Pa wanted

……٧ ......0 This medium-sized firm is looking for an excellent PA/

…… of … 00 secretary. Two years of minimum experience is required and you will

………… 1 need a good shorthand (100 wpm) to work for one of the

………… 2 Senior Managers. The job, which is a mixture of business and

………… 3 personal work, and will involve a large amount of organisation

………… 4 and administration concerning with both his business and social life.

………… 5 You will need to be confident and aware and must have a

………… 6 good appearance. A good speaking voice and a good at telephone

………… 7 manner are required, and plenty of the common sense is also

………… 8 an essential. The firm offers excellent working conditions and

………… 9 many benefits. These will include two reviews of salary,

………… 10 of four weeks holiday, health care, and life assurance. You

………… 11 will be working in a modern office which h as recently been

………… 12 completely redesigned and boasts of all the latest mod. cons. If

………… 13 you think yourself are the right sort of person to fill this

………… 14 job and you are someone who is happy to use up their

………… 15 own initiative, please to call Martin on 4470 32742.

Ex.9. Word-building For questions 1-10, read the text below. Use the word given in capitals at the end of each line to form a word that fits in the space in the same line. There is an example at the beginning (0).

Not such a fine day!

People who work as weather (0) forecasters are often FORECAST

thought to have one of the most (1) ___________ jobs in DELIGHT

the world, second only to the supposedly (2) ___________ lives LUXURY

of film-stars and air-hostesses. But (3) _____________ can be APPEAR

very (4) ____________ and many people would be surprised to DECEIVE

learn that a forecaster's life can be extremely (5) __________. ENJOY

So long as the forecasts prove (6) ___________ all is well RELY

and satisfactory but once a forecast proves (7) _____________ CORRECT

the forecasters' telephones begin to ring very (8) _____________ ANGRY

with people complaining about the (9) ________of sporting and CANCEL

other events totally ruined by an (10) ______________ rainstorm EXPECT

- grey days indeed for weather men and women then.

Ex.10. Word-building For questions 1-7use the words in the box below the text to form one word that fits in the same numbered space in the text. The exercise begins with an example (0).

Example: 0 involvement

Job advertisement

Total initiative Total (0)... Total (1)...

Experienced Personal Assistant for Senior Global Vice President. We're one of the world's most (2) ... companies. We employ over 120,000 people who all enjoy working our way. We free you to achieve your (3) ... in the way that suits you best.

Our Senior Vice President has a very (4)… schedule to meet. We need you to organise her diary and run the office, to give her the (5) ... to focus on key strategic business issues.

The work is challenging, involving you in reacting (6) … to incoming business and organising meetings and (7) …. You'll need to be capable of working at a senior level, and have exceptional telephone skills and be a good all-round communicator.

0 1

INVOLVE LOYAL

2 3

SUCCEED OBJECT

4 5

DEMAND FREE

6 7

RAPID CONFER

SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS TO UNIT I EMPLOYMENT LAW.

Task 1: A Cultural Difference: Being On Time.

Ex. 1. Questions about the Title.

1. What does on time mean? For example, in your country, if class is scheduled for 9 a.m., when do you arrive?

2. Does the meaning of on time differ from culture to culture? What examples can you think of to support your answer?

Ex. 2. Introductory Questions.

1. In your culture, what is late? What is early?

2. In your culture, is it important to be on time?

3. Are you usually on time? Why or why not?

4. If you are meeting someone, at what point do you feel she or he is late? (5 minutes, 10 minutes, longer)

In the United States, it is important to be on time, or punctual, for an appointment, a class, a meeting, etc. This may not be true in all countries, however. An American professor discovered this difference while teaching a class in a Brazilian university. The two-hour class was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. and end at 12 p.m. on the first day, when the professor arrived on time; no one was in the classroom. Many students came after 10 a.m. Several arrived after 10:30 a.m. Two students came after 11 a.m. Although all the students greeted the professor as they arrived, few apologized for their lateness. Were these students being rude? He decided to study the students’ behaviour.

The professor talked to American and Brazilian students about lateness in both informal and formal situation: lunch with a friend, and a university class, respectively. He gave an example and asked them how they would react. If they had lunch appointment with a friend, the average American student defined lateness as 19 minutes after the agreed time. On the other hand, the average Brazilian student felt the friend was late after 33 minutes.

In an American university, students are expected to arrive at the appointed hour. In contrast, in Brazil, neither the teacher not the students always arrive at the appointed hour. Classes not only begin at the scheduled time in the USA, but they also end at the scheduled time. In the Brazilian class, only a few students left the class at noon: many remained past 12:30 to discuss the class and ask more questions. While arriving late may not be very important in Brazil, neither is staying late.

The explanation for these differences is complicated. People from Brazilian and North American cultures have different feelings about lateness. In Brazil, the students believe that a person who usually arrives late is probably more successful than a person who always on time. In fact, Brazilians expect a person with status or prestige to arrive late, while in the USA, lateness is usually considered to be disrespectful and unacceptable. Consequently, if a Brazilian is late for an appointment with a North American, the American may misinterpret the reason for the lateness and become angry.

As a result of his study, the professor learned that the Brazilian students were not being disrespectful to him. Instead, they were simply behaving the appropriate way for a Brazilian student in Brazil. Eventually, the professor was able to adapt his own behaviour to feel comfortable in the new culture.

Ex. 3. True/False Statements.

Read the passage once. Read the following statements. Check whether they are true (T) or false (F). If a statement is false, rewrite the statement so that it is true. Then go back to the passage and find the line that supports your answer.

On the first day of class, the professor arrived late. All the students in the class were on time. The professor decided to study the behaviour of Brazilian and American students. In an American university, it is important to be on time. In a Brazilian class, the students leave immediately when the class is finished. In an American university, many students probably leave immediately when the class is finished. Most North Americans think a person who is late is irresponsible. In Brazil, most successful people are expected to be on time. As a result of the study, the professor became angry at the Brazilian students.

T T T T T T T T T

F F F F F F F F F

Ex. 4. Comprehension Questions. Read each question carefully and answer them.

1. What did the professor decide to study? Who did the professor study? How did he study them?

2. Did the American students and Brazilian students have the same ideas about lateness in class? Do classes always begin and end at the appointed hour in both cultures?

3. What were the American students’ and the Brazilian students’ ideas about being late for a lunch appointment?

4. In general, what did the Brazilian students think about people who are late?

5. In general, what did the American students think about people who are late?

6. What did the professor learn from the study?

7. How do you think the professor adapted his behaviour in Brazil after the study?

Ex. 5. Vocabulary in Context. Read the sentences below. Complete each blank space with the correct word or phrase from the list above. Use each word or phrase only once.

adapt in fact

greets rude

punctual appropriate

apologized prestige

unacceptable behaviour

1. A suit and tie are ____________________ clothes for a business meeting.

2. Wearing shorts in a church is ________________________________.

3. In most countries, doctors have considerable ____________________. People respect them highly.

4. Greg always _____________________ people by smiling and saying hello.

5. It was very ________________ of Martin to ask Mrs. Barnes her age.

6. Being _____________ for a job interview is important in order to make a good impression.

7. When you walk into a dark room from the bright sunlight, your eyes need a few moments to _____________ to the change in light.

8. It is very cold in Antarctica. _______________, it is the coldest place on Earth.

9. Martha dropped chocolate ice cream on my white rug. She ____________, but I told her not to worry about it, and we cleaned it up.

10. I don’t understand Mark’s ____________________. He gets angry for no reason and refuse to talk to anyone.

Ex. 6. Word Forms. In English, there are several ways verbs change to nouns. Some verbs become nouns by adding the suffix –ing, for example, feel (v.), feeling (n.). Some verbs become nouns by adding the suffix –ation, for example, combine (v.), combination (n.).

Complete each sentence with the correct form of the words on the left. Use the correct tense of the verb in either the affirmative or the negative form. Use the singular or plural form of the noun.

Adapt	Next year a big film company ___________ a story from a book to make a movie. The __________ of a book to a movie takes a lot of work and time.
Spell	1. Allen ___________ several words incorrectly on his composition yesterday. 2. He has to check the _________ of a difficult word before he uses it.
Interpret	Chris is studying at the University for a Degree in ___________. When he graduates, he _________ for an embassy.
Understand	Andrew __________ anything in his first math class yesterday. 2. However, his ___________ will improve during the semester.
Expect	Some people have high ________ when they visit another country. They want to enjoy themselves. They _____ to have a bad time.
End	Please don’t tell me the __________ of this story. 2. I want to guess how the story _________ by myself.
Observe	Suzie is in the park now. She _________ the behaviour of pigeons. She records all her ________ in a book.
Greet	“Hi,” “Hello,” and “How are you?” are common _________ in the USA. 2. Most people __________ each other with a smile.
Explain	We needed an _______ of the difference between adjectives and adverbs. The teacher __________ the difference to us and we understood.
Meet	Our department has ten monthly __________ every year. We ________ during May or December.

Ex. 7. Questions for Discussion and Composition.

1. In your culture, when is it important to be on time? When is being late not important?

2. In your culture, how do you feel when someone is late?

3. Look at the different appointments listed below. Discuss what time you would arrive for each appointment in your country. Are there differences between them? How are they different?

1. a 9 a.m. job interview at a bank

2. a 12:30 p.m. lunch date with a classmate

3. a 7 p.m. dinner date with your girl/boy-friend in a restaurant

4. a 10 a.m. dentist’s appointment

5. an 8 a.m. English class

6. a 9 p.m. party at a friend’s house

4. In this story, the American professor changed his behaviour to adapt to the customs in Brazil. Do you think it is important to adapt your behaviour to a new culture? Please explain.

5. Describe differences you have noticed between your culture and that of another country you have lived in or visited.

Task 2: Working Hard or Hardly Working?

Ex. 1. Questions about the Title.

1. What does working hard mean?

2. What does hardly working mean?

3. Read the title again. What do you think the author’s opinion is? Does the author think people work hard?

Ex. 2. Introductory Questions.

1. How can you know if someone is working hard?

2. How can you tell if someone is hardly working?

According to a recent survey, employees in many companies today work longer hours than employees did in 1979. They also take shorter vacations than employees in 1979 took. It seems that Americans are working harder today than ever before. Or are they? A management consultant, Bill Meyer, decided to find out. For three days, he observed an investment banker hard at work. Meyer wrote down everything the banker did during his long workday -– the banker worked 80 hours a week. At the end of the three-day period, Meyer reviewed the banker’s activities with him. What did they find out? They discovered that the man spent 80% of his time doing busy work. For example, he attended unnecessary meetings, made redundant telephone calls, and spent time packing and unpacking his two big briefcases.

Apparently, many people believe that the more time a person spends at work, the more she or he accomplishes. However, the connection between time and productivity is not always positive. In fact, many studies indicate that after a certain point, anyone’s productivity and creativity begin to decrease. Furthermore, it isn’t always easy for individuals to realize that their performance is falling off.

Part of the problem is understandable. When employers evaluate employees, they often consider the amount of time on the job in addition to job performance. Employees know this. Consequently, they work longer hours and take less vacation time than they did nine years ago. Although many working people can do their job effectively during a regular 40-hour workweek, they feel they have to spend more time on the job after normal working hours so that the people who can promote them see them.

A group of headhunters (people who search out executive personnel for companies) were asked their opinion about a situation. They had a choice of two candidates for an executive position with an important company. The candidates had comparable qualifications for the job. For example, they were both reliable. One could do the job well in a 40-hour workweek. The other would do the same job in an 80-hour week just as well. According to a headhunting expert, the 80-hour-a-week candidate would get the job. The time this candidate spends on the job may encourage other employees to spend more time at work, too. Employers believe that if the employees stay at work later, they may actually do more work.

People don’t work long hours only for more money. In such fields as advertising, show business, and journalism, the glamour and publicity are worth more than any monetary benefit. On the other hand, many employees are not willing to spend so much extra, unproductive time at the office. Once they finish their work satisfactory, they want to relax and enjoy themselves. For these people, the solution is to find a company that encourages people to do both.

Ex. 3. True/False Statements. Read the passage once. Read the following statements. Check whether they are true (T) or false (F). If a statement is false, rewrite the statement so that it is true. Then go back to the passage and find the line that supports your answer.

Employees today work shorter hours than in 1979. The more time a person spends at work, the more he or she accomplishes. Many employers evaluate their employees’ job performance only. Some people work more than 40 hours a week because they hope to get a promotion. The two candidates had similar qualifications. The 80-hour-a-week candidate did the job better than the 40-hour-a-week candidate. Not all employees want to spend extra time at work.

T T T T T T T

F F F F F F F

Ex. 4. Comprehension Questions. Read each question carefully and answer them.

1. How do work hours and vacation time today compare with work hours and vacation time in 1979?

2. a. What did the management consultant want to find out?

b. Who did he observe?

c. What were the results?

3. Why do employees work longer hours and take less vacation time than they did in the past?

4. a. The headhunters were asked about a situation. Describe it.

b. What was the headhunters’ opinion of the situation?

5. Why do employers prefer employees who stay later at work?

6. In addition to more money, why do some people work long hours? Give examples.

7. Are all employees willing to spend long hours at work? Why or why not?

Ex.5. Vocabulary in Context. Read the sentences below. Complete each blank space with the correct word or phrase from the list above. Use each word or phrase only once.

Apparently Attend

Evaluate Glamour

Qualifications Recent

Solution Candidate

Promote Redundant

1. John’s boss is going to ______ him from his position as Assistant Manager to a new position as Manager.

2. This book about computers is very ____________. It was published only two months ago.

3. The ________ for the position of accountant include a college degree and three years of related experience.

4. Paul asked, “What are you going to do on your day off when you don’t have to work?” I told him he was ___________________. Of course I don’t have to work on my day off!

5. Kathy applied to the university, but she was not accepted. ________ her high school grades were too low.

6. Many people are attracted to a career in music, acting, or modeling because these jobs have an atmosphere of ___________________.

7. The governor plans to be a _______________ in the next presidential election.

8. Tom had a problem: He never had enough time for everything he wanted to do. His ______ was to get up earlier and go to bed later every day.

9. In order to ______ a car’s performance, one must consider several factors such as gas mileage and braking ability.

10. The students in this school are required to ________ every class in order to pass the course and get a degree.

Ex.6. Word Forms. In English, there are several ways that adjectives change to nouns. Some adjectives change to nouns by adding the suffix –ity, for example, intense (adj.), intensity (n.). There are many ways that verbs change to adjectives. Some verbs become adjectives by adding the suffix –able, for example, depend (v.), dependable (adj.).

Complete each sentence with the correct form of the words on the left. Use the correct tense of the verb in either the affirmative or the negative form. Use the singular or plural form of the noun.

Productive	Christmas is usually most ___________ early in the morning. In order to increase her period of _________, she works from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. instead of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Understand	The math problem was quite complicated. It was not easily _________. Harry ___________ the problem at all, so he couldn’t do it.
Public	People in politics and in the movie business receive a lot of ________. Most of these people are used to being in the __________ eye, but they do get tired of it occasionally.
Enjoy	Cathy and Tony always have ________ vacations. They _________ their vacations because they plan them very carefully.
Creative	_________ is essential for a career in many fields. It is especially important for people to be __________ in a job requiring new ideas.
Believe	The idea of a flat world doesn’t seem _____________ to us today, but in the 16th century, it was reasonable. Before Copernicus, most people ___________ that the world was round.
Active	Maria loves being outdoors, so all her favorite ___________ take place outside. She is especially _____________ outdoors in the winter because she loves to ski.
Compare	Margot wants a new car. She _________ several models before she makes a decision. All the models she will consider must be _________ in price.
Individual	Americans like to make ___________ decisions. The concept of ___________ is very important to most Americans.
Rely	1. Harriet wants to buy a house. She ____________ on a real estate agent right now because she doesn’t have time. The agent she chose is very ___________ and knows her preferences.

Ex.7. Questions for Discussion and Composition.

1. In the USA, the average person works 5 days a week, 8 hours each day. In your country, does an average person work more or less time than a person in the USA? What are the reasons for this?

2. Do you think many people spend a lot of time at their job doing busy work? Why or why not?

3. What important qualities do you think employees need to have?

4. In your opinion, how many hours and days are the best for good working conditions?

Task 3: Job Interviews.

Read the article about how to have a successful interview. Complete A-H in the text with sentences 1-8 below.

1. You see, such spontaneous answers are a remarkable predictor of future performance….

2. They know which answers show if a candidate can do the same job year-in, year-out. …

3. Instead, impress them with answers that indicate you have the drive and talents for the job. …

4. Average interviewers often spend far too long on this. …

5. Be specific and avoid vague, general answers. …

6. They often do this by open-ended questions which don't signal a response. …

7. Resist the temptation to fidget. …

8. When they call you in, shake hands if they're offered. …

Everyone gets nervous before an interview. So a few minutes before you are due to go into the interview room, close your eyes and visualize yourself as relaxed and confident - this will help calm the butterflies in your stomach. A …. Otherwise simply say, 'good morning' and sit down. Keep your legs uncrossed and your hands folded on your lap.

B … Once the usual pleasantries like 'How was your journey here?' are out of the way, they will run through the details on your CV.

C … Their more expert colleagues, however, will wish to devote most of the time available gaining an insight into your talents and attributes. D.... Questions like 'How quickly do you learn new things?', or, 'How closely do you like to be supervised?', can produce revealing answers about how flexible and independent people really are. However, its straightforward questions like, “Why do you want the job?” which are often the most difficult to answer well.

A clichéd reply like ‘I enjoy the challenge’ is going to make them yawn. E… Sales people might say, 'I love turning a no into a yes', flight attendants may reply with something like, 'I enjoy making tired and stressed-out travellers happy and comfortable'.

Good interviewers know that each person breathes different psychological oxygen, and that each role requires a different mix of talents. F… Should you accidentally admit that you view 'a job in sales as a stepping stone to management', the interview will have finished before it has even begun. Make no mistake; they'll be listening intently to any response that appears to come 'off the top of your head'. And they're bound to believe it. G.... Even if you answer the first question successfully, they're likely to use follow-up questions which probe for specifics. For example, ’That's interesting, so tell me about the last time you managed to soothe a tired and angry person.' H..... It's crucial that you can back up what you first said with some convincing illustrations - even if you only invented them the night before! However, do act as if you had no idea they were going to ask this question, so your answer appears truly spontaneous.

Answer the following questions:

1. What three main stages does an interview go through?

2. What is the, difference between an average and an expert interviewer?

3. Why are open-ended questions useful for interviewers?

4. How should candidates try and answer open-ended questions?

5. Why are expert interviewers interested in immediate responses to questions?

6. How and why do interviewers follow up an open question?

7. How should candidates reply to a probing question?