陳豪在北京的ABC美國公司工作，他在走廊上遇到了美國同事Amy。

(Office ambience)

C：Amy, 你有兩分鐘時間嗎？我有點事兒想請教你。

A：Yes, but let's step into my office so we don't disturb anyone else. What is it?

C：今天，信息技術部的一個同事被老板叫去訓了一頓，說他整天聊天兒。老板還說，你是來工作的，不是來社交的。

A：I agree. After all, that is what we are paid for and people who misuse company time are wasting company money.

C：可是，我記得你告訴過我，應該跟同事搞好關系。

A：I did. And one of the ways to do that is to engage in small talk or "chit-chat," as we say. You need to talk to your colleagues about things other than work.

C：聊工作以外的事兒？那我就更糊涂了。可老板說這是浪費工作時間啊。

A：It's not wasting time if you do it at the appropriate times.

C：那什么才是合適的時間呢？

A：Basically, at the beginning of the day when everyone is getting their tea or coffee and starting to settle in; during breaks and at lunch. The end of the day is another good time to chat.

C：早上上班和中午吃飯的時候還好，可下班前大家都趕著回家，根本沒人理我啊。

A：Chen Hao, I know this is important, but can we talk after work? I have a project to complete before the end of the day.

C：那好，一會兒見。

******

MC：陳豪跟Amy同路回家。

C：今天我特別注意了一下，發現很多人上班時間都在聊天。

A：Often people who have just competed a project or an assignment, need a break. They don't always consider that their colleague may be in the middle of something and doesn't have time to talk.

C：在這一點上，我自我感覺做得還不錯。每次來找你，我都會先問你有沒有時間。還有其他什么要注意的嗎？

A：Location is important. Pay attention to where you are so that you don't disturb the people who are working.

C：什么地方才不會干擾到別人呢？

A：A place like the break room or an office with a door will give you privacy as well as prevent others from being distracted by your conversation.

C：還有其他注意事項嗎？

A：Yes. We haven't talked about one of the most important - what you talk about.

C：聊天的內容還有規矩啊！

A：Small talk should not be viewed as a time to get personal and pry into people's private lives. Nor should it be a time to spread gossip.

C：所以一是不能打聽別人的隱私，二是不要散布小道消息。好，我知道了。謝謝你，Amy.