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

Module 12. COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY

I. Answer the questions using your own ideas:

1)What do people use computers for?

2)Why is computer security so important?

3)Do you think computers make our life simpler or more complex?

4)Why can it be difficult for some people to use a modern computer?

5)Do you think computers have changed our lives for the better or for the worse?

6)What computer programmes are frequently used by engineers? Why?

7)Will we have reliable computers/technology in the future?

8)Why has the Internet won the leading position as a source of information?

9)What cyber-crimes do you know?

10)What do the functions of the operating system include?

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

Variant A

Describe a time when your computer broke down. You should say:

When it was;

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What you were doing;

What you did about it

and say how you felt about it, and why.

Variant B

Describe a website you often browse. You should say:

What is it;

How long have you been using it;

Give details about the website

and say why you prefer using this website.

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

1)Fred fed Ted bread and Ted fed Fred bread.

2)How can a clam cram in a clean cream can?

3)The thirty-three thieves thought that they thrilled the throne throughout Thursday.

4)Luke Luck likes lakes. Luke's duck likes lakes.

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

Data security is not complete without a solution to back up your critical information. There is always a chance that personal data can be compromised. One can unexpectedly be hit with a malware infection where a virus destroys all of the files. Everybody can enter your computer and thieve data by going through a security hole in the operating system.

Security has been defined as "the protection of assets." Assets that can be stored or transmitted by computers include electronic fund transfers between banks. Proprietary information, such as product designs and databases containing information about clients, as well as other data files and computer programs themselves, must also be protected. Computer programs can be easily destroyed by computer viruses or unauthorized hacking. The question most users face is not whether to practice computer security measures, but how much time and effort to invest. Though physical access to computers can be limited using automated office security devices, including power-on passwords; magnetic card readers; proximity readers; and biometrics,

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which verifies the user's identity through matching patterns in hand geometry, signature, DNA fingerprinting, or voice recognition.

Security vulnerabilities have produced a new breed of bandit, the hacker. Early use of the term "hacker" was applied to computer hobbyists who spent their spare time creating video games and other basic computer programs. However, this term acquired a negative connotation when some of these amateurs created a scare by violating important databanks in the 1980s through hacking. The introduction of relatively inexpensive personal computers and modems helped make this pastime affordable; the use of regular telephone lines as accessways made it possible. Automatic dialing programs, used to call all numbers in an exchange and to determine the ones answered by computers, were among many tools hackers used to simplify their work. The designation "hacker" has also been given to programmers and propagators of computer viruses. The military and some corporations have used "tiger teams" employing some of the same tactics as hackers to test the security of their networks.

Computer crime, or cyber-crime, is the fastest-growing type of criminal activity in the world today. As more advanced computers are manufactured, the more sophisticated the cyber criminals become. Computer crime covers a large range of illegal activity, including bank and credit card fraud, computer hacking, industrial espionage, and terrorism. What is more, computer crime has no national boundaries. Investigators face many technical and legal barriers to identify cyber criminals.

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

1)Why is no one protected from stealing personal information?

2)What kind of information must be defended?

3)How can physical access to computers be limited?

4)What is a hacker?

5)What tools did hackers use to simplify their work?

6)Why do corporations employ hackers?

7)What illegal activities are referred to cyber-crimes?

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

Module 13. STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT

I. Answer the questions using your own ideas:

1)Do managers are in demand in this country?

2)How do you organize your time?

3)Which businessmen do you admire for their managerial skills?

4)What makes a good manager?

5)How can be employees motivated?

6)Which department (sales, R&D, marketing, human resources, etc.) is the most interesting for you to work in? Why?

7)What can be the source of inner conflicts among departments?

8)What do you know about company structure (the chain of command, functional structure, matrix management)?

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9)Why could it be impossible to organize a large organization in a single hierarchy?

10)Do you prefer to report to anybody or to be responsible for anybody? Why?

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

Variant A

Describe the analysis of potential risks for a tourist industry company that hires seasonal employees. You should say:

What countries it employs the staff from;

What risks could be faced in different seasons;

How these risks can be minimized

and say whether it is possible to run a business without any threats and risks, and why.

Variant B

Describe the recommendations for the development of clusters. You should say:

What sector of the economy it is better to set up a cluster;

How many people should be employed;

Give details about the cluster (departments, location, infrastructure, administration, company structure)

and say why it is important to create clusters, what benefits they have for the economy.

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

1)Roberta ran rings around the Roman ruins.

2)Gobbling gargoyles gobbled gobbling goblins.

3)Ann and Andy's anniversary is in April.

4)Mary Mac's mother's making Mary Mac marry me.

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

V. Read the text.

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT

The strategic management is the process that aims at delineating the organization’s strategy. It is defined as the process by which managers make a choice of a set of strategies for the organization to achieve efficient

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functioning and higher accomplishments. It is a continuous process that assesses the business and industries where organization is involved, evaluates its competitors, defines targets to meet all the present and future challenges. Furthermore, strategic management is a particular course of action that is meant to achieve a corporate goal.

Planning, budgeting, acquiring resources, maintaining resources and using follow-up techniques to resolve key issues are key elements for managers to know in the strategic management process. Strategic planning, on the other hand, is more leadership driven and vision-based; leaders decide on principles that guide the organization toward established goals.

Strategic management process is defined by four major steps. Firstly, environmental scanning which refers to a process of collecting and providing information for strategic purposes, analyzing the internal and external factors influencing the organization. Secondly, strategy formulation which is the process of deciding best course of action for accomplishing organizational objectives and hence achieving organizational purpose. Thirdly, strategy implementation which involves making the strategy work as intended or putting the organization’s chosen strategy into action. Strategy implementation includes designing the organization’s structure, distributing resources, developing decision making process, and managing human resources. Finally, strategy evaluation which is the final step of strategic management process. The key strategy evaluation activities are: appraising internal and external factors that are the root of present strategies, measuring performance, and taking remedial/corrective actions.

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These components are chronologically carried steps while creating a new strategic management plan. All in all, strategic management leads to the development of the strategic position that helps to determine the future sustainability and the profitability of the organization.

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

1)How can we define the term “strategic management”?

2)What goals does strategic management achieve?

3)What key elements in the strategic management do you know?

4)What is the difference between strategic management and strategic planning?

5)How many steps does strategic management include?

6)What does environmental scanning refer to?

7)How can strategies be implemented?

VII. Retell the text «Strategic Management», using the plan below:

1)The title of the text I have read is …

2)It was published in …

3)The text is devoted to … / The main idea of the text is …

4)The author begins with … / The first lines give us some facts about …

5)The second paragraph describes/illustrates …

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