Английскй учебник

3.Casual or trivial conversation, chitchat about unimportant subjects of conversation, as opposed to serious or weighty ones.

4.An exchange of ideas or opinions.

5.Something, such as a lecture or speech that is set forth for an audience.

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Topics which are safe for small talk

Topics which are best avoided for small talk

1."What sort of music do you like?"

2."You seem to have put on some weight"

3."Who did you vote for at the last election?"

4."The garden looks lovely, doesn't it?"

5."It's a lovely day today, isn't it?"

6."Do you believe in God?"

7."Hello. May I introduce myself? My name is Mark"

8."What a lovely dog. What is his name?"

9."How is your family?"

10."Why is British food so bad?"

11."How much do you earn?"

12."How old are you?"

13.“I like your watch. A Rolex, isn’t it?”

14.“What do you think of the presentation?”

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Model:

William : Morning, Paul.

Paul : Oh, morning, William, how are you?

William : Fine, thanks. Have a good weekend?

Paul : Yes, thanks. Catch you later.

William : OK, see you.

8.. .

1.What topics do the speakers discuss?

2.Are these topics safe?

3.Do they get on well with each other? Why do you think so?

4.What mistakes do they make?

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Conversation 1

A:Is this your first visit to Russia?

B:Yes, it is, actually. Fascinating place!

A:Yes, that’s right. I come here quite a lot. What do you do, by the way? I see you work for Galaxy.

B:How did you know? … Oh, yeah, my badge. I’m in R&D. Molecular modeling, to be precise.

A:Really? We should talk. Can I offer you a drink?

B:Oh, no, thank you.

A:Are you sure?

B:Well, ok, just a little coffee. And what line of business are you in?

Conversation 2

A:Hi, Sandra Smith, High Engineering. Would you mind if I join you?

B:Erm, no. Michael Smooth.

A:Pleased to meet you, Mike. Try one of these – they are delicious.

B:No, thanks, but seafood doesn’t agree with me.

A:Oh, then try this cheese instead. It’s good too. Haven’t we met before? In Warsaw, perhaps?

B:I don’t think so.

A:But I was sure I recognized you… You are an Aquarius, aren’t you? I can tell.

B:Well, I don’t know. I’m not really into horoscopes, I’m afraid.

A:When is your birthday?

B:Oh, on the 5 of February.

A:I knew it! A typical Aquarius.

B:Er, yes. If you excuse me, I have to make an urgent phone call. It’s been nice talking to you.

Conversation 3

A:I really enjoyed you talk this morning.

B:Oh, thank you very much.

A:You have mentioned some interesting things. I’m Anna Mellor, by the way. I’d like to talk to you about some of your ideas. My company may be interested in your product. Where are you staying?

B:At the Hilton.

A:I’m at the Sheraton. Why don’t we fix up a time to chat over a drink? Here is my business card.

B:Oh, thank. I’ve got mine here… somewhere.

A:Don’t worry. I know who you are. So, how are you enjoying the conference?

B:Well, it’s rather good. There are more people than ever this year. But isn’t this weather awful? Half a meter of snow this morning, I heard.

A:Yes, it’s getting cold here in Moscow.

B:Would you excuse me a moment? I’ll be right back.

Conversation 4

A:So, how is business?

B:Fine. This merger meant quite a lot of work for us, but, fine.

A:Well, mergers are often difficult. So, what do you think about the Middle-East situation?

B:I’m sorry?

A:The crisis in the Middle East. It was in the news this morning.

B:Er, well, I…

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A:I mean, it must affect a company like yours - you are in oil.

B:No, I think, you’ve made a mistake. I’m not in oil. I work for BMW.

A:BMW? Oh, sorry! I thought you were someone else.

B:That’s ok. If you excuse me I must just go and say hello to someone.

Conversation 5

A:I like your watch. A Rolex, isn’t it?

B:Well, to be honest, but don’t tell anybody, it’s a fake.

A:No! It looks real to me. Where did you get it?

B:Egypt. It cost me twenty five dollars.

A:Amazing! So, do you know many people here?

B:No, not really. It’s the first time I’ve been to such a conference.

A:Me too. So, what is your hotel like?

B:Pretty comfortable. Nothing special, but it’s ok, I suppose.

A:You are at the Holiday Inn, aren’t you? Last year they held this conference in Mexico. The Hilton Cancun Fabulous Hotel, they say.

B:Cancun! A bit warmer than here, I think.

A:Yes, I went there on holiday once. A beautiful place! Can I get you anything from the buffet?

B:Oh, that’s all right. I’ll come with you. I’d like some more of that caviar before it all goes.

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1.So, who/work for?

2.Where/your company/based?

3.What/ do here?

4.Where/staying?

5.Giving/ presentation?

6.How/enjoying/conference?

7.Where/come from?

8.Interested in/football?

9.First time/Berlin?

10.Know/many people here?

11.What/line of business?

11.10 .

1. ______________________ - Actually, not very many. This is the first time I’ve been to such

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events.

2.______________________ - Paris. Our offices are in the city centre.

3.______________________ - Iberica Electric. It’s a large international company.

4.______________________ - To be honest, not very much. But my husband is. He doesn’t miss a

single match.

5.______________________ - No, me not. My colleague is. I’m here just to help him.

6.______________________ - Russia. I was born in St. Petersburg.

7.______________________ - I’m in marketing.

8.______________________ - No, I have been there twice before. One is on a

business trip, the other is on holiday. I like this city very much.

9. ______________________ - Well, it’s rather good. This year there are more speakers with interesting presentations.

10.______________________ - In the Sheraton. It’s a great hotel with all modern conveniences. 11______________________ - I’m giving a presentation.

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Tense).

1.A: Did you try/Have you tried sushi before, Mr. Winter?

B:Yes, I did/I have. I had/have had it last time I was/have been here. I like it very much.

2.A: I’d like to introduce you all to Dt. Sterling, who came/has come over from our Sydney office to spend a few days at our research centre. Welcome to Washington, Dr. Sterling.

B:Thank you very much. It was/has been kind of you to invite me.

3.A: …And then Manchester scored/has scored the winner. It was/has been an incredible goal! Did you see/Have you seen the game last night?

B:Yes, I did/have. Wasn’t it/Hasn’t it been a great match? One of the best I ever saw/have ever seen.

4.A: Rain stopped/has stopped the game again yesterday?

B:Sorry?

A: The cricket. They cancelled/have cancelled the match.

B: Oh, they didn’t/haven’t! Well, we certainly didn’t see/haven’t seen much cricket this summer.

5.A: I think this is your first visit to Holland, isn’t it Tanya? Or were you/have you been here before?

B:Actually, I came/have come here on holiday once, but that was/has been a long time ago.

6.A: That’s a terrible joke, Mike.

B:No, you see, he copied/has copied her test, right?

A:Mike, we heard/have heard the joke before. It’s ancient. Let’s get down to business.

B:I thought/have thought it was/has been funny.

7.A: What I do worry about is what is going on between our vice-president and our head of finance.

B:What happened/has happened?

A:Didn’t you hear/Haven’t you heard? I thought/ have thought everybody knew/has known.

B:No, nobody told/has told me anything.

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4.They are usually badly organized. Nobody sticks to the point. People digress all the time. It takes ages to get down to business. As they say: “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”

5.You often get several people all talking at the same time. So no one is really listening to anyone else. They are just planning what they are going to say next. It’s survival of the loudest.

6.Nobody seems to come to the meeting properly prepared. If you want a copy of the report, they don’t have it with them. If you need to see the figures, they will get them back to you.

7.You often leave a meeting not really knowing what you are supposed to do next, what the action plan is. I usually end up phoning people afterwards to find out what we actually agreed.

8.It’s a joke that everyone’s opinion is valued. I mean how much you can disagree with the boss? After all, he is the boss!

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TEXT

HOLDING A SUCCESSFUL MEETING

Nowadays business people spend so much time in meetings that turning meeting time into effective results is a priority for successful organizations. Actions that make meetings successful require management before, during, and after the meeting.

What is done before the meeting is as important as the meeting itself. To ensure the only necessary points will be covered it’s necessary to create an agenda. An agenda is a list of items and points which are to be discussed during the meeting. When the agenda is ready it is usually distributed among everyone concerned. It is important to get feedback from the meeting participants about the proposed agenda. The organizers should also check the venue, making sure the room will be free, without interruptions, until the end of the meeting.

The person who will chair the meeting must be appointed in advance. The chairperson should be a good timekeeper. He should start a meeting on time, without waiting for latecomers. He should also appoint somebody to take the minutes, making sure that opinions and action points are noted. He should make sure that each point on the agenda is allocated the time it deserves and should keep to the timetable. When the time allocated to one point is up, the chairperson should make sure that discussion moves on to the next point, even if the issue has not been completely covered. The chairperson should make sure that each participant has the chance to make the point, and should deal tactfully with disagreements. He should also try to avoid digressions, where people get off the point. Finally, he should ensure the meeting finishes on time or earlier.

After some meetings it’s necessary for the minutes to be circulated, especially if there are action points that particular people are responsible for. At the next meeting the chairperson should ask for the minutes to be read out and see if everybody agrees that it is an accurate record of what happened, and see if there are any matters arising. He should also check what progress has been made on the action points from the previous meeting.

Organizing a meeting it’s necessary to remember that running an effective meeting is more than sending out a notice that your team is to meet at a particular time and place. Effective meetings need structure and order. Without these elements they can go on forever and not accomplish their goals. With a good agenda and a commitment to involving the meeting participants in the planning, preparation, and execution of the meeting, it is possible to hold a great meeting.

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right, mean, understand, interrupt, earlier, move, minutes, afraid, think, purpose, record, wrong, action, point (2), sure, allocated

1.Steve, will you take the ___________ today?

2.Does everybody agree that the minutes are an accurate ____________ of the last meeting?

3.In the ____________ points it says Sam is responsible for writing the report. Is that right?

4.Now, we have ___________ 30 minutes to the discussion of point 1, so let’s get started.

5.I want to make the __________ that we are still two people short in the office.

6.Let’s ___________ on to the next point or we won’t finish on time.

7.What is the ____________ of this meeting? What do we hope to achieve?

8.I take your ___________ about the new advertisement, but it’s too late to change anything.

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9.I know what you _________ about him, but he is very good with customers.

10.Sorry to _____________ you, but what you’ve said is against the company policy.

11.To go back to what I was saying __________, we still need some money to solve this problem.

12.If I ______________ you correctly, we won’t finish the project on time. Is that right?

13.Are you ___________ that we have to close this parking on our company premises?

14.I know what you __________ but we have to look at the human factor as well as the numbers.

15.I’m ___________ I can’t agree with you here.

16.I think you are __________. It’s impossible to meet this deadline.

17.You are absolutely __________. We are to reduce prices.

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•Open a meeting

•Ask for an opinion

•Interrupt

•Speed things up

•Ask for clarification

•Agree

•Disagree

•Ask for ideas

•Close a meeting

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venue, items, agenda, minutes, attend

Please find enclosed the ___________ for next week’s meeting. Please make a note of the

__________: we are meeting in room 3. Please let me know if you are unable to ____________. Please find attached copy of the ____________ from the last meeting.

If you want me to add other ____________ to the agenda, please let me know.

Steve Clapton

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1. What information about the meeting can the participants get from the agenda?

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