<Elementary> Lesson No.6
Negotiating Additional Construction Costs for Plant Project / プラント建設費用の追加請求に関する交渉
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
Explaining additional costs for unexpected ground improvement work and regulatory compliance in plant construction projects.
プラント建設で想定外の地盤改良工事や法規制対応による追加費用について説明する場面です。
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.I apologize for the inconvenience...(ご不便をおかけして申し訳ございません...)
2.The root cause is that...(根本原因は...です)
3.Let me explain the cost breakdown...(費用の内訳を説明させてください...)
4.These amounts are based on...(これらの金額は...に基づいています)
5.We have reviewed possible cost reduction...(可能なコスト削減を検討いたしました...)
6.We can offer a discount if you...(...していただければ割引を提供できます)
7.According to Article 12 of our contract...(契約の第12条によれば...)
1-2 Essential words
1.apologize(謝罪する)
2.root cause(根本原因)
3.explain(説明する)
4.detailed(詳細な)
5.reduce(削減する)
6.approve(承認する)
7.responsible(責任を負う)
8.willingness(意思)
9.prepare(準備する)
10.flexibility(柔軟性)
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)
Explaining additional costs for unexpected ground improvement work and regulatory compliance in plant construction projects.
プラント建設で想定外の地盤改良工事や法規制対応による追加費用について説明する場面です。
👨💼【Teacher / Client Project Manager】:
Thank you for meeting with me today. I received your notice about the additional costs for soil improvement and regulatory compliance. Could you explain in detail why these costs were not included in the original estimate?
(本日はお時間をいただきありがとうございます。地盤改良と法規制対応の追加費用についての通知を受け取りました。なぜこれらの費用が当初の見積もりに含まれていなかったのか、詳しく説明していただけますか?)
🧑🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
I apologize for the inconvenience this has caused. The root cause is that the geological survey conducted before the contract did not detect the weak soil layer at the construction depth. We only discovered this issue after we started the foundation work.
(ご不便をおかけして申し訳ございません。根本原因は、契約前に実施した地質調査が建設深度の軟弱地盤層を検出できなかったことです。基礎工事を開始した後にこの問題を発見しました。)
👨💼【Teacher / Client Project Manager】:
I understand that unexpected issues can happen. However, this additional cost of 850000 USD is a serious concern for our budget. We need you to provide a detailed breakdown of this amount and explain how you calculated it.
(予期しない問題が起こり得ることは理解しています。しかし、この85万米ドルの追加費用は私たちの予算にとって深刻な懸念事項です。この金額の詳細な内訳を提供し、どのように計算したのか説明していただく必要があります。)
🧑🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
Certainly. Let me explain the cost breakdown. First, the soil improvement work requires 520000 USD for materials and construction. Second, the regulatory compliance work costs 230000 USD for environmental permits and safety measures. Third, engineering design changes require 100000 USD. These amounts are based on actual market prices and our supplier quotations.
(承知しました。費用の内訳を説明させてください。第一に、地盤改良工事には材料と施工で52万米ドルが必要です。第二に、法規制対応作業には環境許可と安全対策で23万米ドルかかります。第三に、エンジニアリング設計変更には10万米ドルが必要です。これらの金額は実際の市場価格と当社のサプライヤー見積もりに基づいています。)
👨💼【Teacher / Client Project Manager】:
I appreciate the detailed explanation. However, we are still concerned about the impact on our business plan. Is there any possibility to reduce these costs? We would like you to consider alternative solutions or a phased approach.
(詳細な説明をありがとうございます。しかし、私たちは依然として事業計画への影響を懸念しています。これらの費用を削減する可能性はありますか?代替案や段階的なアプローチを検討していただきたいです。)
🧑🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
I understand your concern. We have reviewed possible cost reduction options. We can offer a 5 percent discount if you approve the additional work within 2 weeks. This will help us schedule resources efficiently. Additionally, we can divide the payment into 3 installments over 6 months to reduce the immediate financial burden.
(ご懸念は理解しております。可能なコスト削減オプションを検討いたしました。2週間以内に追加作業を承認いただければ、5パーセントの割引を提供できます。これにより効率的にリソースをスケジュールできます。さらに、支払いを6か月間で3回の分割払いにすることで、即座の財務負担を軽減できます。)
👨💼【Teacher / Client Project Manager】:
The discount and payment plan are helpful. One more question: according to our contract, who should be responsible for costs caused by insufficient geological surveys? We need to confirm this point before we proceed.
(割引と支払い計画は助かります。もう1つ質問があります。契約によれば、不十分な地質調査によって生じた費用は誰が責任を負うべきですか?進める前にこの点を確認する必要があります。)
🧑🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
That is an important point. According to Article 12 of our contract, unforeseen ground conditions are classified as force majeure events. In such cases, the additional costs are shared between both parties. However, considering our long-term partnership, we are willing to take responsibility for 15 percent of the total additional cost. This means you would pay 722500 USD instead of 850000 USD.
(それは重要な点です。契約の第12条によれば、予見できない地盤状況は不可抗力事象に分類されます。そのような場合、追加費用は双方で分担されます。しかし、長期的なパートナーシップを考慮し、追加費用総額の15パーセントを当社が責任を負う用意があります。つまり、85万米ドルではなく72万2500米ドルをお支払いいただくことになります。)
👨💼【Teacher / Client Project Manager】:
I appreciate your willingness to share the burden. Let me discuss this proposal with our management team. Can you send me the detailed cost breakdown and the revised payment schedule by the end of this week? We will need that information for our internal review.
(負担を分担する意思を示していただき感謝します。この提案を経営陣と話し合わせてください。今週末までに詳細な費用内訳と修正された支払いスケジュールを送っていただけますか?社内レビューのためにその情報が必要です。)
🧑🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
Absolutely. I will prepare the complete documentation including the cost breakdown, payment schedule, and supporting quotations from our suppliers. You will receive everything by Friday afternoon. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions during your review process.
(もちろんです。費用内訳、支払いスケジュール、サプライヤーからの裏付け見積もりを含む完全な文書を準備いたします。金曜日の午後までにすべてをお受け取りいただけます。レビュープロセス中に質問がございましたら、お気軽にご連絡ください。)
👨💼【Teacher / Client Project Manager】:
Thank you for your cooperation and flexibility on this matter. Your proposal to reduce the cost and offer flexible payment terms shows good faith. I will get back to you with our decision early next week after we complete our internal discussions.
(この件についてのご協力と柔軟性に感謝します。費用を削減し柔軟な支払い条件を提供するという提案は誠意を示しています。社内協議を完了した後、来週初めに決定をお伝えします。)
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)
Explaining additional costs for unexpected ground improvement work and regulatory compliance in plant construction projects.
プラント建設で想定外の地盤改良工事や法規制対応による追加費用について説明する場面です。
👨💼【Teacher / Client Project Manager】:
Thank you for meeting with me today. I received your notice about the additional costs for soil improvement and regulatory compliance. Could you explain in detail why these costs were not included in the original estimate?
🧑🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
I [謝罪する] for the inconvenience this has caused. The [根本原因] is that the geological survey conducted before the contract did not detect the weak soil layer at the construction depth. We only discovered this issue after we started the foundation work.
👨💼【Teacher / Client Project Manager】:
I understand that unexpected issues can happen. However, this additional cost of 850000 USD is a serious concern for our budget. We need you to provide a detailed breakdown of this amount and explain how you calculated it.
🧑🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
Certainly. Let me [説明する] the cost breakdown. First, the soil improvement work requires 520000 USD for materials and construction. Second, the regulatory compliance work costs 230000 USD for environmental permits and safety measures. Third, engineering design changes require 100000 USD. These amounts are based on actual market prices and our supplier quotations.
👨💼【Teacher / Client Project Manager】:
I appreciate the detailed explanation. However, we are still concerned about the impact on our business plan. Is there any possibility to reduce these costs? We would like you to consider alternative solutions or a phased approach.
🧑🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
I understand your concern. We have reviewed possible cost reduction options. We can offer a 5 percent discount if you [承認する] the additional work within 2 weeks. This will help us schedule resources efficiently. Additionally, we can divide the payment into 3 installments over 6 months to [削減する] the immediate financial burden.
👨💼【Teacher / Client Project Manager】:
The discount and payment plan are helpful. One more question: according to our contract, who should be responsible for costs caused by insufficient geological surveys? We need to confirm this point before we proceed.
🧑🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
That is an important point. According to Article 12 of our contract, unforeseen ground conditions are classified as force majeure events. In such cases, the additional costs are shared between both parties. However, considering our long-term partnership, we are willing to take [責任を負う] for 15 percent of the total additional cost. This means you would pay 722500 USD instead of 850000 USD.
👨💼【Teacher / Client Project Manager】:
I appreciate your willingness to share the burden. Let me discuss this proposal with our management team. Can you send me the detailed cost breakdown and the revised payment schedule by the end of this week? We will need that information for our internal review.
🧑🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
Absolutely. I will [準備する] the complete documentation including the cost breakdown, payment schedule, and supporting quotations from our suppliers. You will receive everything by Friday afternoon. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions during your review process.
👨💼【Teacher / Client Project Manager】:
Thank you for your cooperation and flexibility on this matter. Your proposal to reduce the cost and offer flexible payment terms shows good faith. I will get back to you with our decision early next week after we complete our internal discussions.
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)
Explaining additional costs for unexpected ground improvement work and regulatory compliance in plant construction projects.
プラント建設で想定外の地盤改良工事や法規制対応による追加費用について説明する場面です。
👨💼【Teacher / Client Project Manager】:
Thank you for meeting with me today. I received your notice about the additional costs for soil improvement and regulatory compliance. Could you explain in detail why these costs were not included in the original estimate?
🧑🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
[ご不便をおかけして申し訳ございません。] [根本原因は、契約前に実施した地質調査が建設深度の軟弱地盤層を検出できなかったことです。] We only discovered this issue after we started the foundation work.
👨💼【Teacher / Client Project Manager】:
I understand that unexpected issues can happen. However, this additional cost of 850000 USD is a serious concern for our budget. We need you to provide a detailed breakdown of this amount and explain how you calculated it.
🧑🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
Certainly. [費用の内訳を説明させてください。] First, the soil improvement work requires 520000 USD for materials and construction. Second, the regulatory compliance work costs 230000 USD for environmental permits and safety measures. Third, engineering design changes require 100000 USD. [これらの金額は実際の市場価格と当社のサプライヤー見積もりに基づいています。]
👨💼【Teacher / Client Project Manager】:
I appreciate the detailed explanation. However, we are still concerned about the impact on our business plan. Is there any possibility to reduce these costs? We would like you to consider alternative solutions or a phased approach.
🧑🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
I understand your concern. We have reviewed possible cost reduction options. We can offer a 5 percent discount if you approve the additional work within 2 weeks. This will help us schedule resources efficiently. Additionally, we can divide the payment into 3 installments over 6 months to reduce the immediate financial burden.
👨💼【Teacher / Client Project Manager】:
The discount and payment plan are helpful. One more question: according to our contract, who should be responsible for costs caused by insufficient geological surveys? We need to confirm this point before we proceed.
🧑🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
That is an important point. According to Article 12 of our contract, unforeseen ground conditions are classified as force majeure events. In such cases, the additional costs are shared between both parties. However, considering our long-term partnership, we are willing to take responsibility for 15 percent of the total additional cost. This means you would pay 722500 USD instead of 850000 USD.
👨💼【Teacher / Client Project Manager】:
I appreciate your willingness to share the burden. Let me discuss this proposal with our management team. Can you send me the detailed cost breakdown and the revised payment schedule by the end of this week? We will need that information for our internal review.
🧑🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
Absolutely. I will prepare the complete documentation including the cost breakdown, payment schedule, and supporting quotations from our suppliers. You will receive everything by Friday afternoon. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions during your review process.
👨💼【Teacher / Client Project Manager】:
Thank you for your cooperation and flexibility on this matter. Your proposal to reduce the cost and offer flexible payment terms shows good faith. I will get back to you with our decision early next week after we complete our internal discussions.
\ 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
A plant construction project has encountered unexpected additional costs due to soil improvement and regulatory compliance issues.
The sales representative must explain the cost increase to the client and reach an agreement on cost sharing.
プラント建設プロジェクトにおいて、地盤改良と法規制対応により予期しない追加費用が発生した。
営業担当者は顧客に費用増加を説明し、費用分担について合意に達する必要がある。
👨💼【Teacher / Client Project Manager】:
I need to understand why these additional costs occurred and how we should handle them. Could you walk me through the situation?
(なぜこれらの追加費用が発生したのか、どのように対処すべきか理解する必要があります。状況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 root cause of additional costs(追加費用の根本原因を説明する)
2.Provide detailed cost breakdown(詳細な費用内訳を提供する)
3.Offer cost reduction options(コスト削減オプションを提供する)
4.Clarify contract terms and responsibility(契約条件と責任を明確にする)
※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)
