Do
Show an interest in, and at least an elementary knowledge of the country you are visiting.
Learn a few words of the language - it will be seen as a compliment.
Be sensitive to countries who have bigger and better-known neighbours, and try not to confuse Canadians with Americans, New Zealanders with Australians, Belgians with French.
Familiarise yourself with the basics of business and social etiquette. As a starting point, learning how to greet people is very important.
Don't
Assume you won't meet any communication problems because you speak English. You may think you are paying somebody a compliment by telling them their business is going a bomb*, Americans will infer you think it is failing.
Appear too reserved. As Americans are generally more exuberant* than their European colleagues, they may equate reserve with lack of enthusiasm.
*to empower: to give s.b. more control
*to go a bomb (CB): to be successful
*etiquette: polite behaviour
*to bomb (US): to go badly
*exuberant: happy, cheerful, full of energy
.
1) abroad (para 1);
2) a minefield (para 1);
3) a pitfall (para 2);
4) a custom (para 2);
5) etiquette (para 2);
6) scheduled (para 3);
7) to be a sign of (para 4);
8) offensive (para 4);
9) a compliment (para 8);
10) sensitive (para 8).
a) something done in a society because of tradition;
b) able to understand others' feelings;
c) in or to a foreign country;
d) something that expresses admiration;
e) to show or represent;
f) rude or insulting;
g) a situation with hidden dangers;
h) formal rules for polite behaviour in society;
i) a likely problem;
j) arranged for a certain time.
.
Gift Giving in the International Business Context
In Great Britain and the United States corporate gift giving is not a very popular (1) ; people can spend their entire working lives without ever receiving a corporate gift. However, gift giving is sometimes an integral part of the negotiation process when doing business (2) .
It is important to learn about the (3) of gift giving before sending or taking a gift to an international client or business partner, or you may find that your gesture appears (4) . For example, in China a desk clock (5) bad luck or death.
It is also interesting to note that the receiver never opens a gift in front of the giver as that would signify that the content was more important than the act of giving. Waiting for the person to open your gift would show that you were not (6) to Chinese culture.
In France, don't give something with your company logo, as they find items like this impersonal and in bad taste.
Giving knives in Italy, Russia or Argentina could lead to problems in establishing a deal as this signifies cutting off the relationship!
Giving flowers is another possible (7) . In England, Australia and Canada, some people see white lilies as a symbol of death while in Germany, yellow and white chrysanthemums could be seen this way.
|
|
|
4.2
: as, enclose, form, duties, available, favorably, in, consider, for, opportunity, position, take, further, to, with, enquiries ( ).
Letter 1
With reference (1) your advertisement in todays Morning News, I am interested (2) applying for the (3) of Site Manager with your company. Could you please send me an application (4)?
Letter 2
I would like to apply (5) the position of Personal Assistant to General Manager with your company.
I (6) my application form. At present I am working (7) a secretary in the Engineering Department at GT Industries. My (8) are maintaining department systems, including data management and filing; dealing (9) correspondence and telephone (10), liaising with clients, suppliers and other staff.
From your advertisement, I can see that you are looking for candidates who have excellent interpreting skills. I have been going to evening classes in interpreting for 2 years and I intend to (11) the final examination in three months. I am applying for the position because I would like to have an (12) to make more use of my training.
I would be (13) for an interview at any time. I hope that you will (14)my application (15).
4.3
.
|
1.
. 16. . 17. . 18.
1. _______________________
A: So, let me go over some general points.
B: OK.
A: So, we start work every morning between seven and nine. You must be in by nine, OK?
B: Yes, that's fine.
A: Now then... Your office is being renovated, so for the first couple of weeks you'll be in the site managers' office. They have a spare desk. You'll be able to move in to your office with the other engineers at the beginning of April. It's open-plan and very nice. There are new desks, new computers,... even new plants.
B: Great. Any idea what CAD software we use?
A: No, sorry. You'll have to ask Jozef. He's responsible for IT. He'll give you your password, make sure you have all the right software, that sort of thing.
B: OK. It's very different to university.
A: Yes, I'm sure it is. OK. I think that's about it. Any other questions?
B: Yes, could you tell me about parking? Do I need a pass or anything?
A: Yes, yes, you do. Speak to Roza. She'll fix that for you.
B: OK, thank you.
2. _________________________
A: Let's see. I normally work around 40 hours a week.
B: What time do you start work?
A: Every day is different. It depends on what's happening on the site. There's quite a lot of overtime, especially in the summer.
B: How did you get into this job?
A: I started as a clerk in an office. I didn't like that. I wanted an outdoor job. So when I was twenty, I got a job as a labourer on construction sites. After a year I got onto an apprenticeship programme. That took three years. I was sponsored by a local contractor. I spent twenty years working on large projects like hospitals, schools and factories. It's a hard physical job. I also have to bend a lot and lift things. And I spend a lot of time on my knees. I usually wear kneepads to protect my knees. A lot of the work is outside, so bad weather sometimes stops us working.
|
|
|
B: Where do you work now?
A: I'm self-employed now. I have two assistants and we do small jobs like driveways, pavements, that kind of thing.
3. ______________________
A: I really do three things in my job. I measure dimensions of buildings. I work out where boundaries are, in other words where one property ends and another begins. And I look at the land and record details of topographic features like hills and slopes. I have an office, but I spend most of my time outdoors.
B: Do you use any special equipment?
A: I use GPS, which tells me my exact location. And of course I use a total station. I often use GIS applications, which help me analyse my data.
B: Sorry, what's GIS?
A: GIS stands for Geographic Information Systems.
A: How did you get into this job?
: I was good at maths at school, especially algebra and trigonometry. I liked computers and software. And I wanted a job outdoors. I had a summer job on a construction site when I was a teenager, and I looked at all the different jobs. This one looked good.
, yes (Y), no (N), not given (NG).
| Conversation 1 | Conversation 2 | Conversation 3 | |
| 1. Is he a manual worker? | |||
| 2. Does he work mostly indoors? | |||
| 3. Was he good at maths at school? | |||
| 4. Does he work with CAD? | |||
| 5. Does he use high-tech equipment? | |||
| 6. Did he start as an apprentice? | |||
| 7. Is he self-employed? |
5.2
( ):
-
MEMORANDUM
To Thomas Bellfield, Apprentice
From Gordon Black, Purchasing Manager
Date 25 June 2013
DOCUMENT TYPES
All contractors have processes which cover the purchasing needs of a project, for example, for buying materials or renting equipment. Most systems deal with three main types of document:
1. Purchase Order
The PO is a written contract between the buyer and the seller. It provides details about the purchased item and is usually necessary when the amount goes over a pre-arranged level. The contractor sends a copy to the supplier authorizing the delivery.
2. Delivery Note
Also known as a packing slip, this document gives details of what was actually delivered.
3. Invoice
Invoices are sent from the seller to the buyer and list the products or services supplied, the amount to be paid and the payment terms. The purchase order number and the delivery note number may also be included on the invoice.
Gordon Black
5.3
? :
- insulating;
- item number;
- order;
- quantity;
- services;
- spray;
- telephone.
Dear Ms Piper,
Thank you for your (1) call. This is to confirm your (2) , number 638.
| (3) | Item | (4) |
| GT648 | plywood | 8 pieces |
| CF5839N | chipboard | 11 pieces |
| FR402 | (5) tape | 2 rolls |
| RE8437 | Three core cable 2.5 mm | 15 m |
| OK422 | (6) equipment | 1 set |
We hope you will find these goods satisfactory and that we may have the pleasure of further orders from you.
Yours sincerely,
Diana Smith
Customer (7)
6.1
|
|
|
.
CARILLION PLC. ABOUT US
Carillion is one of the UK's leading integrated support services companies, with extensive construction capabilities, a substantial portfolio of projects and a sector-leading ability to deliver sustainable solutions.
We employ over 40,000 people worldwide, with established businesses in the UK, Canada, the Middle East and North Africa, and annual revenues of more than £4 billion.
Our vision is to be the trusted partner for providing services, delivering infrastructure and creating places that bring lasting benefits to our customers and the communities in which we live and work.
We provide all of the services needed to create and manage places and infrastructure, from project finance through design and construction to lifetime maintenance, facilities management and energy efficiency.
The Group has four business segments:
Support services - this includes facilities management, facilities services, energy services, rail services, road maintenance and utility services.
Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects - this includes our investing activities in PPP projects in our chosen sectors of defence, health, education, transport, secure, energy services and other Government accommodation.
Middle East construction services - this includes our building and civil engineering activities in the Middle East.
Construction services (excluding the Middle East) - this includes our consultancy, building, civil engineering and developments activities in the UK and our construction activities in Canada.
For over 200 years we have been creating award-winning cultural, residential, commercial, community and infrastructure developments in cities across the world. In the UK these include the Channel Tunnel, the Tate Modern - the world's most visited modern art gallery, and the Library of Birmingham, which came top in a poll of the public's favourite new buildings. We have also created landmark buildings across the Middle East, including Oman's parliament - the Majlis, and Royal Opera House, the stunning Yas Viceroy hotel that straddles Abu Dhabi's Formula 1 racetrack.
We help to manage schools, libraries and hospitals, providing environments that enable children and adults to learn better and patients to recover more quickly. We pride ourselves on supporting our armed forces, improving the energy efficiency of homes, workplaces and other buildings, and providing sustainable jobs and training.
Questions
1. What type of company is CARILLION?
2. Is it an international company?
3. What is its annual income?
4. What services does CARILLION provide?
5. Can you name any projects of this company?
6. How many business segments does it have? What are they?
7. Does the company provide professional development?
6.2
. , .
Is It Better to Work for a Large or Small Company?
The Advantages of a Big Company
1. ____________________________
When you enter a large company, you're taking part in a machine that's been around for a long time. As such, there is typically an established way of doing things. As soon as you walk in, you will know what your job is, how you fit into your department and over time you'll even learn the obvious pathways for promotions. This isn't the right route for everyone, but if you want to go into a job with a sense of stability and a well-defined path for advancement, larger companies typically have great templates already in place.
|
|
|
2. _____________________________
Larger companies, in general, are better about providing benefits like health insurance or retirement plans. The smaller a corporation's revenue is, the less likely it can afford to pay for benefits. According to a recent study, only 47% of companies in the U.S. with 2-99 employees offered any benefits at all.
3. _____________________________
Large companies need a lot of people working a wide variety of jobs to operate. While your specific role may be specialized, it's possible to change positions and explore a new area without leaving the company. Developers can become project managers, designers can become marketers, etc.
The Problems at a Big Company
1. ______________________________
Shaking things up at a big company can take a lot of time. Even if your company is open to new ideas, getting your department to move to a new model or create a product can take a lot of time.
2. ______________________________
No matter how social or friendly you are, if you work in a company with hundreds or even thousands of employees, it will be impossible to know everyone. Inevitably, some aspect of your job will be affected by someone you've never met. It may be the General Manager, the head of payroll, or the legal department, but someone will make a decision that determines how you work and it may be difficult or even impossible to speak to that person directly. A good company will provide a method for employees to voice serious concerns to upper management, but this isn't always guaranteed or effective.
3. _______________________________
A related problem is that your success and happiness can be determined by where you are placed within the company. Working with a dysfunctional group can bring down the quality of your work, despite your best efforts. It may even affect your ability to move up in the company.
The Advantages of a Small Company
1. _______________________________
Unless you work near the top, accomplishing something significant at a large company will probably never reach the ears of the General Manager. At a small company, however, great work can be seen by everyone. This makes it easier to distinguish yourself with certain skills. Your actions are also more significant. Especially if you're starting out in a new career, working for a small company is a great way to establish your abilities and gain references and reputation that can follow you for years.
2. _______________________________
Being able to work closely with all of your coworkers doesn't just mean they can see you. You also have access to a lot more of the company's moving parts. Being able to speak directly to your upper management can result in much faster movement. What may take days or weeks of submission and approval processes at a big company may take knocking on your boss's door at a small one.
3. _______________________________
In a larger company, you may be able to switch to a different job and exercise a different skill set without leaving your company. In a smaller company, you may be required to exercise a different skill set without leaving your desk. Especially in a startup environment, you may be called on to fulfill more roles outside a narrowly-defined job description. If you like using a variety of skills without changing jobs, a smaller company may be more suited to you.
The Problems at a Small Company
1. _______________________________
Knowing your company's General Manager can see it when you land a big client is great. That can become a double-edged sword, though, when you screw up. Obviously, a good employee would want to minimize failure regardless of who can see, but it never feels good when the majority of your coworkers all know when you've made a mistake.
2. _______________________________
As stated earlier, smaller companies typically don't have as extensive benefits packages as larger companies do. If you need benefits and the company you're applying to doesn't offer them, it's more prudent to find one that does rather than hoping that you'll get what you need some day.
3. _______________________________
Small companies often don't get around to setting up things like legal or human resources departments until they've been established for a while. This can be nice as it simplifies the roster of people in your company, but it also means that there's no one in the company whose sole job is fielding complaints. Particularly in the legal department, keeping a lawyer on retainer is expensive, but there's a reason for that: knowing whether something you want to do is legal is extremely valuable and difficult to figure out on your own.
|
|
|
6.3
1
.
M = Martin; S = Sandra
M: So... how can I help you?
S: Well, we'd like some background information about the project...
M: OK, I can ask my assistant to send you some details. We sent out a press release a couple of weeks ago.
S: Yes, we have a copy of that, thank you. We're interested in finding out more information about the people working here. How many workers do you have on site? What do they do? Where are they from? Are they all local people?
M: Oh, that depends on what's happening. As you can imagine, this is quite a complex business, so we have different subcontractors and suppliers coming in and out all the time. But, to answer your question, I'd say we usually have about 100 people on site. And they're mostly from this area.
S: And are you in charge of the site?
M: Well, yes, my company - actually, my father's company - is the general contractor for the project. We co-ordinate all the subcontractors and make sure things stay on schedule and stay within budget. I report to the project manager, Sabina Tom.
S: I see. And is your father Kasper Karp?
M: Yes, that's right. Sometimes, on bigger projects, we work in a consortium with other contractors and companies.
S: Could you tell us something about...?
M: Excuse me, I've just seen Mr. Lang. He's walking through the gate. He represents the client, and I have a meeting with him and Anna Black in a few minutes' time...
S: Anna Black?
M: Anna works for the cement supplier, DKI Cement. They're supplying all the cement for the project. Just a moment, please. My assistant, Robert Lane, will answer any further questions you have.
S: Thank you.
, , .
1. Karp Construction is the
2. Martin Karp is the
3. Sabina Toms is the
4. Kasper Karp owns
5. Mr. Lang represents the
6. Anna Black works for the
7. Robert Lane is
, :
