Text b Work Routines

A sales manager is describing his job and talking about the things he does and how often he does them.

S.M.: Well, I usually work in my office, of course. I spend a lot of time on the telephone and dealing with the post.

I have to report to the general manager every day to tell him what I am doing and why. I also have to meet the finance manager twice a week to discuss figures, the sales figures from each of our branches coming monthly. So, every month I have to check them very carefully to see if we have reached^* our targets. If we are below target as it happens sometimes then I visit the branch and talk to the branch manager about it.

I usually travel abroad too when we have international trade fairs or important meetings with our parent company.

Interviewer: Do you ever meet the customers themselves?

S.M.: Oh, yes. Quite often. The important customers, such as the government I deal directly with myself.

Interviewer: What else do you do?

S.M.: Well, there are the quarterly financial reports to prepare. And once a year we have our annual general meeting where we discuss the past year and fix the targets for the next year.

Interviewer: How often do the company’s annual sales figures fall below target?

S.M.: Oh, never.

*have reached – досягнули

Ex. 6. Find in the text answers to the following questions.

1. How often does the sales manager report to the general manager?

2. Why does he have to meet the finance manager? How often?

3. In what case does he visit the branches of his company?

4. Why does he travel abroad?

5. Does he prepare reports?

6. What do they do at the annual meeting?

Ex. 7. Match the English words and world-combinations from set A with

their Ukrainian equivalents from set B:

SET A

a) fix the targets; b) meet the customers; c) twice a week; d) discuss figures; e) be below targets; f) travel abroad; g) sales figures; h) spend a lot of time on the telephone; i) have to check; j) once a year.

SET B

1) зустрічати клієнтів; 2) проводити багато часу на телефоні; 3) встановлювати цілі; 4) повинні перевіряти; 5) два рази на тиждень; 6) подорожувати закордон; 7) цифри продажу; 8) раз у рік; 9) бути нижче запланованої мети; 10) обговорювати цифри.

Ex. 8. Match the job to the responsibilities, then make complete sentences.

Use phrases : In my opinion, As far as I know, I am sure that, As far as I remember, As a matter of fact, It seems to me, I consider etc.

secretary	prepares legal papers
lawyer	arranges meetings and makes appointments for the director
editor	defends the rights of the company in court
accountant	is busy with financial issues of the company
researcher	discusses the sales figures with the financial manager
general manager	fixes the targets for the next year
sales manager	deals with the customers
finance manager	consults the director and employees on legal issues
charwoman	does the cleaning of the office
	is responsible for the issue of the journal
	writes articles for the journal
	distributes assignments
	supervises over the work of subordinates

Ex. 9. Fill in the blanks with a preposition if necessary:

1. At the annual general meetings we fix the targets _____ the next year. 2. I usually deal _____ important customers myself. 3. The secretary spends a lot of time _____ the telephone. 4. How often does the economist report _____ the Director? 5. What is she busy _____? – She is preparing a report _____ the general manager. 6. Do you file the data _____ the computer? – Yes, I do. 7. Who is responsible _____ the issue of the journal? – Our editor is. 8. Our lawyer is rather experienced _____ his profession. – Does he consult _____ the employees _____ legal issues? 9. Our company maintains good relations _____ companies abroad.

Ex. 10. Make adverbs from the adjectives according to the models:

Model I A + -ly = adverb

careful + -ly = carefully

General, annual, usual, careless, financial, flexible, effective, glad, quick, slow, happy (change y into i).

Model II N + -ly = adverb

quarter + -ly = quarterly

Month, year, half year, week, day (change y into i).

Ex. 11. Choose the correct word:

1. Our accountant makes _____ financial reports (annual, annually). 2. I usually check the figures _____ (careful, carefully). 3. Our sales manager _____ travels abroad twice a year (usual, usually). 4. She helps her parents _____ (financial, financially). 5. The secretary _____ makes arrangements for different conferences (general, generally).

Ex.12. Agree with the following statements adding the word in brackets. Pair work.

Use: Oh, yes; That is really so; I quite agree with you, You are right

Model I: A. The sales manager reports to the general manager (daily).

B. Oh, yes. He reports to the general manager daily.

1. He checks the figures (carefully). 2. If they are below target he visits the branch (regularly). 3. He deals with important customers himself (directly). 4. He meets the finance manager to discuss figures (weekly). 5. As far as I understand, they have general meetings (yearly). 6. As far as I know, he prepares financial reports (quarterly). 7. He spends a lot of time on the telephone (usually). 8. As far as I understand, he travels abroad (quite often). 9. I see, he visits international trade fairs (generally).

Ex. 13. Speak on:

1. the sales manager’s meetings with the general manager;

2. his meetings with the finance manager;

3. his visits to the branch offices;

4. his travelling abroad and meetings with important customers;

5. his financial reports and their annual general meetings.

Ex. 14. Speak on professional duties of an imaginary business person. (his/her name, position. duties).