Dagmara Szonert-Rzepecka PRZEWODNIK PO BUSINESS ENGLISH

Dagmara Szonert-Rzepecka
PRZEWODNIK
PO
BUSINESS ENGLISH
Łódź - 2005
Redakcja i korekta techniczna: Jadwiga Poczyczyńska
Skład i łamanie tekstu: Barbara Lebioda
Projekt okładki: Barbara Świętochowska
© Copyright by:
Społeczna Wyższa Szkoła
Przedsiębiorczości i Zarządzania w Łodzi
ISBN: 83-921842-7-0
Druk i oprawa: Wydawnictwo „GREEN”, Plac Komuny Paryskiej 4,
90-007 Łódź, tel. 42 633 4514, fax. 42 633 4519, 0 604 507 082,
e-mail:[email protected]
SPIS TREŚCI
WSTĘP .........................................................................................................................
11
1.
HUMAN RESOURCES...............................................................................
13
1.1.
Read the text carefully ...........................................................................
13
1.2.
Answer the questions.............................................................................
14
1.3.
Work in small groups and discuss the questions...............................
15
1.4.
Work in pairs and answer the questions .............................................
16
1.5.
Look at the dialogues about taking on new employees and,
following the models use prompts below to make similar
dialogues with a partner.........................................................................
17
1.6.
Develop the subjects given below orally and in writing...................
18
1.7.
Complete the sentences with the words in the box..........................
18
1.8.
Talk about which of the above mentioned positions would be
suitable or unsuitable for you and why. Discuss which of them
are most challenging...............................................................................
19
Discuss the possible responsibilities related to the following
jobs and discuss the qualifications and personal characteristics
required ....................................................................................................
20
APPLYING FOR A JOB ..............................................................................
21
2.1.
Read the text carefully........................................................................
21
2.2.
Answer the questions .........................................................................
22
2.3.
Listen to the interview and answer the following questions........
23
2.4.
Look at the tapescript and check your answers .............................
24
2.5.
In pairs act out similar interviews, using the prompts below ......
26
2.6.
Look at the letter of application and then write a similar one
using the prompts below ...................................................................
27
Look at the CV below and write a similar one ..............................
28
1.9.
2.
2.7.
4
3.
TYPES OF COMPANIES...........................................................................
29
3.1.
Read the text carefully.......................................................................
29
3.2.
Answer the following questions .......................................................
30
3.3.
Using the information in the text mark the sentences as true
or false by putting T or F at the end. Then correct the false
sentences ..............................................................................................
31
In pairs, decide which of the advantages and disadvantages
below you would associate with the following forms of
business. In some cases there may be more than one correct
answer...................................................................................................
33
COMPANY STRUCTURE .........................................................................
34
3.4.
4.
4.1.
Compare the shamrock organization with a traditional
company. What are the advantages and disadvantages of
a shamrock organization for the following?...................................
35
Imagine that a traditional oil company has decided to
reorganize as a shamrock organization in order to cut costs.
Work in small groups and discuss these points. In each case,
give your reasons ................................................................................
36
Where would you prefer to work – in a shamrock
organization or a traditional company? Discuss it in small
groups ...................................................................................................
36
Philips is a major multinational company which has almost
30,000 trademarks registered worldwide. In groups, study the
organization chart below. Is it a shamrock organization or a
traditional company............................................................................
37
Read the text about Philips and decide whether the following
statements are true or false (T) (F)...................................................
37
Match the words from the text with their corresponding
definitions ............................................................................................
39
Replace the words in italics with the words used in the text .......
40
INSURANCE ..................................................................................................
41
5.1.
Read the text answer the questions below......................................
41
5.2.
Read the text answer the questions below......................................
44
5.3.
Work in pairs and discuss..................................................................
46
4.2.
4.3.
4.4.
4.5.
4.6.
4.7.
5.
5
6.
5.4.
Fill in the enclosed insurance policy ................................................
46
5.5.
Carry out a conversation with a partner. You talk to the
English exporter who wants to insure the goods shipped to
Poland with Hull Insurance Branch Office of Warta ...................
47
BANKING SERVICES.................................................................................
48
6.1.
Read the text and answer the questions below ..............................
48
6.2.
Read the text of the dialogue between a prospective business
customer of the bank and a bank clerk ...........................................
50
6.3.
Complete the following sentences ...................................................
52
6.4.
Read the text of the dialogue ............................................................
53
6.5
Choose the correct answer................................................................
54
6.6.
Compare the credit services discussed in the dialogue with the
business loan facilities in Poland. What are the differences?
What would you change?...................................................................
56
Read the following offer made by the Bank of Birmingham to
the finance director of Dąbrowski Medical S.A. ...........................
57
Briefly summarise the text you have just read and discuss its
contents with a partner ......................................................................
59
EXPORT/IMPORT......................................................................................
60
7.1.
Read the text carefully........................................................................
60
7.2.
Chose the right answer ......................................................................
61
7.3.
Answer the following questions .......................................................
62
7.4.
Complete the table given below, then discuss it with your
partner ..................................................................................................
63
Here is an open dialogue (you have to develop your part).
Imagine that you are a business consultant and answer the
questions by Mr. John Kowalski, a manufacturer of
household utensils, who wants to go into exporting. Role play
it with a partner...................................................................................
63
7.6.
Read the text given below and answer the following questions..
64
7.7.
Complete the following .....................................................................
66
7.8.
Read the letter of credit and then complete the application
form below...........................................................................................
67
6.7.
6.8.
7.
7.5.
6
7.9.
Having read the letter, answer the questions .................................
68
7.10.
Imagine that you own a wine business in Slovenia. You
decide to write to Connoisseur because you want to become
a distributor for them in your country. Match the halves of
the sentences below. Then use them to write the letter ...............
69
Read the text carefully and answer the questions below ..............
69
MARKETING .................................................................................................
73
8.1.
Read the text below and answer the questions ..............................
73
8.2.
Read the text about marketing techniques and talk about the
questions below...................................................................................
76
8.3.
Read the text and talk about the questions below.........................
77
8.4.
Marketing people and advertisers are experts at making
people aware of products, but persuading people to buy them
is a different skill. Here are some of the ways that
supermarkets persuade their customers to buy the products
on the shelves. Read the article about supermarket strategies
and talk about the questions below .................................................
77
8.5.
Discuss the following questions.......................................................
78
8.6.
Read the text below and discuss the techniques Shell Oil used
to develop a new brand image..........................................................
79
Read the text once again and number the different stages in
research project in the correct order ...............................................
81
Find words and expressions in the text relating to ‘The Four
Ps’’ of the Shell marketing mix.........................................................
81
7.11.
8.
8.7.
8.8.
8.9.
Match the words from the text with their corresponding
definitions ............................................................................................
Find words and expressions in the text which correspond to
the following definitions....................................................................
82
The profiles below are based on the results of several
hundred interviews conducted in a shopping center by
a major insurance company...............................................................
83
8.12
Complete the two letters below using the extracts a-g .................
84
8.13
You work for an insurance company which has decided to use
direct mail marketing to sell retirement pensions to young,
single business graduates, who have just started their first job......
85
8.10
8.11
82
7
8.14
Write the letter. Make sure your opening sentence attracts
their attention ......................................................................................
86
Here is a text which shows how a company’s brand image can
be spoilt by, for example counterfeiting .........................................
86
8.16
Read the article again and answer the questions............................
87
8.17
Match these words and phrases with their definitions .................
87
ADVERTISING..............................................................................................
89
9.1.
Read the text below............................................................................
89
9.2.
Answer the following questions .......................................................
92
9.3.
Choose the appropriate word or phrase from those given
below.....................................................................................................
93
Here is a list of arguments for and against advertising in
mixed order..........................................................................................
94
Read the text about controversial advertising. Do you think
that the VW was successful? .............................................................
95
Read the text once again and choose the best answer..................
97
PRODUCTION ..............................................................................................
99
8.15
9.
9.4.
9.5.
9.6.
10.
10.1.
Here is a description of two car factories: a General Motor
plant at Framingham in the USA and a Toyota plant at
Takaoka in Japan. Read the text and list the differences
between the Toyota and GM factories............................................
99
10.2.
In which of the plants is the production process more effective? ...... 100
10.3.
What are the most important factors that contribute to better
efficiency of a production process? Rank them from 1 to 7 ....... 100
10.4
Now work in small groups and compare a chosen
company’s production process to the system used by Toyota.
What lessons could any company learn from Toyota?
100
10.5.
Which of the sentences do you agree or disagree with?............... 100
10.6.
Read the text about the South Korean company, Daewoo,
and, in pairs, discuss its failures and successes. Then answer
the questions........................................................................................ 100
10.7.
Read the text once again and match the causes to the effects..... 101
8
10.8
Talk about any other company, explaining its ups and downs
over the past few years....................................................................... 102
10.9.
Match up these words with the definitions which follow ............ 102
10.10. Read the text below and insert the eight words defined in point 11 .. 102
10.11. According to the text, match the following sentences as
TRUE or FALSE. If they are false, explain why.......................... 103
10.12
Read the text below about products and brands and write
a brief heading for each paragraph .................................................. 103
10.13. Answer the questions below ............................................................. 105
10.14. Find words or expressions in the text that mean the following.. 106
10.15. Discuss the following with a partner ............................................... 107
10.16. Find words or expressions in the text that mean the following .... 107
10.17. Discuss the following with a partner ............................................... 108
11.
BUSINESS CORRESPONDENCE......................................................... 109
THE LAYOUT OF A BUSINESS LETTER ..................................................... 109
COMPLAINTS .................................................................................................... 112
11.1.
Read the letter of complaint and the reply to it and answer
the following questions...................................................................... 114
11.2.
This exercise involves writing a letter of complaint, then
replying to one..................................................................................... 116
E-MAIL ................................................................................................................ 117
11.3.
According to these rules, what is wrong with these sentences?
Rewrite them so that they sound appropriate
117
A LETTER OF ENQUIRY ................................................................................ 117
11.4.
Read the letters below........................................................................ 119
11.5.
Write the following letters of enquiry.............................................. 120
INVOICES........................................................................................................... 120
11.6.
Look at the invoice below. It is relatively simple. The letters
E&OE at the bottom mean Errors and Omissions are
Excepted; in other words, if there is a mistake on the invoice,
the supplier has the right to correct it by asking for more
money or giving a refund .................................................................. 121
9
12.
13.
ACCOUNTING.............................................................................................. 122
12.1.
Read the text and answer the questions below .............................. 122
12.2.
Read the dialogues .............................................................................. 124
12.3
Having read the dialogues, look a the prompts below and,
using them, make similar dialogues with a partner........................ 127
12.4.
Study the model of profit and loss account and balance sheet ... 129
12.5.
Read the text about accounting and financial statements and
complete it with the words given below ......................................... 130
12.6.
Summarize the text by completing the following sentences........ 132
STOCK EXCHANGE................................................................................... 134
GOING PUBLIC ................................................................................................ 134
13.1.
Read the text about a company going public and answer the
questions below................................................................................... 134
13.2.
Fill in the gaps with the vocabulary given in the table below
137
ISSUING STOCKS AND SHARES............................................................. 138
13.3.
Read the text below............................................................................ 138
13.4.
Answer the following questions ....................................................... 139
BIBLIOGRAPHY...................................................................................................... 141
WSTĘP
Język biznesu jest pojęciem szerokim również w kontekście nauczania języków obcych. Wyczerpujące ujęcie tematu w jednej pozycji książkowej wydaje
się niemal niemożliwe. Na rynku księgarskim pojawiło się w ostatnich latach
wiele książek przybliżających zagadnienia związane z posługiwaniem się ogólnie pojętym językiem biznesu, jak i zagadnień ściśle merytorycznych dotyczących funkcjonowania gospodarki rynkowej.
Materiał językowy zawarty w większości podręczników opracowany jest zazwyczaj pod kątem nauczania grupowego, z uwzględnieniem kształcenia takich
umiejętności językowych jak rozumienie tekstu czytanego, rozumienie ze słuchu, wypowiadanie się na piśmie i przy użyciu słowa mówionego.
Przewodnik po Business English, jak sugeruje tytuł, nie aspiruje do miana
podręcznika. Może natomiast pełnić funkcję komplementarną wobec podręczników będących podstawą zasadniczego programu lektoratów językowych poprzez wzbogacenie zajęć o dodatkowy materiał leksykalny w obrębie Business
English.
Jest on zbiorem tekstów, dialogów, ćwiczeń na słownictwo oraz konwersacyjnych, mogących znaleźć zastosowanie w nauczaniu języka biznesu w grupach średniozaawansowanych i zaawansowanych, zwłaszcza, choć nie tylko, na
kierunkach ekonomicznych.
Może stanowić pomoc dydaktyczną dla lektorów pragnących wzbogacić
swoje zajęcia o dodatkowy materiał w wyżej wymienionym zakresie, a tym samym umożliwić studentom poszerzenie słownictwa w zakresie zagadnień takich
jak zarządzanie zasobami ludzkimi, rachunkowość, giełda, struktura firmy, marketing, reklama i innych.
Oprócz ćwiczeń leksykalnych pozwalających opanować słownictwo, „Przewodnik” dostarcza podstawowego materiału odnoszącego się do prowadzenia
oficjalnej korespondencji służbowej. Zawarte ćwiczenia konwersacyjne mają na
celu kształcenie umiejętności formułowania własnych opinii i swobodnych wypowiedzi na bazie przerabianego materiału.
Większość rozdziałów zaopatrzona jest w słowniczek dwujęzyczny, natomiast niektórych poszczególne terminy wyjaśniane są po angielsku, poprzez
zastosowanie definicji lub podanie synonimu.
12
Praca z „Przewodnikiem” może mieć charakter grupowy (praca w parach,
dyskusje panelowe etc.) oraz indywidualny (samodzielna praca domowa, materiał na zaliczenie dla ambitniejszych studentów).
„Przewodnik” nie jest wyczerpującym kompendium wiedzy o biznesie, może natomiast stanowić przydatną pomoc w zapewnieniu studentom dodatkowego
materiału w zakresie wybranych tematów.
Dagmara Szonert-Rzepecka
Przewodnik po Business English
13
1. HUMAN RESOURCES
1. Read the text carefully
No one these days questions the importance of human resources for the
success of a company. Hiring the right people has become an issue of
primary significance for businesses. There are specialised headhunter
agencies in which candidates looking for a job can register and companies
can enquire about the staff they need. The databases of such agencies
store information about hundreds of people. When you register with such
an agency you are requested to give them the right to process and use
your personal information.
On the one hand, young, well educated and trained people seek jobs with
prospects for a good pay and quick promotion as well as for professional
and personal development. On the other hand, people who have already
made a career and have organized achievements are often sought by
headhunters who try to lure them with attractive offers.
When deciding on what career to choose, one must take into account not
only one’s personal interests but also natural abilities and qualifications
for a particular job.
There are fewer and fewer jobs for unskilled workers nowadays. In the
past, people often worked for the same company all their lives. This,
however, is changing. There are no longer jobs for life and workers today
have to be more flexible and better educated. They cannot count on routine assembly work in factories, for example, because the number of traditional jobs in manufacturing industries has gone down rapidly. As a result
of technological development many heavy industries have been replaced
by high-technology manufacturing industries. At the same time, many
service industries, especially banking and retailing have expanded. Hence,
the percentage of people employed in service industries has risen considerably.
14
Dagmara Szonert-Rzepecka
The most sought-after careers today are in the areas of marketing, trade,
information technology, finance, management, telecommunications, tourism, the construction industry, insurance and public utilities. However, if
a young person wants to succeed in the 21st-century market, he or she
must remember that this requires a great deal of education , expertise and
on-the-job training.
Apart from being qualified, a job seeker should possess certain qualities.
The most required ones are aptitude, energy, initiative, creativity, responsibility, ability to work as part of a team as well as under pressure and to
tight deadlines.
In return, employers offer negotiable salaries, good working conditions,
discounts of various kinds, perks, commissions, annual bonuses or travel
schemes for commuters. They also promise good prospects and opportunities for promotion.
The best thing is to apply for an interesting and satisfying job which
matches both professional and personal interests.
2. Answer the questions:
a) How can headhunter agencies be useful for employers and job seekers?
b) Who are headhunters particularly interested in and why?
c) How has technological development affected jobs?
d) What skills and qualities are required if one wants to get a well paid
and interesting job?
Przewodnik po Business English
15
e) Do you think that a job one does should match one’s personality?
Why? Why not?
f) What kind of job would be suitable for you ?
g) What skills would you have to master if you wanted to get a job you
have always been dreaming of doing?
Vo c a b u l a r y :
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
seek jobs – poszukiwać pracy
take into account – wziąć pod uwagę
manufacturing industry – przemysł produkcyjny
rapidly – gwałtownie
service industry – przemysł usługowy
aptitude – uzdolnienia
construction industry – przemysł budowlany
commission – prowizja
on-the-job training – szkolenie zawodowe
commuter – dojeżdżający do pracy
perks – korzyści dodatkowe
expand – rozrastać się , rozwijać
3. Work in small groups and discuss the questions
When you form a first impression of someone, which of these is most
important to you? Rank them from 1 (most important) to 5 (least important).
16
Dagmara Szonert-Rzepecka
•
•
•
The way they look at you
The way they dress
The way they speak
•
Their job or who they work for
•
The way they shake your hand and greet you
Which other things are important when you form a first impression?
Think of at least two.
4. Work in pairs and answer the questions
Which of the adjectives in the box would normally describe people in the
following?
a. Their dealings with others,
b. Their approach to their work,
c. Their appearance.
simple
accommodating
tough
elegant
punctual
impeccable
bossy
confident.
communicative
reserved
competent
cautious
well-trained
knowledgeable
accurate
thorough
Which of the above mentioned qualities could be of particular interest for
a potential employer?
Przewodnik po Business English
17
5. Look at the dialogues about taking on new employees
and, following the models use prompts below to make similar dialogues with a partner:
A:
B:
A:
B:
A:
B:
I suppose we should start by preparing a job description.
The task of the new manager will be to grow exports.
What qualifications and skills should he have?
I believe he should have a degree in marketing and export.
What about knowledge of languages?
Fluent written and spoken English as well as basic German are required.
• To develop new markets – marketing – sales – English – French
• To improve the distribution – management – distribution – Italian
– English
• To increase sales – marketing – advertising – French – English
• To establish new trade contracts – economics – export to the Far
East – English – Chinese
• To expand Internet business – marketing – computers – English –
German
• To do market research – marketing and management – market research – English and Russian
Here’s the job description of the secretary I’d like to hire.
Shall I prepare an advert?
Yes, please.
What are you ready to offer him/her?
A salary of 4, 000 zlotys, a mobile and a company car.
OK. I’m going to prepare an advert. When it’s ready, I’ll show it to
you.
A: I’d like it to appear as soon as possible.
B: It’s obvious, isn’t it? I won’t take time.
A:
B:
A:
B:
A:
B:
18
Dagmara Szonert-Rzepecka
•
•
•
•
•
Accountant
Advisor
Marketing manager
Product manager
Trader
6. Develop the subjects given below orally and in writing
h) You work for XXX. Your company needs to employ a secretary or an
accountant or ………..….. Prepare a relevant job advert.
i) You know that your friend is looking for a job. You’ve just read a job
advert which may be of interest to him. Write a memo telling him
about the job opportunity.
j) Imagine that you are Mr. Smith. You think that XXX should hire
a new account manager. Write a memo addressed to the board of directors to present and justify your position.
7. Complete the sentences with the words in the box
salesman
computer programmer
self-employed
personnel manager
chief executive
officer
legal department
a. I am a ................... and work in the Export Sales department. I have to
find new customers for our products.
b. I draw up contracts and advise the company on tax legislation. I work
in the ........................... .
Przewodnik po Business English
19
c. I design software applications and make sure our website is kept up to
date. I work as a ............................... .
d. I work as a ..........…............... . I handle staff recruitment and training.
e. I am a management consultant and I’m ...…….............. . I advise
companies on their investment policies and global strategy.
f. I’m the .................................. and sit on the board of directors.
g. I’m responsible for the company’s strategic objectives and translating
plans into action.
8. Talk about which of the above mentioned positions would be
suitable or unsuitable for you and why. Discuss which of them
are most challenging
20
Dagmara Szonert-Rzepecka
9. Discuss the possible responsibilities related to the following
jobs and discuss the qualifications and personal characteristics
required:
•
•
•
•
•
Accountant,
Secretary,
Company doctor,
General manager,
Estate agent.