Welcome to this Bizmates words and phrases video series.

And today's natural natural idiom is at first glance.

At first glance.

What does this mean?

We will find out, but first let's do our review test.

OK, so let's imagine that we're talking about some company.

OK, we're talking about a famous company.

We're talking and I say hey I thought it was a Japanese company.

It's not a Japanese company?

And you say...

You have five seconds.

Go.

Time's up.

The answer.

That's right.

It's as American as apple pie.

It's a typical American company.

As American as apple pie.

I hope you got that.

OK, let's go on to today's idiom, at first glance.

OK, glance just means like to look look very quickly.

OK, so what does this mean?

The first look.

OK, well here's what I sometimes hear.

OK so imagine that our company has gotten a new computer system.

You know this happens a lot right?

A company gets a new computer system and everyone's kind of afraid to use this new system because

we don't know about it so well.

And you know, my colleague Taro...

I ask Taro, "How's the new computer system?"

You know, is it good?

And he says well first you know I think it's difficult but later it's not.

OK so first I think it's difficult but later it's not.

OK so when you first used this new system, it was... it seemed or looked difficult but

after using it, it became very easy.

OK.

That makes sense, but it's not really natural to say it like this.

A really natural way to say it is of course to use this idiom, like this.

So I say Taro, how's the new computer system?

You know is it a difficult to use?

And Taro says at first glance you know it looks complicated, but it's really not.

Very natural.

At first glance, when you take a quick look at this system, yeah it looks complicated

but it's really not.

Perfect.

OK, at first glance...

When you the first time you see it...

Yeah it's just a natural way to say that.

OK so let's look at pronunciation.

Very simple.

At first glance with a pause.

It looks complicated and you can make kind of a complicated face.

You know at first glance it looks complicated, but it's really not.

OK and then when you say it's really not, you give a little smile OK for more impact.

At first glance, it looks complicated, but it's really not.

You try.

OK great.

With my question.

So how's the new computer system? OK well maybe I'll try it.

Thanks.

Perfect OK.

So for homework, next time I'm going to say hey how's the computer system.

The new computer system and you just say at first glance, it looks complicated but it's

really not.

All right.

I hope you remember this and we will see you next time.

Thank you.