#0916 - Being Forced Out of a Position, - Ang, mater, ESL Podcast McQuillan Jeff mp3+PDF
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//-->English as a Second Language Podcastwww.eslpod.comESL Podcast 916 – Being Forced Out of a PositionGLOSSARYwicked witch– a woman with magical powers used for evil (doing bad things), areference to the movie The Wizard of Oz* Shelby’s new boss is a wicked witch who does everything she can to make lifemiserable for the employees.to step down– to voluntarily leave a position of responsibility, allowing someoneelse to have that role* As Orlando got older, he began thinking about stepping down from his positionas CEO to let a younger executive gain leadership experience.to think this day would never come– to have trouble believing that somethinghas actually happened, because one has wanted it to happen for a very longtime, but did not know whether it was possible* Can you believe Amman and Hannah are getting married tomorrow? I thoughtthis day would never come.to live to see the day– to still be alive when an event finally happens, becauseone has been waiting for it for a very long time and was doubting whether itwould happen in one’s lifetime* I hope I never live to see the day when the company values making moneymore than it values employees.willingly– voluntarily; agreeing to do something without being forced to do it* Why would you willingly pay more in taxes than you’re required to pay?to give up– to relinquish; to step down from a position or let go of something sothat another person can have it* After years of trying to get acting jobs, Jenna had to give up her dreams ofbecoming a professional actress.to force (someone) out– to make someone leave a position, especially inbusiness and politics* Bryan tried to force out the other manager to give himself more power.how the mighty have fallen– a reference to a Biblical verse, “How the mightyhave fallen in battle!” describing how someone who was very strong and powerfulsuddenly loses that strength or power, and/or has something taken away* Just five years ago, Acme was the market leader, but today it has a marketshare of less than 10 percent. Oh, how the mighty have fallen!1These materials are copyrighted by the Center for Educational Development (2013). Posting ofthese materials on another website or distributing them in any way is prohibited.English as a Second Language Podcastwww.eslpod.comESL Podcast 916 – Being Forced Out of a Positionhigher-up– an executive, a top manager, or a decision-maker; someone whohas a lot of influence and decision-making power in an organization* The higher-ups are in a meeting to discuss the merger.to fall from grace– to fall out of favor; to do something that makes other peopleunhappy and think less of a person* Our Senator used to be very popular, but he voted in ways that led him to fallfrom grace in the eyes of the people.to not be able to wait to see the back of (someone)– to be very eager forsomeone to leave and no longer be involved in something* Joey was a terrible team member, and throughout the whole project, wecouldn’t wait to see the back of him.comeuppance– a punishment that someone deserves; a negative consequenceof bad behavior, especially when one has been acting in a superior or negativeway toward others* Justin spent the past few months bragging about his new job, so when he wasfired, it was his comeuppance.full story– the whole truth; the entire truth, without any parts left out; a story thatincorporates the perspectives of everyone who is involved* At first, we all blamed Jesse for the divorce, but once we heard the full story, werealized that Monica was equally at fault.to be rid of– to no longer have someone or something, especially an unpleasantperson or thing* It feels great to finally be rid of all that junk that was in the garage!once and for all– finally and completely; a phrase used when something hashappened that one has been anticipating for a long time, and that thing is definiteand final* Why do we keep arguing about the same things over and over again? Let’sreally talk about it and get things cleared up once and for all.hallelujah– a phrase used in worship or to express joy, happiness, andappreciation; a cheer used to show one’s happiness or enthusiasm* Did you hear that Quentin and Elena are getting married? Hallelujah!to bite (one’s) tongue– to stop talking immediately, especially when one hasbeen saying bad things* Bite your tongue! I never want to hear you say anything like that again.2These materials are copyrighted by the Center for Educational Development (2013). Posting ofthese materials on another website or distributing them in any way is prohibited.English as a Second Language Podcastwww.eslpod.comESL Podcast 916 – Being Forced Out of a PositionCOMPREHENSION QUESTIONS1.a)b)c)2.a)b)c)According to Julia, what is happening?Bettina has decided to stop serving as the chairperson.Bettina is being forced to leave her position.Bettina is being fired.Why does Julia say, “Bite your tongue”?Because she wants Hugo to speak more quietly.Because she feels like Hugo isn’t supporting her.Because she doesn’t like what Hugo said and she wants him to stop talking.______________WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN?to step downThe phrase “to step down,” in this podcast, means to voluntarily leave a positionof responsibility, allowing someone else to have that role: “Nicholas is steppingdown from his management position so that he can spend more time with hisfamily.” The phrase “to step up” means to agree to do something when one is notrequired to do it, or to take responsibility for something when others don’t wantto: “Who is going to step up and lead our fundraising efforts?” The phrase “toside-step” means to avoid something: “Stop side-stepping the issue! We need totalk about this.” Or “What can we do to side-step these problems in the future?”Finally, the phrase “to overstep (one’s) bounds” means to go beyond the limits ofwhat is acceptable: “You aren’t the company’s spokesperson, so you reallyoverstepped your bounds when you talked to that reporter.”to be rid ofIn this podcast, the phrase “to be rid of” means to no longer have someone orsomething, especially an unpleasant person or thing: “It’s going to feel great oncewe’re finally rid of all our credit card debt.” The phrase “to get rid of” means totake some action to give something away or throw it away: “Nobody is going tobuy that old couch. You’ll have to give it away for free if you want to get rid of it.”As a verb, “to rid” means to get rid of something: “We’re so glad she rid herself ofthat boyfriend.” Finally, the phrase “good riddance” is said when one is happythat something is gone or done: “I can’t believe those uninvited houseguestsstayed for three weeks. Good riddance!”3These materials are copyrighted by the Center for Educational Development (2013). Posting ofthese materials on another website or distributing them in any way is prohibited.English as a Second Language Podcastwww.eslpod.comESL Podcast 916 – Being Forced Out of a PositionCULTURE NOTEGolden ParachutesA “golden parachute” is an agreement between an employer and an employeethat states that the employee will receive certain benefits if he or she is“terminated” (fired; told to leave the job). A “parachute” is a large piece of fabricthat slows down one’s fall through the air, as when a person jumps out of anairplane or when a “space shuttle” (vehicle that travels into space) returns toearth. In a similar way, a “golden parachute” provides a “soft landing” (lowimpact) when an employee is terminated. “In effect” (in reality; what actuallyhappens), the employer pays the employee if he or she is terminated.Golden parachutes can provide many different types of “compensation”(payments). They could provide simple cash payments, but more complicatedarrangements could offer “stock options” (the possibility of buying stock in thefuture at a given price, no matter how much stock is actually worth at that time,usually allowing the recipient to buy stock at much less than it is worth).“Supporters” (people who like something) of golden parachutes argue that theymake it easier for companies to hire “talented” (very good at what they do)“executives” (top managers and decision-makers in a business) and that theyhelp executives make less “biased” (favoring one person or organization)decisions during mergers and acquisitions that might result in them losing theirjob. In contrast, “opponents” (people who do not like something) of goldenparachutes argue that they are unfair, because executives needs to accept the“risk” (the likelihood that a bad things might happen) of losing their job just likeeveryone else.______________Comprehension Questions Correct Answers: 1 – b; 2 – c4These materials are copyrighted by the Center for Educational Development (2013). Posting ofthese materials on another website or distributing them in any way is prohibited.English as a Second Language Podcastwww.eslpod.comESL Podcast 916 – Being Forced Out of a PositionCOMPLETE TRANSCRIPTWelcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 916 – Being Forcedout of a Position.This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode 916. I'm your host,Doctor Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for EducationalDevelopment in beautiful Los Angeles, California.Go to our website at ESLPod.com and become a member of ESL Podcast.This episode is a dialogueue between Julianna and Hugo about someone beingforced out or forced to leave their position. Let's get started.[start of dialogue]Julianna: Ha ha! The wicked witch is dead!Hugo: What are you talking about?Julianna: Bettina is stepping down as chairperson of the committee. I thought thisday would never come.Hugo: That’s a big surprise. I never thought I’d live to see the day when Bettinawould willingly give up her position.Julianna: It wasn’t her choice exactly. The rest of the committee forced her out,saying they couldn’t work with her anymore. Oh how the mighty have fallen!Hugo: But I thought she had the support of the higher-ups and they wanted her inthe position.Julianna: Well, she’s somehow fallen from grace and they can’t wait to see theback of her. It’s nice to see her get her comeuppance – finally!Hugo: Maybe we’re not getting the full story. Maybe she had personal reasonsfor leaving.Julianna: Whatever the reason, we’ll be rid of her once and for all. Hallelujah!Hugo: How do you know the next chairperson won’t be worse?5These materials are copyrighted by the Center for Educational Development (2013). Posting ofthese materials on another website or distributing them in any way is prohibited.
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