Luke Prodromou
Lucia Bellini
FLASH on English for COMMERCE
Second Edition
Luke Prodromou
Lucia Bellini
FLASH on English for COMMERCE
Series
Unit Topic
1 5 2 6 3 7 8 4
Vocabulary Skills
Business areas
Aspects of marketing People in marketing
Language of job adverts and applications CVs
Reading: a questionnaire; a description of aspects of business English
Phone language Fixing appointments
Language of business correspondence
Types of business model Company organisation
Reading: a description of the market; a description of globalisation
Listening: a discussion on globalisation
Writing: a text in favour of or against globalisation
Making and replying to enquiries
Making and replying to orders
Reading: online and newspaper job adverts, CVs
Listening: job interviews
Writing: a job application; a CV
Speaking: a job interview
Listening: phone calls – taking messages, making arrangements; discussions to reach agreement
Speaking: phone calls – taking messages, making arrangements; discussions to reach agreement
Writing: memos
Reading: business emails
Writing: business emails
Listening: an email dictation
Invoices and payment terms and conditions
Transport terms and conditions
Reading: descriptions of different business models; an article about career development
Listening: a discussion about a business organisation; a description of company organisation
Writing: summary of an article
Speaking: presentation of business organisations
Reading: enquiry emails and replies; email orders and replies
Writing: enquiry emails and replies; email orders and replies; order forms
Listening: business conversations; conversations about orders
Reading: invoices, airway bills, bank transfer documents
Writing: invoices, airway bills, bank transfer documents
Listening: completing a transport document
Speaking: summarising information about payment documents
Unit Topic
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Placing Orders
Vocabulary Skills
Terms related to insurance
Different types of orders
Legal terms related to trade
Reading: texts about insurance, business insurance, marine insurance
Listening: five people talking about insurance
Speaking: pairwork about the importance of insurance for international trade
Reading: texts about different types of orders
Listening: phone orders
Speaking: a role play to place orders
Aspects of marketing Characteristics of adverts
Reading: descriptions of the World Trade Organisation and the EU; extracts from EU directives and UK laws
Writing: a text about EU safety directives
Listening: a discussion about protectionism and tariffs
Speaking: an argument in favour of or against protectionism
Reading: texts about aspects of marketing; market research questionnaire; internet and press adverts
Writing: consumer profiles
Listening: a talk about marketing; a talk about advertising
Speaking: presenting a consumer profile
Terms related to advertising
Reading: the purpose of advertising; effective advertising; advertising media
Listening: a manager talking about creating an effective ad
Speaking: a discussion about questions and opportunities
Different types of banks
Reading: types of banks
Speaking: a presentation about central banks
Terms related to trading stocks and shares
Describing graphs
Reading: a text about the Stock Exchange; stock market tables, pie charts, bar charts, line graphs, pictograms
Writing: description of graphs
Listening: talk about the stock market, a description of sales activity
Speaking: describing graphs
What is Business English? 1
In a short time you may be studying Business English at school. But do you know exactly what it is?
1 Read the questionnaire below and tick (3) the best answers for you.
Yes No Don’t know
Business English:
1 is a list of words that are used in finance and commerce.
2 is a language used in banking.
3 refers to economic issues.
4 is useful when you work with English-speaking people.
5 is the language used in written correspondence.
6 is useful if you want to find a job abroad.
7 includes all aspects of buying and selling.
8 is the language used in marketing.
9 is important to understand economic issues.
10 requires a good knowledge of basic grammar.
You can answer ‘Yes’ to every question in the questionnaire above. Simply speaking, Business English is the language used in international trade. In other words, it involves everything related to buying and selling. But it involves much more. Of course the starting point is the language, so you must know grammar quite well, but vocabulary can be very specific because it depends on the topic: economy, finance, products, and so on.
Business English will develop all your language skills: reading (documents, texts) writing (emails, reports, documents) listening (conversations, presentations) speaking (conversations, presentations)
These are all communication skills that you will use in business situations: when you work in your office, when you are at a meeting, when you look for information, when you take decisions related to your job. Also, Business English will help you connect many subjects that you study at school: Economics, Finance/Accounting, Legal Studies, Geography, and also IT, and other foreign languages.
2 What other school subjects do you think you study these topics in? Write the name of the subject and check at the bottom of the page.
1 writing emails
2 payment methods
3 business legislation in the European Union
4 logistics and transport
5 different types of economic systems
6 writing a CV
In this book you will meet some basic and traditional Business English topics.
3 Complete the table of topics with a description of the topic contents from the list below.
Content:
Money is the driving force in business. Banks, profits, sales are key words.
An enterprise that sells or buys goods or services. It must be organized into departments with different activities. The place where goods and services are bought and sold. The people involved are producers, sellers, consumers. There is a set of laws regulating international business that must be followed. Working in the business world also implies being able to understand and prepare documents like contracts, payment and transport documents, invoices, and others.
The process of buying and selling. It consists of personal contact, speaking over the phone, writing emails, preparing documents, sending goods, solving problems.
Today all companies must beat competition if they want to sell their product. This means that they must be good at producing the right product, at the right price and persuading people to buy it.
Looking for and finding a job in a foreign country. It means writing and speaking about your qualifications and skills.
The Market 2
A market is where people buy and sell. The people who sell are called sellers – also producers or manufacturers – they make and provide what the market needs. The people who buy are called buyers – also customers – they use what they buy from sellers. But what is bought and sold in a market? Goods and services. Goods are physical objects like computers, mobile phones, shoes, spaghetti. Services are non-physical objects like banking, transport, concerts, advertising. Of course the quantity and type of goods and services produced interacts with the quantity and type of goods and services the market demands. This is called the law of supply and demand. The supply is the quantity of goods or services that producers put in the market. Demand is the amount of goods and services that buyers will buy. Producers make what consumers require because they don’t want to produce something that nobody wants to buy. This law is the driving force of any market. But what influences a customer’s choice of what product to buy and in what quantity? One of the most important factors that determines this choice is the price. In general, people buy more when the price is low and buy less when it is high. This can create competition in the market between different sellers of the same product who want to win as many customers as possible, so they must beat competitors but, at the same time, they must make a profit.
1 Match these words with their definitions.
1 producer
2 customer
3 services
4 market
5 price
6 supply and demand
7 goods
8 advertising
a A place where buyers and sellers are in contact with one another.
b The relationship between the quantity of products and services that are for sale and the quantity that people want to buy.
c A company or person that makes goods.
d Things produced and sold.
e Someone who buys goods or services.
f The amount of money you pay for something.
g The activity of persuading people to buy something.
h Products which are not goods.
2 Complete the sentences with words from the text.
1 The interaction of supply and determines what is produced and the quantity.
2 Customers prefer buying products with a low
3 FIAT is an Italian car .
4 Banking is a type of
5 is when sellers try to be more successful than others in a market.
6 Every company wants to have a _____________ from its sales.
3 Read the text and answer the questions.
1 Who is a seller and who is a buyer?
2 What is the difference between goods and services?
3 What is the difference between supply and demand?
4 Why is price an important factor in a market?
5 Do you agree that market demand influences what a producer puts in the market? Why?
4 Look at these two lists of similar words. Can you find any of them in the text?
to sell seller sales sales manager sales department to produce producer product production manager production department
7 Read the interview with Paul Laxer, an MP3 player manufacturer. Complete the dialogue with these questions.
Does your company invest much in advertising
What exactly do you produce
Do you mean that you beat the competition with low prices
Is there much demand in the market for this type of product
can we say that you’re not worried about sales isn’t there strong competition from mobile phones or smartphones
Interviewer: So, Mr Laxer. Tell us something about your company. (1) What exactly do you produce?
Mr Laxer: Well, we make MP3 players. We specialise in small, light, coloured, and of course, highly-technological MP3 players.
Interviewer: (2)
Mr Laxer: Absolutely. At the beginning this product was just for young people. But now it’s become very popular with older people as well. Today everybody listens to music anytime, anywhere.
Interviewer: I agree with you but (3)
I mean, there are so many mobile phones with this function.
Mr Laxer: It’s true but still, our MP3 players have a good market. They have an unbeatable price compared to other similar articles and of course they’re cheaper than good mobile phones.
Interviewer: (4)
Mr Laxer: Yes, low prices combined with excellent quality, I would say.
Interviewer: (5)
Mr Laxer: Not much. You see, our product has been on the market for a long time and has always been popular. So it’s well-known and doesn’t need too much advertising.
Interviewer: So, (6)
Mr Laxer: Fortunately no, we aren’t at the moment. But, you know, customers’ needs may change at any time. We’ll be ready when it happens.
8 Read the text below and then match the beginnings and the ends of sentences 1 to 3.
Never think that the world of business or of economy is far from you just because you are a teenager! You are a consumer of goods and services which means that you play the rules of the market.
Like a lot of teenagers, you probably receive pocket money from your parents. Are there times when you can’t do something with your pocket money because you don’t have enough? Have you ever thought what this means in terms of economics? Let’s look at an example.
Last Monday you received E20.00 as pocket money. On Friday afternoon you talk to your friends and discuss going to the cinema tonight and going to the disco together tomorrow night. You want to do both. Unfortunately you’ve already spent E9.00 and you don’t want to ask your parents to give you your pocket money for next week in advance because this means that you won’t receive any money next week. So you decide that you’ll go to the cinema tonight (you have enough money for that) and you won’t go to the disco. What does this means in terms of economy?
1 For you, as a customer, it means that
2 For the disco’s owner, it means that
3 For the cinema’s owner, it means
Globalisation
A he has earned more money.
B your choice is influenced by the costs of the two things you want to do.
C he has lost a customer.
Today we talk about the global market. This means that the whole world has become a single marketplace and is not formed by different national markets. In other words, we are in an international market where companies have more opportunities to sell their products in any country in the world and customers have more opportunities to buy products from all over the world. In international economy this is called globalisation: the process by which companies operate in a lot of different countries all around the world. What has facilitated this process of buying and selling in the world market? One of the most important factors is that, over the past 20 years, there have been developments in new technology and in communication systems: thanks to the use of the Internet, email, mobile phones and video conferencing, companies can communicate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Also, improvements in transport and the reduction in restrictions to commerce (taxes on imports, for example) have given companies more opportunities in foreign markets and have contributed to free trade.
9 Read the text about globalisation and decide if these statements are true (T) or false (F). Correct the false statements.
1 Globalisation can be defined as the activity of buying and selling goods and services in all the countries in the world. T
2 Globalisation started in 1920.
3 Today people can communicate at any time on any day.
4 Taxes on imports is an example of free trade.
5 Today it is easier to transport goods from one country to another.
10
1 Globalisation is a very controversial problem. Read the list below. Then, listen to two experts talking about it and tick the advantages and disadvantages of globalisation they mention.
Advantages Disadvantages
1 Poor countries can develop economically.
2 Poor countries can improve their standard of living.
3 Globalisation is a force for democratic freedom.
4 Companies can sell more goods and make more money.
5 Globalisation creates more jobs.
6 There is more circulation of money.
7 Because of strong competition, prices are lower.
8 Thanks to globalisation, we know other cultures better.
1 Only multinationals, like Coca Cola or Nike, get the benefits.
2 Rich countries become richer at the expense of poor countries.
3 Globalisation destroys the environment in poor countries.
4 People who work for big multinationals are not well-paid.
5 Multinationals invest in poor countries so there are fewer jobs in rich countries.
6 Multinationals control the economy of poor countries.
7 Local cultures and traditions are not respected.
8 Workers in poor countries are exploited.
11 Writing What’s your opinion of globalisation? Write a text about it using the information from the text and from the two boxes in exercise 10. Follow these guidelines and use linkers and expressions from the box. Say what it is and how it has developed. Say if you are in favour or against it and explain why.
MY GLOSSARY
first then also finally I think that in my opinion advertising \"œdv´taIzIN\ amount \´"maUnt\ to beat \t´ bi…t\ competition \kÅmp´"tISn\ competitor \k´m"petIt´“r‘\ consumer \k´n"sju…m´“r‘\ customer \kÅs"tju…m´“r‘\ to demand \t´ dI"mA…nd\ development \dI"vel´pm´nt\
free trade \fri… treId\ goods \gUdz\ improvement \Im"pru…vm´nt\ law of supply and demand \lO… ´v s´"plaI ´n dI"mA…nd\ manufacturer \mœnjU"fœktSr´“r‘\ profit \"prÅfIt\ to provide \t´ pr´"vaId\ restriction \rI"strIkSn\
Applying for a Job 3
When you finish high school or university, you will look for a job. The first step will be contacting the company you want to work for. How? With a job application which is a proposal to work for them.
1 The application process involves different steps. How do you think this process works? Put the steps in the correct order.
The company reads your application, thinks you could be the right person and contacts you for an interview. You accept and start working for them. They contact you and offer you the job. You go to the interview.
You send your application.
1 You read an advertisement in which a company looks for a computer programmer. Your interview is successful.
We can say that the three main steps in the application process are:
1 Advertisement
2 Application
3 Interview
Let’s look at them in detail.
First step: The advertisement
Job advertisements can be found on the Internet, on special sites or on company sites, but also in newspapers and magazines.
2 Read these two advertisements and answer the questions. 1 2
JOB: bank cashier
COMPANY: Walkers Bank
LOCATION: Boston
TERMS: Permanent / Full-time
DUTIES: customer service and administrative duties
EDUCATION: high school diploma
SKILLS: good knowledge of banking computer systems
Click here to apply or send an email plus CV to Staff Manager, walkersbank@wb.org
Which job is better for a student?
2 Which job is full-time only?
3 Which job is not permanent? When are you required to work?
4 Which job does not require a school diploma?
5 How can you apply for both of them?
Experienced café staff needed to work at Party Café in Manchester.
You will be required to work from the end of November till the 23rd December. There are various shifts and times available Many of the shifts are in the evening allowing you to work around your studies or another job.
Part time vacancies available.
Email your application and CV to jobs@cafebar.uk
Party Café
Party Café
Second step: The application
After reading a job advertisement, if you are interested in the job, you send your application, usually by email. Your application must include a CV (Curriculum Vitae). This a document with information about you and your work history. A CV must be clear and easy to read, so it must be organised into sections.
3 Look at this information from a CV and put it in the appropriate sections.
- Excellent English both written and spoken
- Email: c.parker@topmail.com
- 2008-2010: accountant at French Foods, 11 Avenue St Antoine, Nantes
- M. Gaston Artois, Directeur Général at French Foods
Regards, Mary Burton 1 2
Dear Sirs,
I saw your advert on your site and I am interested in the post of bank cashier.
I hope you will appreciate both my educational qualifications – I have a degree in Economics from Boston University – and my two years’ experience in the field of banking.
My computer skills are excellent and I can speak Russian well.
I attach my CV and two references
I look forward to meeting you for an interview.
1 I copies of my diplomas.
2 I have good of French and Italian.
5 I saw your in The Daily Telegraph and I am applying for the post of secretary.
6 I your reply.
3 My include organising meetings and events and advertising.
4 I would like to for the post of computer programmer.
7 I am available for an at any time.
8 In my present job, I accounts.
9 Excellent computer are required.
10 Please send your to this email address.
6 These are the CVs that Paul Ascott and Mary Burton have attached to their applications. Read them and tick the table appropriately.
PERSONAL DETAILS
NAME: Paul Ascott
DATE OF BIRTH: 3/11/1991
ADDRESS: 15 Park Avenue, Boston
PHONE NO. 359 992177
EMAIL: paul.ascott@gmail.com
EDUCATION
2004-2009 High School Diploma –High School West, Boston
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2009 – present Atlantic Bank, 163 High Street, Boston – bank cashier Duties: dealing with customers’ accounts, selling financial products
SKILLS
good knowledge of standard office software
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Ms Mary Burton
Born in Boston on 15th June 1986 Married 35 San Diego Rd – Boston (617) 466 2481 mburton@hotmail.com
EDUCATION
High School: 2000 – 2005 Parker High School, Boston University: 2005 – 2009 Degree in Economics, Boston University
EMPLOYMENT
2009 – 2011 investment consultant at DT Bank – I assist customers in investments
SKILLS
Languages: Good Russian both written and spoken Computer: Certificate in Microsoft Office
REFERENCES George Brown Gordon O’Neal Teacher of Economics Manager Boston University DT Bank State Street (617) 455 6002 (617) 430 8832 gbrown@bu.com gordononeal@dtbank.com has a degree? is still working? does not provide any references? can speak a foreign language? is married? has experience as a bank cashier? can use a computer? lives in Boston?
7 Writing Now, you have decided to apply for the same post of bank cashier. Write your application email and CV using the information below. Use the layout and and vocabulary from the emails and CVs above to help.
- you are 25, from Boston
- you have a high school diploma
- you attach 1 reference 1 2
- you have read the advertisement on the Internet
- after school you worked for 3 years as a representative for a videogame company, then for 2 years as a bank clerk with administrative duties for a bank in Boston
- you have excellent computer knowledge
Who:
Paul Ascott
Mary Burton
Third step: The interview
If your application is successful, the company contacts you for an interview before deciding whether to give you the job.
8
2 This is a list of typical questions and answers during a job interview. First match these titles to the questions. Then match questions and answers. There may be more than one answer for each question.
Skills Work experience Education Interest in the job
Questions
1 What are your qualifications?
2 What school did you attend?
3 Tell me about your experience.
4 What work experience have you got?
5 What are your duties?
9
3 Listen to Michael Green’s interview for a job as an office clerk and decide if the statements are True (T) or False (F). Correct the false statements.
1 Michael is 32.
2 He finished school 2 months ago.
3 He was a shop assistant in a sports store.
4 He has been working as a clerk since he stopped working for SportCentre.
5 He wants to leave his job because he wants to improve his office skills.
6 In his present job he does not use a computer.
7 He has no experience of office work.
8 He is good with computers.
9 He can’t speak Italian.
10 He will be contacted in a couple of months.
6 What experience have you got in this field?
7 Do you speak any foreign languages?
8 What are your computer skills and what programs can you use?
9 Why do you want this job?
10 What interests you about this job?
Answers
a I am familiar with all the main computer programs.
b I have a good knowledge of computers.
c I think this job will improve my skills.
d I want to get experience in this field.
e I have a diploma in accountancy (and a degree in Economics).
f I went to ITC Pascoli in Milan and got my diploma 3 years ago.
g I worked for an import-export company called BC Ltd. from 2008 to 2010
h I have several years of office experience.
i I am responsible for/My duties are entering data into the computer and preparing statistical reports.
j Yes, I can speak English fluently. Education
MY GLOSSARY
account \´"kaUnt\ advertisement \´d"v‰…tIsm´nt\ to apply \tu… ´"plaI\ to attach \tu… ´"tœtS\ available \´"veIl´bl`\ cashier \kœ"SI´“r‘\ to deal with \t´ di´l wID\ degree \dI"gri…\ duty \"dju…ti\ education \edjU"keISn\
10 Now imagine you have applied for a job as a shop assistant in a music shop in London. Complete your interview with the missing words and phrases.
Interviewer: Good morning and welcome.
You: (1)
I: I’d like to ask you a few questions.Let’s start with education. What (2) qualifications?
You: I (3)
I: Fine. And (4) in this field?
You: I (5)
I: Can you tell me about your computer (6) ?
You: (7)
I: That’s great. Now, you can speak good English, but can you speak any other (8) ?
You: (9) I
I: I see. Now, one last question. Why (10) ?
You: (11)
I: OK. That’s all for now. Thank you for coming. We’ll contact you soon.
You: Thank you very much.
interview \"Int´vju…\ job application \dZÅb œplI"keISn\ knowledge \"n lIdZ\ to look forward to \t´ lUk "fO…w´d t´\ permanent \"p‰…m´n´nt\ reference \"refr´ns\ shift \SIft\ skill \skIl\ staff \stA…f\ vacancy \"veIk´nsi\
Business Conversations 4
Using Business English does not only involve reading or writing emails, documents, or contracts but also speaking about business matters with other people.
Phone calls
When you work in a company, a lot of your work is done over the telephone, so being able to speak over the phone is a fundamental skill in business.
1 Look at this list of typical sentences used when speaking on the phone and fill in the gaps with sentences from the box.
Right. I’ll give him your message I’m sorry but the line is busy. Thank you. Goodbye. Can I speak to Jack Barnes, please? Would you like to leave a message? Yes, please. I’ll hold.
Receiver
Brown Ltd, good morning. Can I help you?
Just a moment. I’ll put you through.
I’m sorry but Mr Parker is not in the office.
(2) (3)
Would you like to hold?
(5)
Right. I’ll get him to call you back.
All right. I’ll tell him that you called. Thank you for calling. Goodbye.
2
Caller
Good morning. This is Ted Lee from Kelly & Sons.
(1)
Yes, please. Can you ask him to call me back, please?
(4)
It’s OK, thanks. I’ll call back later.
(6)
4 Listen to a phone call and complete it with the missing words and phrases.
Operator: (1) . Delta Limited. Can I help you?
Karen Mills: Ah, yes, good morning. (2) Karen Mills from Jenkins Marketing. (3) ________________ Jan Dixon, please?
Operator: Good morning Mrs Mills. (4)
I’ll put you through... I’m sorry, Mrs Mills, but (5) (6) ?
Karen Mills: I’ll leave a message. Can you ask him to (7) , please? I’d like to ask him a few questions about his last order.
Operator: No problem. I’ll (8) to call you back as soon as he’s free. Thanks (9) . Goodbye.
Karen Mills: Thank you. (10)
3 Tom White works for a company called Scott Bikes. He calls one of his customers, Action Sports, and asks to speak to Alice Ellis. The operator connects him but then says that the line is engaged. He says he’ll call back later. Complete the dialogue.
Operator: Good morning. (1) ?
Tom White: Good morning (2) .
Operator: Just (3) . I’ll (4)
… I’m sorry (5) . Would you like (6) ?
Tom White: It’s (7)
Operator: OK, Mr White. I’ll tell Mrs Ellis that (8)
Tom White: Thanks.
Operator: Thank you for (9)
Tom White: (10)
Fixing appointments
One of the reasons people speak over the phone is to fix appointments and organise meetings.
4 Can you complete the translations of these typical questions and answers? When you have finished, check the translations with your partner.
A: Can we / I’d like to fix an appointment (?) (1)
B: Yes, certainly. Let me get my diary. (2)
B: Is Tuesday at 10 OK for you? (3)
A: I’m afraid I’m busy. Shall we meet on / What about Tuesday afternoon, instead? (4)
B: Yes, that’s fine. Shall we make it 3 o’clock? (5)
A: OK. I’ll see you on Tuesday at 3 in your office, then. (6)
B: When would be convenient for you? (7)
A: I’m free on Friday morning. (8)
B: OK. What time shall we meet? (9)
A: Shall we say at 10? / Would 10 be OK for you? (10)
B: That’s fine. See you on Friday at 10 in your office, then. (11)
5 5 Listen to a phone call and complete the memo.
ARTTOUCH LTD.
To: (1)
Name of caller: (2)
Company: (3)
Phone number: (4)
6 6 Listen to a phone call between Brett Collins and Sarah Young and choose the correct alternative.
1 Brett Collins...
a wants to speak to Sarah Young.
b receives a phone calls from Sarah Young.
2 a Brett wants to fix an appointment.
b Sarah
3 Brett is...
a free on Monday and Wednesday afternoon.
b busy
4 They decide to meet on...
a Monday.
b Wednesday.
5 They will meet at...
a 5.
b 3.
Message: (5)
7 Writing Write the dialogue following the instructions.
Operator: (Answer the phone. The name of your company is Martins Electronics.)
Henry Palmer: (Greet. Say your name. You work for Olsen Ltd. You want to speak to Matt Russell.)
Operator: (Ask him to hold. Put Matt Russell through.)
Henry Palmer: (Thank him.)
Matt Russell: (Greet Mr Palmer. Ask him how he is.)
Henry Palmer: (You are fine, now ask him.)
Matt Russell: (You are fine. Ask him what you can do for him.)
Henry Palmer: (You want to fix an appointment for the next month. Suggest Wednesday 18th.)
Matt Russell: (You are busy. Suggest Friday 20th.)
Henry Palmer: (Accept. Ask him morning or afternoon.)
Matt Russell: (Suggest 9 in the morning in your office.)
Henry Palmer: (You have another appointment at 9. Suggest 11.)
Matt Russell: (Accept. Repeat the details of the appointment.)
Henry Palmer: (Confirm. Thank. Say goodbye.)
Matt Russell: (Thank. Say goodbye.)
Discussing
Working in a company also means discussing issues, comparing different opinions and reaching an agreement.
Asking for opinions
What do you think about (that)? What’s your opinion of (that)?
Expressing opinions
I think that... I’m sure that...
Agreeing and disagreeing
I agree with you. I think you’re right. I don’t know. / I’m not sure about that. I don’t think you’re right. I’m sorry but I don’t agree. I disagree (completely).
8 Read the dialogue and complete the table. Tick (3) the things they like and put a cross (7) for the things they don’t like.
Paul: So, let’s talk about these proposals for our new advertising campaign. What do you think about it, Liz?
Liz: I think the TV ad is really great but the photos used for the advertisement on our website are terrible.
Jason: I agree with you. I mean, about the photos, I don’t like them either. But I’m not sure the TV ad is good. I think it’s too long.
Paul: Yes, I think you’re right. The TV ad should be shorter. But I think that the online advertisement is fantastic – photos included. Anyway, what’s your opinion of the gadgets? I think they’re ‘special’. Do you agree?
Jason: Absolutely. I agree completely.
Liz: Well, I’m sorry but I don’t agree. We should find something better.
TV ad website advert gadgets
9 Read the dialogue and put the sentences in the correct order.
1 Ann: As you know, a new Swedish customer, FCF Corporation, has just contacted us for a very large order of our crash helmets. We have to discuss what terms to give him. I mean price, discount and payment terms. Let’s start with price. What do you think?
Alex: I agree with you. So let’s tell him that we can’t and ask him to pay when he receives the goods.
Ann: Yes, Alex, I think you’re right. It’s a good price. But his order is very large, so I think we should give him a good discount, let’s say 15%.
Ann: OK, 10% then. Now, he asks to pay after 30 days. I’m sure that we’ve never given these terms to any of our customers for their first order.
Alex: I don’t agree. 15% is too high. Let’s make it 10%.
Ann: All right. I agree. I’ll send him an email immediately.
Alex: Well, I don’t think we should change our catalogue price which is very competitive.
Writing Business Emails 5
The most common form of written communication in business is email (electronic mail). Therefore, the ability to use email well is very important for anybody working in a company.
If you already use emails to communicate with friends, you know how many advantages it has.
1 This is a list of some advantages of communicating by email. Match the beginnings of the sentences to the endings.
1 Sending emails is fast and
2 You can send emails any time and
3 You can attach files
4 You can send emails wherever you are
5 You can send the same email to
6 Using emails saves the time of printing, copying and
7 You can store your emails and find them quickly when
A (no matter how ‘heavy’ they are).
B a large number of people.
C you need them.
D distributing information to many people.
E simple.
F (but you must have a computer or a smart phone).
G anywhere.
2 Why do business people use emails? Read this interview with a businessman and find 4 reasons he gives for using email.
Interviewer: So, Mr Randall, let’s talk about your relationship with your computer. Could we say that you can’t live without it?
Tim Randall: Absolutely! I don’t do anything and I don’t go anywhere without it. I travel a lot and I hate talking over the phone. So everything related to my work I do with my computer.
Interviewer: But what do you do with your computer most of all?
Tim Randall: I read and send emails. I can send and read hundreds of emails every day.
Interviewer: Hundreds? That’s unbelievable.
Tim Randall: It’s not if you think of how many reasons you have to send or read emails.
Interviewer: Tell me about it.
Tim Randall: Well, first of all I send information to customers, to colleagues. And of course I receive information from them. Then, giving instructions. For example to people who work for me.
Interviewer: And do you ever use emails for appointments or do you use the telephone for that?
Tim Randall: Sure. I use email to fix or change appointments. And I also use emails when I need to send documents, like offers or reports.
He uses email:
A a.fantinel@bettoli.ar
B brian.baker@topsport.uk
C 13 March 2011, 15:38
D your enquiry of 8 March
E offer
F Dear Mr Baker,
G Thanks for your enquiry about our line of football boots. I attach our best offer with details of sales terms. I hope to hear from you soon.
H Best regards,
I Antonia Fantinel
anything attached to the email email address of the sender (= the person who sends the email) body of the message date and time when the email is sent
1 Who writes the email and who does she work for? 2 Who receives the email and who does he work for? 3 When is the email sent? 4 What is attached to the email?
5 Why does Mrs Fantinelli write the email?
5 Now complete this text summarising the email in exercise 3. On (1) at (2) Mrs (3) from (4) sent an email to (5) from (6) She thanked him for (7) and attached (8)