

Feifei: Punctuality meaning: being on time for things.

Neil: Yes, punctuality means not being late. It's very important in Western

working culture. Are you a punctual person Feifei?

Feifei: I'm always punctual in my working life, but in my personal life…

Neil: OK, I don't want to know. That's interesting Feifei because the psychiatrist 2

Dr Keith Ablow, says the three most common causes for lateness are:

firstly, worrying about the appointment, secondly 3, a need to show power or

superiority 4, and the third reason for people being late is that they have a

need to know they are loved. So Feifei, which one is you? Sounds like you

are a mixture of all of them…

Feifei: No comment - let's move on.

Neil: Let's hear what some of our friends and colleagues have to say about

punctuality.

I think living in London, you find the most common reason for being late is transport

because it's not very reliable - whenever you are rushing somewhere, you think you are

OK with time, but suddenly your train is delayed: if you have to change to another train,

you might miss that train and it's going to make you be even later than you intended to

be.

Feifei: Well that's very interesting. Generally speaking, if you're going to be late

for something, it's polite to call and let people know.

Neil: It is. And here's a clip 5 of someone doing just that.

Joe: Joe Smith speaking.

Sarah: Hi Joe, it's Sarah. I'm on my way to the meeting but I'm afraid the traffic's

terrible. I'm sorry but I think I'm going to be late.

Joe: OK, don't worry. What time do you think you'll get there?

Sarah: To be honest, it's hard to say. I've been here for 30 minutes and the traffic

is at a standstill. I think I'll be about 15 minutes late.

6 Minute English © BBC Learning 6 English 2013

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Joe: OK, thanks for letting me know. If you're going to be any later, call me

again.

Sarah: OK, will do. Sorry again. See you soon.

Neil: So, that was Sarah calling to say she's going to be late and if I'm not

mistaken -

Neil / FF: It's Business Betty!!

BB: Hello! I'm not late am I?

Neil: Not at all, and I wouldn't care if you were.

BB: Thank you Neil.

Feifei: You're just in time to tell us how to say you're going to be late for

something.

BB: Oh that's good, I hate being late for things. Right - so to business. Now, in

the English speaking world, if you are going to be late for an appointment,

you should let people know. There are three things you need to do here.

First, apologise. Second, explain why you're late. And third, say when you

think you'll arrive. So, first: apologise. Here's what Sarah said:

Sarah: I'm sorry but I think I'm going to be late.

BB: "I'm sorry but I think I'm going to be late" - nice and simple. She

apologised again at the end of the conversation.

Sarah: Sorry again.

BB: Second, explain why you're late. Sarah said:

Sarah: I'm on my way to the meeting but I'm afraid the traffic's terrible. I've been

here for 30 minutes and the traffic is at a standstill.

BB: Let's hear that again.

Sarah: I'm on my way to the meeting but I'm afraid the traffic's terrible. I've been

here for 30 minutes and the traffic is at a standstill.

BB: And third, say when you think you'll arrive.

Sarah: I think I'll be about 15 minutes late.

BB: And again:

Sarah: I think I'll be about 15 minutes late.

BB: And then, stop worrying! When you finally get to your meeting, don't go

rushing straight in. Take a couple of minutes first, to calm down and

freshen up, so that you appear professional, not panicky. A quick apology

when you arrive – "Sorry I'm late everyone" and then it's down to business.

So, I hope that's helpful…

6 Minute English © BBC Learning English 2013

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Neil: Very very helpful!

Feifei Yes, thanks Betty!

BB: Good, because I have to go now, I've got a meeting and I don't want to be

late. Bye!

Neil / FF: Bye

Neil: She's very good…

Feifei: Shall we listen to the clip again?

Neil: I think we should…

Joe: Joe Smith speaking.

Sarah: Hi Joe, it's Sarah. I'm on my way to the meeting but I'm afraid the traffic's

terrible. I'm sorry but I think I'm going to be late.

Joe: OK, don't worry. What time do you think you'll get there?

Sarah: To be honest, it's hard to say. I've been here for 30 minutes and the traffic

is at a standstill. I think I'll be about 15 minutes late.

Joe: OK, thanks for letting me know. If you're going to be any later call me

again.

Sarah: OK, will do. Sorry again. See you soon.

Feifei: So that's what to do if you're running late.

Neil: Yes, so next time Feifei, can you set off a bit earlier? I don't want to hang

around.

Feifei: Yes set off earlier, you Neil.

Neil: Well, you don't want to talk about your personal life, do you? So I won't

mention that thing.

Feifei: You were the one that was late for the programme.

Neil: Yes, but generally speaking, it's you, isn't it? Anyway, make sure you join

us for the next episode of 6 Minute English.

Feifei: And DON'T be late! Bye!