AELA_E1002_SESI_SG

20.5.2 Exercise

Listen to these sentences. Mark the modal verb in bold with (S) if they have a strong stress and (W) if they have a weak stress.

A:You shouldn’t waste water.

B:Especially when the supply is limited, you simply shouldn’t.

A:You must swim at least 20 rounds.

B:It’s not a rule, but if you want to progress, you must.

20.5.3 Class Activity

Think about your work environment and things you must do to improve your professional image. Talk about it with a partner.

UNIT

The Art of People Management 21

Objectives

The learner will be able to:

Talk about HR functions using appropriate vocabulary.Write email to make and change travel arrangements.

21.1 Human Resources Management

21.1.1 Responsibilities of an HR Manager

Esther Berne is an HR manager in a construction company in Germany. We interviewed him about the art of people management. Find out Esther’s responsibilities as an HR manager.

One of the chief policies at our company is the focus on employee satisfaction. Only if the employees are happy, can they give their best to the organisation. And HR plays a key role there. We are engaged in recruitment, staff development, salary, pensions planning and staff appraisal. Then, there’s the unpleasant task of downsizing if the economy is down.

A considerable time of any HR department is spent in appraisals. Appraisal is a system to monitor employee performance and help in career progression. We listen to their views about the work, their performance and work relationships. In return, they too appraise the organisation and talk about their expectations.

You will find a lot of women in the field of HR. It could be because they like communicating and working with people. They are good at dealing with personal issues and can listen and express their views. There are also many women in the field of education, counselling and marketing because all these areas have to do with communication.

I love being in HR. I would always love to be associated with people and make a difference to them. This satisfaction is very important to me.

21.1.2 Exercise

Read Esther’s interview. Which of these tasks are done by an HR manager?

21.1.3 Exercise

Read Esther’s views again and answer the following questions.

a.What is the difficult part of an HR manager’s job?

b.What is appraisal?

c.Why do you find a lot of women in HR?

21.1.4 Opinion

Do you agree with Esther’s views about women and HR?

21.2 HR Management: Key Concepts and Skills

21.2.1 Exercise

Match the terms with their meanings.

21.2.2 Exercise

Complete the sentences by using the given options.

a.During economic crisis, a company may have to ask its employees to leave. This is called

__________.

b.Training enhances the employees’ __________ and benefits the company.

c.Some employees may wish to retire early. This is called ____________ retirement.

21.2.3 Class Activity

As HR executives, you need to boost the morale of the employees. You are asked by your HR Manager to conduct a motivation programme for the junior managers. Discuss some ideas with your partner and present them to the class.

21.3 Making Travel Arrangements through Email

21.3.1 Exercise

You are arranging a trip to Holland for yourself and a colleague Bradley. Match the stages in the process with the sentences in your series of email.

1.Decide on the meeting with your colleague in Amsterdam.

2.Inform Bradley about the plan.

3.Book flights for yourself and Bradley.

4.Make hotel booking in Amsterdam.

5.Arrange for someone to meet you at the airport.

6.Change the flight due to Bradley’s changed plans.

7.Inform Bradley of the new arrangement.

a.Ref. the booking no. 5728/C. is it possible to travel later that day? After 11.30 would be preferable.

b.Could you arrange for two tickets, economy class for J. Bradley and myself for July 20 and for returning on the night of July 21.

c.We are now going by the noon flight on the same day. I hope it is now OK for you.

d.We need to go to Amsterdam later this month to discuss the new project.

e.I’d like two single rooms for the night of July 20 along with breakfast.

f.Can you send someone to pick us up at the airport on July 20 at 10 in the morning? The flight no. is JR1172.

g.I will visit Amsterdam with a colleague on July 20 and 21.

21.3.2Class Activity

Your boss has to travel to Istanbul along with a colleague Janice for a meeting. Write email to

1.Book their flight

2.Book the hotel

3.Make arrangements for somebody to pick them up

4.Inform Janice about the arrangements

UNIT

The Oil Business 22

Objectives

The learner will be able to:

Talk about ethics practiced in the corporate sector.Use the second conditional.

Use techniques of noting pronunciation.

22.1 Social Responsibilities of Organisations

We interviewed Yunus Alam who works in Dubai as a financial controller for an oil company.

A lot of people believe it is important for organisations to help bring about a positive change in the society. Is your organisation one of them?

22.2 Exploring the World of Oil

22.2.1 Conversation

Interviewer: So Yunus, what is your work like?

Yunus: I work for PST International—an oil company in Dubai. I’m the financial controller there.

Interviewer: So you have to work in tandem with the other departments of the company?

Yunus: Yes, very closely. In fact, they need to give us sales forecast—an idea of what the sales will be like for the next three years. This is a difficult job. There are so many factors that can affect business, it’s really difficult to predict the future.

Interviewer: The market for oil currently, is it good?

Yunus: The market is good. We are making profits and are able to supply to a large number of countries. Then, there are new entrants in the market. Like we deal with Nigerian companies that also produce oil. They are slowly being recognized. At PST—we take care of the smaller companies. I think, ethically, companies should think about developing countries. They should do something.

Interviewer: Does PST International really take this ethical issue seriously?

Yunus: Absolutely. They do not publicize it much, but there’s a lot they are involved with—in terms of helping their smaller associates.

Interviewer: In what ways would you help them?

Yunus: Smaller companies generally are not protected against crisis. So in a crisis situation, we would continue to pay them the normal prices and also help them overcome the problems instead of deserting them.

Interviewer: That’s really nice to know. Until now, I thought all this was just to impress customers.

22.2.3 Opinion

Yunus says companies should think about developing countries. Do you agree?

22.3 Grammar

22.3.1 Discussing Future Events Using The Second Conditional

In Unit 17, we looked at the First Conditional. Let’s move on to the second conditional now. There are different ways in which we can use the Second Conditional sentences.

Of course, she would be much more motivated if we increased the salary by 40%. (=The speaker thinks it is a bad idea to increase the salary by 40%)

22.3.2 Exercise

Answer the following questions.

1.What is the difference in meaning between these two sentences?If you go to meet grandfather, he will be happy.

If you went to meet grandfather, he would be happy.

2.Which tense do we normally use in the if clause of the Second Conditional?

22.3.3 Exercise

1.Correct these sentences.

a.If we increase her salary, she would be more motivated.

_____________________________________________

b.If we worked hard, we will meet the target.

_____________________________________________

c.If we control our expenditure, we do not need any help.

_____________________________________________

2.Use the Second Conditional to complete these sentences. Different answers are possible.

a.If we/ ban/ plastic, we/reduce /the problem of garbage. ______________

b.Children/be much healthier/ if they/ not consume/ junk food. ______________

c.If he/ study/ hard, he /pass/ the exam. ______________

22.4Pronouncing Special Words

22.4.1 Pronouncing Silent Letters and Difficult Words

Have you ever wondered the way you learnt to pronounce special words that have silent letters? Say aloud and check the way you pronounce the following words.

Pronunciation can be noted down in different ways. The various techniques for learning pronunciation are given here.

22.4.2 Exercise

1.Apart from the techniques to learn pronunciation, we also give here a few ideas. Match the examples in the section 22.4.1 and state which of the ideas is implemented to learn the pronunciation of that word.

a.Crossing out the silent letters

b.Noting down a word with the same sound as the problem word

c.Writing the phonemic transcription from the dictionary entry

d.Noting a pronunciation rule

e.Writing personal notes on how to pronounce

Which of these techniques do you use? Which ones do you find the best?

22.4.3 Class Activity

Using these techniques and your own, write down the pronunciation of these words.

22.4.4 Class Activity

Form groups of four. Discuss with your team members how the corporate sector can help in making the world a better place. Assume your are the CEO of a company (choose the business activity of the company). Draw a Corporate Social Responsibility plan for your company and present it to the class.

UNIT

Sporting Stuff 23

Objectives

The learner will be able to:

Talk about innovations in sports.

Handle complaints and offer solutions on the telephone.

23.1 Let’s Discuss Golf

Do you play golf? What are the most important qualities of a golf club?

23.2 Golf Talk

Myra Cunningham tells us about the future of golf with new designs in equipment.

23.2.1 Exercise

Read this article by Myra Cunningham and match the heading with the paragraphs.

a.The sole shortcoming

b.The history of golf

c.The new-age driver

d.The advent of titanium

1.According to a theory, the game of golf originated in Rome, where it was called Paganica. Participants used a bent stick to hit a stuffed leather ball. Indeed, the game has come a long way from those days. Now we also have other factors that have changed the way the game is played. The equipment, for example, uses highly advanced technology to facilitate players.

2.Just twenty years ago, the driver was made of heavy steel and used to have a narrow head. Those are not to be seen on any golf course today. What we see instead is the huge-headed and