<Upper-Intermediate> Lesson No.8
Explaining Competitive Strategy in Deregulated Power Markets / 電力自由化市場での競争戦略説明
0.Greetings & Ice-break (2min.)|挨拶と導入
0-1 Greetings
Let’s practice a short small talk that you can use to greet a business partner and start building a good relationship.
講師との挨拶を兼ねて、ビジネスパートナーと信頼関係を築くための短いスモールトークを練習してみましょう。
[Tips / 会話のヒント]
・Can you hear me clearly?
私の声はクリアに聞こえますか?
・How's your day going so far?
今日はどんな一日でしたか?
・Talk about one small topic (Work, Weather, News, Hometown, Sports event, etc.)
軽い話題について話しましょう(仕事、天気、ニュース、地元、スポーツイベントなど)
0-2 Introduction
In today’s lesson, we’ll learn about the following situation. Have you ever experienced something similar?
本日のレッスンでは以下のようなシチュエーションについて学びます。同様のシチュエーションを経験したことがありますか?
- If you have experience, please tell us what it was like, what was difficult, or what you learned.
経験があれば、どんな内容だったか、難しかったことや学んだことなどを教えて下さい。
- If you don’t have experience, try to imagine yourself handling that situation in English.
What do you think would be challenging?
経験がなければ、英語でその状況に対応しているところを想像してみましょう。どんなことが難しそうですか?
Situation / シチュエーション
This is a situation where strategies for maintaining and expanding market share in the fully liberalized electricity retail market are explained to overseas investors with specific targets.
電力小売市場の完全自由化による競争激化の中、海外投資家に市場シェア維持・拡大戦略を具体的な数値目標とともに説明する場面です。
1. Read (2 min)|型を学ぶ
Let's read the following key sentences aloud!
下記の文章や単語を順番に音読しましょう!
1-1 Basic phrases
1.Let me explain our approach...(当社のアプローチをご説明します)
2.We aim to enhance pricing competitiveness...(価格競争力を強化することを目指しています)
3.We plan to reduce customer acquisition costs...(顧客獲得コストを削減する計画です)
4.We calculated that automation of customer onboarding will...(顧客登録の自動化により...と計算しました)
5.We assessed our current retention rate...(現在の維持率を評価しており)
6.We will enhance customer loyalty through...(...を通じて顧客ロイヤルティを強化します)
7.We anticipate measurable improvements in...(...の測定可能な改善を見込んでおり)
1-2 Essential words
1.enhance(強化する)
2.launch(投入する)
3.reduce(削減する)
4.elaborate(詳しく説明する)
5.modernize(近代化する)
6.utilize(活用する)
7.accelerate(加速する)
8.assess(評価する)
9.monitor(監視する)
10.anticipate(見込む)
2. Try (3 min)|ロールプレイ練習
Let’s practice the role-play.
ロールプレイの練習をしましょう!
Situation / シチュエーション(Reference again)
This is a situation where strategies for maintaining and expanding market share in the fully liberalized electricity retail market are explained to overseas investors with specific targets.
電力小売市場の完全自由化による競争激化の中、海外投資家に市場シェア維持・拡大戦略を具体的な数値目標とともに説明する場面です。
👨💼【Teacher / Overseas Institutional Investor】:
Thank you for joining today's call. I'd like to understand your strategy for maintaining market share in the fully liberalized retail electricity market. How do you plan to compete effectively?
(本日はお時間をいただきありがとうございます。完全自由化された電力小売市場でのシェア維持戦略について理解したいと思います。どのように効果的に競争する計画ですか?)
🧑🎓【Student / Investor Relations Manager】:
Thank you for your interest. Let me explain our approach. First, we aim to enhance pricing competitiveness through cost reduction. Second, we will launch new service packages targeting specific customer segments. Third, we plan to reduce customer acquisition costs by 15 percent while maintaining retention rates above 90 percent.
(ご関心をお寄せいただきありがとうございます。当社のアプローチをご説明します。第一に、コスト削減を通じて価格競争力を強化することを目指しています。第二に、特定の顧客層をターゲットとした新サービスパッケージを投入します。第三に、顧客維持率を90パーセント以上に保ちながら、顧客獲得コストを15パーセント削減する計画です。)
👨💼【Teacher / Overseas Institutional Investor】:
Those are ambitious targets. Can you elaborate on the specific measures for cost reduction and how you will achieve the 15 percent decrease in acquisition costs?
(それは野心的な目標ですね。コスト削減の具体的な施策と、獲得コストの15パーセント削減をどのように達成するかについて詳しく説明していただけますか?)
🧑🎓【Student / Investor Relations Manager】:
Certainly. We will reduce costs by modernizing our infrastructure and utilizing digital platforms for customer engagement. We calculated that automation of customer onboarding will lower acquisition costs from 8000 USD per customer to 6800 USD. We also plan to accelerate our renewable energy integration to differentiate our offerings.
(承知しました。インフラを近代化し、顧客エンゲージメントにデジタルプラットフォームを活用することでコストを削減します。顧客登録の自動化により、獲得コストが顧客1人あたり8000米ドルから6800米ドルに下がると計算しました。また、当社の提供サービスを差別化するため、再生可能エネルギーの統合を加速する計画です。)
👨💼【Teacher / Overseas Institutional Investor】:
I appreciate the detail. However, I'm concerned about the retention rate target. With fierce competition and aggressive pricing from new entrants, how confident are you in maintaining 90 percent retention?
(詳細をありがとうございます。しかし、維持率の目標について懸念があります。激しい競争と新規参入者による積極的な価格設定がある中で、90パーセントの維持率を保つことにどの程度自信がありますか?)
🧑🎓【Student / Investor Relations Manager】:
That's a valid concern. We assessed our current retention rate at 88 percent, and we will enhance customer loyalty through personalized service plans and long-term contract incentives. We also monitor competitor pricing closely and adjust our offerings to remain competitive. Our analysis shows that customers value service quality over price alone, which is our advantage.
(それは妥当な懸念です。現在の維持率を88パーセントと評価しており、パーソナライズされたサービスプランと長期契約インセンティブを通じて顧客ロイヤルティを強化します。また、競合他社の価格設定を綿密に監視し、競争力を維持するために提供内容を調整しています。当社の分析では、顧客は価格だけでなくサービス品質を重視しており、これが当社の強みです。)
👨💼【Teacher / Overseas Institutional Investor】:
I see. One final question: what is your timeline for implementing these initiatives, and when can we expect to see measurable results?
(なるほど。最後に1つ質問です。これらの施策を実施するスケジュールはどうなっていますか?また、測定可能な結果をいつ期待できますか?)
🧑🎓【Student / Investor Relations Manager】:
We will launch the digital platform upgrade in 3 months and complete infrastructure modernization within 12 months. We anticipate measurable improvements in acquisition costs by the end of this fiscal year, and retention rate targets should be achieved within 18 months. We commit to providing quarterly updates on our progress.
(デジタルプラットフォームのアップグレードを3か月以内に開始し、インフラの近代化を12か月以内に完了します。今会計年度末までに獲得コストの測定可能な改善を見込んでおり、維持率の目標は18か月以内に達成される見込みです。進捗状況について四半期ごとに報告することをお約束します。)
👨💼【Teacher / Overseas Institutional Investor】:
Thank you for the comprehensive explanation. I appreciate your commitment to transparency and look forward to tracking your progress. This gives us confidence in your strategic direction.
(包括的な説明をありがとうございます。透明性へのコミットメントに感謝し、進捗を追跡することを楽しみにしています。これにより、貴社の戦略的方向性に自信が持てます。)
3. Use (4 min)|ロールプレイ & 実践(空欄補完)
Let's perform the role-play and fill in the blanks by translating the Japanese into English!
空欄の日本語を英語に訳しながら、ロールプレイを実践してみましょう!
Situation / シチュエーション(Reference again)
This is a situation where strategies for maintaining and expanding market share in the fully liberalized electricity retail market are explained to overseas investors with specific targets.
電力小売市場の完全自由化による競争激化の中、海外投資家に市場シェア維持・拡大戦略を具体的な数値目標とともに説明する場面です。
👨💼【Teacher / Overseas Institutional Investor】:
Thank you for joining today's call. I'd like to understand your strategy for maintaining market share in the fully liberalized retail electricity market. How do you plan to compete effectively?
🧑🎓【Student / Investor Relations Manager】:
Thank you for your interest. Let me explain our approach. First, we aim to [強化する] pricing competitiveness through cost reduction. Second, we will [投入する] new service packages targeting specific customer segments. Third, we plan to [削減する] customer acquisition costs by 15 percent while maintaining retention rates above 90 percent.
👨💼【Teacher / Overseas Institutional Investor】:
Those are ambitious targets. Can you elaborate on the specific measures for cost reduction and how you will achieve the 15 percent decrease in acquisition costs?
🧑🎓【Student / Investor Relations Manager】:
Certainly. We will [削減する] costs by [近代化する] our infrastructure and [活用する] digital platforms for customer engagement. We calculated that automation of customer onboarding will lower acquisition costs from 8000 USD per customer to 6800 USD. We also plan to [加速する] our renewable energy integration to differentiate our offerings.
👨💼【Teacher / Overseas Institutional Investor】:
I appreciate the detail. However, I'm concerned about the retention rate target. With fierce competition and aggressive pricing from new entrants, how confident are you in maintaining 90 percent retention?
🧑🎓【Student / Investor Relations Manager】:
That's a valid concern. We [評価する] our current retention rate at 88 percent, and we will [強化する] customer loyalty through personalized service plans and long-term contract incentives. We also [監視する] competitor pricing closely and adjust our offerings to remain competitive. Our analysis shows that customers value service quality over price alone, which is our advantage.
👨💼【Teacher / Overseas Institutional Investor】:
I see. One final question: what is your timeline for implementing these initiatives, and when can we expect to see measurable results?
🧑🎓【Student / Investor Relations Manager】:
We will [投入する] the digital platform upgrade in 3 months and complete infrastructure modernization within 12 months. We [見込む] measurable improvements in acquisition costs by the end of this fiscal year, and retention rate targets should be achieved within 18 months. We commit to providing quarterly updates on our progress.
👨💼【Teacher / Overseas Institutional Investor】:
Thank you for the comprehensive explanation. I appreciate your commitment to transparency and look forward to tracking your progress. This gives us confidence in your strategic direction.
4. Challenge (7 min)|応用実践
Let's perform the role-play and fill in the blanks by translating the Japanese into English!
空欄の日本語を英語に訳しながら、ロールプレイを実践してみましょう!
*Let's practice this part repeatedly until we can speak it smoothly.
このパートはスムーズにスピーキングできるようになるまで繰り返し練習しましょう。
Situation / シチュエーション(Reference again)
This is a situation where strategies for maintaining and expanding market share in the fully liberalized electricity retail market are explained to overseas investors with specific targets.
電力小売市場の完全自由化による競争激化の中、海外投資家に市場シェア維持・拡大戦略を具体的な数値目標とともに説明する場面です。
👨💼【Teacher / Overseas Institutional Investor】:
Thank you for joining today's call. I'd like to understand your strategy for maintaining market share in the fully liberalized retail electricity market. How do you plan to compete effectively?
🧑🎓【Student / Investor Relations Manager】:
Thank you for your interest. [当社のアプローチをご説明します。] [第一に、コスト削減を通じて価格競争力を強化することを目指しています。] Second, we will launch new service packages targeting specific customer segments. [第三に、顧客維持率を90パーセント以上に保ちながら、顧客獲得コストを15パーセント削減する計画です。]
👨💼【Teacher / Overseas Institutional Investor】:
Those are ambitious targets. Can you elaborate on the specific measures for cost reduction and how you will achieve the 15 percent decrease in acquisition costs?
🧑🎓【Student / Investor Relations Manager】:
Certainly. We will reduce costs by modernizing our infrastructure and utilizing digital platforms for customer engagement. [顧客登録の自動化により、獲得コストが顧客1人あたり8000米ドルから6800米ドルに下がると計算しました。] We also plan to accelerate our renewable energy integration to differentiate our offerings.
👨💼【Teacher / Overseas Institutional Investor】:
I appreciate the detail. However, I'm concerned about the retention rate target. With fierce competition and aggressive pricing from new entrants, how confident are you in maintaining 90 percent retention?
🧑🎓【Student / Investor Relations Manager】:
That's a valid concern. We assessed our current retention rate at 88 percent, and we will enhance customer loyalty through personalized service plans and long-term contract incentives. We also monitor competitor pricing closely and adjust our offerings to remain competitive. Our analysis shows that customers value service quality over price alone, which is our advantage.
👨💼【Teacher / Overseas Institutional Investor】:
I see. One final question: what is your timeline for implementing these initiatives, and when can we expect to see measurable results?
🧑🎓【Student / Investor Relations Manager】:
We will launch the digital platform upgrade in 3 months and complete infrastructure modernization within 12 months. We anticipate measurable improvements in acquisition costs by the end of this fiscal year, and retention rate targets should be achieved within 18 months. We commit to providing quarterly updates on our progress.
👨💼【Teacher / Overseas Institutional Investor】:
Thank you for the comprehensive explanation. I appreciate your commitment to transparency and look forward to tracking your progress. This gives us confidence in your strategic direction.
\ If you have some extra capacity, give it a try(余力があればやってみましょう)/
5. Real-world application (5 min)|実務応用
Let's speak freely with the phrases and flow we learned today. If you can, imagine your real job—it makes practice more effective.
本日学習した単語やフレーズ、会話の流れを思い出しながら、自由に話してみましょう。可能であれば、自身の実務を想像しながら話すと効果的です。
Situation / シチュエーション
You are presenting your company's competitive strategy in the liberalized electricity retail market to an overseas institutional investor.
The investor wants to understand your specific plans for pricing competitiveness, new services, customer acquisition costs, and retention rates.
あなたは自由化された電力小売市場における自社の競争戦略を、海外機関投資家に説明しています。
投資家は、価格競争力、新サービス、顧客獲得コスト、維持率に関する具体的な計画を理解したいと考えています。
👨💼【Teacher / Overseas Institutional Investor】:
I'd like to hear your strategy for competing in the liberalized electricity market. Can you explain your approach to maintaining market share and profitability?
(自由化された電力市場での競争戦略を伺いたいと思います。市場シェアと収益性を維持するためのアプローチを説明していただけますか?)
🧑🎓【Student / Your Role】:
(Free Speaking based on today's lesson)
Hints / ヒント
1. Explain the competitive strategy
2. Describe cost reduction measures
3. Present customer retention plans
4. Clarify the implementation timeline
※This is not a role-play. Please speak until you finish your thoughts.
このパートはロールプレイ形式ではありません。最後まで通して話してみましょう。
6. Wrap-up (2 min) |レッスンの振り返り
Let's review today's lesson with your teacher!
今日のレッスンについて講師と振り返ってみましょう!
6-1 Comments from student
・Good points / 良かったところ・上手くできたところ
・Things to work on / 今後強化したいところ
6-2 Feedback from teacher
・Good points / 良かった点
・Things to work on / 今後の強化ポイント
・What to review / 復習ポイント
*6-3 Questions from student (if any)
Japanese translation(日本語訳)
1. Read (2min)(型を学ぶ)|基本フレーズ
2. Try (4min)(ロールプレイ練習)|型を使った練習
Let’s practice the role-play.
ロールプレイの練習をしましょう!
3. Use (7min)|応用
Let’s perform the role-play and filling in the missing English!
英語を補完しながら、ロールプレイを実践してみましょう!
4. Challenge (7min)|実践
Let’s perform the role-play and filling in the missing English!
英語を補完しながら、ロールプレイを実践してみましょう!
5. Wrap-up (3min) – レッスンの振り返り
"Let’s review today’s lesson with your teacher!”
「今日のレッスンについて講師と振り返ってみましょう!」
5-1. Comments from Student
- Good points / 良かったところ・上手くできたところ
- Things to work on / 今後強化したいところ
5-2. Feedback from Teacher
- Good points / 良かった点
- Things to work on / 今後の強化ポイント
- What to review / 復習ポイント
5-3. Question from Students (If any)
