Английский для магистрантов. Практикум

«commuting» diasporas with a purely instrumental attitude to the European home. And unlike America, where hard work acts as an integrating force, Europe's generous welfare states have created too many immigrant dependants (especially in the Netherlands, Sweden and Germany), triggering resentment among mainstream taxpayers.

There is, of course, good immigration too. Supporters point to the creativity and dynamism of many young migrants, their willingness to do dirty or under-rewarded jobs (like caring) that few natives want, their slowing of Europe's ageing process. But these benefits would have to be very large, and demonstrable, to compensate for the cultural and social disruption caused by over-rapid immigration.

And they are not. Almost all the economic analyses of mass immigration in recent years have found that the effect on employment, wages and per head growth is marginal. Similarly, on the question of fiscal benefit, productive immigrants like Poles probably pay in more than they take out, but less productive ones like Somalis (in Britain, only 25 % of them work) do the opposite.

Moreover, costs and benefits are unevenly distributed: employers and richer people benefit, as do many consumers and, of course, immigrants themselves. But low-skilled workers (often recent migrants) face lower wages, and while immigrants create as well as take jobs, the creating takes longer than the taking. Because it is concentrated at the top and bottom, mass immigration reinforces inequality and reduces social mobility (one-third of professional jobs in London are taken by people born outside Britain). It adds to urban congestion, increases pressure on public services and housing, and discourages employers from training, especially hard-to-reach youngsters such as those who have been busy looting in recent days in London.

No sensible person wants a complete halt to immigration, but Europe needs a slowdown to absorb the large inflows of recent decades (like America's «pause» from 1920 to 1965) and Denmark's experience shows it is possible. There will be some economic costs of a slowdown, but if democratic politics fails to deal with this existential issue on which there is such a settled popular will the resulting backlash will threaten many of the achievements of the past 30 years.

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One such achievement, in Britain at least, is the sharp decline in overt racism. Young people now have very liberal views on race and gender but they have become much less generous on welfare, poverty and redistribution. That is not just because of the mishandling of mass immigration — affluence and individualism play a role too. But that makes it even more important to rein in mass immigration before Europe loses its unique balance between individual rights and mutual obligation and increasingly comes to resemble the United States.

4. Объясните значение понятий, взятых из статьи упражнения 3, на английском языке:

welfare, social solidarity, to erode the belief, mutual obligation, commitment, sovereignty, legitimacy, borders and boundaries, immigration, migrants, natives, to endanger, to alienate, minority communities, segregation, diasporas, social disruption, marginal, to distribute (benefits) unevenly, reinforces inequality, to add to urban congestion, halt to immigration, backlash, poverty.

5. Ответьте на вопросы:

1.Are you a fluent English speaker?

2.What assignments are the most effective for improving your language?

3.Does using a dictionary frequently enlarge your English vocabulary?

4.What world events are you concerned with?

5.What issues are you reluctant to discuss?

6.What are the most pressing issues you’ve read about recently?

7.Are you an intuitive person?

8.Can you predict the future of mankind?

9.What are the possible ways to prevent wars?

10.Have you ever doubt the existence of other civilizations?

11.Do you believe in people’s stories about viewing aliens?

12.What parts of the world would you like to visit? Why?

13.Have you ever been to Paris?

14.Would you like to see Seven Wonders of the World?

15.What are your life priorities?

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6. Переведите словосочетания на английский язык. Составьте с ними предложения или короткие рассуждения о мировых проблемах современности:

новости культуры, спортивные новости, экстренное сообщение, «бегущая строка», серьезная проблема, голод в Эфиопии, беспорядки в Лондоне, встреча глав государств, переговоры о сотрудничестве, участие миротворцев, смена власти, члены Евросоюза, единая валюта, финансовый кризис, оздоровление экономики, спад производства, увеличение численности населения, высокая плотность населения, младенческая смертность, угроза терроризма, выборы президента, поддержка развивающихся экономик, введение новых налогов, поддержка малого и среднего бизнеса, посредничество в торговле между двумя регионами, зона свободной торговли, беспошлинная торговля, международные организации, ООН, Всемирная Торговая Организация, обменный курс доллара к фунту стерлингов, изменение климата на планете, ухудшение экологии, природоохранная организация, гуманитарная помощь от Красного Креста, Общество по защите животных, сторонники и противники клонирования человека.

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РАЗДЕЛ 8 Articles to Translate

1. Health, Stress and Related Work Issues

Losing Weight The Olympic Athlete Way

For many of us, getting to and staying at an optimal weight is a struggle. Sedentary life styles, rich foods and less and less recreational time aren't helping us stay trim, or more importantly, healthy (since thin isn't always healthy).

Sure, we know the elements of weight loss and health. Good nutrition, lower fat intake, higher fruits and vegetables, + using up more calories yields less fat on our frames. Of course knowing these things doesn't make the fat go away. Applying the knowledge does.

We can learn from Olympic athletes about how to take what we know, and USE it to produce success. This doesn't apply only to weight loss of course, but to almost everything. Here are some tips taken from the Olympic athletes who are succeeding at tasks which are, in some ways, much more difficult than losing weight.

Visioning Results

Swimmer Mark Tewksbury, former Summer Olympic medal winner, indicated that part of his preparation included imagining standing on the gold medal podium and hearing «Oh Canada» (he's Canadian, of course). This type of visioning, repeated over and over, becomes a central motivating force for overcoming obstacles, because it focusses you on the reward. It makes the reward seem attainable, real and concrete provided that you visualize yourself in the picture, and that you paint a picture that engages all your senses. What does it feel like? What are you hearing? What do you see?

Some examples. Imagine yourself in your favorite high-priced boffo outfit that you've outgrown and out-bulked over the last year or two. Visualize walking into a party in the outfit, and people paying attention to you, commenting on how absolutely great you look. Or imagine going into your favorite store and being able to buy that wonderful bit of clothing that would have looked really lousy on the bigger, more rotund «you».

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Rehearsal

If you prepare for an event by actually carrying out the behaviors, it is called practice. If you mentally run through the behaviors, it is called rehearsal. You are practicing in the mind. Fortunately, practicing in the mind can be done anywhere and can be as effective as «real» doing. However, mental rehearsal, as with results visioning, must be undertaken in detail, each step, action or word being imagined. The more vivid the picture painted, the better the results. Also, it is most effective if you imagine obstacles, things that might go wrong, and imagine dealing successfully deal with them. This last bit is the key to rehearsal in weight loss. Sit down and anticipate the situations where you eat badly. Imagine them in detail. Then imagine or rehearse better ways of dealing with them. Rehearse saying no to the second helping. Imagine taking a walk when you are stressed, instead of eating. Got the idea?

Build Skills And Knowledge

All the visioning and rehearsal in the world can't help you if you don't know what you were doing in the first place. You need to know about foods, nutrition and the proper ways to exercise for your age and fitness level. Read, learn, talk to others about how they've succeeded. Consult your physician. The more you know, the more you can do (like cooking low fat meals that taste good), the better your chances will be.

Summary

Success in life, in our work, even in our families comes about much like success for Olympic athletes, which is probably why the Olympics inspire and interest many people. The fight to be better. The excitement of challenge. And above all, winning by trying, even though others may be better. You can apply this to your weight loss program and improve your chances at success.

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2. Human Resources Related Topics

Strange but True (and Really Funny) Job Interview Behaviour

Most managers and supervisors (and HR people) have had experiences interviewing candidates for job openings. I'm sure each of you has, at one time or another, been baffled by interviewee behaviour, but we're betting you haven't faced some of the behaviours that we list below. Certainly head-scratchers, and amusing (at least to read about). Strange but true.

Based on a survey published via the Internet, here are some of the odd things reported by HR professionals.

1.«... said he was so well-qualified that if he didn't get the job, it would prove that the company's management was incompetent».

2.«... stretched out on the floor to fill out the job application».

3.«... brought her large dog to the interview».

4.«... chewed bubble gum and constantly blew bubbles».

5.«Candidate kept giggling through serious interview».

6.«She wore a Walkman and said she could listen to me and the music at the same time».

7.«Balding candidate abruptly excused himself. Returned to office a few minutes later, wearing a hairpiece».

8.«Applicant challenged interviewer to arm wrestle».

9.«... asked to see interviewer's resume to see if the personnel executive was qualified to judge the candidate».

10. «... announced she hadn't had lunch and proceeded to eat a hamburger and french fries in the interviewer's office».

11.«Without saying a word, candidate stood up and walked out during the middle of the interview».

12.«Man wore jogging suit to interview for position as financial vice president».

13.«Stated that, if he were hired, he would demonstrate his loyalty by having the corporate logo tattooed on his forearm».

14.«Interrupted to phone his therapist for advice on answering specific interview questions».

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15.«... wouldn't get out of the chair until I would hire him. I had to call the police».

16.«When I asked him about his hobbies, he stood up and started tap dancing around my office».

17.«... had a little pinball game and challenged me to play with him».

18.«... bounced up and down on my carpet and told me I must be highly thought of by the company because I was given such a thick carpet».

19.«At the end of the interview, while I stood there dumbstruck, went through my purse, took out a brush, brushed his hair, and left».

20.«... pulled out a Polaroid camera and snapped a flash picture of me. Said he collected photos of everyone who interviewed him».

21.«Candidate asked me if I would put on a suit jacket to insure that the offer I had made was formal».

22.«Said he wasn't interested because the position paid too much».

23.«While I was on a long-distance phone call, the applicant took out a copy of Penthouse, and looked through the photos only, stopping longest at the centerfold».

24.«During the interview, an alarm clock went off from the candidate's brief case. He took it out, shut it off, apologized and said he had to leave for another interview».

25.«A telephone call came in for the job applicant. It was from his wife. His side of the conversation went like this: «Which company? When do I start? What's the salary?». I said, «I assume you're not interested in conducting the interview any further». He promptly responded, «I am as long as you'll pay me more». «I didn't hire him, but later found out there was no other job offer. It was a scam to get a higher offer».

26.«An applicant came in wearing only one shoe. She explained that the other shoe was stolen off her foot in the bus».

27.«His attachй [case] opened when he picked it up and the contents spilled, revealing ladies' undergarments and assorted makeup and perfume».

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28.«He came to the interview with a moped and left it in the reception area. He didn't want it to get stolen, and stated that he would require indoor parking for the moped».

29.«He took off his right shoe and sock, removed a medicated foot powder and dusted it on the foot and in the shoe. While he was putting back the shoe and sock, he mentioned that he had to use the powder four times a day, and this was the time».

30.«Candidate said he really didn't want to get a job, but the unemployment office needed proof that he was looking for one».

31.«He whistled when the interviewer was talking».

32.«... asked who the lovely babe was, pointing to the picture on my desk. When I said it was my wife, he asked if she was home now and wanted my phone number. I called security».

33.«... she threw-up on my desk, and immediately started asking questions about the job, like nothing had happened».

34.«Pointing to a black case he carried into my office, he said that if he was not hired, the bomb would go off. Disbelieving, I began to state why he would never be hired and that I was going to call the police. He then reached down to the case, flipped a switch and ran. No one was injured, but I did need to get a new desk».

35.«... asked if I wanted some cocaine before starting the interview».

Abuse of Internet Access at Work

When this was written originally, the Internet was less available, and less essential. Since then, almost every workplace has employee access to the Internet, and email, so the issue of abusing Internet access at work has escalated. Most human resource (HR) departments have to face this issue. Here's some advice on policy to try to keep some balance.

This month we look at a question which is being asked with increasing frequency. What are the issues of concern around providing Internet access for government staff?

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Problem: I am a manager in a government office that has recently been «wired» so that each employee has access to the Internet. At present staff can surf the net, and use electronic mail. It has come to my attention that one of our staff has been spending inordinate time on the Internet, and there has been a suggestion that he has been accessing «adult sites» while at work. Do you have any comments or suggestions?

Answer: More and more government organizations are installing Internet access for staff, and this question will become more common. How do you regulate usage without making the technology useless? In fact, what degree of regulation is appropriate?

In general terms, let’s remember that the Internet allows communication and research to be done from the office. Second, its valuable contribution will be in the ease that communication can occur with colleagues, and members of the public. Unfortunately, there is no hard and fast set of rules. In the situation described above, there are several concerns. Probably the most serious is the possibility that the Internet is being used to access pornographic material, at the taxpayer’s expense. Clearly this is a serious concern because of the additional responsibilities and obligations public servants have, compared to other sectors. While few are aware of it, access to web sites can be monitored, and an individual who goes to such sites can be identified by the web site owner.

Since most government staff have identifiers that indicate they are government staff, we must realize that such behaviour is not «secret». There is a potential for public embarrassment. For those reasons, even leaving aside moral and ethical issues, staff should be clear that Internet access brings responsibility. We recommend that an Internet usage policy be drafted (usually called an Acceptable Use Policy-AUP). As with any policy, staff should be actively involved in determining what is and is not acceptable behaviour on the Net. That is probably the clearest of the issues related to the problem given.

The next issue is the lack of productivity that occurs if staff spend inordinate amounts of time surfing the Net. In the specific case out-

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lined, the individual was spending as much as three hours at a time, apparently doing non-work related things. Some people advocate that the employer become a policeman, monitoring access electronically (which is technically possible), and enforcing rules harshly. There are others that suggest that the real issue lies elsewhere, and monitoring and enforcement don’t address them. Putting aside the pornography access, one obvious question that comes to mind is whether the individual in question is able to meet his or her job obligations while also spending a good deal of time on unproductive activities. If the answer is no, then there is a clear performance problem that should be dealt with by focusing on the job tasks that are not getting done, or objectives and deadlines not meant. This would be the same, if the person was spending large amounts of time on the telephone, on personal calls.

If the employee is able to complete all job tasks and still «waste time» on the Internet, then the question shifts to whether the individual has sufficient work to do. And that, again, is an issue unrelated to the Internet, itself.

Some other considerations apply. One of the odd things about the Internet is that worthwhile research can be found almost accidentally. Many of the things of value we find are a result of «playing» on the Net. While we don’t recommend that staff have free license to pass their days in an Internet stupor, we also do not want to restrict access in a harsh way. It is very difficult to determine whether a person’s Internet time is «work related». The more we impose and enforce restrictions, the more effort and resource have to be invested in the police function. Barring extreme cases of abuse, it may be that we have to make sure there is a simple, straight forward policy in place, and then trust that staff will abide by that.

Monitoring use may not add value to the organization, and can create a climate where people will be fearful to use the Internet, even for legitimate reasons.

In the extreme cases of abusive behaviour such as accessing pornographic material, harassing other Internet users, or conducting political activities during work hours), it may be necessary to use strong-

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