TOEIC Speaking Express an Opinion (Question 11): Flexible Working Hours and Changing Jobs

Question eleven: Express an opinion.

第11題：表達意見。

In this part of the test, you will give your opinion about a specific topic.

在這部分的測驗中，你要針對一個特定主題發表自己的意見。

Be sure to say as much as you can in the time allowed.

請務必在規定時間內盡量多說。

You will have forty-five seconds to prepare, then sixty seconds to speak.

你有45秒的準備時間，接著有60秒作答。

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?

你同意還是不同意以下說法？

Companies should let employees choose their own working hours.

公司應該讓員工自己選擇上班時間。

Begin speaking now.

現在開始作答。

On balance, I'd argue that flexible hours benefit both staff and employers.

整體而言，我認為彈性工時對員工和雇主都有好處。

To begin with, people simply aren't at their sharpest at the same time of day.

首先，每個人頭腦最清楚的時段本來就不同。

I'm a morning person, so my best work happens before nine.

我是晨型人，9點前工作效率最好。

Yet for years, I was stuck at my desk until six, running on empty!

可是好幾年來，我都得在辦公桌前耗到6點，早就累到不行！

When my firm brought in flexitime, my output went up noticeably!

公司實施彈性工時後，我的產出明顯提高了！

Secondly, flexibility signals trust, which in turn builds loyalty.

其次，彈性代表信任，而信任又會培養忠誠度。

A case in point is a colleague of mine with two young children.

一個很好的例子是我的一位同事，他有兩個年幼的孩子。

He was on the verge of resigning because of the school run.

他因為要接送小孩上學，差點就辭職了。

Once he could start at ten, he decided to stay,

後來他可以10點上班，就決定留下來了，

and he's now one of our most reliable team leaders!

現在他是我們最可靠的組長之一！

Admittedly, some roles do require fixed hours, such as customer support.

誠然，有些職位確實需要固定工時，例如客服。

That said, a simple system of core hours usually solves the problem.

話雖如此，只要設定簡單的核心工時，通常就能解決問題。

So, overall, I strongly agree with the statement.

所以整體來說，我非常同意這個說法。

Practice set two.

練習第2組。

Some people prefer to stay with one company for their whole career,

有些人喜歡整個職涯都待在同一家公司，

while others change jobs every few years. Which do you prefer and why?

也有些人每隔幾年就換工作。你比較喜歡哪一種？為什麼？

Begin speaking now.

現在開始作答。

Personally, I'd much rather change jobs every few years.

就我個人來說，我寧可每隔幾年換一次工作。

Granted, staying put offers security and a clear path to promotion.

沒錯，留在原地比較穩定，升遷路線也很清楚。

However, moving on is often the fastest way to grow.

不過，換工作往往是成長最快的方法。

I started my career at a large bank, which was a superb training ground.

我的職涯從一家大銀行開始，那裡是絕佳的磨練場所。

But after four years, I realised I'd stopped learning.

但四年後，我發現自己已經學不到東西了。

Switching to a tech start-up forced me to pick up new skills almost overnight!

轉到一家科技新創後，我幾乎一夜之間就被迫學會新技能！

What's more, changing employers tends to pay off financially.

此外，換雇主通常在收入上也比較划算。

My move came with a thirty per cent pay rise, which I hadn't expected at all!

那次換工作讓我加薪30%，完全出乎我的意料！

Mind you, I wouldn't recommend switching every six months!

話說回來，我可不建議每半年就換一次工作！

Employers might start to question your commitment.

雇主可能會開始懷疑你的穩定性。

But on the whole, a move every few years keeps your skills sharp and your career moving.

但整體來說，每隔幾年換一次工作，能讓你的技能保持敏銳，職涯持續前進。