Discussion

Discuss the following problems:

• Production work is more satisfying than office work.

• If a man wearing leans and no tie comes into your office, do you think he

1. isn’t correctly dressed?

2. can’t be important?

3. is quite normal?

4. is someone who has come to fix electricity or something?

• What sort of things motivate office workers to do their jobs well?

• Innovation comes from creative destruction.

• In future people will work mostly from homes.

• Finish the sentence ‘The most important thing in the office is …’ (think about the three components of an office (See Preview).

Jokes

• You’re very late this morning, Mr. Brown!

• Yes, Sir, I’m sorry. I overslept.

• Good gracious! Do you sleep at home as well?

The boss returned in a good humor from lunch and called the whole staff in to listen to a couple of jokes he had picked up. Everybody but one girl laughed uproariously. “What’s the matter?” grumbled the boss. “Haven’t you got a sense of humour?”

“I don’t have to laugh,” said the girl. “I’m leaving Friday anyhow”.

Vocabulary

agenda, n – повестка дня

atrium, n – атриум, крытый портик

clutter, v – создавать/приводить в беспорядок, загромождать, заваливать

corporate culture, n – корпоративная культура

desk, n – рабочий стол

drain, v – осушать, пить до дна; истощать (силы и т. п.); высасывать

dress code, n – требования, предъявляемые к одежде сотрудников

file, v – подшивать, регистрировать документы; хранить в определенном порядке

filing cabinet, n – шкаф для хранения документов; картотека, каталог

fund manager, n – распорядитель фонда

infrastructure, n – инфраструктура

layout, v –планировать, разбивать (сад, участок)

meeting, n – заседание, митинг, собрание

memo, n – служебная записка, докладная записка; директива, приказ

minutes – протокол (собрания)

photocopier, n – фотокопировальное устройство

pile, v – складывать, сваливать в кучу; нагружать

procrastinate, v – откладывать, отсрочивать; мешкать

shop, n – предприятие, контора, офис

shrink, v – уменьшаться, сокращаться; терять значение; ухудшаться

survey, n – опрос

tackle, v – энергично, с усердием браться, приниматься за что-л.

take, keep minutes – вести протокол

team work, n – коллективная работа, работа в коллективе

to hold a meeting – проводить собрание

utilize, v – утилизировать, использовать, расходовать, употреблять

white-collar, adj – канцелярский, конторский

GLOSSARY

Agenda – a list of the subjects to be discussed at a meeting; be on top of the agenda/be high on the agenda – be very important to do.

Central unit (central processing unit, CPU) – the part of a computer that controls and organizes all its activities.

Chairperson – someone who is in charge of a meeting or directs the work of a committee or organization.

Database – a large amount of data stored in a computer system so that you can find and use it easily.

Fax – a letter or message that is sent in electronic form down a telephone line and then printed using a special machine.

Fax machine – a machine used for sending and receiving faxes.

For signature – to be signed by the boss, manager etc.

Hardware – computer machinery and equipment, as opposed to the programmes that make computers work.

Keyboard – a row or several rows of keys on a musical instrument like a piano or a machine like a computer.

Meeting – an event at which people meet to talk and decide things.

Memo – a short official note to another person in the same company or organization.

Notebook – a very small personal computer that is the size of a book.

Noticeboard (AmE bulletin board) – a special board on a wall which notices can be fixed to.

Open-plan office – an open-plan office, school etc does not have walls dividing it into separate rooms.

Overhead projector - a piece of electrical equipment used for making words, pictures etc look larger by showing them on a wall or large screen so that many people can see.

PC – an electronic machine that can store information and do things with it according to a set of instructions called a program.

Photocopier – a machine that quickly makes photographic copies of documents.

Printer – a machine which is connected to a computer and makes a printed record of computer information.

Secretary – 1. someone who works in an office typing letters, keeping records, arranging meetings etc; 2. an official of an organization who keeps records, writes official letters etc.

Scanner – a piece of computer equipment that copies an image from paper onto the screen.

Shorthand – a fast method of writing using special signs or shorter forms to represent letters, words, and phrases.

Software – the sets of programs (instructions) that you put into a computer when you want it to do particular jobs.

Stationery – materials that you use for writing, such as paper, pens, pencils etc.

Word processor – small computer used especially for writing letters or storing information.

Workstation – the part of an office where you work, where your desk, computer etc are.

Whiteboard – a large board with a white, smooth surface used in classrooms and offices for writing on.

White-collar – white-collar workers work in offices, banks etc as opposed to people who work in factories, mines (blue-collar – workers do hard or dirty work with their hands).