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 Im 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：进去，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，你是一个紧急的咖啡喜好者。
阿诺：是的，它让我持续前进。有时我觉得我有点上瘾。
仑米先生：嗯，咖啡更不是一个坏事情。
每一个人都要有所爱好。
像我，就是雪茄。你抽雪茄吗？
阿诺：不，我尝试过。但我并非一个抽烟喜好者。
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：我非常高兴这里能有人提些新计划，告诉我是什么。
阿诺：是有关公司要紧干部的会议。
你了解大家每一个星期二的干部会议。
仑米先生：是的。
阿诺：嗯，我一直在想。
我相信大家可以做得更有效率些。
仑米先生：那你的建议是？
阿诺：目前的办法是，四个分企业的干部每一周都会来这里一次。
大家开会一小时，但我觉得绝大部份的时间都浪费在交通上。
仑米先生：你的意思是由于大伙都要横越整个城市到这儿。
阿诺：是的，有的人花了一个早上在路程上。
仑米先生：没错。但大家干部的会议是非常重要的，阿诺。
我不了解没他们大家怎么样能运作。
阿诺：我也觉得他们非常重要。
那就是为何我要大伙对会谈能有更好的态度。
仑米先生：我了解有一些人觉得会谈并没太大的用处。
我了解这个的。
阿诺：这是我的建议。
我觉得大家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：我同时也觉得议题应更明确。
我想对这件事负责。
仑米先生：你的意思是你要主持会议？
阿诺：不，并非要主持会议。但我可以帮忙筹组。
我可以跟你讨论议题，然后筹备每次会议的时程表。
我可以寄邮件给所有些干部解释说明下个会议。
如此的话会议就能更明确，大伙也能筹备得更充分。
仑米先生：嗯，但大家会每两个星期开一次会。
阿诺：我真的觉得这是可行的。
会议时间可以加长，而且更有组织。
仑米先生：我并非反对这个主意，阿诺。
这可能会更有效率，就像你说的。我对你说大家能如何做。
大家何不试一试你的提案一个月，大家再来看效果。
阿诺：太好了，我已经迫不及待了。
仑米先生：我会公告所有些经理。
然后明天我会对你说何时大家可以规划首次的会议用这个新作风。
