English for customs officers

III. Fill in the following table and make sentences.

Reference words: revenue, behavior, courteous, fraud, to judge, to obey, regulations, to justify, trafficking, framework, to observe, breaches, offences, penalty, a set of principles, to comply with, prohibited drugs, disciplinary action, punishment.

IV. Complete the following questions adding the tags.

1.Corruption diminishes the ability of the Customs Service to accomplish its mission, ______________?

2.Customs must demonstrate high ethical standards, __________?

3.Ethics is a set of principles, __________?

4.Ethics is not just obeying the law, __________?

5.There is no set of rules capable of providing answers to all ethical questions, __________?

6.Customs authorities need to promote a culture which includes such values as honesty, fairness, accountability, professionalism, and integrity, __________?

7.A corrupt Customs Service will not deliver the revenue that is properly due to the state, __________?

8.The Australian Customs Service developed The Code of Ethics,

__________?

9.Breaches of criminal law will lead to prosecution or disciplinary action, __________?

10.The CCC's Arusha Declaration defines integrity as a science concerning professional ethics, __________?

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V. Match left to the right to make up sentences.

VI. Translate the following questions.

1.К чему может привести коррупция в таможне?

2.Почему так важно, чтобы таможенники имели высокий уровень сознания?

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3.Что представляет собой учение о нравственности, морали?

4.Какую роль выполняет кодекс поведения?

5.Какие правила были разработаны австралийской таможней?

6.К чему приводят нарушения уголовного права?

7.Какие нарушения, допущенные таможенниками, считаются наиболее серьезными?

8.Что может рассматриваться как попытка повлиять на решение таможенника?

9.В каком случае таможня имеет право на общественное признание?

10.Какой кодекс поведения должны выработать таможенные власти для создания безупречного имиджа?

VII. Speculate about the Code of Conduct in the Belarusian Customs Service.

Study the following words and word combinations from the text.

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TEXT 10.2. ETIQUETTE. INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS ETIQUETTE

To have respect for ourselves guides our morals; and to have a deference for others governs our manners.

Lawrence Sterne, Irish novelist & satirist (1713–1768)

Etiquette, or good manners, is an important part of our day to day lives. Whether we realize it or not we are always subconsciously adhering to rules of etiquette. These are unwritten rules that reflect a culture's values, for example giving up your seat to a lady or elderly person, or simply saying «please» or «thank you».

Etiquette accomplishes many tasks. However, the one noteworthy function that etiquette does perform is that it shows respect and deference to another. By doing so it maintains good interpersonal relationships.

We all know how we or others feel when a lack of etiquette is shown. If someone jumps the queue, does not thank you for holding the door open for them or forgets to shake your hand, we naturally feel disrespected and perturbed.

Etiquette is a system of rules and conventions that regulates social and professional behaviour. Regardless of its level of material culture, any highly stratified society will possess an etiquette in which every person knows the behaviour expected from him toward others and from others toward himself.

The real point to be made is that rules of etiquette have not been contrived in order to make those who know them seem important. Actually the rules are nothing but the findings of long experience handed down for reasons of practical use. Good taste is helpful! What is said and done should be the most suitable, comfortable and useful for the occasion, place and time.

In the same way the code of ethics is an immutable law of etiquette. Good taste or bad is revealed in everything we are, do, or have. Our

speech manners, dress, our household goods – and even our friends – are evidence of the quality of our taste. Rules of etiquette are sign-posts by which we are guided to the goal of good taste.

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Modern business is global and demands people travel to foreign countries and mix with foreign clients, colleagues or customers. All cultures have their own etiquette rules, many of them unwritten. When two or more different cultures mix, it is easy for small etiquette mistakes to be made that could have negative consequences. Just as you may have felt annoyed when a foreign businessman did not shake your hands upon greeting you, imagine how your Chinese client must have felt when you wrote on his business card or your Indian colleague reacted when you flatly rejected an offer of a meal. Sometimes, not understanding the etiquette of another culture means you show a lack of manners and as Lawrence Sterne said, a lack of deference. This can and does lead to soured relationships, lost deals and in the end poor business results. International business etiquette manifests in many shapes and sizes. Throughout the world people from different cultures have varying etiquette rules around areas such as personal space, communication, gift giving, food, business meetings and much more. For those who want to make a good impression understanding of international business etiquette is crucial. By way of introducing some of the key areas within international business etiquette we shall look at the following common areas:

Business Card Etiquette

When you exchange business cards (even if you exchange them) do you simply pass it over and forget about it? In many countries the business card has certain etiquette rules. For example in the Arab world you would never give or receive a business card with your left hand. In China and Japan you should try and use both hands to give and receive. In addition it is always good etiquette to examine the card and make a positive comment on it. Whereas in the UK it may be OK to sling the business card into a pocket, in many countries you should always treat it with much more respect such as storing it in a business card holder.

The Etiquette of Personal Space

How close do you stand to people? Is it impolite to touch somebody? What about gender differences? In the Middle East you may get very touchy-feely with the men, yet one should never touch a woman. A slap on the back may be OK in Mexico but in China it is a serious no-no. Touch someone on the head in Thailand or Indonesia and you would have caused great insult. Without an appreciation of international business etiquette, these things would never be known.

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The Etiquette of Gift Giving

Many countries such as China and Japan have many etiquette rules surrounding the exchange of business gifts. International business etiquette allows you an insight into what to buy, how to give a gift, how to receive, whether to open in front of the giver and what gifts not to buy. Great examples of gifts to avoid are anything alcoholic in Muslim countries, anything with four of anything in Japan and clocks in China.

The Etiquette of Communication

Some cultures like to talk loudly (US and Germany), some softly (India and China); some speak directly (Holland and Denmark) others indirectly (UK and Japan); some tolerate interrupting others while speaking (Brazil) others not (Canada); some are very blunt (Greece) and some very flowery (Middle East).

The knowledge of etiquette is essential to one's decent behaviour, just as clothing is essential to one's decent appearance. Etiquette helps maintain good relations with people. Those that lack etiquette are branded as uncouth and rude.

International business etiquette is a key skill for those who want to be successful when working on the international stage. Through a great appreciation and understanding of others' cultures you build stronger and longer lasting business relationships.

EXERCISES

I. Match the words from the text with their corresponding definitions.

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II. Find the words/phrases in the text which follow the verbs below.

III. What are the synonyms from the text of the following words?

1.awkward, impolite

2.unfriendly, unpleasant, sullen

3.offensive, bad-mannered

4.completely, firmly

5.easily offended or annoyed, too sensitive

IV. What are the opposites from the text of the following words?

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VI. Mark the sentences true (T) or false (F).

1.People like to talk loudly in India and China.

2.Americans and Germans talk loudly.

3.You should buy a good bottle of wine or whisky when you are invited to a Muslim family.

4.It will be OK to touch someone on the head in Thailand or Indonesia.

5.Your Japanese partner has invited you to a family dinner. A set of four tea cups will be a perfect present.

VII. Agree or disagree with the following statements. Give your reasons. Discuss your answers with your partner.

1.Good taste is helpful!

2.A knowledge of etiquette is essential to one's decent behavior.

3.Good taste or bad is revealed in everything we are, do, or have.

FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITIES

I. Discuss this list of unethical activities. In your opinion, which are the worst? Are they common in your country?

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II. Discuss with your partner whether the following standards of service should be expected from Customs officers in Belarus.

•Wear a namebadge when dealing with the public.

•Be polite and considerate and deal discreetly with confidential affairs.

•Give clear, helpful information and make sure that Customs forms and leaflets are easy to understand and use.

•Give the name of a person to contact in all communications.

•Send a written reply to any letters within 10 working days of receiving them.

•Give an explanation if there is a delay in answering letters.

•Send a written reply within 10 working days or, if the matter is not resolved within that time, explain when the outcome may be expected.

III. There are wrong statements in the following text. Find them.

As an integral part of its commitment to service and protection, Customs requires its staff to:

perform duties with honesty and integrity;

discharge their enforcement duties in a fair, reasonable and effective manner;

be fair, sensitive and courteous in all dealings with the public;

decline all gifts, hospitality or other benefits and never report the matter to the designated official;

provide advice and information to the public only on request;

protect commercial in-confidence information;

meet public interest and accountability standards;

advertise or make it known that you work for Customs;

avoid situations where private interests conflict with public duty.

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IV. Translate the following text of the Russian Customs officers' oath into Russian and compare your translation with the text from the Code.

«I swear that in exercising the powers of an official of a Customs authority of the Russian Federation I shall strictly comply with the Constitution and Legislation of the Russian Federation, protect its economic sovereignty and security, execute my employment-related duties in good faith and abide by the discipline of the Customs Service».

The Customs Code of the Russian Federation.

Chapter 60. Article 420

V. Translate into English.

Таможенные администрации должны принять меры по обеспечению самых высоких стандартов добросовестности и профессионализма в таможенных органах. Следует обеспечить принятие мер, определенных СТС в Арушской декларации о добросовестности сотрудников таможни. Требуется также применение эффективных мер с целью борьбы с недобросовестностью в торговых кругах.

VI. Agree or disagree with the following statements. Give your reasons. Discuss your answers with your partner. Supply some additional information.

1.Customs authorities must provide their officers with a healthy and safe work environment. Smoking must be banned: in all areas of buildings occupied by Customs – including offices, basements, toilets, vehicles, vessels or aircraft under the control of, or hired by Customs, and at all social functions held on Customs premises.

2.As a general rule, the use of official information and Customs documents beyond the official purposes is prohibited. Officers are required to protect the privacy of individuals in official dealings. Anyone with access to national security and sensitive matter has a responsibility to protect that information.

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