节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2013-01-18
难易度:High
关键字:worthwhile, advantageous, document, strategic
Well, we've been enjoying a conversation between Ben and Uncle Bob.
Ben and his wife Sandy want to start a businesses.
And Ben needs to know something more.
Ben needs some advice, some tips, from his Uncle Bob, his mentor, Uncle Bob.
And he has some good tips.
We're going to continue to find out what else they are talking about in the next
part of our conversation.
Here we go.
(Music).
Getting Started.
But I have a business plan.
I just told you - I'm going to make apps!
No, no, Ben.
That's a business idea.
A business plan is very different.
How is a business plan different from a business idea?
Well, a business plan is a written document that lays out a lot of specific
information about your business.
You mean like a description of one's products?
It includes that, but there's more to it.
A business plan should be a strategic outline of what you are going to do, why
and how you are going to do it.
(Music).
Uncle Bob and Ben are having a pretty good conversation so far.
Well, let's continue our talk about this lesson.
Nathanael, can you pick it up?
Oh... All right, I'm Ben now. OK.
But I have a business plan.
I just told you - I am going to make apps.
No, no, no, Ben.
That's a business idea.
A business plan is very different.
I want to join! I'm going to join, OK?
Oh, OK.
I'll be Ben. I'll be Ben.
How is a business plan different from a business idea?
OK. We have an interesting structure here that we want to talk about.
How is a business plan different from a business idea?
How is something different from something else?
We use this very often.
It's a very good phrase to know.
What is an example of this, Carolyn?
Well, you might say: How is a pen different from a pencil?
Because they're kind of similar, you use both of them to write down what you
want to say.
So you can say: Oh, how is a pen different from a pencil?
You could also say: How is a dog different from a cat?
They're both animals, but what makes them different?
All right.
You could also say something like: How is an orange different from a tangerine?
Sometimes it looks the same on the outside.
Really, it's the inside that counts.
How is an orange different from a tangerine?
Sometimes people ask: How is a typhoon different from a hurricane?
Well, they are a little bit different. But how?
You can ask this question.
How is something different from someone else?
Well, hey, I think we should continue the conversation... Uh, Nathanael!
Well, I'm Uncle Bob again. Right...
Well, a business plan is a written document that lays out a lot of specific
information about your business.
And here we have the word "document," a written document, to be exact.
And "document" is one of our Word Bank words.
So let's take a look at that.
Now when I think of a document, I think of a piece of paper.
So Gabe, how is a paper different from a document?
Well, a piece of paper is just a piece of paper.
A document could have something more official written on it.
You wouldn't say just writing down your thoughts is a document, but maybe
something a little more official,
a little more important that you could use an interaction with somebody else.
Maybe someone else might see this document.
So there are different kinds of documents.
Some documents you should keep very safe.
Some documents are about your identity.
Some documents you need when you are working with the government.
So you might have different kinds of documents.
So uh... well, let's continue this... this conversation.
Uncle Bob is... Actually, we have another word we want to talk about in that
sentence.
Uncle Bob said a business plan is a written document that lays out a lot of
specific information.
So what does it mean to "lay out" something, Nathanael?
To lay out.
Well, if you lay out something, you give some of the details about it.
You discuss it, and maybe give it some structure and organization.
I think I can say that this conversation lays out some ideas of how to start a
business.
That's true.
It lays out some ideas of how to start a business.
And this word "specific." He says lays out a lot of specific information about
your business.
What does that mean, Carolyn?
What is specific?
Well, if you really want to get specific about it, you need to be detailed in
your answers.
So if you say "Please be more specific," that means that you need to give more
details, more examples, and be very clear in what you mean.
So where is Little Johnny?
Well, I saw him in the mall.
Can you please be more specific?
OK. He was in the store.
Can you please be more specific?
OK. He was checking out the shirts in this store.
Be detailed or specific, narrowing down.
Well, Nathanael just played Uncle Bob, so then, Carolyn, I think it's your turn
to be Ben.
Oh, OK. I get to be Ben.
You mean like a description of one's products?
It includes that, but there's more to it.
A business plan should be a strategic outline of what you are going to do, why
and how you are going to do it.
All right.
We have another Word Bank word here, a key word that we need to talk about -
strategic.
"Strategic" is a great word to use. Strategic.
If something is strategic, it is well thought out.
It's a plan that we need to use that should be efficient.
Can either of you come up with a sentence using this word "strategic"?
Well, I think of a strategy, so a plan.
And when you play the game of chess, you need to be very strategic so that you
can beat your opponent.
Oh, man. Carolyn, I was just thinking about the game of chess.
Apparently we both like the game of chess.
Maybe we both like strategies.
We both like trying to be strategic.
It's true when you're playing some games, you need to have some strategic moves
that will help you have the advantage.
It can be advantageous for you to have strategic moves during the game of chess,
and other games like that.
Well, so far have we learned much about starting a business.
Have you thought about having a business idea or coming up with a business plan?
These are all things that you should think about before starting a business.
And right now, we're going to talk about these things in a review skit.
Hi, Uncle Bob.
Hello. Who are you?
I'm Ben.
I'm your nephew.
Oh, yes.
Sandy and I are talking about starting a business.
Who's Sandy?
Sandy... is my wife.
Oh, yes.
So what do you think, Uncle Bob?
I think Sandy is nice.
No. I mean, what do you think about starting a business?
Oh... Well, starting a business can be challenging.
Oh.
But worthwhile.
Oh!
Well, how about a company that makes smartphone apps?
That's smart.
But I don't know anything about starting a company.
First, you need a business plan.
That's advantageous.
Well, my business plan is to make smartphone apps.
That's your idea.
It's not a plan.
Well, what's the difference?
A plan is a written document.
It lays out specific information.
Oh, like a description of products?
There's more to it than that.
You need strategic outline.
Oh.
Write down what you will do and why.
Oh.
Then write down how you will do it.
Oh! Making a business plan won't be easy.
Well, maybe you can create an app for that.
(Music).
That was such a great little review skit.
Now let's go see what Michelle has waiting for us in the Language Lab.
(Music).
OK.
(Chinese).
And that's it for today's Language Lab.
Well, in our conversation today Uncle Bob gave some great advice to Ben about
having a business plan or a written plan for starting his business.
Now this makes me wonder what other things might benefit from having a written
plan.
Nathanael, can you think of anything that would benefit from a written plan?
Well, I think that any good teacher knows that they should have a lesson plan
for every day that they teach.
They should always know the subject they're teaching,
and maybe what order they're going to teach that in so that their students can
learn the best way possible.
A lesson plan is a key to an efficient classroom.
Well, I think of maybe a long vacation with a significant amount of time.
You don't want to waste your time on vacation unless you just want to relax.
Maybe you want to see some different places, some different sites.
You can have a written plan for what you will do and when.
I also think of people going on a date for the first time.
You might be a little nervous.
Gentlemen, you might want to write out a written plan for what you will do.
Or not... but that's just an idea.
Carolyn, what else could benefit from a written plan?
Well, you could also make a plan for your life.
Maybe what do you want to do when you graduate?
What do you want to do outside of your work?
Do you have any goals or things that you want to achieve?
Lots of things can benefit from a written plan.
And we're listening to a conversation between Ben and Uncle Bob.
We have more for you tomorrow right here at Studio Classroom. We'llsee you then.