Разговорный английский для инженеров. Тренинг навыков устной речи. Учебно-методическое пособие по английскому языку-1

V. Read the text.

CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTATION

There are lots of sorts of documents which are needed in the construction process. Each of them serves a certain purpose and supports a certain stage of construction.

Specifications (specs) contain descriptive information, which together with the drawings, form the basis for all construction work. Construction specifications are normally prepared by architects and designers, but project engineers also get involved in the process since they have some on-site knowledge. They are the ones that can ensure that technical items will work as specified on paper or if changes need to be made before the specs are ready to be shared for the bidding process.

There are three different types of construction specifications and they are prescriptive, performance, and proprietary. Prescriptive

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construction specifications provide details on both the materials and the installation information that is required to complete any project. Most of the time, these specs include how to measure each installation to ensure that each one offers the best quality and standards.

Performance construction specifications describe the operational requirements. They let the contractors know exactly what is needed when the project is completed and how everything should function.

Proprietary construction specifications are not as common as the other two, because they are only used if there is only one specific product available to use for one of the installations.

In small contracts, the contractors prepare their tender from drawings and specifications only. The contractor’s estimator takes measurements from the drawings and relies on the specifications for a full description of quality, materials and workmanship. If something is not mentioned in the specifications, but is required during construction, the contractor is entitled to additional payment. In this case the specifications are a contract document, which precisely convey what the client wants.

A bill of quantities is a set of descriptions defining the quantity and quality of construction work. Bills of quantities are prepared by taking measurements from architect’s drawings and translating the instructions in the specifications. The measure can either be a dimension (metre, square metre, cubic metre), a time (hour, day, week) or a weight. Nevertheless, the layout and content of a bill of quantities should be as simple and brief as possible.

If a bill of quantities is prepared by a quantity surveyor, the specifications are not a contract document. The architect’s descriptions can be less formal and could appear in the form of notes on the drawings. Whereas in the previous case the contractor’s estimator was responsible for the measuring work,

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it is now the quantity surveyor’s task to take the measurements and prepare the bills of quantities.

When construction work starts, the site agent and forepeople require instructions in greater detail than available in the contract documents. The architect therefore produces working drawings and forwards them to the contractor in good time. Despite the supply of these detailed drawings, the specifications remain a fundamental document incorporating the architect’s instructions and are frequently referred to on site.

VI. Give the answers to the following questions according to the text:

1)What information do specifications include?

2)How many different types of construction specifications do you know?

3)What details do prescriptive construction specifications provide?

4)What information do performance construction specifications describe?

5)When are proprietary construction specifications used?

6)How can you define a bill of quantities?

7)What document remains a fundamental on in the construction process?

VI. Read the text about negotiating styles. Fill in the gaps in the sentences using the words from the box:

There are five negotiating styles:

1. Compete [I Win – You Lose]

Competitive styled negotiators tend to pursue their own needs. This is true even when the result is that others may suffer. However, competitive negotiators usually do not want to cause others to 1)___________ and lose. These negotiators tend to be narrowly 2)_________ on their shorter-term gains. As a result, they rob obliviously through negotiations.

2. Accommodate [I Lose – You Win]

This style is opposite of competing. Speaking about accommodating style negotiators, the relationship is everything. Accommodating users think that the 3)

_________ to winning people over is to give people what they want. Accommodative negotiators do not just give products and services. These negotiators are also generous with information. Accommodators are usually very wellliked by their 4) ___________ and other negotiators.

3. Avoid [I Lose – You Lose]

This style is often called “passive aggressive.” People who normally use this style really do not want 5) ____________ . Rather than talk directly with you about the issue, avoiders may instead try to take 6) ___________ without you knowing.

4. Compromise [I Lose / Win Some – You Lose / Win Some]

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Compromising is usually more than haggling and splitting the difference. As a rule, there is no deep 7) _____________

. Compromising often involves one or both negotiators settling for less than they want or need. This can result in an end position of roughly halfway between both sides’ opening positions.

In the absence of a strong rationale or properly exchanged trades, 8) __________ between the two positions seems “fair.” What compromising ignores, however, is that the people that take the most extreme positions tend to get more of what is on offer.

5. Collaborate [I Win – You Win]

“Win/Win” is about making sure both sides have their needs or goals met while creating as much 9) _____________ as time and resources allow. “Win/Win” negotiators usually evolve through the other profiles, growing into collaborative negotiators. This means collaborative profile negotiators can return to one or two of the other styles when pushed or when the situation calls for it. Collaborative profile negotiators stick to the position that their 10) _________

must be met. However, collaborative negotiators say that the other side has needs that must be met, too.

Module 11. LOGISTICS

I. Answer the questions using your own ideas:

1)How can you define the term "globalisation"?

2)What are the pros and cons of globalisation?

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3)Why do you think so many people oppose it?

4)Do you think it would be a good idea if all barriers to trade were removed from the world and people could freely export and import without customs duties or any other problems? Why?

5)What facilities do the logistic infrastructure include?

6)What problems can arise while transporting goods from one country to another?

7)What documentation is needed to pass the state borders?

8)What do you know about smuggling on transport? Should smugglers be punished? How?

9)Do prices on goods depend on transportation costs? Are they always fair?

10)What means of transport do you use when you move from city to city, from country to country? What thigs do you take with you? Do you pay for you luggage and things?

II. Give a short talk about logistics. Choose one variant A or B and use the plan:

Variant A

Describe your journey to another city or country that you have gone recently. You should say:

What means of transport you went by;

How much luggage you had;

How much money you paid for you luggage

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and say whether you find it cheap or expensive to travel far away, and why.

Variant B

Describe any delivery you have ordered recently. You should say:

What sort of goods you ordered;

How much money you paid in total and how much the delivery cost;

How much time it took the delivery company to deliver you the order

and say whether you find it comfortable to order things to be delivered, and why.

III. Train your pronunciation. Read the tongue twisters as fast as possible:

1)Whether the weather be fine, or whether the weather be not, whether the weather be cold, or whether the weather be hot. We'll weather the weather, whatever the weather, whether we like it or not!

2)Twelve twins twirled twelve twigs.

3)Cooks cook cupcakes quickly.

4)Green glass globes glow greenly.

IV. Match the English words with their Russian equivalents, then choose 5 words and make up sentences with these words:

V. Read the text.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND LOGISTICS

International trade is increasingly part of the global production process. Deliveries of components that are bought abroad to be used in global production processes depend on reliable and secure international logistics services. This trend is not only relevant for industrialized countries, but developing countries, too. Today manufactured goods account for 80 % of developing countries’ exports, up from just 20 % of two decades ago. Industries search for economies of scale in production processes and take advantage of the potential for a global division of labour.

Multiple-site manufacturing and assembly, working on reduced inventories and spanning countries and continents, is a common practice. As a consequence, shipments are becoming smaller but more frequent, and require efficient, speedy and flexible distribution systems. Under these conditions, manufacturing companies search for the most adequate trade logistics option as a trade-off between

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production methods, inventory policies and transport requirements. For example, a manufacturing company might attempt to buy its raw material as late as possible, so-called

“Just-In-Time” (JIT), and to sell its manufactured product as soon as possible. Based on good information systems and reliable transport, this strategy will produce goods “to order” and reduce storage needs and costs.

In international logistics, transportation is the dominant activity. The transportation of goods allows geographical overcoming of big distances and passing of borders. A lot of companies are involved in cross-border transportation. Transportation and associated handling processes constitute the highest cost factors for the international flow of goods. So, there is the need to develop good transportation systems to keep these costs low.

The logistics infrastructure of a country includes the transport network of roads, railways and waterways. The success of companies is dependent on the quality of the logistics infrastructure. The state takes care of maintenance of the transport networks and provides institutions for logistic services like postal service. Logistic services of a country include the general offer of local suppliers and logistics service providers. Moreover, information technologies are very important because they provide decision-relevant data to plan and release the whole logistical processes.

VI. Give the answers to the following questions according to the text:

1) What do deliveries of components that are bought abroad depend on?

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2)What is the percentage of export goods produced by developing countries?

3)Why are shipments becoming smaller but more frequent?

4)How can you define the term “Just-In-Time” (JIT)?

5)What are the results of “Just-In-Time” strategy?

6)What does the transportation of goods allow?

7)What is the success of companies dependent on?

VII. Match the beginning of the sentences (A) with their ending (B):