II. Read some more people’s problems. (Do you have similar problems yourself?) What do you think they should do?

1. ‘When foreign visitors come to our office, I can’t understand them. I ask them to speak slowly, but it’s still difficult. My English teacher says my pronunciation is difficult to understand too, but I think my main problem is listening. I need more practice.’

2. ‘I have a very busy working day and often I’m still in the office at eight or nine at night. But English is our company language so I have to learn it. I study for half an hour every night when I get home. The trouble is I’m not making fast enough progress.’

3. ‘My teacher says people can learn a language at any age but I’m not sure that’s true. My memory is the problem. I’m getting old and I find it difficult to remember new English words.’

4. ‘I’m nervous about speaking English on the telephone. It’s difficult when you can’t see the person you’re talking to. There are lots of long pauses while I think what to say.’

5. ‘I have to attend meetings that are held in English with our suppliers. I know what I want to say but I can’t find the right words. I often have to use ten words instead of one. My vocabulary is too small. I need to learn more words.’

III. Now read how the people plan to solve their problems. Match these solutions to the correct problem. Are they going to do any of the things you suggested? Do you think they are good solutions?

1. ‘Before I make a call, I’m going to make a note of what I want to say. I can look up any words I don’t know in a dictionary. I’ll feel more confident.’

2. ‘I’m going to get up half an hour earlier in the mornings and study English then. I think better first thing. It’s “quality” time”.

3. ‘I’m going to subscribe to cable TV. It’s not going to be easy to follow the programs at first, but the pictures will help me understand what’s happening. My teacher thinks it’s going to improve my pronunciation, too.’

4. ‘I’m going to start reading more. There’s an English newspaper I can buy that some words translated. I’m going to start with that and I’ll write down new words that look useful and test myself on them.’

5. ‘I’ve got a book called How to Improve Your Memory and there are several good techniques in it. They’re things like using rhymes and dreaming up funny mental pictures. I think I can use them in my English lessons. I’m also going to review what we learn more often.’

Ex.4.Discuss the following cross-cultural questions in groups or

pairs:

1. Gift giving is very common in Japan. When a Japanese business partner gives you a wrapped gift, what should you do?

1. Open the gift in front of the person who gave it to you.

2. Thank the person and open the gift at a later time.

3. Return the gift and explain that it is not necessary to exchange gifts.

2. You are attending a business meeting in Saudi Arabia. Someone ask

you to pass the sugar for his coffee. Which hand do you use?

1. right; c)either one, depending on whether you are left- or

2. left ; right-handed

3. In business dealing with Koreans, which colour should be avoided

when writing a Korean person’s name?

a) red b) black) c) blue

4. Which of the following topics would be good to avoid during a

conversation with Latin American business partner?

a) sports b) travel c) local politics

5.In which of the following countries should you not tip?

a) Iceland b) Great Britain c) the United States

6.In the Middle East you have to give presents to business contacts…

a) in private b) in public c) every time you meet

7.You can’t do business in Moslem countries…

a) on Wednesdays b) on Fridays c) on Sundays

8.If you are in a pub in England you have to buy a drink for…

a) yourself b) everyone in the group you are with

3. everyone in the pub

Ex.5 Every country has its own customs. Read these descriptions of some different social and business customs. Can you identify which nationality group they refer to? Match each description with one of these nationalities.

The Japanese the French the Italians the Germans

the Spanish the British

They are happy to borrow manners and style from anywhere as long as it is useful and, above all, elegant. They love new things; their homes and offices are full of gadgets. Interactive video telephones, high speed trains, and modern architecture cause excitement not shock.

1. They leave work as punctually as they arrive and rarely take work home. They work hard, but statistically they put in fewer hours than fellow Europeans.

2. Lunches and dinners are an important part of business life. They are used to create personal relationships, and to make sure that the chemistry is right and that people can trust each other. Until coffee is served, they do not discuss business.

3. It is impolite to be exactly on time. For social occasions, this means arriving between ten and twenty minutes after the arranged time. Sometimes invitations specify, ‘7.30 for 8.00’, which means you should not arrive later than 7.50.

4. They regularly work on Saturdays, don’t often take than a week’s vacation, and count sick days as holiday.

5. The backbone of the economy is the thousands of small and medium sized private firms in the North. Their owners prefer independence, and it is more profitable to keep things in the family, pay workers in cash, and employ people who are officially self-employed, in order to make bigger profits and avoid strikes.

Ex.6 a) Read the dialogue below and point out grammar tenses in it.