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<Elementary> Lesson No.6

Product Customization Proposal for New Overseas Market Development / 新規海外市場開拓のための製品カスタマイズ提案

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

Proposing product customization to comply with Europe-specific environmental regulations and technical standards, explaining costs and development timeline.
欧州特有の環境規制や技術基準に対応する製品カスタマイズの内容、コスト、開発期間を提案する場面です。

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 cost structure...(費用構造についてご説明させてください...)
2.We need to use special materials to...(...するため特殊な材料を使用する必要があります)
3.We can offer two options...(2つの選択肢を提示できます)
4.If you confirm a 3-year contract...(3年契約をご確認いただければ...)
5.We can arrange a pilot program for...(...のためパイロットプログラムを手配できます)
6.This approach will help reduce...(このアプローチは...を軽減するのに役立ちます)
7.We will provide full technical support...(完全な技術サポートを提供いたします)

1-2 Essential words
1.explain(説明する)
2.increase(増加させる)
3.reduce(削減する)
4.confirm(確認する)
5.arrange(手配する)
6.respond(対応する)
7.appreciate(感謝する)
8.detailed(詳細な)
9.flexible(柔軟な)
10.confidence(自信)
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)

Proposing product customization to comply with Europe-specific environmental regulations and technical standards, explaining costs and development timeline.
欧州特有の環境規制や技術基準に対応する製品カスタマイズの内容、コスト、開発期間を提案する場面です。

👨‍💼【Teacher / European Customer】:
Thank you for coming today. We received your proposal for the customized product. However, the price seems quite high compared to the standard model. Could you explain the cost breakdown in detail?
(本日はお越しいただきありがとうございます。カスタマイズ製品のご提案を拝見しました。しかし、標準モデルと比べて価格がかなり高いようです。費用の内訳を詳しく説明していただけますか?)
🧑‍🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
Thank you for your time. Let me explain our cost structure. First, we need to use special materials to meet European environmental regulations. Second, we must update the design to comply with technical standards. Third, we include additional testing and certification costs. These three factors increase the total cost.
(お時間をいただきありがとうございます。費用構造についてご説明させてください。第一に、欧州の環境規制に適合するため特殊な材料を使用する必要があります。第二に、技術基準に準拠するため設計を更新しなければなりません。第三に、追加の試験と認証費用が含まれます。この3つの要因が総費用を増加させています。)

👨‍💼【Teacher / European Customer】:
I understand the reasons. However, we need to consider the return on investment carefully. What is the development period, and is there any possibility to reduce the cost?
(理由は理解しました。しかし、投資対効果を慎重に検討する必要があります。開発期間はどのくらいで、費用を削減する可能性はありますか?)
🧑‍🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
The development period is 6 months from your approval. Regarding cost reduction, we can offer two options. If you confirm a 3-year contract, we will reduce the unit price by 8 percent. Alternatively, if you increase the order quantity to 5000 units per year, we can reduce the cost by 12 percent.
(開発期間はご承認から6か月です。費用削減に関しては、2つの選択肢を提示できます。3年契約をご確認いただければ、単価を8パーセント削減いたします。あるいは、年間発注数量を5000個に増やしていただければ、費用を12パーセント削減できます。)

👨‍💼【Teacher / European Customer】:
The 3-year contract option sounds reasonable. However, I am still concerned about the market acceptance. What if the customized product does not sell well in our market?
(3年契約の選択肢は妥当に思えます。しかし、市場での受け入れについてまだ懸念があります。カスタマイズ製品が当社の市場でうまく売れなかった場合はどうなりますか?)
🧑‍🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
That is an important point. We can arrange a pilot program for the first year. You can start with 2000 units to test the market response. After you confirm the sales results, we can discuss the full-scale contract. This approach will help reduce your investment risk.
(それは重要な点です。初年度にパイロットプログラムを手配できます。市場の反応を試すため2000個から始めていただけます。販売結果をご確認いただいた後、本格的な契約について協議できます。このアプローチは貴社の投資リスクを軽減するのに役立ちます。)

👨‍💼【Teacher / European Customer】:
The pilot program is a good idea. One more question: can you provide technical support during the market entry period? We may need help with customer inquiries about the new specifications.
(パイロットプログラムは良い案ですね。もう1つ質問があります。市場参入期間中に技術サポートを提供していただけますか?新しい仕様に関する顧客からの問い合わせについて支援が必要になるかもしれません。)
🧑‍🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
Yes, we will provide full technical support. We can arrange online training sessions for your sales team and prepare detailed specification documents in your local language. We will also assign a dedicated engineer to respond to technical inquiries within 24 hours.
(はい、完全な技術サポートを提供いたします。貴社の営業チーム向けにオンライン研修セッションを手配し、現地言語で詳細な仕様書を準備できます。また、技術的な問い合わせに24時間以内に対応する専任エンジニアを配置いたします。)

👨‍💼【Teacher / European Customer】:
That sounds comprehensive. Let me discuss this proposal with our management team. When do you need our final decision?
(それは包括的ですね。この提案を当社の経営陣と協議させてください。最終決定はいつまでに必要ですか?)
🧑‍🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
We appreciate your consideration. We need your decision by the end of next month to keep the development schedule. If you have any questions before that, please feel free to contact me anytime.
(ご検討いただきありがとうございます。開発スケジュールを維持するため、来月末までにご決定をいただく必要があります。それまでに何かご質問がございましたら、いつでもお気軽にご連絡ください。)

👨‍💼【Teacher / European Customer】:
Understood. I will get back to you with our answer within 3 weeks. Thank you for the detailed explanation and flexible options. This gives us confidence to move forward.
(承知しました。3週間以内に回答をお返しいたします。詳細な説明と柔軟な選択肢をありがとうございました。これにより前に進む自信が持てます。)
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)

Proposing product customization to comply with Europe-specific environmental regulations and technical standards, explaining costs and development timeline.
欧州特有の環境規制や技術基準に対応する製品カスタマイズの内容、コスト、開発期間を提案する場面です。

👨‍💼【Teacher / European Customer】:
Thank you for coming today. We received your proposal for the customized product. However, the price seems quite high compared to the standard model. Could you explain the cost breakdown in detail?
🧑‍🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
Thank you for your time. Let me [説明する] our cost structure. First, we need to use special materials to meet European environmental regulations. Second, we must update the design to comply with technical standards. Third, we include additional testing and certification costs. These three factors [増加させる] the total cost.

👨‍💼【Teacher / European Customer】:
I understand the reasons. However, we need to consider the return on investment carefully. What is the development period, and is there any possibility to reduce the cost?
🧑‍🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
The development period is 6 months from your approval. Regarding cost reduction, we can offer two options. If you [確認する] a 3-year contract, we will [削減する] the unit price by 8 percent. Alternatively, if you increase the order quantity to 5000 units per year, we can [削減する] the cost by 12 percent.

👨‍💼【Teacher / European Customer】:
The 3-year contract option sounds reasonable. However, I am still concerned about the market acceptance. What if the customized product does not sell well in our market?
🧑‍🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
That is an important point. We can [手配する] a pilot program for the first year. You can start with 2000 units to test the market response. After you [確認する] the sales results, we can discuss the full-scale contract. This approach will help [削減する] your investment risk.

👨‍💼【Teacher / European Customer】:
The pilot program is a good idea. One more question: can you provide technical support during the market entry period? We may need help with customer inquiries about the new specifications.
🧑‍🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
Yes, we will provide full technical support. We can [手配する] online training sessions for your sales team and prepare [詳細な] specification documents in your local language. We will also assign a dedicated engineer to [対応する] to technical inquiries within 24 hours.

👨‍💼【Teacher / European Customer】:
That sounds comprehensive. Let me discuss this proposal with our management team. When do you need our final decision?
🧑‍🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
We [感謝する] your consideration. We need your decision by the end of next month to keep the development schedule. If you have any questions before that, please feel free to contact me anytime.

👨‍💼【Teacher / European Customer】:
Understood. I will get back to you with our answer within 3 weeks. Thank you for the detailed explanation and flexible options. This gives us confidence to move forward.
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)

Proposing product customization to comply with Europe-specific environmental regulations and technical standards, explaining costs and development timeline.
欧州特有の環境規制や技術基準に対応する製品カスタマイズの内容、コスト、開発期間を提案する場面です。

👨‍💼【Teacher / European Customer】:
Thank you for coming today. We received your proposal for the customized product. However, the price seems quite high compared to the standard model. Could you explain the cost breakdown in detail?
🧑‍🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
Thank you for your time. [費用構造についてご説明させてください。] First, we need to use special materials to meet European environmental regulations. Second, we must update the design to comply with technical standards. Third, we include additional testing and certification costs. These three factors increase the total cost.

👨‍💼【Teacher / European Customer】:
I understand the reasons. However, we need to consider the return on investment carefully. What is the development period, and is there any possibility to reduce the cost?
🧑‍🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
The development period is 6 months from your approval. Regarding cost reduction, we can offer two options. [3年契約をご確認いただければ、単価を8パーセント削減いたします。] Alternatively, if you increase the order quantity to 5000 units per year, we can reduce the cost by 12 percent.

👨‍💼【Teacher / European Customer】:
The 3-year contract option sounds reasonable. However, I am still concerned about the market acceptance. What if the customized product does not sell well in our market?
🧑‍🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
That is an important point. [初年度にパイロットプログラムを手配できます。] You can start with 2000 units to test the market response. After you confirm the sales results, we can discuss the full-scale contract. [このアプローチは貴社の投資リスクを軽減するのに役立ちます。]

👨‍💼【Teacher / European Customer】:
The pilot program is a good idea. One more question: can you provide technical support during the market entry period? We may need help with customer inquiries about the new specifications.
🧑‍🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
Yes, [完全な技術サポートを提供いたします。] We can arrange online training sessions for your sales team and prepare detailed specification documents in your local language. We will also assign a dedicated engineer to respond to technical inquiries within 24 hours.

👨‍💼【Teacher / European Customer】:
That sounds comprehensive. Let me discuss this proposal with our management team. When do you need our final decision?
🧑‍🎓【Student / Sales Representative】:
We appreciate your consideration. We need your decision by the end of next month to keep the development schedule. If you have any questions before that, please feel free to contact me anytime.

👨‍💼【Teacher / European Customer】:
Understood. I will get back to you with our answer within 3 weeks. Thank you for the detailed explanation and flexible options. This gives us confidence to move forward.
\ 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 European customer is considering a customized electronic product to meet local regulations.
The sales representative must explain the cost structure, development timeline, and flexible contract options.
欧州の顧客が現地規制に適合するカスタマイズ電子製品を検討している。
営業担当者は費用構造、開発期間、柔軟な契約選択肢を説明しなければならない。

👨‍💼【Teacher / European Customer】:
I received your customization proposal. Can you explain why the price is higher than the standard model and what options we have to reduce the investment risk?
(カスタマイズ提案を受け取りました。なぜ価格が標準モデルより高いのか、また投資リスクを削減するためにどのような選択肢があるのか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 cost structure(費用構造を説明する)
2.Offer flexible contract options(柔軟な契約選択肢を提示する)
3.Arrange a pilot program(パイロットプログラムを手配する)
4.Provide technical support(技術サポートを提供する)
​※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)

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