Communicate in English. Практикум

Part III

Some time later Stephen called Software Engineering. Helen Grant, Mr. Dixon’s secretary, answered the phone.

H: Mr. Dixon’s office.

S: Hello. My name is Stephen York. I’d like to speak to Mr. Dixon, please.

H: I’m sorry he isn’t here today. He’ll be back tomorrow. This is his secretary. Can I help you?

S: Yes. When can I contact him tomorrow?

H: The best time is early in the morning, before 9. S: All right. I’ll phone around 8.45.

H: In regard to what, Mr. York?

S: In regard to the position of Training Director. I understand that position is open and I’d like to apply for it.

2. Read and keep in mind the following useful words and expres-

sions:

to apply for – обращаться за (работой, помощью, разре- шением и т.д.)

to contact smb – связаться с кем либо position – должность

position is open – место не занято to quit – уходить с работы

in regard to – относительно to train – обучать

3. You’re going to apply for the post of Assistant Manager with Watson Ltd, which you saw advertised in yesterday’s Financial Times. Try to contact the boss of the company on the phone.

VI.

1. Read the conversation

Stephen had heard from a friend that a company called «Software Engineering» needs a Training Director. He is phoning the Director of the company now.

S: I’d like to speak to Mr. Dixon, please. D: Speaking.

91

Communicate in English

S: Hello. My name is Stephen York. I’ve heard you’re looking for a Training Director.

D: Yes, we are. But how do you know about that? We haven’t advertised the post yet.

S: Someone who uses the services of your company told me. D: Hmm, I see. Well, what can I do for you, Mr. York?

S: I’m very interested in the job. D: What’s your background?

S: I’m a qualified computer engineer. Until recently I was the Sales Director of Brown Soft, but I also worked as a trainer. Training people to use our software was an important part of my job.

D: Well, that sounds like the kind of experience we’re looking for. Can you come for an interview tomorrow?

S: Tomorrow? Yes.

D: The only time I can see you is eight thirty. Is that a problem for you?

S: No, no problem at all.

2. Read and keep in mind the following useful words and expressions: to advertise a post – давать рекламное объявление о ва-

кансии

background – прошлый опыт, образование experience – опыт

to come for an interview – приходить на собеседование software – программное обеспечение

to use services – пользоваться услугами Sales Director – директор по сбыту

Training Director – директор по обучению персонала

3. Enact an imaginary telephone conversation between an applicant and an employer.

VII.

1. Read the conversation

Stephen York is being interviewed for a job.

D: Why did you leave your company?

S: The management structure was changed, and as a result my job became unnecessary.

92

Part III

D: Why? Could you tell me a little more about that?

S: Well … they decided to combine the position of Foreign Sales Director with the position of Domestic Sales Director.

D: And you were in charge of foreign sales? Is that right?

S: Yes. The person who was in charge of domestic sales was senior to me.

D: In what way?

S: He’s older and he’s been with the company since it began, so he has a higher position.

D: I see. Well, now, what brings you here? S: What brings me here?

D: Yes. Why do you want to work for us?

S: Because it’s the kind of job that I’m interested in. I think my previous experience and qualifications could help me to do it well.

D: Hmm, I see. That’s very interesting. But there’s one more thing I’d like to ask you, Mr. York.

S: Yes? What’s that?

D: Are you good at working under pressure? You see, the person who had this job before had a nervous breakdown.

S: A nervous breakdown? You mean because of the pressure he was under?

D: Yes. He didn’t really organize the work in his department very well. That was the real problem, I think.

S: In other words, you think that one cause of the pressure was poor organization.

D: Yes, in fact, I think it was and still is the main cause of the problem. And if you want the job, Mr. York, it will be your problem too. The first thing I’d want you to do would be to reorganize the department.

S: Do you mean … fire people?

D: No. I hope that won’t be necessary. I really mean “reorganize”. The whole department has to be reorganized from top to bottom and that won’t be easy.

2. Read and keep in mind the following useful words and expressions: to be in charge of smth. – отвечать за что-либо, заведовать to be good at smth. – быть способным к чему-либо

93

Communicate in English

to be senior to smb. – быть выше кого-либо по должности, положению

cause – причина department – отдел

to reorganize from top to bottom – реорганизовать сверху донизу, полностью

to work under pressure – работать под давлением, в за- труднительных обстоятельствах

3. Act out a job interview

Here is some advice on what kind of questions to expect in a job interview.

1.Tell me about yourself.

2.What are your strengths?

3.What are your weaknesses?

4.What do you do in your spare time?

5.Describe a difficult situation you were in not so long ago and what you did about it.

6.What do you think you can bring to this position?

7.Why did you leave your last job?

8.What were some of the most important things you learned in that job?

9.How well do you work in a team?

10.Tell us something about your previous experience and the other jobs you have had.

11.How have you changed over the last five years?

12.What sort of salary are you expecting?

13.What was your best subject at school/university?

14.What did you like most about that subject?

15.Tell us about your ambitions.

16.What would you like to be doing five years from now?

17.What attracts you about this kind of work?

18.Why did you apply to us?

If you are planning to apply for a new job you must write down your curriculum vitae (resume). Here is an example of CV.

94

of Universal Toys in

Croydon

95

Communicate in English

1996 Personal Assistant to Finance Director

of EMF in Croydon Interests: Squash, tennis,

reading, traveling

VIII.

1. Read the conversation

Nick Armstrong is the Sales Director of Software Company. He is talking to his boss, John Brad.

N: Our sales have risen by ten per cent this quarter. J: Do you think that’s good news?

N: Well, it’s better than last quarter.

J: Have you seen all the figures, Nick? N: Yes, I have.

J: Have you studied them carefully? N: Yes, of course, I have.

J: Then perhaps you’ve noticed that our main competitor has increased sales by a hundred per cent this quarter. How do you explain it?

N: Well, we’ve had some problems with our distributors and … J: That isn’t an explanation. That’s an excuse.

N: Please, let me finish. I was going to …

J: For me, a twenty per cent increase at a time like this is very bad news.

N: Yes, I know. Sales have been disappointing, but it’s a good product. I think there are two reasons for poor sales.

J: Yes? What do you think the first reason is?

N: Our product isn’t very user-friendly. It takes too long to learn how to use it?

J: And what is the other reason?

N: The user manual is not clear enough. Not in the French translation, at least.

J: Hmm, I see. So, how do you think we can increase sales?

96

Part III

2. Focus your attention on the words and expressions you could use in business talks:

distributor – распространитель, оптовик

to increase sales by … per cent – увеличить сбыт на … про-

центов

main competitor – основной конкурент

to study the figures carefully – проанализировать цифро-

вые данные

reason for – причина чего – либо

user-friendly – учитывающий возможности потребителя user manual – руководство пользователя

3. Talk about the sales problems in your company.

97

Communicate in English

PART IV

Written Communication

1. The layout and parts of a business letter

Date

(дата)

The inside address (внутренний адрес- адрес получателя)

Salutation

(обращение)

An opening

(первый абзац письма) This says why you are writing.

The main message (содержание письма) This gives the details.

The close

( заключительный абзац)

This usually talks about the future.

Signature

(подпись).

The date

Write the date in full, not just in figures.

Example: 10 October 2000

98

Part IV

The inside address

Address the correspondence direct to the company's representative for whom it is intended, specify the company. After the name of the company the number of the house and the name of the street are given, then the name of the town, postcode and the country.

Example: Mr. J. Brown

Sales Manager Johnson and Smith Ltd 11 New Fetter Lane London EC4P England

The opening salutation and signature Here are some ways to open a letter.

Dear Sirs – to a company

Dear Sir – to a man if you do not know his name

Dear Madam – to a woman if you do not know her name Dear Mr. Brown – to a man

Dear Mrs Brown – to a married woman Dear Miss Brown – to an unmarried woman

Dear Ms Brown – to a woman if you don't know whether she is married or not.

Dear Peter – to a friend or someone you know well

The way you close a letter depends on how you open it.

The opening

Here are some ways to begin a letter. We are writing to enquire about …

We are writing in connection with …

We are interested in … and we would like to know …

99

Communicate in English

Example:

We are interested in buying your cars and we would like to know the prices.

Мы заинтересованы в покупке ваших автомобилей и хо- тели бы узнать цены.

If you are answering a letter, you can start:

Example:

Thank you for your letter of 15 December enclosing your new price list.

Спасибо за ваше письмо от 15 декабря, к которому вы прилагаете новый прейскурант.

The close

Here are some ways to end a letter

I look forward to receiving your reply / order / products / etc. Looking forward to hearing from you

If you gave some information in the letter, you can close: I hope that this information will help you.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you need any further information.

Example:

We look forward to receiving your order. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need any further information.

С нетерпением ждем получения заказа от вас. Непре- менно свяжитесь с нами, если вам потребуется дополнитель- ная информация.

100