Unit 12. At the Firm
Remember the following words:
enterprise
department
office
accounts
sales statistics
a receptionist’s office
an executive’s office
a principal (chief’s) office
an office intercom
Read and translate the text:
Talking about an office of a big company we imagine a high building belonging to a business corporation or a big enterprise. Such office includes many departments and every department has its own office. Office is a room or building where written work, accounts, sales statistics, business letters are kept. There are some kinds of offices: a receptionist’s office (a secretary office), an executive’s office, a principal’s office (a chief’s office), etc.
In every office you can see a desk (or some desks), a telephone (and office intercom), some office cupboards, including many drawers for files, folders and multipurpose shelves, a computer, a printer, sometimes a photocopier.
In executive’s office besides the desk you can see a conference table for different meetings and appointments, some chairs, a two seater sofa or a conference groupings for visitors, a safe for confidential documents, some cabinets for folders, a bar.
On the secretary’s desk you will usually see a shorthand pad, a letter tray, a set of forms, a typewriter, an internal telephone list, a telephone and intercom, a fax machine, a computer, a customer card index, a calculator, etc.
Secretary is an employee in an office, usually working for another person, dealing with letters, typing, filing and making appointments and doing many other important errands.
Make up questions to the text.
Guided Conversation. Office Talks.
It’s Monday morning. Mr. Woodman, the Sales Manager of Forestry Equipment, is away on business. His secretary Miss Susan Barton takes several messages from him and does some errands. Life in the office is busy as always.
Susan and Rachel
Susan: Good morning. Stephen Woodman’s office.
Rachel: Hi, Sue. It’s Rachel. Can you give Stephen a message, please? I won’t
be in until Friday. I have the flu. I saw the doctor this morning.
Susan: OK, Rachel. I’ll give him the message. I hope you’ll feel better soon.
Susan and Robin
R: Hi, Susan.
S: Hi, Robin. What can I do for you?
R: Stephen isn’t there, is he?
S: No, he won’t be until tomorrow.
R: Well, it’s just that I need Wednesday off. You see, my grandmother died
yesterday and I’ll to go to the funeral.
S: Oh, I’m sorry. How old was she?
R: Ninety-four.
Susan and Cindy
S: Good morning, Stephen woodman’s office.
C: Good morning. This is Cindy Newton Video Systems. Stephen is at the trade
show in Glasgow, isn’t he?
S: Yes, that’s right. He should be here tomorrow.
C: Well, can you give him this message? I’m afraid we have to cancel our last
order. The customers have changed their minds again.
S: OK. I’ll give Stephen the message.