I. A) Read the dialogues “overheard” during and after the meetings. Translate them.

b) Work in pairs. Rephrase the dialogues.

c) Work in groups. Continue the dialogue and make a longer conversation.

1)

- Where are we going to hold the meeting, in the small or large conference room?

- I’d suggest the large one, quite a few people are going to show up.

- Hope this won’t be a “Quakers” meeting this time.

2)

- I think this is a straightforward matter and it shouldn’t take long to decide. I’d like to put the motion to a vote now.

- “Silence gives consent”.

3)

- Every time I put forward a suggestion I get jumped on. Nobody stands up for me.

- And how about the manager, does he sit the fence as well?

II. A) Study the following idioms and use them in the dialogues of your own.

a level playing field equal opportunities

to move the goalposts to change the rules, laws which affect a business

a one-horse race a competition with only one possible winner

neck and neck to be very close to a rival in a competition

to pull together to be a good, supportive team

to settle in to start feeling comfortable after moving to a new place, job

1. My boss is never satisfied. Whenever I think I've done what he wants, he ___________

2. There are calls for less restrictive laws in order to allow them to compete on _________(= in a way that is fair) with other financial institutions.

3. I need a little time____________, then I can think about buying a car.

4. Mary and Ann were ___________in the spelling contest. Their scores were tied.

5. If we _______________ as a team, we can get this job done on time.

6. This election has been ______________ right from the start.

b) Define the meanings of the idioms from the context, translate the sentences into Ukrainian.

1. Bus companies are just passing the buck by saying their drivers are responsible for delays.

2. The council has also begun the process of making the three branch officers compulsorily redundant, by putting them on the redeployment register.

3. If we can't meet the deadline, they won't give us another contract.

4. As you establish your time frame, don't worry about casting it in cement. Instead, think of your schedule as something you commit to follow unless and until circumstances change and you make a conscious decision to revise it.

5. Since its founding in a shack in London over 30 years ago, Limmud gatherings have been held in dozens of countries, but on Sunday the network of Jewish education confabs will reach a new milestone when it holds its first-ever event in China.

6. One in five workers admitted making up an excuse to throw a sickie, often complaining they had food poisoning or a cold, a new report said today.

Talking point

I. Role Simulation

You are an expanding small company representing foreign firms on the Polish market. At the moment you are looking for new premises with more office space. You have seen two different offices which are for rent. One is the Intraco building and the other in the Business Centre on Plac Bankowy.The matter has to be discussed with staff members to decide which is more suitable for your purpose. The following is to be taken into account in order to reach the right decision:

• number of staff the company plans to employ within the next five years

• location

• the rent to be paid

• parking facilities

• any other aspects you can think of

Assign the roles before the lesson so that each student can prepare his/her part. At the meeting some students are asked to take the minutes which they willpresent to the class later for evaluation.

The Managing Director arranges the meeting. He prepares an agenda with all the items of business he intends to deal with and sends it to those invited to participate. He chairs the meeting and starts with informing the staff members of the current prospects for expansion of the company and the immediate need of accommodating three new employees.

The chief accountant compares the rent to be paid for the two different offices and is in favour of renting the smaller and cheaper one in the Intraco building.

Mr Malec points out that they would have to purchase new furniture in case they decide to move into the Intraco building as the rooms there are very small and their present desks and shelves would not fit in. However, he mentions the parking facilities, which are much better here than at the Business Centre, where they are, as a matter of fact, non-existent.

Mr Bek is of the opinion that the small rooms are an advantage as fewer people working in one room would make work more efficient.

The Secretary expresses the view that the reception room in the Intraco building is too small and most unimpressive. There is also insufficient space for the fax machine, photocopier, a.s.o. She would prefer the premises at the Business Centre.