Тема 1: making contacts

ACTIVE VOCABULARY

Distance – відстань;

Obstacle – перешкода;

Contacts – контакти, зв’язки;

Promoting – сприяння;

Complications – ускладнення, труднощі;

Necessity – необхідність;

Appropriate – відповідний;

To make arrangements – домовлятись;

To make appointment – призначати зустріч;

Prior to – попередньо до…, заздалегідь перед…;

E-mail – електронна пошта Інтернету;

SWIFT – міжнародна міжбанківська електронна система платежів (СВІФТ);

Contact – знайомий (звич. діловий);

To confirm – підтверджувати;

To apologize – перепрошувати, вибачатись;

To make a “cold call” – нанести візит буз домовленості;

Difficulty – складність;

“breaking the ice” – “ламання криги”;

Reason – причина;

To keep in touch –підтримувати зв’язок .

Exercise 1. Give the derivatives to the following words:

To understand; to appoint; to arrange; to meet

Exercise 2. Translate the following word-combinations into Ukrainian:

Is no obstacle; personnel contacts; better understanding; human activity; numerous problems; business trip; limited in time; to make appropriate arrangement; the day before meeting; to change an appointment; it’s better to apologize; getting past the secretary; details of your business; social conversations; “breaking the ice”; easier for you to listen; something useful; to keep in touch.

Exercise 3. Make up your own sentences using the new words and word-combinations:

Example: I want to make an appointment with my doctor for tomorrow at 4 o’clock.

Exercise 4. Read and translate the text:

Distance is no obstacle nowadays and personal contacts have become the most efficient means of promoting a better understanding in all spheres of human activity.

Making contacts is very important in business. Numerous problems and complications of the business done with firms and companies make the use of different methods of business communications a necessity.

Since a business trip is always limited in time a businessman makes appropriate arrangements prior to departure or immediately on arrival. He may use telex, telephone, telegraphic, e-mail or SWIFT communication for making contacts.

The day before the meeting you must call your contact to confirm the arrangement. But you or your contact may want to change an appointment. If one wants to change the appointed date, it’s better to apologize and suggest another date. If you make a “cold call”, you could have difficulty in getting past the secretary.

Before talking about the details of your business, there is usually a period of social conversation (small talk) which can be difficult. A good tactics is to ask questions for “breaking the ice”. There are three reasons for this: most people like talking about themselves; it is easier for you to listen; you may learn something useful.

After every visit to a company it can be useful to keep in touch.

Exercise 5. Finish the sentences according to the text:

1. Distance is no …

2. Making contacts is …

3. A business trip is always limited in time, so …

4. For making arrangements a businessman can use …

5. The day before meeting you must …

6. If you or your contact want to change the appointed day, it’s better ….

7. A small talk takes place before ….

8. A good tactics is …

9. After each visit to every company it is useful ….

Exercise 6. Match each word or word-combination with the appropriate definition:

1. distance – a) to start the conversation;

2. to make an appointment – b) sending and receiving messages using the computer

network;

3. SWIFT - c) the length between two points:

4. to make a “cold call” – d) some problems, complications;

5. “to break the ice” – e) Society for World-wide Interbank Financial

Telecommunication;

6. difficulty – f) to come for a visit without the appointment;

7. e-mail g) to agree with the contact the day and time of the visit;

Exercise 7. Answer the questions to the text:

1. Is distance an obstacle for contacts nowadays?

2. What is the necessity of the use of business communications?

3. What must you do if your trip is limited in time?

4. What ways of making an appointment do you know?

5. Is it necessary t confirm the date of appointment?

6. What should you do if you want to change the appointed date?

7. What is a “small talk”?

8. Is it necessary to break the ice?

9. Is it useful to keep in touch after the visit?

Exercise 8. Translate into English:

1. Якщо у вас є проблеми та ускладнення, зв’яжіться з нами.

2. Для встановлення контактів використовується телефонний, телексний та телеграфний зв’язок.

3. Більшість людей віддає перевагу встановленню зв’язку по телефону зі своїми діловими партнерами.

4. За день до зустрічі можна зателефонувати діловому партнерові, щоб підтвердити домовленість.

5. Не завжди можливо дотримуватись початкових планів. Іноді доводиться змінювати попередню домовленість.

6. Перші слова при зустрічі бувають найскладнішими. Потрібно вміти “зламати кригу” між вами та вашим співрозмовником.

7. Після кожного візиту до фірми корисно підтримувати зв’язок з цією фірмою.

Exercise 9. Read and translate the following dialogues. Make up your own dialogues according to the given ones.

N 1:

• A: Hello, Mr.Rossi? This is the American Industrial Bank. I’m Mr. Whitney’s secretary. I understand you have an appointment for 10 a.m. on Tuesday 13^th. I’m afraid Mr.Whitney is rather engaged then. Could I suggest Monday instead?

• B: Yes, I’m sure that will be OK.

N 2:

• A: Hello, Mr.Rossi? Tim Brown, your agent. Small problem. Our meeting for Friday is all right, but Monday afternoon is likely to be difficult. Perhaps we could change our meeting to Tuesday afternoon?

• B: Yes, OK. Right, that’s fine.