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＜Elementary＞ Lesson No.33
医療インフレに伴う商品価格改定 / Adjusting Prices Due to Medical Inflation
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 premium hikes necessitated by rising medical costs.
収益悪化を食い止めるため、現場の反発を押し切って価格改定を断行する場面です。
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 the situation（状況を説明させてください）
２．We need to raise premiums to...（...するために保険料を引き上げる必要がある）
３．I appreciate your feedback（フィードバックに感謝します）
４．We can offer a gradual increase plan（段階的な値上げプランを提供できます）
５．We prepared a customer retention plan（顧客維持計画を準備しました）
６．We will provide additional benefits such as...（...などの追加特典を提供します）
７．We will send the complete materials to...（...に完全な資料を送ります）
1-2 Essential words
１．increase（増加）
２．explain（説明する）
３．concerned（心配している）
４．maintain（維持する）
５．reduce（減らす）
６．appreciate（感謝する）
７．gradual（段階的な）
８．prepare（準備する）
９．provide（提供する）
１０．handle（処理する）
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）
Explaining premium hikes necessitated by rising medical costs.
収益悪化を食い止めるため、現場の反発を押し切って価格改定を断行する場面です。
👨💼【Teacher / Regional Sales Manager】:
Thank you for meeting with me today. I received the notice about the premium increase for next year. Our team is very concerned because we might lose customers to competitors. Could you explain the reason for this decision?
（本日はお時間をいただきありがとうございます。来年度の保険料値上げの通知を受け取りました。私たちのチームは、競合他社に顧客を奪われるのではないかと非常に心配しています。この決定の理由を説明していただけますか？）
🧑🎓【Student / Insurance Product Manager】:
I understand your concern. Let me explain the situation. Medical costs have increased sharply over the past 2 years, and our loss ratio for health insurance has reached 95 percent. This means we pay out 95 USD for every 100 USD we receive in premiums. We need to raise premiums to maintain our ability to pay claims in the future.
（ご心配は理解しています。状況を説明させてください。医療費はこの2年間で急激に増加しており、医療保険の損害率は95パーセントに達しています。これは、保険料として受け取る100米ドルごとに95米ドルを支払っていることを意味します。将来的に保険金を支払う能力を維持するために、保険料を引き上げる必要があります。）
👨💼【Teacher / Regional Sales Manager】:
I see the numbers, but a 15 percent increase is too high. Our customers will definitely look for cheaper options. Can you reduce the increase or offer some flexibility?
（数字は理解しましたが、15パーセントの値上げは高すぎます。私たちの顧客は間違いなくより安い選択肢を探すでしょう。値上げ幅を減らすか、何らかの柔軟性を提供していただけませんか？）
🧑🎓【Student / Insurance Product Manager】:
I appreciate your feedback. We considered a smaller increase, but our calculations show that 15 percent is the minimum required to keep the loss ratio below 85 percent. However, we can offer a gradual increase plan. We could apply a 10 percent increase in the first year and 5 percent in the second year instead of 15 percent all at once.
（フィードバックに感謝します。より小さな値上げも検討しましたが、計算によると、損害率を85パーセント以下に保つには15パーセントが最低限必要です。ただし、段階的な値上げプランを提供できます。一度に15パーセントではなく、初年度に10パーセント、2年目に5パーセントの値上げを適用することができます。）
👨💼【Teacher / Regional Sales Manager】:
That sounds better, but I still worry about customer reactions. What if they cancel their policies? Do you have any plan to help us keep them?
（それは良く聞こえますが、それでも顧客の反応が心配です。もし彼らが保険契約を解約したらどうしますか？顧客を維持するための何か計画はありますか？）
🧑🎓【Student / Insurance Product Manager】:
Yes, we prepared a customer retention plan. We will provide additional benefits such as free annual health check-ups and 24-hour medical consultation services at no extra cost. These benefits will help customers see the value beyond the premium increase. We will also prepare detailed materials to explain the medical cost situation clearly to your customers.
（はい、顧客維持計画を準備しました。追加費用なしで、無料の年次健康診断や24時間医療相談サービスなどの追加特典を提供します。これらの特典により、顧客は保険料値上げを超える価値を理解できるでしょう。また、医療費の状況を顧客に明確に説明するための詳細な資料も準備します。）
👨💼【Teacher / Regional Sales Manager】:
Those benefits might help. When can we receive the materials? We need to start explaining this to our customers as soon as possible.
（それらの特典は役立つかもしれません。資料はいつ受け取れますか？できるだけ早く顧客への説明を始める必要があります。）
🧑🎓【Student / Insurance Product Manager】:
We will send the complete materials to your team by the end of this week. The materials will include the cost breakdown, benefit details, and answers to frequently asked questions. If you need any additional support, please contact me directly. We want to work together to handle this situation successfully.
（今週末までに完全な資料をあなたのチームに送ります。資料には、費用の内訳、特典の詳細、よくある質問への回答が含まれます。追加のサポートが必要な場合は、直接私に連絡してください。この状況をうまく処理するために協力したいと考えています。）
👨💼【Teacher / Regional Sales Manager】:
Thank you for the explanation and the support plan. I will share this information with my team right away. I hope the gradual increase and additional benefits will help us keep our customers. Let's stay in close contact during this period.
（説明とサポート計画をありがとうございます。この情報をすぐにチームと共有します。段階的な値上げと追加特典が顧客を維持するのに役立つことを願っています。この期間中、密接に連絡を取り合いましょう。）
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）
Explaining premium hikes necessitated by rising medical costs.
収益悪化を食い止めるため、現場の反発を押し切って価格改定を断行する場面です。
👨💼【Teacher / Regional Sales Manager】:
Thank you for meeting with me today. I received the notice about the premium increase for next year. Our team is very concerned because we might lose customers to competitors. Could you explain the reason for this decision?
🧑🎓【Student / Insurance Product Manager】:
I understand your concern. Let me ［説明する］ the situation. Medical costs have ［増加］d sharply over the past 2 years, and our loss ratio for health insurance has reached 95 percent. This means we pay out 95 USD for every 100 USD we receive in premiums. We need to raise premiums to ［維持する］ our ability to pay claims in the future.
👨💼【Teacher / Regional Sales Manager】:
I see the numbers, but a 15 percent increase is too high. Our customers will definitely look for cheaper options. Can you reduce the increase or offer some flexibility?
🧑🎓【Student / Insurance Product Manager】:
I ［感謝する］ your feedback. We considered a smaller ［増加］, but our calculations show that 15 percent is the minimum required to keep the loss ratio below 85 percent. However, we can offer a ［段階的な］ increase plan. We could apply a 10 percent increase in the first year and 5 percent in the second year instead of 15 percent all at once.
👨💼【Teacher / Regional Sales Manager】:
That sounds better, but I still worry about customer reactions. What if they cancel their policies? Do you have any plan to help us keep them?
🧑🎓【Student / Insurance Product Manager】:
Yes, we ［準備する］d a customer retention plan. We will ［提供する］ additional benefits such as free annual health check-ups and 24-hour medical consultation services at no extra cost. These benefits will help customers see the value beyond the premium increase. We will also ［準備する］ detailed materials to ［説明する］ the medical cost situation clearly to your customers.
👨💼【Teacher / Regional Sales Manager】:
Those benefits might help. When can we receive the materials? We need to start explaining this to our customers as soon as possible.
🧑🎓【Student / Insurance Product Manager】:
We will send the complete materials to your team by the end of this week. The materials will include the cost breakdown, benefit details, and answers to frequently asked questions. If you need any additional support, please contact me directly. We want to work together to ［処理する］ this situation successfully.
👨💼【Teacher / Regional Sales Manager】:
Thank you for the explanation and the support plan. I will share this information with my team right away. I hope the gradual increase and additional benefits will help us keep our customers. Let's stay in close contact during this period.
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 premium hikes necessitated by rising medical costs.
収益悪化を食い止めるため、現場の反発を押し切って価格改定を断行する場面です。
👨💼【Teacher / Regional Sales Manager】:
Thank you for meeting with me today. I received the notice about the premium increase for next year. Our team is very concerned because we might lose customers to competitors. Could you explain the reason for this decision?
🧑🎓【Student / Insurance Product Manager】:
I understand your concern. ［状況を説明させてください。］ Medical costs have increased sharply over the past 2 years, and our loss ratio for health insurance has reached 95 percent. This means we pay out 95 USD for every 100 USD we receive in premiums. ［将来的に保険金を支払う能力を維持するために、保険料を引き上げる必要があります。］
👨💼【Teacher / Regional Sales Manager】:
I see the numbers, but a 15 percent increase is too high. Our customers will definitely look for cheaper options. Can you reduce the increase or offer some flexibility?
🧑🎓【Student / Insurance Product Manager】:
［フィードバックに感謝します。］ We considered a smaller increase, but our calculations show that 15 percent is the minimum required to keep the loss ratio below 85 percent. However, ［段階的な値上げプランを提供できます。］ We could apply a 10 percent increase in the first year and 5 percent in the second year instead of 15 percent all at once.
👨💼【Teacher / Regional Sales Manager】:
That sounds better, but I still worry about customer reactions. What if they cancel their policies? Do you have any plan to help us keep them?
🧑🎓【Student / Insurance Product Manager】:
Yes, we prepared a customer retention plan. We will provide additional benefits such as free annual health check-ups and 24-hour medical consultation services at no extra cost. These benefits will help customers see the value beyond the premium increase. We will also prepare detailed materials to explain the medical cost situation clearly to your customers.
👨💼【Teacher / Regional Sales Manager】:
Those benefits might help. When can we receive the materials? We need to start explaining this to our customers as soon as possible.
🧑🎓【Student / Insurance Product Manager】:
We will send the complete materials to your team by the end of this week. The materials will include the cost breakdown, benefit details, and answers to frequently asked questions. If you need any additional support, please contact me directly. We want to work together to handle this situation successfully.
👨💼【Teacher / Regional Sales Manager】:
Thank you for the explanation and the support plan. I will share this information with my team right away. I hope the gradual increase and additional benefits will help us keep our customers. Let's stay in close contact during this period.
\ 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
Medical costs have increased sharply, and the loss ratio for health insurance has reached a critical level.
The insurance company must raise premiums by 15 percent to maintain financial stability.
医療費が急激に増加し、医療保険の損害率が危機的な水準に達しています。
保険会社は財務の安定性を維持するために保険料を15パーセント引き上げる必要があります。
👨💼【Teacher / Regional Sales Manager】:
I understand the financial situation, but our sales team needs clear reasons to explain this increase to customers. Can you help us understand the key points we should communicate?
（財務状況は理解していますが、営業チームは顧客にこの値上げを説明するための明確な理由が必要です。私たちが伝えるべき重要なポイントを理解するのを助けていただけますか？）
🧑🎓【Student / Your Role】:
(Free Speaking based on today's lesson)
Hints / ヒント
１．Explain the cost situation clearly（費用状況を明確に説明する）
２．Describe the gradual increase plan（段階的な値上げプランを述べる）
３．Present additional customer benefits（追加の顧客特典を提示する）
４．Offer detailed support materials（詳細なサポート資料を提供する）
※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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