At the Customs

Task I. Read the text and speak on the duties of a Customs officer.

Customs has important public responsibilities and the Customs officers must demonstrate high professional and ethical standards to inspire public confidence of the service.

Those who have traveled outside Russia remember well the customs inspectors asking people questions about what they have brought back into the country. Some may just remember routine questions: Is that all your luggage? Do you know what the baggage contains? Are you traveling alone?; others may recall trained narcotics detection dogs or intensive baggage searchers.

Whatever your memory, the Customs Service is conducting an important national security function, protect people’s health and safety.

The main task of the Customs Service is to deal efficiently with the increasing number of passengers. The most important point in dealing with passenger is a positive approach. The customs officer must be firm, but polite, fair and calm.

The dual-channel or red/green system simplifies Customs control and enables Customs authorities to improve the flow of passenger traffic. But there are some circumstances which require full control of all passengers and their luggage (spot check).The baggage of passengers coming from drug production areas (areas at risk) is especially thoroughly checked.

At the Customs area the Customs officer asks the traveler if he has got anything to declare, if he carries anything for sale, fruit, perfume, liquor, gold or anything that is not allowed free (anything that is liable to duty).

Task II. Make up a story of your own (in writing):

Working for Customs

Я работаю в таможне

Я работаю в … отделе

У меня много работы с документами

Я никак не привыкну к бумажной волоките

Мой первый опыт в отделе связан с…

Еще я занимался…

Мой отдел улучшает связи с…

Я работаю в исследовательском центре

Специалисты моего отдела (кадры) имеют много идей по разработке новых технологий и специальностей

Чтобы добраться до работы, мне требуется 20 минут

Сначала я переодеваюсь

Затем я иду на пятиминутку

В моем отделе работают дисциплинированные и компетентные специалисты

Я работаю утром и вечером

В моей работе много преимуществ (положительных моментов)

В моей работе есть и отрицательные моменты

Я часто устаю.

Модуль 3: «Рабочий день таможенника»

Text 1 Customs Officer’s Working Day

Task I. Read the text to answer the questions:

1. When does your working day begin?

2. What time do you leave for work?

3. How much time does it take you to get there?

4. Do you have a short rest after dinner?

5. When do you come home in the evening?

6. What do you usually do in the evening?

Borisov is a Customs Officer. He works at the Customs Office at the airport. The bus collects the people and carries them to the place. On the way to the airport Borisov speaks with his friends or reads a morning newspaper. The bus arrives at Sheremetyevo at 8.50.

The Customs officers have ten minutes to change into uniform and take their personal stamps and folders with documents. At nine o'clock they have a 30 minutes' meeting, where they discuss business matters and get instructions from a senior officer for the day.

A few minutes later after the talk Borisov enters the building of the airport where a baggage hall is situated. Borisov is an officer of the Baggage Crew of the airport. He is nearly always busy with the traffic of incoming passengers as Sheremetyevo is a big international port.

There are airport Information Desks, Medical Services, Banks, Currency Exchange Office, Left Luggage Counter, Airport Lost Property Office, Nursery, Post Office, Transfer and Transit Passengers Services.

Customs officer of the Baggage Crew must carry out check and control of incoming and outgoing passenger's baggage. It means that the Baggage Crew has to investigate the whole range of specifically Customs matters: Tax and Excise cases when passengers exceed the duty free allowances; the bringing in and taking out of prohibited or restricted goods, smuggling, drugs, etc. The control of passengers’ baggage is the so-called preventive work of the Customs Service.

In accordance with the Customs Regulations one of the main duties of the Customs officer is to prevent traffic of smuggling. The ways of smuggling are becoming more and more sophisticated, so the Customs Service has to develop more effective ways of detecting cases of contraband.

Task 2. Read and translate the text. Speak on your working day.