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English for Construction Английский язык для строительства. Учебно-методическое пособие

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А.В. Архипов, М.А. Дриженко, Е.Ю. Костюкович
ENGLISH FOR CONSTRUCTION /
АНГЛИЙСКИЙ ЯЗЫК ДЛЯ СТРОИТЕЛЬСТВА
Учебно-методическое пособие
ISBN 978-5-7264-3506-0
Москва
Издательство МИСИ – МГСУ
2024
© ФГБОУ ВО «НИУ МГСУ», 2024
УДК 811.111 ББК 81.432.1 А87
Рецензенты:
кандидат педагогических наук, доцент Н.Г. Гордеева,
доцент кафедры европейских языков и лингводидактики
Чувашского государственного педагогического университета им. И.Я. Яковлева;
кандидат филологических наук И.Г. Кудрявцева,
доцент кафедры иностранных языков и профессиональной коммуникации НИУ МГСУ
Архипов, Александр Владимирович.
А87 English for Construction / Английский язык для строительства [Электронный ре-
сурс] : учебно-методическое пособие / А.В. Архипов, М.А. Дриженко, Е.Ю. Костюко­вич ; Министерство науки и высшего образования Российской Федерации, Нацио­нальный исследовательский Московский государственный строительный университет, кафедра иностранных языков и профессиональной коммуникации. — Электрон. дан. и прогр. (0,9 Мб). — Москва : Издательство МИСИ – МГСУ, 2024. — URL: http://lib. mgsu.ru/ — Загл. с титул. экрана.
ISBN 978-5-7264-3506-0 (сетевое) ISBN 978-5-7264-3507-7 (локальное)
В учебно-методическом пособии содержится теоретический материал по устной и пись-
менной деловой коммуникации, а также упражнения для его отработки.
Для обучающихся по направлению подготовки 08.03.01 Строительство.
Учебное электронное издание
© ФГБОУ ВО «НИУ МГСУ», 2024
Учебное электронное издание
Архипов Александр Владимирович, Дриженко Мария Александровна,
Костюкович Елена Юрьевна
ENGLISH FOR CONSTRUCTION / АНГЛИЙСКИЙ ЯЗЫК ДЛЯ СТРОИТЕЛЬСТВА
Учебно-методическое пособие
Редактор А.С. Орлова
Корректор Я.А. Травкина
Компьютерная правка и верстка О.Г. Горюновой
Дизайн первого титульного экрана Д.Л. Разумного
Для создания электронного издания использовано:
Microsoft Word 2010, Adobe InDesign CS5.5, ПО Adobe Acrobat
Подписано к использованию 10.06.2024. Объем данных 0,9 Мб.
Федеральное государственное бюджетное образовательное учреждение
высшего образования
«Национальный исследовательский
Московский государственный строительный университет».
129337, Москва, Ярославское ш., 26.
Издательство МИСИ – МГСУ.
Тел.: (495) 287-49-14, вн. 14-23, (499) 183-91-90, (499) 183-97-95.
E-mail: ric@mgsu.ru, rio@mgsu.ru
ОГЛАВЛЕНИЕ
INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 5
Unit 1. BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
Unit 2. BUSINESS STYLES IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES
Unit 3. GENERAL ETIQUETTE OF PHONE COMMUNICATION
Unit 4. BUSINESS COMMUNICATION — INTERNET
Unit 5. BUSINESS ETHICS
Unit 6. MAKING A REPORT
Unit 7. MAKING A PRESENTATION
Unit 8. BUSINESS COMMUNICATION — BUSINESS LETTER
Библиографический список
APPENDICES
..................................................................................................................... 41
................................................................................................ 23
.............................................................................................. 27
............................................................................................... 40
.............................................................................. 6
............................................. 10
................................................... 20
................................................................................ 30
..................................... 34
................................. 16

INTRODUCTION

The textbook is aimed at teaching aspects of business communication English to first-year bachelor’s degree students in the field of Construction and Civil Engineering. It includes theoretical material on eight sections of oral and written business communication, as well as exercises for independent study of the discipline.
The textbook expands, systematises and deepens the knowledge of bachelors on oral and written business communication, ethics, introduces students to business styles and their cultural differences, informs about the rules of interviews and provides knowledge on the basics of business documentation.
Each section contains theoretical and reference material necessary for the development of business communication skills, as well as educational texts and exercises aimed at improving students’ English language business communication skills.
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UNIT 1
BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
Exercise 1. Read and discuss the following information.
BC is an integral part of the life of any person working in an organisation. It is an exchange of information between people in and out of the workplace in order to achieve common goals. Effective BC allows employees and management to collaborate effectively, achieve their goals and build strong relationships with customers and partners.
There are three forms of business communication.
Verbal communication is the transmission of information orally using words. This form of communication can be both direct and indirect through various technical means such as telephone, video conferencing, messengers, etc.
Written communication is the transmission of information in writing. Written communication can be carried out in the form of letters, reports, presentations, electronic documents, etc.
Non-verbal communication is the transmission of information through means unrelated to the word, such as facial expressions, gestures, poses, tone of voice, etc. Non-verbal communication plays an important role in business communication, as it can complement or even contradict verbal messages.
Business communication: impact on the technology
The development of modern technologies has led to the emergence of new forms and methods of BC, such as video conferencing, online presentations, etc. Technology has also made business communication more accessible and effective.
Cultural differences in business communication
It is important to consider cultural differences when communicating with people from other countries or cultures because different cultures have different norms of behaviour and communication.
Business communication ethics
Business communication should be based on the principles of ethics, such as respect for the interlocutor, honesty and openness.
Business communication methods
Business communication consists of various methods. Let us consider them.
There are such methods like:
– face-to-face meetings;
– e-mails;
– telephone conversations;
– web-conferencing.
All these methods provide communication with people in different locations, quick solution of the issues discussed, and the information sharing, as well.
However, BC requires specific skills like precise language. Biased or emotional form of communication should be avoided. A conventional structure applying appropriate subject-specific vocabulary and grammar should be followed.
Exercise 2. Read the article below and put in the gaps suitable words and word combinations.
effective communication highlight these differences seem similar
achieve your goals interpersonal communication formal language
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General communication versus business communication
No doubt that general and business communication differ. They mainly differ in their content, form and purpose. The general communication has no strict rules or limitations, except the limitations based on the etiquette and manners. Because in a business environment a lot depends on (1) ________, there are rules for business communication, as well. In this article, we will (2) ________ to demonstrate the importance of proper business communication in an organisation.
First of all, the audience differs in both cases. While in normal communication you choose different tones depending on whether you are talking to a child, a friend or someone who is older, in business communication, communication takes place between people who are talking about a topic that is common and important to everyone. You communicate with others in order to (3) ________, whereas when you’re talking to a friend or chatting with someone on Skype, the communication is informal, more casual and much more relaxed.
When talking to a friend, you may use slang terms and sometimes be rude, but in business communication, you keep your distance and only use (4) ________. Of course, in business communication you may ask about the health of your client’s sick mother, but this is more out of courtesy and also to cement the bond than any genuine interest, as is the case with a friend’s mother. There are instances where the two types of communication (5) ________, such as when you ask a client to come to a restaurant for lunch or dinner, but if you observe carefully, you may find that there is an ulterior motive at work during the conversation at the restaurant table if you compare it to the tone between two friends sitting in the same restaurant.
Business communication is such that it makes the other person feel comfortable, but is devoid of emotion (lacks sentiments). On the other hand, in any general communication, cordiality and emotion can be felt. On a broader level, business communication is only a subset of (6) ________, because two business partners can talk about sports and the weather just like any two friends walking down the street. In business communication, there is a clearly defined purpose, such as trying to convince a client of the usefulness of a new product or signing a contract. In business communication, the tone is professional, often like that of a teacher trying to explain a concept to his students. In business communication, tone, purpose, and content vary depending upon the audience.
Exercise 3. Read the article again and highlight the differences between general communication (interpersonal) and business communication.
Exercise 4. Read the article and title it.
In today’s fast-paced business environment, effective communication is paramount to achieving organisational goals. The advent of the Internet and the rise of mobile communications have transformed the way businesses communicate, making it more instantaneous, efficient, and accessible than ever before. Gone are the days of relying solely on corporate intranets. Today, a plethora of applications and tools specifically designed for business communication have emerged, offering a wide range of features and capabilities to enhance internal communications, optimise efforts, and drive productivity.
Communication with Slack
Slack is a cloud-based project collaboration and team interaction tool that has revolutionised the way organisations communicate. It offers a comprehensive suite of features that cater to various industries, including media, research, technology, education, financial services, retail, transport, and logistics. One of Slack’s key features is its public channels, which allow members to start conversations across the entire organisation. Private channels enable interaction within smaller teams, while direct channels provide a means for sending messages directly to colleagues. Slack also seamlessly integrates feeds from social media platforms into the application, blending them with ongoing conversations in various channels. This integration keeps teams informed about
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relevant industry news and trends, fostering a sense of interconnectedness. Furthermore, Slack allows users to share files easily via drag and drop, including PDFs, images, documents, and spreadsheets. This feature facilitates collaboration and knowledge sharing, enabling team members to access and contribute to projects from anywhere, at any time. Slack is available for the web, iOS, Android, and Windows Phone, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of devices. Its user-friendly interface and intuitive design make it easy for teams to adopt and utilise its features effectively.
DialMyCalls: streamlining
Mass Notifications DialMyCalls is a powerful tool that simplifies the process of sending mass notifications via phone call or SMS. Many companies leverage DialMyCalls to disseminate important announcements to employees, remind them of upcoming events, meetings, or deadlines, and communicate schedule changes or substitutions due to illness or personal emergencies. DialMyCalls has got a user-friendly interface. By means of this tool you can create and manage contact lists, send personalised messages or make a schedule of the delivery notifications. The platform is commonly used for targeted communication, ensuring that messages effectively and promptly reach the intended person.
HipChat: versatile team communication
This is widely spread popular team communication application used for businesses. Its main features are affordability, ease of use, and wide range of options. It has also got so called a freemium version that includes all the basic options for effective team communication. They include file sharing, group chats, video conferencing, and unlimited messages. For more advanced users, HipChat offers a special version that includes even more additional features (guest access option, screen sharing). HipChat is easy to be used even by not tech-savvy members. As the interface is intuitive and simple, the application demonstrates its benefits on all major platforms, including Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. It can also be easily integrated with other popular business tools, including: Google Drive, Dropbox, Salesforce, Zendesk and JIRA.
Exercise 5. Make a presentation about popular business communication applications (e.g. Azendoo, BaseCamp, DialMyCalls, FlowDock, etc.). Use the following links:
1. https://ownersmag.com/presentation-software/;
2. https://www.dialmycalls.com/blog/top-9-best-business-apps-for-internal-communication.
Exercise 6. Study useful phrases to start a business conversation in English.
Make a dialogue between representatives of construction companies from different countries.
Greetings Meeting
Good morning. Good afternoon. Good evening. Welcome! How do you do? I’m pleased to meet you. Nice to meet you. Good to see you again. How’s business? It’s been a long time since I last saw you.
Opening the conversation Intermediate phrases
What can I do for you? We don’t have much time, so let’s get down to business!
Hello, my name is… Nice to meet you! And you? Nice to meet you too! May I introduce myself. I’m from… I’m on business. What company do you work for? / What company are you from? I work for Trust Inc. I have an appointment with… What do you do?
If I understand you correctly... That’s is beyond my competence. Let me pass this question to the expert on this matter.
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Continuation of the Table
Opening the conversation Intermediate phrases
What shall we start with (today)? I think we shall start with… The matter/the point is that… Let’s get our meeting started. / Let’s get started. Do you have any other comments? Let’s speak to the point. We’re running out of time. Let’s get to the point. We appreciate you taking the time to join us this afternoon.
Closing phrases Saying goodbye
I’d like to conclude by making the following statement… Does it suit you? / Is it all right with you? Yes, quite. Let’s sum up the discussion. / Let’s recapitulate what we said. So, to summarise we could say that… I’d like to close off with the following suggestion… We are happy to accept this agreement. I’m sorry to break off this interesting discussion but I think we’re are running out of time. I’d like to go over the most important pros and cons.
I entirely agree with you. On the other hand… Could I come back to that later? Any further questions? Please tell me if anything was unclear. If you look at it from my point of view…
See you later. / See you soon. We look forward to cooperating with you again. It has been a great pleasure to meet you! We should keep in touch. Goodbye! Until next time! Good luck with your business! I’m sure it’ll go well! Well, all good things come to an end. But I’m sure we’ll meet again! I’ve enjoyed meeting you too! It was nice talking to you.
Exercise 7. Study Appendix 1 (Basic language for discussions). Use the expressions from this application in a short discussion on a professional topic.
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UNIT 2
BUSINESS STYLES IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES
Exercise 1. Read and discuss the text. Write out the unknown words.
The culture of business meetings in the USA
Here are some key points to keep in mind specific business meeting etiquette in the United States.
1. Greetings and handshakes. А meeting usually starts with a handshake and brief polite phrases. Use polite inquiries such as “How are you?”, “How was your trip?” or “How is your family doing?” To reply chose a variant close to the meaning “Not bad, thank you. And you?” or “Everything is OK, thank you”. There is no point to shake hands with everyone at the meeting. Identify a leader and meet him (her) first.
2. Introduction phase. To start, simply name yourself and give some general information about your job title, or the company you are in charge (in case you represent an external organisation).
3. Information about agenda. A standard meeting usually lasts about an hour. However, a duration may vary. Although compliance of an agenda may vary is usually provided to the participants before the meeting in order to stay on track.
4. Preparation and participation. To begin a conversation, it’s beneficial to study the application of materials first. Americans appreciate the diversity of opinion and encourage frank discussion. Don’t be hesitant about expressing your opinions, even if they differ from the norm. Today’s popular style promotes collective decision making, all participants are allowed to participate.
5. Dress code. The dress code in the U.S. is typically more casual than other countries. Some organisations allow employees to wear business casual attire, this includes jeans or casual pants, this is especially common on Fridays. “Random Fridays” may include a small donation to charities.
6. Volunteering. Tech companies often have dedicated programs for employee participation. Many organisations promote employees’ participation in charitable initiatives during off hours. These pursuits may involve the creation of houses, reading to children, or the planting of trees.
The culture of business meetings in the UK
The United Kingdom has a rich history and diverse cultural heritage, which gives rise to unique aspects of business etiquette that can significantly influence the dynamics of meetings and interactions within organisations. Despite the similarities, there are distinct differences that require close attention to ensure effective communication and positive outcomes.
For example, handshakes in the UK are characterised by an easy and firm character. A firm handshake conveys trust and respect while maintaining a sense of restraint. It is important to avoid overly enthusiastic or aggressive handshakes, as they can be perceived as bossy or unprofessional.
When greeting someone in the UK, it is better to use a polite and friendly tone, often accompanied by a smile. The initial friendly approach creates a positive atmosphere at the beginning of the meeting, fostering a sense of mutual understanding and mutual respect between the participants.
In British business circles, physical contact is generally avoided, and the handshake is the only socially acceptable form of physical contact during meetings. Other forms of physical contact, such as hugging or patting on the back, should not be initiated.
When participating in a meeting with more than one participant, it is customary to shake hands only with the person who chairs or leads the meeting. This gesture of respect acknowledges the authority of the person and sets the tone for the meeting.
Shaking hands with each participant is generally optional and can be seen as excessive. Self­introductions are standard practice in multi-participant meetings. It’s important to introduce yourself briefly with your name, job title, and the company you’re representing, especially if you’re
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