LIMBA ENGLEZA I

STRUCTURA ACTIVITII DE SEMINAR SEMESTRUL I

Cap. 1 The Tourism Business Environment

Cap. 2 Human Communication in Tourism

Cap. 3 Internet Breakthrough and Its Impact on Tourism Activities

Cap. 4 The Nature of People and the Levels of Communication in the Hospitality
Industry

Cap. 5 Communication Strategies in Multinational Corporations

Cap. 6 Money in Tourism Economy

Cap. 7 Tourism Monetary Policy

Cap. 8 Money Functions and Its Investment in Tourism

Cap. 9 Job Responsibilities and Promotion in Tourism

Cap. 10 Employment Interviews

The Article

Nouns gender, plurals, possession

Tenses: Present Simple and Present Continuous, Past Simple and Past
Continuous, used to, would, inversion, Present Perfect Simple and Continuous, Present
Perfect vs. Past Tense

Verbs and Prepositions

Business skills: expressing opinions FOR and AGAINST, letter of opinion,

business reports, cover letter, interview questionnaire, letter of compliment
BIBLIOGRAFIE
Coord. Dude Roxana-Emanuela Focus on Business, Ed. Pro Universitaria, Bucureti,
2007.
Walker, Elaine & Elsworth, Steve Grammar Practice for Upper Intermediate Students,
Longman, Pearson Education Ltd., Edinburgh, 2000.
Jacob, Miriam English for International Tourism. Longman Pearson Education Limited,
Edinburgh: 2001.
Collin, P.H. Dictionary of Hotels, Tourism and Catering Management. Second Edition,
Peter Collin Publishing, London: 2003.
Ghiga, G.; Stamatescu, I.; erban, R. N. Talking Business, Editura Cavallioti,
Bucureti, 2004.
CRITERII DE EVALUARE
- Participare activ la aplicaiile practice de la seminarii (plus teme) 50%
- Evaluare scris pe parcursul semestrului 50%

Coord. Roxana-Emanuela Dude

Ana Mihaela Istrate
Raluca Tnsescu

Elena Museanu
Iulia Drghici

Andreea Topor
Denisa Dumitracu

Eduard Bucescu
Alexandra Mrginean

FOCUS ON BUSINESS
- Introductory Course in Business English and Communication

UNIT 1
Speaking
Lead In

THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

1.1 What do you already know about the business environment?
What do you expect to fiind out from the text(s)?
1.2 Look at the words on the list below. Which of the following
words are related to the business environment? Divide the words into
nouns, adjectives and verbs. Some words fall into two categories:
society, social, company, commercial, market, enterprise, politics, tax,
purchase, financial, product, produce, productivity, manufacture, tourist,
touristic, managerial, manager, economic, economical, win, earn, profit,
profitability, benefit:
Nouns

Adjectives

Verbs

1.3 Comment upon the following statement:

There are five types of companies: those who make things happen;
those who think they make things happen; those who watch things
happen; those who wonder what happened; and those who did not know
that anything had happened. (Anonymous, quoted in Philip Kotler)
Reading

TEXT A
Basic Business Vocabulary
It is early October and you are embarking now on a career you do not
have too much knowledge about. Besides the fact that you can hardly
identify economic concepts in Romanian, you are about to discover basic
business vocabulary, what specific terms mean and how to use them in
English. Whether it is about management, marketing, commercial and
financial relations, tourism, IT, management or economic integration, all
business organizations exist and develop in a complex and changing
environment, which is, of course, called the business environment.
Lets now have a look at some basic concepts which should give you
enough information to start with.
Starting with the main focus of our discussion, the business environment
can be seen as everything which surrounds a system comprising those
phenomena which impact on the systems ability to operate effectively
(Palmer and Hartley). However, the notion is far more complex than this
definition aims to show, as it is sometimes difficult for the business
organization to define the elements that make up the system.
The next issue we would like to focus on is the business organization,
which is an entity formed for the purpose of carrying on commercial

enterprise. Such an organization is based on systems of law governing

contract and exchange, property rights, and incorporation. (Encyclopaedia
Britannica). Obviously, the nucleus of the business environment is the
organization, with its different forms. It turns inputs into outputs that
customers in the environment want to purchase, or in other words, it
changes the resources used in the process of production, i.e. land, labor and
capital into goods and services.
Before moving on to a detailed analysis of the business environment we
should practice using some very useful terms. Unfortunately, confusion is
commonly made between basic words, such as the terms economics/
economy, economic/ economical. While in case of economics the definition
seems quite clear, for economy we can make reference to several meanings.
Economics is the social science that seeks to analyze and describe the
production, distribution, and consumption of wealth. (Encyclopaedia
Britannica), which is, of course, what you are studying at present or at least
subject matters related to it. What businessmen and businesswomen actually
put into practice, when doing business, when negotiating the lowest price or
the percentage of the commission in order to close the best deal, is the
economy, meaning the complex of human activities concerned with the
production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. (Collins
English Dictionary). Therefore, everything related to the economy of a
country is economic: economic growth/ benefits/ policy. On the other hand,
avoiding unnecessary expenditure or waste (Collins English Dictionary)
is an instance of making economies, which means that things are
economical if they help you save money.
To illustrate the business environment, let us consider the
implications of the process of production. The factory workers deal with
factors of production, industrial processes in order to obtain endproducts from raw materials, to produce merchandise that is relevant to
the process of demand and supply, taking into account prospective
customers. The key term of this activity is productivity, and the products
that are obtained should balance the concepts of quality and price.
As far as the field of providing services is concerned, the employees
main duty is customer satisfaction, which implies being always of
service with a smile on your face. The department which handles clients
complaints is customer service, a department with great responsibilities
in tourism, famous chains of stores or computer software manufacturing.
To conclude with, let us bear in mind that understanding the business
environment with all the aspects that it involves means success, leads to
a powerful company that knows how to learn from others mistakes,
changing others failure into ones profitability.

2.1 Reading Comprehension

2.1.1 Decide if the following statements are true (T) or false (F):
a. The business environment is part of the business organization.
b. Business organizations deal with the process of production.
c. The resources used in the process of production are: land, labor and capital.

TEXT B The Business Environment

The business environment is a complex subject area, as it embraces the study of economics
and law, political and social influences, and also the technological progress determined by
science and research. Fortunately, or maybe unfortunately, it is the role of the manager to
decipher on the one hand, the present evolution of the environment, and on the other hand, to
make predictions about its future. Moreover, the study of the business environment is of great
importance, considering the success and profitability obtained by different organizations directly
due to a better understanding of the environment or to the prompt reactions to its changes.
According to specialists, the main components can be classified as such: the
macroenvironment, the microenvironment, and the internal environment.

The main elements of a business organizations environment, Palmer and Hartley

2.2.2 Find words in the text which mean:

a. external conditions or surroundings, especially those in which people live and work;
background, conditions, milieu
b. to forecast, to make a prophecy
c. the set of factors which can indirectly affect a companys relationship to the market
3.2.2 Fill in the gaps in the following sentences with words derived from the concepts
written in capitals at the end of each sentence:
a. Because the use of the term businessmen is discriminatory, it is preferable to use .
BUSINESS
b. Dont be so confident! It does not sound like a venture. PROFIT
c. strategies influence the companys turnover.
MARKET
d. The governments makes efforts to reduce the rate.
EMPLOY
e. We are one of the manufacturers of furniture in this country.
LEAD

A. THE NOUN Scan Texts A and B. Divide all the underlined words into
appropriate categories according to noun gender, plural or possession.
NOUN GENDER: A few jobs, positions and animals have different words for
masculine and feminine, male and female, respectively.
M
actor
(bride)groom
count/ earl
duke
emperor
god
heir
hero
host
monk/ friar
policeman
prince
waiter
widower
wizard
buck
bull/ ox
dog
drake
gander
ram
stallion

F
actress
bride
countess
duchess
empress
goddess
heiress
heroine
hostess
nun
policewoman
princess
waitress
widow
witch
doe
cow
bitch
duck
goose
ewe
mare

UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS:
- do not have plural forms in S;
- do no take the articles A/ AN;
- the verb is always in the SINGULAR.
Concrete nouns:
- food: bread, butter, chocolate, flour, jam, meat, milk, oil, rice, sugar, tea, vinegar, wine.
- materials: concrete, denim, gold, iron, leather, steel, silk, silver, velvet.
- others: baggage, furniture, luggage, money, music, soap, toothpaste, water.
- both countable and uncountable: hair, experience, paper, work.
Abstract nouns: accommodation, advice, beauty, behavior, education, happiness,
information, knowledge, luck, progress, research, time, traffic, travel, trouble, weather.

4.4. Translate into English, paying attention to the differences between English and
Romanian:
a. Unde sunt banii mei? I-ai lsat pe mas sau n sertar?
b. Dac vrei un sfat, nu cumpra acest main.

c. Primim informaii c rezultatele alegerilor sunt n favoarea noastr.

d. Ai multe bagaje? Ai adus doar o geant?
e. Nu uita s cumperi dou pini i o ciocolat pentru copii.
f. O, Doamne! Am deja fire albe de pr.
g. Studenii trebuie s predea lucrrile pn la sfritul lunii.
h. Avem teme pentru mine? Nu cred, temele acestea sunt de sptmna trecut.
i. tii, am putea cumpra cteva sticle de vin pentru petrecere.
j. Nu am mai avut aa o vreme cald de ani de zile.
NOUNS WHOSE PLURAL FORM HAS DIFFERENT MEANINGS:
compass/ compasses
colour/ colours
content/ contents
custom/ customs
damage/ damages
draught/ draughts
premise/ premises
quarter/ quarters
sand/ sands
spirit/ spirits

busol
compasuri
culori
steag
coninuturi
cuprins
obiceiuri
vam
stricciuni, daune
despgubiri
cureni (de aer)
(joc de) dame
premize
cldire, locuin cu anexe i dependine
sferturi
comandament
nisipuri
plaj
suflete
buturi spirtoase
bun dispoziie

UNIT 2

THE COMMUNICATION REVOLUTION

1.1 The Austrian philosopher Wittgenstein1 said during the first decades of the 20th century
that everything that can be said can be said clearly. What do you think he meant by that?
1.2 What is 21st century communication? How much has it changed throughout the centuries?
What makes it more efficient than in the past, if so?
1.3 What are the basic characteristics that go into the making of an efficient communicator?
Choose three such features from the two columns below and explain your choice:
Physical appearance
Rich vocabulary
Good sense of humor
Intelligence

Language fluency
Being a good listener
Body language awareness
General confidence

2.1.3 Match words from column A with those from column B to form collocations as they
appear in the text:
A
human
effective
classical
communication
artificial
widespread
smoke
traffic
radio
digital

B
provinces
media
broadcast
lights
signals
communication
speaking
medium
learning
channels

3.1.3 Replace the underlined words with synonyms given in the box below:
fold

profusion

set of questions

indebtedness

cornerstone

alter

drum

ability/talents

achievement

piece of information

1. Our deepest gratitude goes to Dr. Allen.

2. The constant hitting sound of the rain on the roof and against the panes brought happy
memories to her.
3. Nothing can change the fact that the refugees are our responsibility.
4. The present will nicely fit in if you bend it in half.
1

Austrian philosopher who contributed several ground-breaking ideas to philosophy, primarily in the
foundations of logic, the philosophy of mathematics, the philosophy of language, and the philosophy of
mind.

5. The house was overflowing with an abundance of strange ornaments.

6. The magazine became the top of McFadden's publishing empire.
7. Regardless of what size business you are in a large corporation, a small company, or even
a home-based business effective communication skills are essential for success.
8. By successfully getting your message across, you convey your thoughts and ideas
effectively.
9. In a recent survey of recruiters from companies with more than 50,000 employees,
communication skills were cited as the single more important decisive factor in choosing
managers.
10. In spite of the increasing importance placed on communication skills, many individuals
continue to struggle, unable to communicate their thoughts and ideas effectively.

TEXT B (fragment)
New Digital Technologies
What we take* for granted today, satellite television or cellular telephone or even a humble
Walkman, were part of sci-fi a mere quarter of a century ago. It is more than obvious that a socioeconomic revolution is quietly, but surely taking* place. For example, there are over a billion
Internet users worldwide. This number is expected to rise to about 1.5 billion in the next three
years.
Today the Internet provides* the equivalent of 50,000 daily newspapers in all languages, including
online editions of several print newspapers that have web editions. In fact, many newspapers and
magazines offer* their subscribers access to online editions for continuous updates.
A new form of "immersive story telling" is already emerging** on some of the better online
sites and the still nascent interactive news channels. In this form of reportage you can enter and
navigate through a news report in many different ways and perspectives. Nothing has changed
journalism more than the advent of the blog(weblog) and what were seeing* *are just the
beginnings of blogging.
Already it is becoming** a favored form of disseminating news and information. Soon there
will be a proliferation of the video blog. A version of peer-to-peer TV streaming is already on the
Internet. These developments are still in their nascent stages but have the potential to change the
whole concept of mass communication.
New digital technologies are causing** a paradigm shift for the media and entertainment industry.
By leveraging newer technologies, we have seen media companies not only make up for lost revenue
but also add many new streams. The very nature of the music industry has been changed first by
Napster and more recently by Apple I-Pod. Despite the opportunities which digital media presents, the
industry's energies have been largely spent on the 'non compensated trading' or copyright theft of
content.
3.2.2 Answer the following questions based on what you have read in the text:
1 What are the signs of a socio-economic revolution taking place nowadays?
2 What does the concept of "immersive story telling" refer to?
3 What does peer-to-peer TV streaming consist of?
4 How was the development of a viable and robust economic model for digital media
retarded?
5 Why do teenagers determine both information and entertainment content and access modes
around the world?

* Present Continuous Tense, (see Grammar Section)

3.3.4 Come up with the best option which fits in the blanks in the following sentences. Use
only one word:
1. Communication is a process that allows beings - in particular - to exchange information
by several methods.
2. A language is a syntactically organized system of signals, such as voice sounds, intonations
or pitch, gestures or written which communicate thoughts or feelings.
3. Animals do not have a written form of a language, but use a language to with each other.

Present Simple
Read the following sentences taken from your texts, paying attention to the words in
bold. What tense is used for these verbs?
The study of communication overlaps with areas such as business, organizational
development, philosophy, languages
Our indebtedness to the ancient Romans in the field of communication does not end with
the Latin root "communicare"
Modern communication media now allow for intense long-distance exchanges
What we take for granted today, satellite television or cellular telephone or even a humble
Walkman, were part of sci-fi
Today the Internet provides the equivalent of 50,000 daily newspapers
How is the Simple Present Tense formed in the affirmative, negative and interrogative?
What kind of situations and/or actions does it express?

Listed below are more examples, uses and structure of the Present Simple.
Examples

Usage

Where do you work?

The store opens at 9 o'clock.
She lives in New York.

Permanent or long-lasting
situations

I usually get up at 7 o'clock.

She doesn't often go to the cinema.
When do they usually have lunch?

Regular habits and daily

routines

The Earth revolves around the Sun.

What does 'strange' mean?
Water doesn't boil at 20.

Facts

I love walking around late at night

during the summer.
She hates flying!
What do you like? I don't want to live
in Texas.

Feelings

He doesn't agree with you.

I think he is a wonderful student.
What do you consider your best
accomplishment?

Opinions and states of mind

The plane leaves at 4 p.m.

Timetables and schedules
When do courses begin this semester?

The train doesn't arrive until 10.35.

Common present time expressions
include:

usually, always, often, sometimes, on Saturdays, at weekends (on weekends US English),

rarely, on occasion, never, seldom

Structure
In the positive form add an 's' to the base form of the 3rd person
singular. If the verb ends in -y preceded by a consonant, change the
-y to -ies.
I
You
eat lunch
at noon.
We
They
He
eats lunch
at noon.
She
tries to have fun.
It
Conjugate the auxiliary verb 'do' not (don't and doesn't) to the
base form of the verb to make negatives.
I
You
don't leave
at noon.
We
They
He
doesn't leave
at noon.
She
It
Conjugate the helping verb 'do' (do or does) to the base form of
the verb in question forms.
I
You
leave at noon?
Do
We
They
He
Does
leave at noon?
She
It
4.2 Fill in the blanks with a verb of your choice, paying attention to the tense you have to
use:

8. My sweet granny the most awesome sweater for me. Itll probably be ready next
week.
9. Why you at my shoes? They cost me a bomb and are supposed to be the last cry!
10. Unfortunately there will be no going out for me tonight. My boyfriend football in
the neighboring town.
Business
Skills:
Speaking

5.1.1 Read the text on global warming and state the main cause for
this phenomenon. How is the so-called greenhouse effect produced?
Global warming is the observed increase in the average temperature

of the Earth's atmosphere and oceans in recent decades, and its projected
continuation. Models referenced by the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC) predict that global temperatures are likely to
increase by 1.1 to 6.4 C (2.0 to 11.5 F) between 1990 and 2100. The
uncertainty in this range results from both the difficulty of predicting the
volume of future greenhouse gas emissions and uncertainty about
climate sensitivity.
Global average near-surface atmospheric temperature rose 0.6
0.2 Celsius (1.1 0.4 Fahrenheit) in the 20th century. The prevailing
scientific opinion on climate change is that most of the observed increase
in globally averaged temperatures since the mid-20th century is very
likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas
concentrations. The main cause of the human-induced component of
warming is the increased atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases
(GHGs) such as carbon dioxide (CO2), which leads to warming of the
surface and lower atmosphere by increasing the greenhouse effect.
Greenhouse gases are released by activities such as the burning of fossil
fuels, land clearing, and agriculture.
As far as the impact of global warming on economy is concerned, it
seems that experts have not reached a consensus yet. However, there are
more and more highly informed voices that are uttering a stark warning
regarding not some science-fiction future many years ahead, but the
perspective of our own lifetime. A report by economist Sir Nicholas
Stern, former chief economist of the World Bank suggests that global
warming could shrink the global economy by 20%. The report says that
without action, up to 200 million people could become refugees as their
homes are hit by drought or flood.
"Whilst there is much more we need to understand - both in science
and economics - we know enough now to be clear about the magnitude
of the risks, the timescale for action and how to act effectively," Sir
Nicholas said.
The Stern Review forecasts that 1% of global gross domestic product
(GDP) must be spent on tackling climate change immediately.
It warns that if no action is taken:
Floods from rising sea levels could displace up to 100 million people
Melting glaciers could cause water shortages for 1 in 6 of the
world's population
Wildlife will be harmed; at worst up to 40% of species could
become extinct
Droughts may create tens or even hundreds of millions of "climate
refugees"
Warming is expected to affect the number and magnitude of these
events; however, it is difficult to connect particular events to global
warming. Although most studies focus on the period up to 2100, even if
no further greenhouse gases were released after this date, warming (and
sea level) would be expected to continue to rise for more than a
millennium, since CO2 has a long average atmospheric lifetime.
Remaining scientific uncertainties include the exact degree of climate
change expected in the future, and especially how changes will vary
from region to region across the globe. A hotly contested political and
public debate has yet to be resolved, regarding whether anything should

be done, and what could be cost-effectively done to reduce or reverse

future warming, or to deal with the expected consequences. Most
national governments have signed and ratified the Kyoto Protocol aimed
at combating global warming.
(Adapted from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming)
5.1.2 What are the consequences of global warming that the text
talks about? How global is global warming, according to scientists?
5.1.3 How do you think global warming has affected Romania? Do
you believe something can be done to reduce or reverse future
warming, or to deal with the expected consequences? What exactly do
you think individuals and the entire society can and should do?

UNIT 3

COMPANY STRUCTURES AND LEGAL STATUS

3.1.1 Match the underlined expression with their translation into Romanian:
1. general partnership
2. limited liability companies
3. limited partnership
4. limited partnership by share
5. joint-stock company

a) (societate in comandita pe actiuni)

b) (societate in comandita simpla)
c) (societate pe actiuni)
d) (societate cu raspundere limitata)
e) (societate in nume colectiv)

3.1.3 Fill in the blanks with one of the words given in the box below:
the
management

stock

free trade

private
companies

market
economy

founding
partners

supply and
demand

limited
liability
company

entrepreneurial

shareholders

1. In todays very competitive companies need to continually develop the quality of their
products if they want to resist on the market.
2. A free market economy cannot exist without the constant interplay of .
3. If ten years ago, showing an impressive CV would have been the key for getting a good
managerial position, todays managers have to prove they have spirit as well.
4. I have recently seen the top ten list of in Europe, and there is tight competition between
the first two positions.
5. In some multinational companies present in Romania, the majority are foreign.
6. is the capital raised by a corporation through the issuance and distribution of shares.
7. An essential condition for the existence of is for the government not to interfere by

imposing tariffs and non-tariff barriers.

8. have always held a more conservatory view in this company, however, the employees
seem pretty motivated.
9. Sociological researchers claim that starting your career in a may have its disadvantages.
10. Bill Gates was one of the of Microsoft Corporation, in 1975 after he left Harvard.
3.1.5 Choose the best option which fits in the blanks in the following sentences:
1. Managers are starting to be interested the domestic market.
b) of
c) in
d) at
2.
The a) at
agriculture suffers an acute lack of interest on the part of foreign investors.
3.
Mr.
shareholder.

a) of

b) a

c) due

d) from

b) major
c) ultimate
d) absolute
4.
The a) majority
of America have always given a huge importance to economic competition.
b) clear
c) fair
d) open
5. At our a) honest
course, the teacher gave us a lot of examples of joint- companies.
a) share

b) amount

c) trade

domain

of

Smith is the
United States
economy

d) stock

TEXT B (fragment)
Nestl the World's Number
1 Packaged Food Corporation
With its famous coffee, baby food and confectionery products on the list, Nestl is a brand that
has always stood for more than just chocolate in the mind of consumers.
Based in Switzerland, Nestl is the number one manufacturer of packaged food in the world,
spanning all the sectors of the market, with brands distributed worldwide, ranging from bakery
products to bottled water, ice cream, healthcare nutrition, frozen food and seasonings. And
whether we are aware or not, we use Nestl products every day: it is impossible not to have drunk
one of their coffee or bottled water brands, as it would be very difficult to find a child during the
past two decades who has never heard about the Nesquick Bunny, or a parent who is completely
unfamiliar with Nestle baby food products.
One may be surprised therefore to find out that, todays multinational company, which boasts
the most head-spinning sales figures in the business had humble and remote origins, for which we
have to go back in time almost a century and a half.
The Nestl story began in 1860 in Switzerland, though a combination of scientific efforts, and
what was then a strike of good luck. Henri Nestl, a pharmacist, was trying to develop a formula
for a substitute for milk for a premature infant who could not tolerate his own mother's milk or
any of the usual substitutes. Luckily, he managed to do this on time and his new formula saved
the child's life, a fact which gave his product instant recognition and success. The demand for the
product soon became so high that it passed beyond the boundaries of Switzerland. Encouraged by
the high demand, in 1867 Henri Nestl set up Farine Lacte Henri Nestl and their infant food
products were being sold in most of the developed countries of Europe. But little did Henri Nestl
know nor could imagine what amazing development was in store for his small company.

2.2.2 Decide whether the following statements are true or false:

1. Nestl was from the beginning recognized as market leader worldwide in coffee, baby food
and confectionery products.
2. Henri Nestl first discovered the formula for the new product out of necessity, then founded
the company seven years later, in the context of increasing public demand.
3. During World War I, as consumers turned to fresh milk, Nestl's expanded into another
important activity: chocolate production, in order to survive on the market.
2.2.3 Find words or expressions in the text that mean:
1) sweets, candy (paragraph 1)
2) stretching across a large area (paragraph 2)
3) including a variety of different things (paragraph 2)
4) impressive, outstanding (paragraph 3)
5) replacer (paragraph 4)
6) was gradually less (paragraph 6)
7) advanced, quickened (paragraph 7)

4. Past Tense

4.1.2 Continue these sentences to obtain plausible situational contexts:

1. Whenever he wanted a raise, Tom .
2. I was never able to work with Jenny, so .
3. He just as I expected.
4. I worked a lot yesterday, and didnt have time for lunch, this is why .
5. Although I liked this company from the first day, .
6. He never forgot my birthday, yet I always .
7. When I started my career, I .
8. This project took Liz almost a year, but unfortunately .
9. The sales manager was a very detailoriented man, who .
10. I was very sorry when I heard that our foreign consultant was leaving, but

4.2.2. Put the verbs in brackets into the simple past or past continuous tense:
1) He suddenly (realise) that he (carry) the documents for another client, so he (have) to get
back to the office to fetch the right ones.
2 ) He (come) to the office looking very pale and (tell) us he (not feel) well.
3) When I (look) for last years report, I (find) they had been erased from my computer. I
(wonder) who could have done something like this.
4) You (seem) very busy when I (see) you yesterday. Who you (talk) to, because I (have) the
feeling that I (know) that person from somewhere.
5) We (not allow) inside the building, as the police (carry) out an investigation. We all
(wonder) what could have happened.

Business
Skills:
Speaking

Below you will find two interviews with two employees: the first one
works for a multinational corporation, the second one for a smaller company. Ask two students to read aloud the texts, then comment upon the text.
Is it better to work for a small business or a multinational
corporation?
Mr. John Davidson, representative of X multinational corporation:
It's interesting to note that some people prosper more in small
businesses and others do well in a corporate environment. But this is
definitely not my case. I've only ever worked for one small business and
felt very exploited and dissatisfied. I was expected to work really hard
for low pay, and was given pretty bad equipment to work with. Every
little expense had to be thoroughly justified.
Personally, I'm a corporate man. I just seem to find better paid jobs,
better opportunities and a less stressful environment in big companies. In a
multinational, you can specialize into quite narrow specific technical
areas, and consider a career path in the company. Most likely you work
regular hours, and there are HR staff etc to make sure conditions are good,
and to deal with staff issues. You are better paid, your company can pay
you health (sometimes even life) insurance and you get holidays abroad,
bonuses and trainings. Moreover, your brands are known worldwide.
On the other hand, I must also admit that big companies may often
have excessive loads of paperwork and going up the company ladder
may prove difficult. And then there are wars between departments and
people trying to build these financial empires. Nevertheless, I choose to
stick to large corporations for my entire career.
Mr. Tom Smith, representative of Y company, a company which
employs 30 people.
For the time being I am very satisfied where I am.
There is definitely more potential for upward movement than in a big
corporation. In a small business, you have more opportunity to influence
strategic decisions. In a big corporate, directions sometimes seem to
come from some mysterious faceless all-powerful entity thousands of
miles away. In a small business, you probably see and get the chance to
talk to the CEO every day.
As an employee (even non-technical) you need to cover a wide range
of types of work, so you're more likely to be exposed to new things,
skills etc in your day to day work. Particularly in technical roles you are
expected to be a "jack of all trades". Certainly if the company were to
suddenly grow in size you might gain a more senior role, simply because
you have been there long enough to know the trade.
5.1.1 In pairs, try to draw a list with the advantages and
disadvantages of working for each type of institution.
5.1.2 Choose two teams, each consisting of two people. Each team
shall present the advantages and disadvantages of working for each
type of institution. Add your own ideas to the ones in the text.
5.1.3. Imagine you are the HR managers of a multinational and a

smaller company. Again two students shall be needed. Each one shall
try to persuade his colleagues to start their career in their company.
Emphasize the opportunities and the facilities your company can offer.
Try to be as persuasive as possible.

N.B.!
This material contains excerpts from the textbook Focus on Business. It represents a
selection and should by no means be considered or treated as exhaustive. It is also under
copyright, and is meant merely to guide students in their study enterprise, offering them a
glimpse at what they should expect and prepare for their examinations. Therefore, its use
for any purposes other than strictly consultative is forbidden.