＜Upper-Intermediate＞ Lesson No.16
Emergency Response for Schedule Adjustment Due to Delay in Plant Construction Permit Acquisition / プラント建設許可取得の遅延に伴う工程調整の緊急対応
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
Construction permit acquisition from local government is significantly delayed beyond expectations, requiring emergency response for alternative measures and schedule compression.
現地政府からの建設許可取得が予想より大幅に遅れ、代替案や工程短縮策について緊急対応を求められる場面です。
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．I sincerely apologize for...（...について心よりお詫び申し上げます）
２．Let me elaborate on...（...について詳しく説明させてください）
３．We will expedite the procurement of...（...の調達を短縮します）
４．We will modify the construction sequence to...（...できるよう建設順序を変更します）
５．We calculated that these measures can...（これらの施策により...できると計算しました）
６．We commit to weekly progress monitoring with...（...と週次で進捗監視を行うことをお約束します）
７．I will submit the comprehensive revised schedule with...（...を含む包括的な修正スケジュールを提出します）
1-2 Essential words
１．impose（課す）
２．anticipate（予測する）
３．postponed（延期した）
４．elaborate（詳しく説明する）
５．expedite（短縮する）
６．modify（変更する）
７．calculated（計算した）
８．commit（約束する）
９．mitigate（軽減する）
１０．submit（提出する）
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）
Construction permit acquisition from local government is significantly delayed beyond expectations, requiring emergency response for alternative measures and schedule compression.
現地政府からの建設許可取得が予想より大幅に遅れ、代替案や工程短縮策について緊急対応を求められる場面です。
👨💼【Teacher / Client Project Director】:
Thank you for meeting on such short notice. We need to discuss the construction permit delay and its impact on our market launch timeline. This is becoming a critical issue for our business strategy.
（急なお打ち合わせにご対応いただきありがとうございます。建設許可の遅延と市場投入スケジュールへの影響について話し合う必要があります。これは当社の事業戦略にとって重大な問題になりつつあります。）
🧑🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
I sincerely apologize for this situation. The local government imposed additional environmental assessments on the project, which we did not anticipate. This has postponed the permit approval by approximately 4 months from the original estimate.
（この状況について心よりお詫び申し上げます。地方自治体がプロジェクトに追加の環境評価を課しており、これは予測していませんでした。これにより許可承認が当初の見積もりから約4か月延期されました。）
👨💼【Teacher / Client Project Director】:
4 months is unacceptable. Our investors are counting on the facility to be operational by Q3 next year. Can you provide a realistic recovery plan that accelerates the remaining construction phases?
（4か月は受け入れられません。投資家は来年第3四半期までに施設が稼働することを当てにしています。残りの建設フェーズを加速する現実的な挽回計画を提示できますか？）
🧑🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
Understood. Let me elaborate on our recovery approach. First, we will expedite the procurement of long-lead equipment by 6 weeks through our alternative suppliers. Second, we will modify the construction sequence to allow parallel work on civil and mechanical installations. Third, we calculated that these measures can reduce the overall delay from 4 months to approximately 6 weeks. However, this requires your approval to proceed with the revised budget of 320000 USD, which is 8 percent higher than the original contract.
（承知しました。挽回アプローチについて詳しく説明させてください。第一に、代替サプライヤーを通じて長納期機器の調達を6週間短縮します。第二に、土木工事と機械設置を並行作業できるよう建設順序を変更します。第三に、これらの施策により全体の遅延を4か月から約6週間に短縮できると計算しました。ただし、これには当初契約より8パーセント高い320000米ドルの修正予算で進めることへのご承認が必要です。）
👨💼【Teacher / Client Project Director】:
The cost increase is concerning, but I appreciate the detailed breakdown. What guarantees can you provide that no further delays will occur? We cannot afford another setback at this stage.
（コスト増加は懸念事項ですが、詳細な内訳には感謝します。これ以上の遅延が発生しないという保証を何か提供できますか？この段階でこれ以上の後退は許容できません。）
🧑🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
We commit to weekly progress monitoring with your team and will assign a dedicated coordinator to communicate any potential issues immediately. Additionally, we have secured backup resources from our regional facilities to mitigate any unforeseen circumstances. If we detect any risk of further delay exceeding 1 week, we will activate our contingency protocol and absorb the additional costs ourselves.
（チームと週次で進捗監視を行うことをお約束し、潜在的な問題を即座に伝達する専任コーディネーターを配置します。さらに、予期せぬ状況を軽減するため地域施設からバックアップリソースを確保しました。1週間を超えるさらなる遅延のリスクを検知した場合、緊急時対応手順を発動し追加コストは当社が負担します。）
👨💼【Teacher / Client Project Director】:
Those commitments are reassuring. One final question: when can we expect the formal revised schedule and the permit status update?
（その約束は安心できます。最後に一つ質問です。正式な修正スケジュールと許可状況の最新情報はいつ期待できますか？）
🧑🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
I will submit the comprehensive revised schedule with all milestones by this Friday. Regarding the permit, we are consulting with the local authorities daily and anticipate receiving preliminary approval within 3 weeks. I will keep you updated every Monday with a detailed status report.
（全マイルストーンを含む包括的な修正スケジュールを今週金曜日までに提出します。許可に関しては、地方当局と毎日協議しており、3週間以内に予備承認を受けることを見込んでいます。詳細な状況報告を毎週月曜日にお知らせし続けます。）
👨💼【Teacher / Client Project Director】:
Thank you for the clear action plan and your commitment to transparency. I will discuss the revised budget with our board and get back to you by Wednesday. Let's proceed with the recovery plan once we have internal approval.
（明確な行動計画と透明性へのコミットメントに感謝します。修正予算について取締役会と協議し、水曜日までにご連絡します。社内承認が得られ次第、挽回計画を進めましょう。）
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）
Construction permit acquisition from local government is significantly delayed beyond expectations, requiring emergency response for alternative measures and schedule compression.
現地政府からの建設許可取得が予想より大幅に遅れ、代替案や工程短縮策について緊急対応を求められる場面です。
👨💼【Teacher / Client Project Director】:
Thank you for meeting on such short notice. We need to discuss the construction permit delay and its impact on our market launch timeline. This is becoming a critical issue for our business strategy.
🧑🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
I sincerely apologize for this situation. The local government ［課す］d additional environmental assessments on the project, which we did not ［予測する］. This has ［延期した］ the permit approval by approximately 4 months from the original estimate.
👨💼【Teacher / Client Project Director】:
4 months is unacceptable. Our investors are counting on the facility to be operational by Q3 next year. Can you provide a realistic recovery plan that accelerates the remaining construction phases?
🧑🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
Understood. Let me ［詳しく説明する］ on our recovery approach. First, we will ［短縮する］ the procurement of long-lead equipment by 6 weeks through our alternative suppliers. Second, we will ［変更する］ the construction sequence to allow parallel work on civil and mechanical installations. Third, we ［計算した］ that these measures can reduce the overall delay from 4 months to approximately 6 weeks. However, this requires your approval to proceed with the revised budget of 320000 USD, which is 8 percent higher than the original contract.
👨💼【Teacher / Client Project Director】:
The cost increase is concerning, but I appreciate the detailed breakdown. What guarantees can you provide that no further delays will occur? We cannot afford another setback at this stage.
🧑🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
We ［約束する］ to weekly progress monitoring with your team and will assign a dedicated coordinator to communicate any potential issues immediately. Additionally, we have secured backup resources from our regional facilities to ［軽減する］ any unforeseen circumstances. If we detect any risk of further delay exceeding 1 week, we will activate our contingency protocol and absorb the additional costs ourselves.
👨💼【Teacher / Client Project Director】:
Those commitments are reassuring. One final question: when can we expect the formal revised schedule and the permit status update?
🧑🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
I will ［提出する］ the comprehensive revised schedule with all milestones by this Friday. Regarding the permit, we are consulting with the local authorities daily and ［予測する］ receiving preliminary approval within 3 weeks. I will keep you updated every Monday with a detailed status report.
👨💼【Teacher / Client Project Director】:
Thank you for the clear action plan and your commitment to transparency. I will discuss the revised budget with our board and get back to you by Wednesday. Let's proceed with the recovery plan once we have internal approval.
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）
Construction permit acquisition from local government is significantly delayed beyond expectations, requiring emergency response for alternative measures and schedule compression.
現地政府からの建設許可取得が予想より大幅に遅れ、代替案や工程短縮策について緊急対応を求められる場面です。
👨💼【Teacher / Client Project Director】:
Thank you for meeting on such short notice. We need to discuss the construction permit delay and its impact on our market launch timeline. This is becoming a critical issue for our business strategy.
🧑🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
［この状況について心よりお詫び申し上げます。］ The local government imposed additional environmental assessments on the project, which we did not anticipate. This has postponed the permit approval by approximately 4 months from the original estimate.
👨💼【Teacher / Client Project Director】:
4 months is unacceptable. Our investors are counting on the facility to be operational by Q3 next year. Can you provide a realistic recovery plan that accelerates the remaining construction phases?
🧑🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
Understood. ［挽回アプローチについて詳しく説明させてください。］ First, we will expedite the procurement of long-lead equipment by 6 weeks through our alternative suppliers. Second, we will modify the construction sequence to allow parallel work on civil and mechanical installations. ［第三に、これらの施策により全体の遅延を4か月から約6週間に短縮できると計算しました。］ However, this requires your approval to proceed with the revised budget of 320000 USD, which is 8 percent higher than the original contract.
👨💼【Teacher / Client Project Director】:
The cost increase is concerning, but I appreciate the detailed breakdown. What guarantees can you provide that no further delays will occur? We cannot afford another setback at this stage.
🧑🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
［チームと週次で進捗監視を行うことをお約束し、潜在的な問題を即座に伝達する専任コーディネーターを配置します。］ Additionally, we have secured backup resources from our regional facilities to mitigate any unforeseen circumstances. If we detect any risk of further delay exceeding 1 week, we will activate our contingency protocol and absorb the additional costs ourselves.
👨💼【Teacher / Client Project Director】:
Those commitments are reassuring. One final question: when can we expect the formal revised schedule and the permit status update?
🧑🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
I will submit the comprehensive revised schedule with all milestones by this Friday. Regarding the permit, we are consulting with the local authorities daily and anticipate receiving preliminary approval within 3 weeks. I will keep you updated every Monday with a detailed status report.
👨💼【Teacher / Client Project Director】:
Thank you for the clear action plan and your commitment to transparency. I will discuss the revised budget with our board and get back to you by Wednesday. Let's proceed with the recovery plan once we have internal approval.
\ 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
The construction permit from the local government has been significantly delayed, affecting the overall project timeline.
Your client is concerned about the impact on their market launch and is requesting immediate solutions and schedule recovery measures.
地方自治体からの建設許可が大幅に遅延し、プロジェクト全体のタイムラインに影響を与えている。
顧客は市場投入への影響を懸念しており、即座の解決策とスケジュール挽回策を要求している。
👨💼【Teacher / Client Project Director】:
I need you to explain the current permit situation and provide a concrete recovery plan. How will you minimize the impact on our launch date?
（現在の許可状況を説明し、具体的な挽回計画を提示してください。市場投入日への影響をどのように最小化しますか？）
🧑🎓【Student / Your Role】:
(Free Speaking based on today's lesson)
Hints / ヒント
１． Explain the cause of the delay
２． Present the recovery timeline
３． Describe cost implications
４． Commit to monitoring and communication
※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)