2011年ESL之商务英语 09 Recognizing an Unsung Hero

09 Recognizing an Unsung Hero

GLOSSARY 1

to fool (someone) – to trick or deceive someone; to make someone believesomething that isn’t true

* The salesman fooled me! I should have known the price was too good to betrue.

to work behind the scenes – to do something that is necessary for a project tosucceed, but isn’t noticed by most people

* TV reporters get all the recognition, but a lot of people work behind the scenesto create those news stories.

to bolster 2 – to make something stronger; to help someone feel stronger andmore confident; to improve something

* We need a good meal to bolster the soldiers’ strength before the next battle.

up to the task – ready and prepared to do something; with the necessaryqualifications and abilities to do something

* Being a parent is hard work. Do you really think you’re up to the task?

to be sunk – to be in a position where one will fail or not be successful

* Now that our two best players are injured, our team is sunk.

limelight – receiving a lot of attention from other people and possibly the media;at the center of everyone’s interest and attention

* Wendy loves the limelight. I wouldn’t be surprised if she becomes a famousactress.

linchpin – the most important person or thing in a group; the person or thing thateveryone and everything else depends on for success

* That policy was the linchpin of her presidency 3.

to have egg on (one’s) face – to be embarrassed publicly; to be in a positionwhere one appears to be stupid or foolish, or where one’s actions appear to havebeen stupid or foolish

* If tomorrow’s conference doesn’t go well, we’ll all have egg on our face.

to give (someone) too much credit – to praise someone too much; to givesomeone too many compliments; to believe that someone has done more workthan he or she actually has

* We know Janik did a good job, but it seems like you’re giving him too muchcredit. A lot of his success was just due to luck.

unsung hero – a person who makes an important contribution to a successfulproject, but is not recognized for his or her work

* The police department is planning a ceremony to honor the unsung heroes whoare doing good work in the community.

to keep a low profile – to do something in a way so that one will not be noticedby other people; to not want to have other people’s attention

* The boss can be really strict, but if you do your work well and keep a lowprofile, you shouldn’t have any trouble.

nothing of the kind – not at all an example of what one has just been talkingabout; a phrase used to strongly deny something

* A: You’re one of the best painters in the world.

* B: I’m nothing of the kind. I know a lot of better painters than me.

modest – humble 4; not wanting to talk about one’s skills or abilities; not wantingto say that one does something better than another person

* Seung is so modest. You’d never know he’s such a great pianist, because hemakes it sound like he can play only the easiest songs.

to propose – to suggest; to present an idea for what should be done, how, andwhen

* Ali proposes that we increase profits by raising prices, but other people don’tthink that will work.

ticker-tape parade – a parade held in a downtown area to honor a person bythrowing confetti (many small pieces of paper) down from building windows as heor she walks by below

* One of the first ticker-tape parades occurred in 1886 when the Statue of Libertywas dedicated 5.

to recognize – to realize that something is important or noteworthy; to realizethat something has certain characteristics

* The mayor is going to recognize Sheryl as the city’s teacher of the year.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1. What is the limelight?

a) Lighting 6 in a small apartment.

b) A lot of attention.

c) The time right after sunrise.

2. What does Fumi mean when she says, “we’d all have egg on our faces”?

a) We’d all be eating breakfast.

b) We’d all be embarrassed.

c) We’d all be overweight.

______________

WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN?

to fool

The verb “to fool,” in this podcast, means to trick or deceive someone, or to makesomeone believe something that isn’t true: “How did you fool your little brotherinto giving you all his candy?” The phrase “to fool (oneself)” is used to talk aboutmaking oneself believe something that isn’t true: “If you think you can eat all thisjunk food and still lose weight, you’re fooling yourself.” The phrase “you couldhave fooled me” is used when one does not believe what another person hassaid: “You talk about wanting to be a better person, but you could have fooledme. I’ve seen what you do when you think nobody is looking.” Finally, thephrase “to fool around” can mean to have a sexual relationship with someonewho is married or in another serious relationship: “When Annie caught Maxfooling around with his secretary, she filed for divorce.”

to be sunk

In this podcast, the phrase “to be sunk” means to be in a position where one willfail or not be successful: “If I can’t find a job and start making some money soon,our family will be sunk.” The phrase “sink or swim” refers to a situation whereone must learn to do something very quickly, without help from other people, orhave a lot of problems: “Kevin became president of the company almostovernight, and it was sink or swim, because nobody there could tell him how todo the job.” The phrase “a sinking feeling” refers to one’s realization 7 thatsomething bad will happen: “I have a sinking feeling we’re going to run out of gasbefore we get to the next gas station.”

CULTURE NOTE

Companies often try to improve employee “morale” (the way a group of peoplefeel) and “motivate” (encourage someone to do something) them by havingemployee recognition programs for employees who are doing their job very well.

Many companies recognize an “employee of the month,” meaning that eachmonth they choose to “honor” (recognize) a different employee for his or hercontributions to the company. For example, many fast food restaurants have“plaques” (pieces of wood with small pieces of “engraved” (with text written onmetal or glass) names) where people can read the names and possibly seephotographs of the people who have won the award in the past.

Sometimes employee recognition programs have special “ceremonies” (officialparties) where employees are honored in front of their “peers” (colleagues; coworkers).

These employees might receive a “trophy” (a large metal cup or smallstatue) with an engraving 8 of their name and the name of the award. They mightalso receive a “monetary” (with money) award or other honors. Sometimes theaward winners are allowed to use the president’s parking spot, which is usuallyclosest to the building, for a certain number of weeks. Other award winnersmight be invited to have lunch with “top management” (the CFO, COO, and otherhigh-level employees).

In general, employee recognition programs seem to improve employee morale,but they can “backfire” (do the opposite of what something is supposed to do).

This can happen if the employees believe the selection process is unfair. Forexample, if a company gives awards to the people who are friends with theowner, but not necessarily who are the best workers, it can be “demoralizing”

(making someone not want to do something well) for the other workers.

______________

Comprehension Questions Correct Answers: 1 – b; 2 – b

COMPLETE TRANSCRIPT 9

Welcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 680: Recognizingan Unsung Hero.

This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode 680. I’m your host, Dr.

Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development inbeautiful Los Angeles, California.

Visit our website at eslpod.com. Download a Learning Guide for this episodethat will help you improve your English even faster.

This episode is called “Recognizing an Unsung Hero.” Let’s get started.

[start of dialogue]

Fumi: You may have everyone else fooled, but I know the real reason for thesuccess of this project.

Issac: What?

Fumi: You. You’ve been working behind the scenes to bolster the people whoweren’t up to the task. Without you, this project would have been sunk monthsago.

Issac: That’s nonsense.

Fumi: No, it’s not. I know you don’t like the limelight, but you were the linchpin ofthis operation. Without you, we’d all have egg on our faces today.

Issac: You’re giving me way too much credit. I don’t want to hear another wordabout it.

Fumi: I’m not surprised at your reaction. Most unsung heroes like to keep a lowprofile.

Issac: What?! I’m nothing of the kind!

Fumi: Yes, you are. You’re far too modest. And soon, I won’t be the only onewho thinks so!

Issac: What are you proposing to do?

Fumi: Don’t worry. I’m not planning a ticker-tape parade, but it’s time yourcontributions are recognized for what they are around here!

[end of dialogue]

Our dialogue begins with Fumi saying to Issac, “You may have everyone elsefooled, but I know the real reason for the success of this project.” “To fool (fool)(someone)” means to trick them, to deceive them, to make them believesomething that isn’t true, that is false. Fumi says to Issac that he has beenfooling – he has been lying, in some ways, to everyone, but she knows the realreason why this project has been a success, whatever project they’re working on.

Issac says, “What?” Fumi says, “You,” meaning you’re the real reason for thesuccess of this project. She says, “You’ve been working behind the scenes tobolster the people who weren’t up to the task.” The expression “to work behindthe scenes” (scenes) means to do something that is necessary for a project tosucceed but is not noticed by most people. The other people involved don’trealize that you are doing this work; you’re doing it in secret in some ways. A“scene” here refers, for example, to a play in a theater, where you have what arebasically big paintings that give you the impression that you are in a differentplace. Those are called the “scenery,” and so “to work behind the scenes” is tobe, if you will, part of the play but no one actually sees you. That was me, by theway, in my high school play; I was in my high school play. In American highschools typically there’s at least one play or musical every year. I was in mine,but I was on the lighting crew – so I turned the lights on and off! So I was in theplay, but I was working behind the scenes you see. Not many people know that.

Anyway, Fumi says that Issac has been working behind the scenes to bolster thepeople who weren’t up to the task. “To bolster” (bolster) means to makesomeone feel stronger and more confident, or simply to improve something. Theexpression “to be up to the task” means to be ready and prepared to dosomething, to have the abilities or the qualifications to perform a certain job ortask. So, Fumi says that Issac was basically helping 10 other people in the projectwho were not doing their job or who were not capable – able to do their job. Shesays, “Without you, this project would have been sunk months ago.” “To besunk” (sunk) literally 11 means to be underwater, like a ship. If you sink a ship –“sunk” is the past of “sink” – then the ship, or boat, is underwater. “To be sunk,”

then, is a general expression that means to fail, not to be successful.

Issac says, “That’s nonsense,” saying that what Fumi is telling him is wrong.

Fumi says, “No, it’s not.” She says, “I know you don’t like the limelight, but youwere the linchpin of this operation.” The “limelight” (limelight – one word) is used to indicate that you are getting a lot of attention, that everyone is looking at youand paying attention to you including, for example, those in media: the televisionand newspaper people, and Internet bloggers, and whatever. Everyone is payingattention to you; you are in the limelight. But, Issac doesn’t like the limelight.

Fumi says he was the linchpin of this operation. A “linchpin” (linchpin – oneword) is the most important person or thing in a group; it’s the person or thingthat everyone else depends on for success. Fumi says, “Without you, we’d allhave egg on our faces.” The expression “to have egg (egg) on your face” meansthat you would be embarrassed publicly, you would be in a position where youwould look stupid or foolish and everyone would know about it. But Issac says,“You’re giving me way too much credit.” “To give (someone) too much credit”

means to say that they did more than they actually have done. That is, you aresaying that they are wonderful, you are saying how great they’ve been, but theydon’t really deserve that much praise – that much credit. The use of the word“way” here, as in “way too much credit,” is just another way of saying too muchcredit – too, too much credit we might say, but we don’t say that in English. It’slike it’s really too much credit. “Way” has been used this way for a long time, butit has become more popular in conversational 12 English. For example, you mightsay to your friend, “Do I have too much makeup 13 on my face?” and your friendsays, “Way too much,” meaning you really have too much, yes. My friends tellme that all the time!

So Issac says, “I don’t want to hear another word about it (I don’t want you to sayanything else to me about what you think I have done).” Fumi says, “I’m notsurprised at your reaction (the way that you reacted to what I said).” Mostunsung heroes like to keep a low profile.” An “unsung hero” is a person whomakes an important contribution to a successful project but who is notrecognized for what they do. Someone who does something great but nobodyhears about it, nobody knows about it, that would be an unsung hero. “To keep alow profile” means to do something in a way that other people will not notice. It’sanother way of saying that other people are not paying attention to you. Theopposite would be “to keep a high profile,” which means everyone knows whatyou’re doing; everyone knows where you are, for example. Issac says, “What?!

I’m nothing of the kind!” “To be nothing of the kind” means that you are not anexample of what the other person was just talking about. It’s a phrase that weuse to deny, to say no, to disagree with something. Fumi says that Issac is anunsung hero, and he says, “I’m nothing of the kind (no, I’m not).” Fumi says,“Yes, you are. You’re far too modest.” “To be far too modest” means to be veryhumble, not wanting to talk about your own accomplishments 14. Notice that “far”

here has the same meaning – the same function as the word “way.” We couldhave said, “you’re way too modest,” that’s a little more informal; “far too modest”

is a little more formal. Fumi says, “And soon, I won’t be the only one who thinksso (who thinks that you are an unsung hero).”

Issac says, “What are you proposing to do?” “To propose” means to suggest orto present an idea for what you think should be done and how it should be done.

Fumi says, “Don’t worry. I’m not planning a ticker-tape parade, but it’s time yourcontributions are recognized for what they are around here!” A “ticker tape” is along piece of paper, usually in a roll, that is used in a ticker tape machine, whichis like a teletype or telegraph machine. It was a way of conveying messageselectronically, over the radio, and it was a special machine that converted theradio signals into something that would then produce either typing or some sortof printing that you would be able to send information over a long distance. Theywere very popular in the old days, many years ago, for those that were involvedin the New York and other stock exchanges. When you’re done with the tickertape you can cut it up and use it as “confetti,” which are small, little pieces ofpaper that you cut up and then you throw on someone as a way of congratulatingthem. And, in New York City, when someone did something wonderful, thetradition was to give that person or those people a “ticker-tape parade,” meaningthey would take the tape – the pieces paper – rip them up, and throw them fromthe tall buildings in New York City so they would come down on the heroes thatwere being honored, sort of like rain falling down but it is paper. In general, it’sused to indicate that you are going to have a big celebration. Fumi tells Issacthat she’s not planning a ticker-tape parade, “but it’s time your contributions arerecognized for what they are around here!” “To recognize” means to realize thatthey are important.

Now let’s listen to the dialogue, this time at a normal speed.

[start of dialogue]

Fumi: You may have everyone else fooled, but I know the real reason for thesuccess of this project.

Issac: What?

Fumi: You. You’ve been working behind the scenes to bolster the people whoweren’t up to the task. Without you, this project would have been sunk monthsago.

Issac: That’s nonsense.

Fumi: No, it’s not. I know you don’t like the limelight, but you were the linchpin ofthis operation. Without you, we’d all have egg on our faces today.

Issac: You’re giving me way too much credit. I don’t want to hear another wordabout it.

Fumi: I’m not surprised at your reaction. Most unsung heroes like to keep a lowprofile.

Issac: What?! I’m nothing of the kind!

Fumi: Yes, you are. You’re far too modest. And soon, I won’t be the only onewho thinks so!

Issac: What are you proposing to do?

Fumi: Don’t worry. I’m not planning a ticker-tape parade, but it’s time yourcontributions are recognized for what they are around here!

[end of dialogue]

One of the unsung heroes here at ESL Podcast, working behind the scenes, isour own Dr. Lucy Tse. Although since I talk about her, she really isn’t unsung.

I’m singing her praises, which is an expression that means to say good thingsabout another person.

From Los Angeles, California, I’m Jeff McQuillan. Thank you for listening. Comeback and listen to us again on ESL Podcast.

English as a Second Language Podcast is written and produced by Dr. Lucy Tse,hosted by Dr. Jeff McQuillan, copyright 2011 by the Center for EducationalDevelopment.