Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
Anul I
SEMESTRUL I
LIMBA ENGLEZ I
Unit 1: EDUCATION
Unit 2: WORK FOR A LIVING
Unit 3: RECRUITMENT
Unit 4: APPLYING FOR A JOB
Unit 5: WORK AND MOTIVATION
Unit 6: TYPES OF BUSINESS COMPANY STRUCTURE
Unit 7: STARTING A BUSINESS
Unit 1: EDUCATION
OBJECTIVES
This unit will help you:
- get familiar with the higher education system
- compare education in Romania and Britain
- revise and practice language needed for comparing
- improve your essay writing skills
LEAD IN
1. Put each of the following words or phrases in its correct space in the passage
below.
state
tutorial
break up
terms
seminar
graduate
nursery school
compulsory co-educational
degree
grant
academic
fees
secondary
primary
private
lecture
When children are two or three years old, they sometimes go to a (1)
______________, where they learn simple games and songs. Their first real school
is called a (2) ______________ school. In Britain children start this school at the age
of five. The (3) ______________ year in Britain begins in September and is divided
into three (4) ______________. Schools (5) ______________ for the summer
holiday in July. (6) ______________ education begins at the age of about eleven,
and most schools at this level are (7) ______________, which means boys and girls
study together in the same classes. In Britain education is (8) ______________ from
five to 16 years of age, but many children choose to remain at school for another two
or three years after 16 to take higher exams. Most children go to (9)
______________ schools, which are maintained by the government or local
education authorities, but some children go to (10) ______________ schools, which
can be very expensive. University courses normally last three years and then
students (11) ______________, which means they receive their (12)
______________. At university, teaching is by (13) ______________ (an individual
lesson between a teacher and one or two students), (14) ______________ (a class
of students discussing a subject with a teacher), (15) ______________ (when a
teacher gives a prepared talk to a number of students) and of course private study.
Most people who receive a university place are given a (16) ______________ by the
government to help pay their (17) ______________ and living expenses.
2. Now that you have filled in the text, read it again and using your
knowledge about the Romanian educational system try and find
similarities and differences between the two systems.
3. Give answers to the following questions:
A. Do you think education should be free? Are there advantages in a fee-paying
system?
B. How usual is it to go to university in Romania?
C. Is it difficult to go in?
D. How do you feel as a fresher at Nicolae Titulescu University? What are your
expectations?
3
VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT
1. Maria Garcia tells us about her educational background. Complete each
sentence with one of the words or phrases from the box below. You will
need to put the verbs into the right tense.
apply
graduate (V) grant
option scholarship study
subject stay on
thesis
higher degree
honours degree
place
job
PhD
primary school
secondary school
I started at (1) primary school in London when I was 5. At the age of 11, I went
to (2) ___________, also in London. At 17, I (3) ___________ to university. I got a
(4) ___________ at Manchester to (5) ___________ Engineering. In fact I was
awarded a (6) ___________. But at the end of first year I changed to another (7)
___________. I (8) ___________ from university in 1988. I have a first class (9)
___________ in Economics. I decided to (10) ___________ at university. So I did
(11) ___________ in business administration at the University of California. During
the course, I did an (12) ___________ on small business development. I found a
topic so interesting that applied for a (13) ___________ to do a doctorate on the
same subject. Once I had got the money, I had to write a 50, 000 word
(14)___________. So now I have a BA, an MBA and a (15) ___________. All I need
now is a (16) ___________.
2. Choose the most suitable word or phrase to complete each sentence.
1. Helens parents were very pleased when they read her school A.
A. report
B. papers
C. diploma
D. account
2. Martin has quite a good ______ of physics.
A. result
B. pass
C. understanding D. head
3. In Britain, children start ______ school at the age of five.
A. kindergarten
B. secondary
C. nursery
D. primary
4. Edward has a ________ in French from Leeds University.
A. certificate
B. degree
C. mark
D. paper
5. My favourite ______ at school was history.
A. topic
B. class
C. theme
D. subject
6. Its time for break. The bell has _______.
A. gone off
B. struck
C. rung
D. sounded
7. Our English teacher ________ us some difficult exercises for homework.
A. set
B. put
C. obliged
D. made
8. Before you begin the exam paper, always read the ________ carefully.
A. orders
B. instructions
C. rules
D. answers
9. If you want to pass the examination, you must study ________.
A. hardly
B. enough
C. thoroughly
D. rather
10. Most students have quite a good sense of their own _______.
A. grasp
B. ability
C. idea
D. information
B) book
B) timetables
B) learnt
B) give
B) results
B) look
B) advise
B) send
B) afterwards
B) ability
B) remind
B) what
B) heart
B) success
B) waste
C) subject
C) terms
C) educated
C) get
C) rules
C) research
C) subject
C) make
C) lastly
C) instruction
C) forget
C) why
C) how
C) understanding
C) tell
D) mark
D) organisations
D) graduated
D) make
D) examples
D) get
D) themes
D) revise
D) at last
D) help
D) memorise
D) it
D) law
D) attention
D) use
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
become (3) ____________ (weak), but Russia has a much (4) ____________ (high)
inflation rate than many European countries. So prices in Moscow are among (5)
____________ (high) in Europe. But, there is one advantage of living in Moscow.
The underground is excellent very cheap and much (6) ____________
(comfortable) than the one in London.
New York is (7) ____________ (expensive) US city. This is because the US
dollar is (8) ____________ (strong) than many other currencies. Some European
countries that used to be far (9) ____________ (expensive) than New York are now
much (10) ____________ (cheap).
London is the 10th (11) ____________ (expensive) city in the world,
according to the survey. A year ago, London was 5%-10% (12) ____________
(cheap) than many French and German cities. This is no longer so. Now London is
15% (13) ____________ (dear) than the German and French cities mentioned in the
survey. However, London is a good city to live in. Business people said that London
was (14) ____________ (exciting) of all the major cities in the world. Londoners also
claim that it is (15) ____________ (clean) than it used to be, and (16) ____________
(safe) than many other European cities.
If youre hard up, dont go to Oslo its Europes (17) ____________
(expensive) city. Meals at restaurants cost a fortune and drinks are very pricey.
4. A business executive who travels a lot gives a personal response to the
radio programme extract above. Complete the text below with the words in
the box.
different
not
as
much
similar
compared
just
less
rather
same
Well personally, Ive had some (1) ____________ experiences. For a start, I cant
agree that Moscow is (2) ____________ expensive as Hong Kong. Ive always found
Moscow (3) ____________ expensive. The price of certain items may be about the
(4) ____________ as in Hong Kong, but I know the hotels are (5) ____________ as
expensive. I agree that the Moscow Underground is really good (6) ____________ to
the London Underground and is definitely (7) ____________ more comfortable. I
always walk in London (8) ____________ than use the Underground. Also, some
other Northern European cities are (9) ____________ as expensive as Oslo. In
general, I find that prices in Sweden and Denmark are (10) ____________ to those
in Norway.
5. Make comparisons about one of the following:
your city or your country with another city or country you know well;
your company with another company in the same sector;
your present job with another job you had in the past.
Firstly,
Moreover
Also
Thirdly
Another point is that
In my opinion
TRANSLATION
Before translating a text you should decide what strategy you should take:
should you translate it right away?
do you read the entire text first?
what do you do if you do not know a word?
when you reread your translation which are the main points you focus on?
Consider accuracy, clarity, style, preserving the original meaning, stirring the
same reaction in the reader etc.
Having these strategies in mind, translate the following text into Romanian:
Most successful distance education students have done plenty of research to find the
program that is right for them. Some of the points you need to consider before
applying to a program include the following:
Do I have a place at home or at work that I can claim as my own for extended
periods of study and communication with the program? Will family members or
others around me respect my need to spend time on my own?
What are the specific educational outcomes of the program? Is earning a
degree important to me, or do I want to take just a few classes to learn a new
skill or to complete a certificate program to increase my professional status?
What are the total costs of the program? Do the fees include books, if
necessary? Are there any additional expenses I might incur?
Translate the following text into English:
Preedintele Traian Bsescu a declarat, luni, n timpul unei dezbateri privind legea
educaiei, c sistemul de educaie romnesc este unul dintre mai slabe din Europa i
cel mai slab din interiorul Uniunii Europene.
"Trebuie s plecm de la realitate, iar realitatea este c sistemul de educaie din
Romnia este unul dintre mai slabe din Europa i, ndrznesc s spun, cel mai slab
din interiorul Uniunii Europene, din punct de vedere al performanelor absolvenilor.
Acest lucru este demonstrat nu numai de analizele specialitilor, ci i de testele
europene, care s-au fcut n Romnia n perioada 2001-2006, 2007. Succesiunea
acestor teste arat o continu depreciere a calitii sistemului de educaie din
Romnia, ceea ce reclam intervenie urgent n adaptarea sistemului de educaie
romnesc la realitile economiei, la realitile competiiei, creia Romnia trebuie
s-i fac fa pentru a-i putea asigura evoluia pozitiv.
http://www.capital.ro/detalii-articole/stiri/basescu-sistemul-de-educatie-din-romania-este-unul-dintremai-slabe-din-europa-133440.html
10
OBJECTIVES
This unit will help you:
- get familiar with means of expressing opinions
- distinguish between skills and qualities
- revise and practise past simple and present perfect
- improve your letter writing skills
LEAD IN
EXPRESSING OPINIONS
1. Imagine yourselves working in a hotel, an airport or a bank. Which would
be the best place to work? Why? Which would be the worst place to
work? Why?
2. Choose one of the places. Make a list of all the different jobs people do
there.
3. Is there a job that you would be good at?
SKILLS AND QUALITIES
1. Look at the list of skills and qualities in the box.
SKILLS
computer skills
artistic skills
typing skills
language skills
driving skills
mathematical skills
telephone skills
managerial skills
interpersonal skills financial skills
QUALITIES
patient
calm
physically strong
quick-thinking
emotionally strong honest
well-organised
clean and tidy
intelligent
punctual
caring
Which of them are necessary for the jobs on your list? Discuss this with your
partner as in the example:
To be a ____________ you need to have good _____________ skills and to be
______________.
2. Can you think of some more skills and qualities needed for the jobs on
your list?
11
25
30
35
2.
3.
4.
5.
Elaine was brought up in Essex. After A-levels she worked in banking for a year
and hated it. Then, encouraged by a friend in retailing, she went to work at Harrods. I did
my training there. I was a buyer for eight years bread, patisserie, cakes before
moving into confectionary where I found my niche.
She enjoyed the challenge, the fast turnover. In 1999 she moved to Chocolate
Masters. Her basic responsibility is to develop new lines and she is in charge of both
product and packaging. This involves a lot of travel in Britain and on the Continent,
overseeing production, doing comparative shopping and visiting food fairs.
Elaine Jones
Qualifications
_________________________________________________________
Work experience
_______________________________ (1 year)
_______________________________ (8 years)
_______________________________ (since 1999)
Present responsibilities
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT
1. Put each of the following words in its correct place in the text below.
calendar
technical
requirements
class hours
college
credits
graduation
outlines
specified
subjects
major
course
curriculum
three
week
prospectus
amount
number
electives
opportunity
complete (4) _____________. It gives the (5) _____________ for entry to each
course, as well as the credits given for the (6) _____________.
Each course is designated as giving a (7) _____________ number of credits.
These are usually equal to the number of (8) _____________ devoted each week to
the course. For example, a course that meets three times a (9) _____________
usually gives (10) _____________ credits towards graduation. Schools using the
semester (11) _____________ require about 120 credits for (12) _____________.
Between 30 and 40 of the required (13) _____________ must be the student's (14)
_____________ subject.
Schools vary considerably in the (15) _____________ of freedom given
students in selecting their courses. Almost all schools have a certain (16)
_____________ of required courses called (18) _____________. Liberal-arts
colleges usually give students more (19) _____________ to choose than do (20)
_____________ schools.
2. Choose the right answer
1. When you listen to a lecture, it is useful to ... the main points.
a) clear; b) notify; c) put down; d) write on.
2. I can agree with you to a certain ..., Professor, but not entirely.
a) part; b) way; c) extent; d) level.
3. The lecture was very ... and I slept for most of it.
a) noisy; b) sleepy; c) annoying; d) boring.
4. Are you going to attend Professor's ... on the Commodity Science next week?
a) lecture; b) discussion; c) conference; d) meeting.
5. A few jokes always ... up a lecture.
a) liven; b) inspire; c) loosen; d) raise.
6. To begin the lecture, let's take an ... of the present situation.
a) overview; b) oversight; c) overtone; d) overture.
7. There is a/an ... at the back of the book giving the answers to the exercises.
a) index; b) appendix; c) key; d) reference.
8. During a lecture I always try to ... down the main points that are made.
a) note; b) jot; c) doodle; d) sketch.
9. That's what I mean. You've hit the ... on the head.
a) pin; b) nail; c) hammer; d) point.
10.It suddenly ... on me what he really meant.
a) came; b) hit; c) dawned; d) struck.
3. Match each word in column A with its definition in column B.
1) gymnasium
2) rector
3)
4)
5)
6)
c)
d)
e)
f)
charta
curriculum
budget
dean
7) investment
8) fee
of students
room/hall with equipment for physical training
head of certain universities, colleges, etc
course of study in a school, college, etc
written statement of rights, permission to do something
especially from the government to a town/city/university
g) in some universities head of a department of study
h) the act of using money to obtain income or profit
14
9) lecture
10) course
4. Fill in the gaps with the right word in the required form: to learn, to
study, to teach:
1. What subjects do you _____________ in the first year?
2. I am planning _____________ polytology next year.
3. You know much more than I do; so I cannot _____________ you.
4. The student _____________ to write with his left hand.
5. In _____________ a foreign language, it is not enough _____________ new
words, it is necessary to use them in written and oral communication.
6. I would like _____________ to ski, too.
7. Who has _____________ you to surf so well?
LANGUAGE FOCUS
REVISION
PAST SIMPLE
1. We use the past simple to refer to events that took place in the past:
A pharmacist called John Pemberton invented Coca Cola.
Did you go to Berlin last week? Yes, and I met Herr Hans.
2. We frequently use a time adverb to situate the event in finished past time:
Rolls Royce went burst in 1973.
A few years ago, the City Plaza hotel was a leader in its segment of the
market.
Some people made fortunes on the Stock Exchange during the 1980s.
3. We use the past simple in annual reports to describe the companys
performance over the last year:
Last year was a good year for our group.
Sales rose by more than 11% and we made substantial gains in market share
in a number of countries.
PRESENT PERFECT
1. We use the present perfect to say that a finished past action is relevant now:
They have developed a new brand of toothpaste.
The chairman has recently resigned.
2. We use the present perfect when we are thinking of a period of time continuing
up to the present:
For over 50years, Stirling Cars has made a classic English sports car.
Calvin Klein has been one of the leading fashion designers since the mid1970s.
3. We often use this tense to talk about our life experiences.
She has had a number of interesting jobs.
He has worked for a variety of firms.
15
PRACTICE
1. Complete the memo with the past simple or present perfect forms of the
verbs in brackets:
Memo
To: Peter Thompson
From: Marie Delacroix
Date: October 25th
Re: Counterfeiting
Im worried about the sales of the range of fragrances we (1) _____________
(launch) two years ago. In the first year, sales (2) _____________ (increase)
steadily. However, since the beginning of this year, sales (3) _____________ (fall) by
almost 10%.
The reason for this is clear. Several firms in SE Asia (4) _____________
(copy) our designs and are now flooding the French market with them. This (5)
_____________ (become) a serious problem.
Last month, I (6) _____________ (organise) a team of investigators. Up to
now, they (7) _____________ (find) many counterfeit goods, which the police (8)
_____________ (seize) and impounded. Yesterday, I (9) _____________ (contact)
several firms who (10) _____________ (inform) me that they (11) _____________
(have) similar problems. They all (12) _____________ (lose) sales because of
counterfeiting.
2. Peter Fisher is Caferomas Head of Sales. He is introducing himself and
the company to new sales recruits. Complete his speech with the past
simple or present perfect forms of the verbs in brackets.
Good morning and congratulations on becoming a member of Caferomas successful
sales team. Im Peter Fisher, Head of Sales. First, Ill introduce myself and then Ill
tell you a little bit about your new company.
I (1) _____________ (leave) university 20 years ago and then I (2) _____________
(go) to the United States. I (3) _____________ (join) Caferoma 15 years ago and (4)
_____________ (work) in the Sales Department for 10 years. I (5) _____________
(become) Head Of Sales last July and I (6) _____________ (not have) a holiday ever
since.
Caferoma (7) _____________ (be) the market leader for many years now. A year
ago we (8) _____________ (reorganise) our Sales Department and, since
November, our turnover (9) _____________ (increase) by 12% and our share price
(10) _____________ (rise) sharply because of our excellent results. In the last three
months we (11) _____________ (cut) costs by almost 5%.
Bringing us up to date, last week Caferoma (12) _____________ (launch) an
advertising campaign for a low-priced decaffeinated product. It will be your first job to
sell this product.
16
3. Read this fax sent by Nathalie Druot, a sales representative in France for
Caribcool International. Complete the fax with the correct forms of the
verbs in brackets.
CARIBCOOL INTERNATIONAL
FAX MESSAGE
To: Marten Bros. +44 132 1175
Attention: David Black
From: Nathalie Druot
th
Date: November 7
Subject: Sales trip
20 Rue de Pontoise
Paris 75005
France
Telephone: + 33 1 92 08 56 67
Fax:+ 33 1 92 08 56 68
Dear David,
Ive tried to phone you several times but have been unable to contact you. I know you
want to hear about my recent sales trip, so Im faxing you this short report.
During the trip, I (1) _____________ (visit) a number of supermarkets and
hypermarkets in Southern France where I (2) _____________ (give) presentations of
our new products. There (3) _____________ (be) a great deal of interest in our
relaunched cola drink, Gogo. I think itll be a winner over here. In Montpellier and
Bordeaux, I (4) _____________ (meet) the owners of some large retail outlets and
(5) _____________ (inform) them of our new discount policy. So far, no one (6)
_____________ (complain) about the lower discounts we are offering.
Last Saturday, I (7) _____________ (go) to Montpellier and (8) _____________
(have) an enjoyable lunch with Martine Roland one of our best customers. She
promised to buy 20 cases of Gogo, but I (9) _____________ (not receive) an order
from her yet. Ill let you know as soon as I hear from her.
In Nimes, I ran into Francois Duperrier. He (10) _____________ (have) a difficult
time lately. He (11) _____________ (leave) his last job in May and since then, he
(12) _____________ (be) unemployed. He knows the French market inside out.
Maybe he could be our area rep in the South of France. What do you think? As you
know, our sales in the South (13) _____________ (fall) by almost 10% in the last
nine months or so. This cant go on. We must do something to improve our
performance, and Im simply not able to cover the whole of France by myself.
Some good news now. Our TV commercial for Gogo was shown for the first time last
night. This morning, several people (14) _____________ (phone) me, saying how
much they liked it. They think it effective very clever and humorous! The
commercial should really boost Gogos sales and get everyone talking about the
drink.
Finally a word about my October sales report. I (15) _____________ (just finish)
writing it, so you should get it in a few days time. Sorry its a bit late.
Best wishes,
Nathalie
17
HOLIDAY JOBS!
Need to improve your English?
Want to spend some time abroad?
Short of cash?
Why not come and work for us at
Home Farm!
Youll be picking fruit and generally helping out with all the usual farm work. Well pay
you by the hour, so the harder you work, the more youll earn! Well provide a place to
sleep and all your meals.
Interested? Why not drop us a line (and a photo). Well be happy to answer any
queries.
Mr and Mrs Bull, Cold Comfort Farm, Sussex, Great Britain SU3 8TZ
Michael Dupont saw the advertisement and made these notes:
QUESTIONS TO ASK
When does the job start and finish?
Will I be the only one there?
Where exactly will I sleep?
What is the minimum rate per hour?
How many hours will I be expected to work?
Can I have a photo of the farm?
3. Scan the letter below. Do you think the farmer would be satisfied with it?
Why not? Now answer the questions.
18
Rue Vichy
Troyes
France
15 May, 200Dear Mr and Mrs Bull,
I saw your advertisement in the paper and I am very interested in working on
your farm.
Im a student and I need more practice with my English. I was hoping to
come to Great Britain but didnt want to ask my parents for money. Working for you
would be an ideal solution.
I am 18 years old and very fit. Although Ive never worked on a farm before I
have helped on a building site and I am used to working hard. Im very fond of
animals and would be happy to help with the cows and sheep if needed.
Could you please let me know how long you would want me for, how many
hours a day and what the minimum wages per hour would be. I would like to know if
there would be other students there too and where I will be sleeping.
I enclose a photo as requested. My last employer will be happy to write me a
reference, if you so wish.
I look forward to hearing from you soon,
Yours sincerely,
Michel Dupont
1. Has Michel given the information he was asked for in the advertisement? Has
he asked about all the points he noted down himself?
2. The advertisement was informal is Michels letter
a. too formal?
b. too informal?
c. just right?
3. Has Michel used clear paragraphs for each new section of the letter? How
does he show he is beginning a new paragraph?
Mr and Mrs Bull received another letter on the same day but they were not
very impressed? Why?
Paris
Tuesday, 16 May
Dear Sir/Madam,
I saw your advertisement in the newspaper and I am quite interested at the
job. Im 16, a student and I really want a holiday away from the parents. Im fit and
healthy and I adore to be outdoors. The only problem is that Im scared from cows
but I could keep away from them, I expect?
Please tell me how much I earn exactly and what there is to do in the evenings. No
discos I suppose?
My Friend Daniel, who goes to college with me, would also like a job. Could you let
me know if you need any more helpers?
19
I am sending the only photo I have at the moment, but please dont worry. My leg
would be out of plaster soon.
Please write back soon!
Regards, Didier
Didiers letter contains errors in each of the areas below. Find examples of
each type and underline them.
- structure (grammar)
- layout
- inappropriate greeting
- inappropriate ending
- paragraphing
- inappropriate language (too formal or too informal)
- inappropriate content
- style inconsistent (changes from formal to informal)
Look back to Michels letter and complete this plan.
1
OPENIN
G
4. You are interested in the job below. Write a letter giving the information
required and including any queries you have.
Do you like having fun?
Do you want to be with young people?
Can you organise sports and entertainments?
Have you had experience of camping?
Can you cook?
Volunteers Needed at
SUMMER CAMPS!
We need helpers for our youth camps in the USA
this summer.
Accommodation and modest salary provided.
Interested? Write and tell us a little about yourself. Send
your letter to
Samba Youth Camps
2214 Creek Drive Colorado USA
P.S. Need more information?
Just send us your queries with your letter and we will
write back immediately!
20
USEFUL TIPS:
Planning:
Underline the important points in the advertisement before you reply, and keep
checking back as you write to make sure you have included all the relevant points.
Paragraphing:
Remember to group your ideas into paragraphs and to start each paragraph on a
new line, preferable indented. A paragraph should normally contain more than one
sentence!
Style:
Decide how formal your letter should be before you start writing. Make sure the style
is consistent throughout your letter.
TRANSLATION
Translate the following text into Romanian:
An informal business letter is a bit more relaxed than a formal business letter, but
not relaxed enough to be casual.
Instructions:
Use writing that is breezy rather than casual. Be brief, straightforward and
logical.
Employ standard grammar, spelling and formatting rules, but relax your tone
and construction slightly.
Use contractions and conversational phrases to soften the letter.
Begin with the date, both your address and the recipient's (or just your
address) and a salutation.
Choose "Dear" over "To Whom It May Concern."
Place a comma after the salutation ("Dear Jane,") instead of a colon.
Use personal statements to make the letter less formal: "I agree with your
assessment of the highway construction project. I too commute that way."
Close with "Best," "Cheers" or "Regards," rather than "Sincerely" or "Thank
You."
Translate the following sentences into English paying attention to the use of
past simple and present perfect.
1. Ieri ne-am ntlnit i mi-a dat o carte.
2. A vorbit foarte ncet i nu am neles nimic.
3. Surorile mele tocmai au venit de la birou.
4. Am cunoscut-o pe actual mea ef n 1998.
5. Cnd l-ai vzut ultima dat?
6. Ce ora ai vizitat anul trecut cnd ai fost la conferin?
7. Ai ncercat vreodat s-l ajui?
8. Nu ne-am mai ntlnit de luni de zile, am fost foarte ocupai cu problemele de la
serviciu.
9. De cnd este plecat?
10. Subiectul este discutat de cteva sptmni i nu s-a ajuns nc la nicio
concluzie.
21
Unit 3: RECRUITMENT
OBJECTIVES
This unit will help you:
- understand how information is structured in a Curriculum Vitae
- write a Curriculum Vitae according to the commonly accepted European
criteria
- revise and practice language related to recruitment
LEAD IN
1. Try and answer the following questions:
1. How do people find work? Which are the steps they have to take?
2. When you go to a job interview, what do you have to carry along with you?
How do Americans call it? What does it contain?
10
There has been a lot of variation in the way CVs are set out over the
last few years, and indeed one still sees different formats arriving on ones
desk.
However, probably, the most common format these days, and certainly
the one I most likely like to get because you can see at a glance whether it is
worth reading the whole thing or not is the one that starts from the most
recent job and works back, giving brief, but relevant information on each.
There is a slight tendency, particularly among foreign (non-British applicants)
to go for the hard sell. By this I mean almost to boast of their accomplishments
and success in each post. But I confess I personally find it rather distasteful
and it rather puts me off. Anyway, a good CV these days should begin by
saying what it is: a CV. So, the persons name should be prominent. Then,
there should be a brief section on personal details: address, telephone
number, nationality and marital status. If you are applying for a post with a
22
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
company in another country, or for a job that requires travel or the use of one
or more foreign languages, you should add your proficiency in those
languages: fluent, if you speak a language well; intermediate if it is OK, and
basic if you can just about get by. Incidentally, if you have any nationally or
internationally recognized examination demonstrating your proficiency, it is a
good idea to mention that here (for English: one of the Cambridge Certificates
or the London Chamber of Commerce level 2 or 3 etc.).
This should be followed by a section on qualifications and training,
again, as I said earlier, beginning with the most recent and moving back, so
that I can see what you have been up to since your initial training. One difficult
thing for us in personnel when evaluating applications from abroad and we
are getting more and more is the problem of equivalences. It is of no help
whatsoever to go round putting down diplomas which only exist in your
country, unless you also put in brackets afterwards an approximate British
equivalent that I can relate to. Another bad habit I have noticed particularly
with the French, for some reason is to put down the name of what is,
presumably, some highly prestigious establishment within their own country,
on the assumption that everyone knows about it.
It was only recently, for example, that I discovered HEC was a if not
the leading French business school. Before that when I saw on a CV
diploma from HEC, my reaction was simply Oh, this person wasnt good
enough to go to a university. A related difficulty is candidates who just put the
English equivalent. I had this problem recently with a young man who claimed
he had an MBA. At interview, however, we discovered he had simply
translated Studii Aprofundate de Management (literally, a masters degree in
management science), so the excellent level of English we were expecting
from someone who had studied in the UK or the States did not materialize.
This brings me to another point; it is important to state when and where you
got a qualification.
The next section and the most important is the one on work
experience. Again, this should be in order of most recent first, so I can see
what you are doing at present and have been doing recently. For those who
are applying for their first job, it is useful to mention any periods of
occupational training you may have undertaken in a company or companies, or
any relevant summer jobs you may have had. In this section, too, just briefly, in
almost note form, list main responsibilities and successes, and so on.
Finally, we in Britain like to know something about a candidates life
outside of work, so a short final section on outside interests is always useful.
Again, for those applying for a first job, this can sometimes be a crucial
section. If you have been secretary of your local tennis club or something, it
may be the only opportunity you have had to demonstrate that you are fit for
positions of responsibility.
B
BA
2-year university diploma
A level
BSc
MBA
MA
VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT
1. Choose the most suitable answer a), b) or c):
1) Which of the following does not mean recruiting new personnel?
a) taking on
b) employing
c) dismissing
2) Which part of a Curriculum Vitae (C.V.) gives information about your past work
record?
a) Skills
b) Experience
c) Qualifications
3) Which word is a synonym for candidate?
a) applicant
b) interviewer
c) employer
4) What is a cover letter?
a) a letter from your former boss to your new employer
b) a letter that you send with your CV to apply for a job
c) a letter informing you that you have been unsuccessful at interview
5) Which word means to make a request for a job?
a) to apply
b) to hire
c) to interview
6) Out of 400 applications, 10 candidates were for interview.
a) collected
b) rejected
c) selected
7) Applicants are asked to supply from past employers.
a) qualifications
b) references
c) requests
24
group discussion
to offer sb. the/a job
to turn the/a job down
to accept the/a job
references
1. I hope she, because if she _______ the job, well have to start looking again.
2. That last applicant was very strong, but I understand hes had two other
_______ already.
3. Theyve finally _______ a new receptionist.
4. I phoned to check on my application, but they said theyd already _______
someone.
5. This job is so important, I think we need to _______ someone.
6. Computer programmers wanted. Only those with UNIX experience should
_______.
7. The selection process has lasted three months, but were going to _______
someone next week.
3. Replace the underlined phrases with correct forms of words and
expressions from the previous exercise:
Fred had already (1) refused two job offers when he went for (2) a discussion to see
if he was suitable for the job. They looked at his driving licence and contacted (3)
previous employers Fred had mentioned in his application. A few days later, the
supermarket (4) asked him if he would like the job and Fred (5) said yes.
Harry didnt hear anything for six weeks, so he phoned the company. They told him
that they had received a lot of (6) requests for the job. After looking at the life stories
of the (7) people asking for the job and looking at (8) what exams they had passed
during their education, the company (9) had chosen six people to interview, (10)
done tests on their personality and intelligence and they had then given someone the
job.
4. Insert the following words in the gaps in the text below:
applicant
apply
application
candidate
employment
agencies
job vacancies
interview
application form
curriculum vitae or CV (BE)
or resume (AE)
job description
references
short-listed
Many people looking for work read the (1) _______ advertised in newspapers by
companies and (2) _______. To reply to an advertisement is to (3) _______ for a job.
You become a (4) _______ or an (5) _______. You write an (6) _______, or fill in the
companys (7) _______, and send it, along with your (8) _______ and a covering
letter. You often have to give the names of two people who are prepared to write (9)
_______ for you. If your qualifications and abilities match the (10) _______, you
might be (11) _______, i.e. selected to attend an (12) _______
26
Practice: QUESTIONS
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
i)
j)
27
28
2.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
TRANSLATION
Translate the following text into Romanian, having in mind the tips given in the
first unit:
ScottishPower plans to create 1,500 new jobs over the next 10 years and has
invested 3bn ($4.9bn) to improve its high-voltage transmission electricity network in
Scotland.
The energy company, which is owned by Iberdrola of Spain, said the project
would include the connection of up to 5GW of renewable energy, helping Scotland
achieve its 2020 carbon reduction targets, and extensive upgrades to the electricity
grid links between England and Scotland.
Four out of five energy industry employees are set to retire over the next 15
years, and ScottishPower said it wanted to attract a new generation of workers to the
industry and was encouraging its contractors and companies in the wider supply
chain to do likewise.
The company hopes to recruit graduate engineers and apprentices over the
next decade as well as retrain under-25s into highly skilled jobs. Some of the jobs will
be completely new while others will replace people who have retired.
Alex Salmond, Scotlands first minister, said: ScottishPowers plans to
upgrade transmission will ensure the grid is capable of carrying increasing supplies
of clean green energy generated to domestic and European markets.
With [Scotlands] plans to harness up to 10GW of offshore capacity in
Scottish waters by 2020, alongside other renewable sources, it will be essential that
generators can distribute power to where it is needed.
(Financial Times, August 17, 2011)
29
30
OBJECTIVES
This unit will help you:
- understand how information is structured in an application letter
- write an application letter according to the commonly accepted rules
- revise and practice
- revise and practice language related to jobs, job application
LEAD IN
1. Try and answer the following questions about yourselves.
If you are still a student.
1. What job would you like to do in the future?
2. Do you think you have the right personal qualities and skills for the job?
3. Which of the items in the lists below would be most important in your job?
If you have a job now.
1. What job do you do?
2. Why did you choose it?
3. What sort of personal qualities and skills do you need for your job? (Some of
the words below may help you.)
1
patience
honesty
intelligence
independence
reliability
efficiency
confidence
2
humour
ambition
initiative
stamina
enthusiasm
energy
imagination
creativity
3
4
good manners good
communication
leadership
skills
qualities
a sense of
a sympathetic
humour
manner
ability to cope
ability to work
in a crisis
under pressure
2. Now make adjectives where possible from the nouns in lists 1 and 2.
3. Look at these job advertisements. Which job would you prefer? Why?
31
TOURIST
GUIDE
Do you want to work for one of the most up and coming companies in International
Tourism? Do you:
know this area well?
have experience in dealing with groups?
speak at least two languages?
We have a vacancy for a Tourist Guide.
You will need patience, hood humour and excellent communication skills. A smart
appearance is essential. Excellent prospects and salary.
Apply in writing to:
Personnel Manager, Eurotours, Granada, Spain
(Please enclose your CV)
Trainee Sales
Manager
Required
A confident, enthusiastic young person is required to train as a Sales Manager in
our foreign book sales department. You will need excellent communication skills,
plus a command of English. A smart appearance and pleasant manner are
essential. Prospects are excellent for applicants who can take responsibility and
who really want to get to the top.
Apply in writing to:
Shortman Publishing House
9, Clifton Street
Kensington,
London WC6 8LP
WORK FOR NTV RADIO!
New world service radio station is looking for
talented young people
for a variety of opportunities, both as presenters and behind the scenes.
Applicants must be imaginative, reliable and self confident.
Training will be given where required but a high degree of hard work and
commitment will be demanded in return.
Ability to keep cool in a crisis is essential!
Applicants must speak good English.
Salary negotiable, depending on experience.
Apply in writing, to:
NTV Radio, PO Box 892, London W1
4. What are all the qualities you think you would need for each of the jobs?
Make some notes under these headings:
Tourist Guide
Sales Manager
32
Radio Presenter
5 August, 200-
Personnel Manager
Eurotours
Calle Principal
Granada
10 Spain
33
Dear Sir/Madam,
15
20
25
30
35
40
3. The words in bold type are important because they help to link the text
together. They refer back to words or information given earlier in the
text. Find the words they refer to, as shown in the example.
this job (line 16) -> Tourist Guide
VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT
1. Complete each sentence from a) to j) with one ending from 1 to 10. Use
each ending once only.
a) If you work hard, the company will give you 4.
b) In a different job, I could get a higher
c) The best way to find new staff is to put a/an
d) Because he had stolen the money, we decided that
34
The building workers were paid their income / salary / wages every Friday.
Shes only here for three weeks. Its a / an full-time / overtime / temporary job.
When he retired he received a monthly bonus / pension / reward.
Apparently she earns / gains / wins over $20,000 a year.
While the boss is away, Sue will be in charge / in control / in place of the office.
Could I have two days away / off / out next week to visit my mother?
Paul was always arriving late, and in the end he was pushed / sacked / thrown.
When I left the job, I had to hand in my application / dismissal / notice three
weeks beforehand.
i) How much exactly do you do / make / take in your new job?
j) If you have to travel on company business, we will pay your costs / expenses /
needs.
3. Rewrite each sentence so that it contains the word or words given, and
so that the meaning stays the same. Do not change the words given in
any way.
1. Terry works in a different place now.
Terry has a new job now.
2. A good boss looks after everyone in the company.
3. Im sure you will learn a lot in this job.
4. This job is a good way to earn money, but thats all.
5. The firm gave me a rise after I had worked there a year.
6. The company was profitable last year.
7. I had to be interviewed at the head office.
8. My monthly salary is $1000.
9. Jill is employed by a firm of accountants.
10. We advertised the job in the paper.
JOB
EMPLOYER
EXPERIENCE
LIVING
RAISED
MADE
ATTEND
A YEAR
WORKS
PUT
35
Choosing a job
One of the most difficult decisions in choosing what to do for a (1) B. For example, do
you want to follow a definite (2) ________, and (3) ________ a low (4) ________ at
the beginning, but have good (5) ________ in a company that trains its (6)
________? Or are you more interested in taking any kind of work, because you need
a/an (7) ________? You may have to (8) ________ the fact that a good (9)
________ can be difficult to find. In that case, why not take a (10) ________ one?
You will gain some useful (11) ________. Remember that even if you have the right
(12) ________, you may have to (13) ________ lots of application forms before you
are asked to (14) ________ an interview. But dont worry if you dont know what you
want to (15) ________ exactly. Youll enjoy finding out!
1. A) salary
2. A) company
3. A) earn
4. A) money
5. A) hopes
6. A) employers
7. A) money
8. A) face up to
9. A) work
10. A) temporary
11. A) experiences
12. A) qualifications
13. A) fall through
14. A) be
15. A) work
B) living
B) training
B) gain
B) profit
B) prospects
B) crew
B) cash
B) go over
B) labour
B) overtime
B) experienced
B) exams
B) get on
B) attend
B) job
C) employee
C) business
C) win
C) cheque
C) futures
C) staff
C) account
C) come up with
C) job
C) profitable
C) experience
C) letters
C) turn down
C) make
C) do
D) work
D) career
D) take
D) salary
D) promotions
D) persons
D) income
D) call off
D) seat
D) short
D) experiencing
D) degrees
D) fill in
D) advertise
D) employ
Have you got any letters for me? (I don't know the answer.)
Can/CouId I have some more tea, please?
much and many
Much is used for uncountables and many is used for countables. They are
used mainly in questions and negatives.
How much money have we got?
There isn't much water here.
How many chairs are there?
There aren't many cushions.
Materials
Materials are uncountable
Wood burns easily
Words for materials often have a countable meaning.
Problems with uncountables
Some words are uncountable grammatically, although we might not expect
this. Examples are:
advice, hair, knowledge, spaghetti, English (language), health, luggage, travel,
furniture, information, machinery, weather
A singular verb is used:
His advice was very useful.
French is difficult.
A/an cannot be used.
Could I have some information?
Do you have any luggage?
Alternatives: a/some
Some uncountable words have a different meaning with a/an or some.
a fish (the animal)
some fish (a portion of food)
a loaf
some bread (the material)
a coffee (a cup of coffee) some coffee (the material)
a paper (a newspaper)
some paper (the material)
a wood (a small forest)
some wood (the material)
an iron (for pressing clothes) some iron (the material)
a glass (for drinking)
some glass (the material)
Alternatives: with a/an or s plural
Some uncountable words usually with zero article have a different meaning
with a/an or s plural.
I can't stand noise. (in general)
I heard a strange noise. I keep hearing noises. (specific)
Nouns ending -ing usually have a general meaning and are uncountable, but
some also have countable meanings.
Do you like drawing/painting? (in general)
I bought a painting/a drawing last week. (specific)
Some nouns change meaning with a/an but cannot have s plural.
Education is very important. (in general)
Diana had a very good education. (her time at school)
Knowledge can be dangerous! (in general)
A knowledge of boats is useful. (knowing about a subject)
Other problems
37
PRACTICE
1. Choose the correct word or phrase underlined in each sentence:
1. How much / How many spaghetti have we got?
2. Where is / are my new trousers?
3. I put some / any chocolate somewhere, but where is it?
4. Peter went to buy a / some glass so he could fix the broken windows.
5. Im afraid we havent got much / many time.
6. The news is / are on at 9.00.
7. How much / How many furniture shops are there?
8. Ive found the milk but I cant find a / some glass.
9. Could you give me some / any orange juice, please?
10.Marys advice was / were not very useful.
2. Put one word in each space. Put a dash (-) if the space should be blank.
1. My trousers need ironing. Have you got _____ iron?
2. Could you go to the bakers a buy _____ loaf, please?
3. Id like _____ information about trains to Paris.
4. Tina has _____ very good health.
5. The war ended _____ years ago.
6. Jane isnt very good at _____ drawing.
7. Harry didnt have _____ very good education.
8. Vanessa bought _____ paper and read it on the bus.
9. Could you give me _____ advice, please?
10. Do you know _____ people in this village?
3. Choose the most suitable word underlined:
1. Id love to go on a long journey/travel by train.
2. Whats the latest news? Can I look at your paper/journal?
3. I want to know about trains to Leeds. Can you give me a / an information /
timetable?
4. Heres your ticket. Do you have any luggage/suitcase?
38
Knowledge of area
Mum Spanish
Holidays -
Andalucia
Languages
Sp & Fr
classes in German
Past experience
Smiths Travel Agency
- telephone and holiday
bookings
letter
References
patience
good humour
Training / Qualifications
Diploma London Univ.
Training courses
Present job
courier here in England
-guiding & booking
b. Write a letter of application for one of the jobs advertised at the beginning of
this unit.
39
TRANSLATION
Translate the following text into Romanian:
When you apply for a job you are typically asked to complete an employment
application. You may be asked to complete a job application even if you have already
submitted a resume and cover letter. That way, the employer has a record of your
personal and employment history, verified and signed by the applicant.
It's important for your job applications to be complete, correct (no errors) and
accurate. Here is the information you will need to complete an application for
employment and tips and suggestions for writing applications that make a great
impression.
Regardless of whether you complete an online job application or apply inperson, make sure you have all information you need ready before you apply for a
job.
(http://jobsearch.about.com/cs/jobapplications/a/jobapplication.htm)
40
OBJECTIVES
This unit will help you:
- understand how information is structured in a summary
- write a short argumentative essay based on the topic of the unit
- revise and practice language related to work and motivation
LEAD IN
Which words do the following sentences define?
1. To inspire, to induce, to give a reason or incentive for someone to do
something.
A. motivate
B. promote
C. provoke
2. A person employed by someone else, working for money.
A. earner
B. employee
C. employer
3. Relations between employers, managers and workers, management and
unions.
A. human relations
B. labour relations
C. labour unions
4. Having control of something as part of your job.
A. command
B. power
C. responsibility
5. Money paid (per hour or day or week) to manual workers.
A. earnings
B. salary
C. wages
6. A fixed regular payment made by employers, usually monthly for professional
or office work.
A. earning
B. salary
C. wages
7. Advantages that come with a job, apart from wages or salary.
A. benefits
B. profits
C. supplements
8. To be raised to a higher rank or better job.
A. motivation
B. promotion
C. sales promotion
9. Knowing that there is little risk of losing ones job.
A. bureaucracy
B. job safety
C. job security
10. Having particular abilities, acquired by training.
A. educated
B. skilled
C. talented
41
job security
a challenging, interesting
creative job
responsibility
contact with people
opportunities to travel
holidays
and
Are there any other important factors that are not listed here?
5. Another well-known theorist of the psychology of work, Frederick Herzberg,
has argued that many of the featured listed above do not in fact motivate
people. Read the following text and find out why.
SATISFIERS AND MOTIVATORS
It is logical to suppose that things like good labour relations, good working
conditions, good wages and benefits, and job security motivate workers. But in Work
and the Nature of Man, Frederick Hertzberg argued that such conditions do not
motivate workers. They are merely satisfiers or, more importantly, dissatisfiers
where they do not exist. Motivators, on the contrary, include things such as having a
challenging and interesting job, recognition and responsibility, promotion, and so on.
However, even with the development of computers and robotics, there are
and always will be plenty of boring, mindless, repetitive and mechanical jobs in all
three sectors of the economy, and lots of unskilled people who have to do them.
So how do managers motivate people in such jobs? One solution is to give
them some responsibilities, not as individuals but as part of a team. For example,
some supermarkets combine office staff, the people who fill the shelves, and the
people who work on the checkout tills into a team and let them decide what product
lines to stock, how to display them every couple of hours, as doing four different
repetitive jobs a day is better than doing only one. Many people now talk about the
importance of a companys shared values or corporate culture, with which all the
company can identify: for example, being the best hotel chain, or hamburger
restaurant chain, or airline, or making the best, the safest, the most user-friendly, the
most ecological or the most reliable products in a particular field. Such values are
more likely to motivate workers than financial targets, which ultimately only concern a
few people. Unfortunately, there is only a limited number of such goals to go round,
and by definition, not all the competing companies in an industry can seriously claim
to be the best.
43
6. Read the text again and complete the following sentences using your own
words as much as possible.
1. Hertzberg suggested that good labour relations and working conditions
2. According to Herzberg, the kind of things that motivate
3. The problem with saying that only challenging, interesting and responsible
jobs are motivating is that
4. Ways of motivating people in unskilled jobs include
5. The problem with trying to motivate workers by the belief that their company is
the best is that
VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT
1. Complete each sentence with a word formed from the word given.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
i)
j)
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
i)
j)
3. Complete each sentence with a word from the box. The words can be
used more than once.
business
job
living
work
3. They worked very hard and now they have their own _______.
4. There are still two million people without _______.
5. Some _______-men came and dug a hole in the road outside.
6. The cost of _______ has risen greatly over recent years.
7. Stop interfering! This is none of your _______.
8. Lucy has got a very good _______ in an international company.
9. I cant come out tonight. Ive got too much _______ to do.
10. An early _______ by Picasso was sold for $2,000,000.
Plurals: Dogs are not allowed in this shop. (Compare: The dogs next door
bark all night. Here we are referring to some particular dogs, not to dogs in
general.)
Uncountables: Milk is good for you. (Compare: The milk on the top shelf is
fat-free.)
This group includes:
War is a terrible thing.
Abstract ideas
Food and drink I love chocolate. I don't like orange juice.
Spanish is spoken by about 300 million people.
Languages
This chair is made of plastic and leather.
Materials
Speaking is not permitted during the examination.
Verbal Nouns
Buildings and purpose
Zero article is used with certain buildings when their purpose is important.
Jim is in prison (He committed a crime. - Compare: My company is repairing
the prison.)
Words of this type are:
- be in or go to: hospital, prison, bed, class, court
- be at or go to: work, school, university, sea
- others - be at home, go home
Countries, states and cities
Zero article is used with most countries.
Marie comes from France.
Countries which are a group or plural have a definite article.
We left the Netherlands and crossed to the United Kingdom.
Note that Great Britain has zero article.
Zero article is used with most states and cities.
Los Angeles is in California.
45
Streets
Zero article is used with most streets.
I bought this dress from a shop in Bond Street.
Definite article the is used in the High Street.
Buildings
Zero article is used with names of buildings preceded by place names.
We visited Blenheim Palace and Coventry Cathedral.
The is generally used when there is a phrase after the noun, often with of,
which adds more information.
We visited the Palace of Westminster.
Names of people
Zero article is used with names, bur the is used with titles.
Carol Parker is the Minister of Communications.
Meals
Zero article is used with meals when we refer to them in general.
Dinner is at 7.30.
(Compare: At the end of the conference there was a dinner.
The dinner they serve here is really fantastic.)
Geographical features
Zero article is used with geographical areas, lakes, mountains and islands.
We visited Lake Victoria. It's in East Africa.
They climbed Mt. Everest in record time.
Helen spent her holidays on Crete.
General historical references
I'd like to have lived in Prehistoric Europe/Ancient Rome.
Transport
Zero article is used with by for general forms of transport.
We went there by car. (Compare: We went there in a really old car.)
Note that we say on foot.
The Indefinite Article: a/an
A/an refers to one thing, or to something indefinite or not described.
I've got a brother and a sister. (not two)
Tim works in a factory. (not described)
Compare: Tim works in the factory down the road.
General descriptions
An ocelot is a wild animal, similar to a leopard.
Descriptions often use plurals.
Ocelots are wild animals, similar to leopards.
A/an are used when we describe the job or the character of a person.
46
Peter is a fool
Mary is an engineer.
The Definite Article: the
The refers to something definite or described.
We often use the when we refer to something already mentioned.
We saw a good film last night. It was the new film by Berghini.
Reference with of
The film was about the love of a girl for her cat.
Compare: Love is a wonderful thing!
Other references
The war between the two countries lasted for six weeks.
Compare: War is a terrible thing.
Unique objects and known references. Definite article the is used with
objects which are unique.
How many astronauts have landed on the moon?
The is used when the context is known, and we understand what is meant.
Where's the newspaper?
Groups. Definite article the is used with nationalities and other groups.
I really admire the Italians.
Classes. Definite article the is used with adjectives to describe groups.
The old, the sick and the unemployed need our special care.
Other uses
PRACTICE
1. Put a/an or the in each space or leave the space blank ().
1. Is that _____ present Bill gave you for _____ Christmas?
2. We went by _____ train to _____ west of England.
3. _____ people who live in _____ are called _____ Dutch.
4. _____ judge sent me to prison for _____ ten years.
5. _____ Columbus was one of _____ first people to cross _____ Atlantic.
6. As _____ Captain of the ship, I have _____ complete authority.
7. David learned to play _____ violin when he was at _____ university.
8. _____Trafalgar Square is near _____ Charing Cross Station.
9. Did you read _____ book I lent you _____ last week?
10. Well put up _____ shelves and then go to _____ pub for _____ drink.
47
TRANSLATION
Translate the following text into Romanian:
Nothing stops a conversation like the words, "I really love my job." It's not rude
or controversial, and it doesn't violate any social norms. It is just a conversational
rarity. Like "I despise baby bunny rabbits." Or, "I wish I had fewer handbags." It's just
not seen as normal'.
The sad fact is that while people may take jobs that they think they will get
some satisfaction from, more often than not going to work becomes less about
personal enjoyment and achievement, and increasingly about paying the bills. Some
may have absolutely loved their well-paid job in the beginning, but now feel trapped
48
by the lifestyle commitments it has afforded, and would rather give it all up to go sell
coconuts from a beach hut in Bali, if only there were free schooling and satellite TV
included. Others know from the start that their new job is not one that is going to set
their soul on fire, but what is the alternative?
http://www.albawaba.com/editorchoice/are-you-suffering-career-fatigue-391261
Translate the following sentences into English paying attention to the correct
use of articles:
1. Cnd l-am cunoscut era nc student.
2. O oarecare domnioar Brown vrea s-i vorbeasc.
3. Mama mea a fost secretar, dar acum a devenit contabil.
4. Nu am putut discuta cu seful meu deoarece era grbit.
5. Ce pcat c nu putei participa la interviu.
6. Managerii ar trebui s fie consultai mai des atunci cnd acionarii iau decizii
importante,
7. Nu tiu ct ctigi tu pe lun, dar acum ai avea prilejul s fii bogat.
8. Spre deosebire de Olanda, Marea Britanie nu a adoptat nc moneda euro.
49
OBJECTIVES
This unit will help you:
- understand different types of businesses, specific to the British economic
system
- distinguish between a memo and a letter
- revise and practice language related to companies
- write a short essay debating the importance of private companies for a
countrys economy
LEAD IN
1. Try and answer the following questions:
50
3. In the text above, the phrase limited liability has been used. How many
times? Which line/s? What do you think it means?
4. Do you know which of the organisations (enterprises) listed below are
privately and which are publicly owned? Can you supply examples for
some of these types of organisation?
multinational company
limited partnership
local government departments
sole proprietor
central government departments
Ownership
Profit-and-loss
responsibility
Public
availability
of
accounts
Day-to-day
management of
business
responsibility
Finance
Examples
Sole traders
Partnership
Private
limited
company
Public
limited
company
Private ownership
1. Sole traders
These are businesses which are owned by a private person who uses its
own money to run the business. Consequently, the sole trader is entitled to all the
profits, but he must also bear any losses which are incurred. A sole trader has no
legal obligation to make his accounts publicly available; and he is responsible for
the day to day management of the business. Examples of sole traders are small
shopkeepers, jobbing builders, plumbers and hairdressers.
2. Partnership
These are unincorporated associations and the legal rules which govern them
were established in the Partnership Act of 1890. The association or partnership does
not have a separate existence from its members, the number of which ranges from
51
two to twenty. The partners provide the organisation, and the profits and losses will
normally be shared in an agreed proportion depending on the individuals
contribution to the partnership. The partners agree on the day-to-day running of the
business: some members can be sleeping partners, in that they do not take part in
the daily operations. Partners have unlimited liability: each partner is jointly liable
with the other partners for any debts. Like sole traders, there is no obligation for the
partners to publish their accounts. Well-known examples of partnership occur in the
professions such as solicitors, accountants and estate agents. But partnerships can
be formed by any group of people carrying on business with a view of making a
profit; consequently, partnerships are found in all types of trade and business
activity.
3. Private limited companies
This type of organisation is a corporation incorporated by the Companies Act
1948-85. The number of members can range from two to fifty and they provide the
financial resources for the undertaking. Membership of the company is restricted to
private individuals: members of the general public cannot buy shares in a private
limited company. The profits are distributed to the members as dividends on their
shareholding. Losses are borne by the company. The day-to-day management of the
company is carried out by a board of directors. Private limited companies are often
local family businesses and are common in the building, retailing and clothing
industries.
4. Public limited companies
Public limited liability companies, despite their name, are the best known form of
private company. They are corporations and obtain their share capital from members
of the public. They are similar to private limited companies in that profits are
distributed as dividends to shareholders and liability of members is restricted to their
shareholdings. Any losses are borne by the company. Management of the company
is conducted by a board of directors, who are responsible to the shareholders.
Most industries include public limited companies and many of them, by
developing a corporate image, have become household names: Barclays, RowntreeMackintosh, Tate & Lyle, EMI, Beecham, Ford and Courtaulds are public limited
companies.
Some public limited companies have developed into massive organisations such
that a few private corporations are as large as some sovereign states.
5. Match each type of organisation with the type of economic activity it is
engaged in:
TYPE OF
ORGANISATION
1. public limited liability
company
2. public corporation
3. central government
departments
4. partnership
5.
(limited)
private
company
6. multinational company
7.
local
government
departments
8. sole proprietor
activities
h. medium-sized or small organisations,
wholesalers, manufacturing, transport
building,
VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT
1. Fill in the blanks with words from the box below:
(a) sole trader/proprietorship
(b) private limited company
(c) partnerships
(d) joint venture
(e) multinational
(f) holding
(g) public limited company
(h) subsidiary
(i) franchise
1) A ... (Ltd. Co. / LLC) cannot offer its shares or debentures to the general public.
Nor can shares be transferred between members without the consent of the other
shareholders.
2) A ... or parent company owns more than half the share capital of another
company which is known as a ...
3) A ... is a private individual who runs a one-man business. He/she takes all the
profits but also all the risks.
4) A ... (MNC) is a business organization which owns or controls production or
services outside the country in which it is based.
5) A ... (PLC) must have a minimum nominal share capital of 50,000. Shares can
be freely bought and sold by members of the public.
6) There are different kinds of ... but they are all associations of two or more people
sharing the risks and the profits in agreed proportions.
7) A ... is an agreement by which a company gives another company/ person (the
franchisee) the right to sell goods or services using the franchiser's name in
return for a royalty.
8) A ... consists in the pooling of resources of two or more companies in a common
undertaking in which each partner contributes assets and shares risks.
2. Match the following terms with their correct explanations:
(a) authorised capital
(b) debentures
(c) working capital
(d) share capital
6. The part of the capital of a company that arises from the issue of shares.
7. A share in a company yielding a fixed interest rather than a variable dividend.
8. The distribution of part of the earnings of a company to its shareholders.
3. Put each of the following words in its correct place in the passage
below:
Industry
(1) produce
(5) natural resources
(9) plants
(2) shipyards
(6) slump
(10) import
(3) products
(7) economy
(11) markets
(4) export
(8) boom
The health of a big, developed countrys (a) (7) depends largely on its industry.
Factories have to keep busy. They must (b) __________ and sell their (c)
__________ in large quantities. (d) __________ must make and sell ships, car (e)
__________ must make and sell cars. A period of industrial success, when
everything goes well and large profits are made is called a (f) __________. On the
other hand, a period when there is not much industrial activity is called a (g)
__________. To maintain a high level of production is not simple. For example,
Japan, a very successful industrialised country, has very few (h) __________ such
as oil or coal, and has to (i) __________ them from other countries in order to keep
its industries going, and thus to supply needs at home and also to (j) __________ its
goods to its overseas (k) __________.
Agriculture
(1) livestock
(6) harvest
(2) crops
(7) irrigate
(3) agricultural
(8) self-sufficient
(4) dams
(9) fertile
(5) fertilizers
(10) farmers
A country which wishes to be (a) 8 in food will encourage its (b) __________ to
produce as much as possible so that it will not be dependent on food imports. If there
is not much rain, (c) __________ must be built on rivers to provide water to (d)
__________ the land. If the land is not naturally rich, chemical (e) __________ must
be used to make it (f) __________. Then (g) __________ (of wheat, rice etc) will
grow, the (h) __________ will be good, and in addition the (i) __________ (cattle,
sheep etc) will have grass to eat. If this does not happen, the (j) __________ sector
of the countrys economy will suffer and the country will have to import food from
abroad.
4. The following phrases are from a letter and a memo. They are all mixed
up. Put them in the correct order.
1) I have asked the Secretarial
Supervisor to come and speak to you
and she may wish to arrange a later
demonstration for her staff.
54
4) Dear Ms Devereux,
12) V.E.
memo
6
letter
IF CLAUSE
Present Tense Simple
MAIN CLAUSE
Present Tense Simple
If we walk so slowly,
Dac vom merge aa de ncet
we will be late.
vom ntrzia.
Present Conditional
(would + Infinitive)
2
If I had a helicopter
Past Conditional
(would + have + Past Participle)
VALUE
- true, real
-possible,
achievable
- imaginary,
hypothetical
- impossible
condition,
past
hypothetical
Practice
1. Choose the correct word or phrase underlined in each pair.
1. If were / we would be late for class, our teacher will be / was angry.
2. If we lived / would live on another planet, wed see / we will see the Earth in the
sky.
3. If we take / will take a taxi, well arrive / we arrived sooner.
4. If we dont hurry / wont hurry, well be / we would be late.
5. If we were / are birds, we would be able to / are able to fly.
6. If you dont wear / wouldnt wear your pull over, youll feel / you felt cold.
7. If I studied /will study harder, I would get / get better marks.
8. If I had / have a motorbike, Id ride / I rode it to school.
9. If you lend / will lend me your bike, Ill let / I let you borrow my skateboard.
10. If I had / would have lots of money, Id give / I gave some to all my friends.
2. Complete each sentence a) to j) with an ending from 1) to 10).
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
i)
j)
56
2. I cant understand what he sees in her! If anyone treats / will treat / treated me like
that, I am / will be / would be extremely angry!
3. If you help me / helped me with this exercise, I will do / would do the same for you
one day.
4. According to the timetable, if the train leaves / left on time, we will / would arrive at
5.30.
5. If it is / it will be fine tomorrow, we go / will go to the coast.
6. If we find / found a taxi, we will get / would get there before the play starts.
7. Its quite simple really. If you take / will take / took these tablets every day, then
you lose / will lose / lost / would lose weight.
8. I dont like this flat. I think I am / I will be Id be happier if I live / will live / would live
in a house in the country.
9. I dont know how to play basketball, but Im sure that if I will / do / did, I play / will
play / would play a lot better than anyone in this awful team!
10.If I phone / will phone / phoned you tonight, are you / will you be / would you be
in?
5. Choose the most suitable tense.
1. Why didnt you tell me? If you told / had told me, I had helped / would have
helped you.
2. If Bill didnt steal / hadnt stolen the car, he wasnt / wouldnt be / hadnt be in
prison now.
3. If Ann wasnt driving / didnt drive / hadnt driven so fast, her car didnt crash /
wouldnt crash / wouldnt have crashed into a tree.
4. Let me give you some advice. If you smoked / would smoke / had smoked less,
you didnt feel / wouldnt feel / wouldnt have felt so tired.
5. What bad luck! If Alan didnt fall / hadnt fallen / wouldnt fall over, he won / would
win / would have won the race.
6. If you invited / had invited me last week, I was able / had been able / would have
been able to come.
7. Im sure your letter hasnt arrived yet. If it came / had come Im sure I noticed /
had noticed / would have noticed it.
8. We have a suggestion to make. How do you feel / would you feel if we offered /
would offer / had offered you the job of assistant manager?
9. If you lent / had lent us the money, we paid / would pay / had paid you back next
week.
10.Terry never catches anything when he goes fishing. And if he catches / caught /
had caught a fish, he throws / would throw it back.
57
TRANSLATION
Translate the following text into Romanian:
Business Corporation
Of all types of companies, the business corporation is the most complex type.
Whenever a business corporation is incorporated or registered with the government,
a new separate entity is created. This is distinct from the owners and therefore
irrespective of the personal financial condition of all shareholders, the organization
continues to function until dissolved. The shareholders, or owners, decide and elect
directors who form necessary policies and rules for the proper functioning of the
organization. Various managers and officers are appointed by these directors who
actually control the daily on goings of the organization. There are numerous legal
formalities like approvals and meetings which need to be adhered to by corporations.
There are basically 4 types of business corporations - General Corporation, Close
Corporation, S Corporation and Non-profit corporation. With basics remaining same,
there are a few differences in terms of number of share holders and profit sharing
polices, which separate them from each other.
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/types-of-companies.html
Translate the following sentences into English paying attention to the use of
conditionals:
1. Dac i vei face datoria, vor fi mulumii.
2. Dac ne-am fi oprit acolo, am fi ajuns napoi foarte trziu.
3. Nu ar fi fost concediat, dac ceilali angajai l-ar fi susinut.
4. Dac l vei ntreba ce nseamn pentru el s fie patron, nu i va da un rspuns
prompt.
5. Dac ai lua un revist economic, ai gsi probabil un numr de cuvinte pe care nu
le nelegi.
6. Dac din ntmplare nu voi veni la timp, nu m atepta.
7. Dac a fi n locul tu, a face orice mi-ar spune.
8. Dac a fi fost att de obosit, mi-a fi luat cteva zile de concediu.
9. n caz c m-ar fi cutat, secretara i-ar fi comunicat c nu sunt la birou.
10. S fi tiut ce m ateapt, nu m-a fi angajat acolo.
58
OBJECTIVES
This unit will help you:
- understand text organisation
- distinguish between various types of managers
- revise and practice language related to business
- write an informal letter
LEAD IN
1. Thinking of starting a business? First take a clear-headed look at yourself to
see if you have got what it takes. Try and answer the following questions:
What qualities and skills would you need in a business venture?
What kind of difficult situations would there be?
2. Read the following Self-Analysis Questionnaire (Parts A and B). Answer the
questionnaire individually. Mark (tick), (cross) or ? (dont know) to give
a true picture of your entrepreneurial strengths and weaknesses. Compare
the results with the answers given for the questions in exercise 1.
A. Personal Characteristics
Yes ()/ No ()/ I dont know (?)
1. Can you lead and motivate people?
2. Do you like to make your own decisions?
3. Do people ask you for help in making decisions?
4. Do you enjoy competition?
5. Do you have willpower and self discipline?
6. Can you plan ahead?
7. Do you like people?
8. Do you get along well with others?
9. Do you enjoy taking risks?
10. Do you strongly believe that your future and success depend on you and
your abilities?
B. Personal Strains
11. Are you willing to work up to 16 hours a day, six or seven days a week?
12. Do you have the physical stamina to handle the workload and schedule?
13. Do you have the emotional strength to withstand the strain?
14. Are you prepared to temporarily lower your living standard until your
business is firmly established?
15. Is your family prepared to go along with the strains they, too, must bear?
16. Are you prepared to lose your savings?
59
Discuss and compare results in groups, then with the entire class. The more YES-es
ticked, the more successful youll be in starting your business.
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
difference between what you own and what you owe (called net worth), and so
on. As an entrepreneur, you are taking many risks, but the profit you expect to
45 make is your incentive for taking those risks. For example, if you spend part of
your savings to pay for advertising and equipment, you are taking a risk. You
may not get enough business to cover these costs.
Whenever you buy a special part for a job, you are taking a risk. Suppose
you do the work and your customer never pays you. You are even taking a risk
50 with the time you spend. You are using time to think about what you will do, to
write ads, to set up the bookkeeping, and so on. This time is an opportunity cost.
You could have used it to do something else, including work for someone for a
wage. If you work for someone else, you take only the risk of not being paid,
which is usually small. As an entrepreneur your risks are great, but so are the
55 potential rewards.
2. Using words from the text that you have already read, try and fill in the
following summary:
People who want to start their own businesses are regarded as (1) _____________.
The first step in starting a new business is to (2) _____________. Along with the
desire to be one's own boss, most people are motivated by the hope of gaining (3)
_____________ from the business. The second step involves gathering the (4)
_____________ and then choosing the most suitable form of (5) _____________.
New business owners must learn all they can about the laws, regulations, and tax
codes that apply to their operation. Every business involves four elements. Through
(6) _____________, owners let others know about the business and the services
offered. Once customers know a business, information spreads by (7)
_____________. As the business grows, there will be more (8) _____________
incurred for supplies, raw materials, equipment, and so on. In time, an owner will
want to have an (9) _____________ of replacement parts to make the business more
efficient. State and federal tax laws require that an owner keep (10) _____________
for every expenditure. (11) _____________ will enable an owner to keep track of all
transactions related to the business. Together with specialized software, a computer
can help maintain business files. Finally, an entrepreneur needs to be aware of the
(12) _____________ of starting a business and balance them against the potential
(13) _____________.
VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT
1. Match the words on the left with their definitions on the right. The first
match has been done for you.
1. business (h)
2. a business
3. employer
4. entrepreneurship
5. employee
6. stock
7. turnover
8. revenue
9. fixed assets
10. working capital
Dora earns / gains / wins more money in her job than I do.
The factory workers asked for a rise in their income / reward / wages.
Paul borrowed / lent / loaned some money from me but didnt pay it back.
Im sorry, but we dont accept credit cards, only cash / coins / money.
Is it all right if I pay with credit card / by credit card / from credit card?
We dont exchange goods unless you still have the bill / cheque / receipt.
Im afraid Ive got only a $50 note. Do you have change / money / rest?
I still debt / owe / own the bank more than $5000.
(c) failing
(f) successful
You should set realistic objectives for your business and develop appropriate (1) d to
achieve them. These objectives must be compatible with your personal ambitions
and values. Most (2) __________ strategies tend to be simple and concentrate on
the businesss strengths while building an (3) __________ defence against its
weaknesses. An over-elaborate strategy which prevents management form
concentrating on the key issues is a common (4) __________. So too is failing to
define the true nature of your business and its markets. For example, does a
manufacturer of home computers serve the market for personal computers or that for
executive toys?
Price strategy will be a key (5) __________ for the new business. It is surprising how
often new companies underprice their products. It is generally unwise to choose a
strategy involving high volumes of (6) __________ products. In addition to the
manufacturing and distribution problems which could arise, you will be vulnerable to
attack from an established competitor by sustained price cutting.
62
4. Fill in the missing words in the letters below. Choose from the following:
(a) appreciate
(f) faithfully
(k) Regarding
(b) ask
(g) grateful
(l) regret
(e) enclose
(j) receiving
(o) writing
63
Practice:
1. Find noun combinations in the text from READING
COMPREHENSION. Write them under the following four headings:
s possessive
one
noun
used
as
adjective
phrases
of
with
64
AND
compound
nouns forming
one word
65
TRANSLATION
1. Translate the following text into Romanian.
India is becoming an easier place to do business and starting a business,
according to a World Bank report doing business 2011, but only incrementally. The
country climbed one place in the global rankings to become the 134th easiest place
to do business globally, far behind China which was placed at 79th position in the
same rankings.
An entrepreneur starting out in India needs to go through 12 procedures, all of
which can take up to 29 days complete.
So it comes as no surprise then that only 10 per cent of alumnae from the
Indian Institute of Management - Ahmedabad, the countrys top business school,
have taken to starting their own businesses.
Entrepreneurs in India find it easier to establish themselves in services than
manufacturing. We are not doing enough to encourage entrepreneurs, setting up is
not easy. Regulations need to be simplified for entrepreneurs, Pankaj Chandra,
Director of the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore told Financial Times.
But while the business environment remains difficult for start-ups, it is getting
better.
http://blogs.ft.com/beyond-brics/2011/06/03/india-where-are-theentrepreneurs/#ixzz1XM8QwDz0
2. Translate the following text into English.
Nu eti mulumit cu locul tu de munc actual, i urti seful, crezi c ai putea
face mai mult sau pur i simplu ai nevoie de o suplimentare a veniturilor pentru a-i
dezvolta un stil de via mai bun, ca i ali mii de oameni n fiecare zi, s-ar putea s fii
printre cei care se gndesc la pornirea unei afaceri. Problema este ca cei mai muli
oameni doar se gndesc la acest lucru in loc s ntreprind ceva in acest sens.
n condiiile actuale de criz financiar, recesiune economic, concedieri si
disponibilizri colective, poate nceperea unei afaceri ar putea reprezenta o soluie.
tiu c poate suna a clieu c n orice criz este o oportunitate, dar eu cred c n
fiecare om exist un izvor de inspiraie. Persoanele care au reuit in via sunt de
fapt cei care au transformat decizia de a-i schimba viaa n realitate, acionnd n
acest sens.
http://bizcafe.ro/articole/nu-te-gandi-sa-incepi-o-afacere-fa-o.html
66