It’s Interesting to Know

Throughout history, the search for salt has played an important role in society. Where it was scarce, salt was traded ounce for ounce with gold. Rome’s major highway was called the Via Salaria that is the Salt Road. Along that road, Roman soldiers transported salt crystals. In return, they received a salarium or salary, but it was not money – it was salt! The old saying “worth his salt”, which means to be valuable, comes from that custom of payment during the Empire.

1. Choose the right answer.

Salarium is a Latin word that means

1. salt

2. salary

3. soldier

4. the Salt Road

If a man is “worth his salt”, he is

1. a soldier

2. a thirsty person

3. a valuable employee

4. a highly paid worker

2. Which people do you believe to be “worth their salt”? What qualities do you think are the most valuable in employees? In your friends? In your future employers? Give your reasons.

Business Communication.

Being diplomatic. Appraisals. Self-assessment.

Exercise A. Disagreeing diplomatically. When you disagree in English, it’s better to do so in a diplomatic way. Read the phrases below and say which are the diplomatic (polite) ways to disagree.

1. You are wrong.

2. I’m sorry but I can’t agree with you.

3. I agree with you up to a point…

4. That’s rubbish!

5. I don’t really see it this way.

6. The problem is that…

7. No way!

8. I’m afraid I don’t completely agree with you.

9. Well, maybe, but I…

10. Of course, not!

11. What are you talking about?

Exercise B. Choose the most diplomatic answer in the following situations.

1. Expressing lack of comprehension.

1. I have no idea what you are talking about.

2. I’m sorry; I don’t quite understand what you are saying.

3. I can’t understand what you mean.

2. Double-checking.

1. How many copies did you say you needed?

2. Now tell me again. How many copies was that?

3. That was thirty copies, three – right?

3. Making a suggestion.

1. Maybe we could talk about it over lunch?

2. Why don’t we talk about it over lunch?

3. Let’s talk about it over lunch, OK?

4. Making an offer.

1. Do you want me to stay late and finish?

2. Why don’t I stay late and finish?

3. I guess I could stay late and finish up.

5. Expressing disagreement.

1. I don’t think that’s right.

2. I’m afraid I see things differently.

3. That’s the dumbest idea I have ever heard.

6. Expressing dissatisfaction.

1. I’m afraid I won’t be able to finish all this work on time.

2. How am I supposed to finish all of this work? It’s impossible.

3. You have given me too much work. I need more time.

7. Responding to criticism.

1. I have not been late three days in a row. I was here on time Wednesday!

2. I’m very sorry. I’ll be on time from now on.

3. There are a lot of other people here who don’t show up on time. Why are you picking on me?

8. Showing sympathy.

1. I’m sorry that you are having problems at home. So just try to do the best you can here.

2. I’m sorry that your father is sick. Is there anything I can do to help?

3. I’m sorry about your father.

Exercise C. Choose the most diplomatic and correct answer to these questions while talking on the phone.

1. I’d like to speak to Mr. Whitney, please.

1. Yes.

2. I’m afraid he is not here at the moment.

3. Well, you can’t.

2. Can I speak to Mr. Whitney, please?

1. Hold on, please.

2. Don’t go away.

3. All right.

3. Could I speak to Mr. Whitney, please?

1. Who’s calling?

2. Who are you?

3. What’s your name?

4. Who’s speaking?

1. I’m Tracy Whitney.

2. This is Tracey Whitney here.

3. Tracy Whitney speaking.

5. Can I ring you back later?

1. Yes, ring me.

2. Yes, please do.

3. Of course, yes.

6. When can I reach you?

1. One hour.

2. When you want.

3. I’ll be in all evening.

Exercise D. Use the table below to make dialogues using polite or diplomatic structures.

We should hire Tom. He has all the relevant qualifications.	→	I’m sorry but I can’t quite agree with you.	think we need to tell a manager, it’s only March!
The staff really needs a new canteen, the one we have is too small and the food they serve is terrible.	→	I agree with you up to a point.	there is no money in this year’s budget for that.
If they close this office it will give us a fantastic opportunity to move with the company.	→	I don’t really see it this way.	on all the points you mentioned.
I really think that we need to create a new position in our marketing team.	→	The problem is that	I think we’ll all lose our jobs.
Have you read my email about the working conditions?	→	I’m afraid I don’t completely agree with you	He is well-qualified but he has absolutely no experience.
Jane took the money from the company to pay for the Christmas party; we don’t need to tell anyone we saw her doing it.	→	Well, may be but I	The food isn’t great there but there are lots of shops nearby where staff can buy food for lunch.

Exercise E. Listening Track 1.49

1. Listen to Galina talking to her manager. They are in the middle of her appraisal. Which of these questions does the manager ask? Write down the ones you hear. How would you answer these questions?

1. Which do you consider to be your particular strengths?

2. What elements of your job do you find most difficult?

3. How do you get on with your colleagues?

4. Do you agree?

5. Do you have any weaknesses you’d like to work on?

6. Are there any skills you would like to improve?

7. What elements of your job do you most enjoy?

8. What do you like and dislike about working for this company?

9. How can we help you?

2. Listen again. Which of the phrases given below does Galina use to reply to her manager?

1. I do think I’m…

2. People say that I’m…

3. I would like to…

4. I often find that…

5. I think I’m good at…

6. I’d say I’m…

7. My weaknesses are…

8. My strengths are…

9. The thing I hate most is…

10. My colleagues tell me that I’m…

Exercise F. Role-play the following situation. Work in pairs.

Student A. You are the manager of the IT department at EMF engineering. Student B is one of your programmers and today you are meeting for an appraisal. Use your notes on Student B and the questions from this unit to help you.

• Has worked for the company for three years.

• Always punctual.

• A little disorganized.

• A number of important deadlines have been missed recently.

• Other members of the department complain that Student B is unhelpful.

• Very creative and always has good ideas.

• Student B. You are a programmer in the IT department at EMF engineering. Student A is your manager and today you are meeting for your annual appraisal. Below are some notes to help you.

• Always arrive on time.

• Really enjoy my job and I am really good at it.

• Very hard-working and very creative.

• Colleagues in my department always disturb me with questions which stop me from working. I try to help them as much as I can but sometimes I have too much of my own work to do.

• The company needs to offer more training.

Follow-Up

1. Comment on the proverb: If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door. Do you know any Russian equivalents?

2. Internet Research. Search for the keywords appraisal tips to find out more about how to succeed in appraisals. Search for the keywords unusual interview questions to find out about some strange questions that employers ask. Discuss with a partner how you could answer them.