IX. Speaking.
A. Listen to the dialogues and act them out.
1.
Making an appointment (no audio)
А:Good morning, Personnel Corps.
B: Hello, my name is Neef, Walter Neef. I would like some information on your agency. Can you help me?
А:Yes, certainly. What would you like to know?
B: I’m looking for a non-profit agency. Is this a non-profit agency?
А:No, it is not; we're a private agency, dealing with technical and high-salaried jobs.
B: Thank you. I'm looking for a secretarial job or any nonskilled position. Can you give me the telephones of the agencies specializing in this field?
А:With pleasure, but the list is very long. You can find the information you need in our leaflet. Our working hours from 10 to 7 pm.
B: Thank you. Good-bye.
А:Good-bye. Have a good day.
B: You too.
2.
Cancelling an appointment (no audio)
R:Rodger Agency
B:This is Don Kelvin. I have an appointment with Mr. Douglas at twelve today but my wife is sick. I would like to make an appointment for next week.
R:All right. Would Tuesday at three be convenient for you?
B:Tuesday at three? That's not a good time for me.
R:How about four o'clock on Wednesday?
B:That will be just fine. Thank you.
R:Fine. We'll expect you then.
3.
A job interview
4.
Staff disputes
procrastinate - откладывать со дня на день
A What would you do in a dispute between members of your own staff? Would you intervene at once to resolve the problem?
В Well, that would be proactive, and a positive way to tackle the problem, but is there a risk of blowing it up out of all proportion?
A I suppose you could see if the staff can sort it out themselves.
В Mmm. That could be interpreted as passing the buck.
A But the staff may not want you to interfere, so it could be a wise thing to do. Or maybe wait to see if the problem sorts itself out? Is that sensible or just procrastinating?
В It sounds a bit like burying your head in the sand, as if you're saying, 'What problem? I can't see one.’
A Yeah, maybe.
5.
Talking about office problems
Vocabulary
pet hate a thing you particularly dislike or find annoying;
hum sing a tune with your lips closed;
A You know, one of my pet hates in the office is when someone creates a paper jam in the photocopier and then leaves it for others to put right.
В Yes, that's very annoying. Another thing that gets me is colleagues who always seem to be absent when the work piles up and things are really hectic.
A Yes. Or people who neglect their own work in the office but poke their noses into other people's business.
В Well, something I'm having to deal with at the moment is a colleague who went away on holiday last week but failed to provide any clear handover instructions.
A Oh, that's very thoughtless. However, the worst thing of all must be my colleague Barry − he constantly hums, whistles, giggles uncontrollably − right next to me!
B. Discussion.