Текст книги "Деловой английский язык"

TEXTS FOR ADDITIONAL READING

Text 1. VOCATIONAL CHOICE

As children, many of us wanted to be firemen, policemen, nurses. During our adolescence, we may have changed our minds and decided to become pilots, teachers, or professional goiters. As adults, we may settle on something entirely different.

These changes reflect our growing awareness of ourselves and the world around us. As children, from about six to eleven, we make «fantasy choices». We choose activities that appear pleasurable and attractive, ignoring all other aspects of the occupations of which these activities are a part. In early and late adolescence, we also ask ourselves, «Can I do it? », «Am I suited for it? ». By this time, we have had a chance to analyze what certain occupations demand.

Finally, as adults, we make a «realistic choice», in most cases. We consider a job in relation to other preferences and other demands. Perhaps we shall have to weigh our desire to stay in our hometown where job opportunities may be very limited against the necessity of leaving for another part of the country where job opportunities are plentiful. Or, we may have to choose between a job that will fulfill a lifelong ambition to travel or one that will realize our wish to become independent of family support as soon as possible. The job we finally do choose is likely to represent a compromise between various needs and wishes and available opportunities.

It is not the easy thing to choose the profession out of more than 2000 existing in the world, is it?

Text 2. BUSINESS HOURS

The standard working day in the United Kingdom and the U.S.A starts at 9:00 a.m. and lasts till 5:00 p.m. with lunch time from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Many banks are usually open for customers from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Some businesses and industries traditionally work different hours.

Most employees have a five-day working week, Monday through Friday. The working week is between 35 and 40 hours long. Overtime is quite common and is generally paid, often at a premium to the basic rate of pay. The weekend usually starts on Friday night and lasts till Monday. Thus on Saturdays and Sundays most businesses are closed. But as to shops they are open on Saturdays and some of them are open on Sundays.

In Britain the law does not say what shops can be open on Sundays but it says what goods can be sold on Sundays. They are newspapers, magazines and fresh food. If the law is broken, criminal proceedings may by taken. Many officials and the public demand that the Sunday trading rules should be abolished in the U.K.

Most businesses are closed on public or national holidays. The main public holidays of the U.K. are as follows: New Year's Day – 1 January; Good Friday – in April, Easter – in April; Easter Monday – in April; May Day – in May; Christmas Day – 25 December; Boxing Day – 26 December. In the United States the following main holidays are celebrated: New Year's Day – 1 January; Washington's Birthday – 20 February; Easter – in April; Memorial Day – in May; Independence Day – 4 July; Labour Day – in September; Veterans' Day – in November; Thanksgiving Day – in November; Christmas Day – 25 December.

All the main public or national holidays in the U.S. and U.K. are bank holidays, which means banks are closed on those days. Besides there are some other bank holidays, when banks and many other businesses are closed.

The bank holidays besides public or national holidays are: Spring or Summer (Bank) Holiday – in May or June. Autumn (Bank) Holiday – in August or September.

It dates back to the nineteenth century when by the Bank Holiday Act and a Supplementary Act these days were constituted bank holidays in the U.K.

Text 3. THE OPEN UNIVERSITY

A university that calls itself «The Open University» suggests that all other universities are closed. And this is true, because they are closed to everyone who does not have the time, the opportunity or the qualifications to study there. For these people, who missed the chance of going to a conventional university, «The Open University» was set up in 1967.

Most of its students work at home or in full-time jobs and can study only in their free time. They need to study about ten hours a week. As the university is truly "open", there are no formal entry requirements (none of the usual "A" level examinations are asked for).

Its students are therefore of all ages and come from very different backgrounds. Some, such as teachers, want to improve their qualifications: Others, like retired people or mothers whose families have grown up, are at the O.U. because they now have the time to do something they have always wanted to do.

Returning to "school" is difficult for most students, for they have forgotten or never knew – how to study, to write essays, and to prepare for exams. In addition to all the reading and writing assignments, students have got a lot of watching and listening to do, for there are weekly O.U. lectures broadcast on BBC television ant radio.

To keep people from just giving up or collapsing under all this work, each student gets the help and support of his own tutor/counselor, who he meets regularly and can telephone in any crisis or difficulty. At the meetings, students get to know other students on the course and join with them into «self-help» groups. These groups meet in each, other's homes to discuss the texts and assignments; here too they find support and stimulation.

By the time the exams come in October, you feel much more confident and optimistic about your return to student life. Your final mark is based on the exam and the written assignments done during the year.

Text 4. YUPPIES: WHO THEY ARE

Although the term «yuppie» is basically an invention of the mass media, yuppies do indeed exist. Yet they are not as uniform and united as it is claimed. On the one hand, yuppies are a result of the reaction against the anti-establishment, against the free-minded 60s' generation. But on the other hand they are a phenomenon much more complex, tied to the nation's economy. What is a yuppie? A Young Urban Professional, probably working toward a career in business, advertising, or high finance, willing to sacrifice free time, creativity, and even political integrity in order to become successful. Financial security and social prestige are his ultimate goals. Being a yuppie is a way of life. Those who want to be yuppies have already adopted the yuppie value system. It consists of a respect for the establishment, a belief that money cures ail ills, a desire to live in a posh apartment or a fancy house. They are bent on success and very materialistic. They pursue power and money.

Yuppies are Young: generally in their late twenties or thirties, usually married without children because husband and wife are yuppies, and don't have time for children. (Yuppies usually marry yuppies. Yuppie-men rarely marry housewives).

Yuppies are Urban, and often despise the mediocrity of suburbia (suburban life-style), believing that they have risen above middle-American values. They are very cosmopolitan: they decorate their homes with Picasso and show their faces at the most talked-about exhibitions at the Met and the MOMA (Museum of Modem Art in New York), and profess a love for classical music. When they have time to read or to appreciate their $100,000 paintings is a mystery they themselves can't answer. But they like to discuss art although they know absolutely nothing about it. They like to spend Christmas in Paris «experiencing France». Yet they don't speak French and understand nothing of French culture.

Most of all, yuppies are Professional: they can be seen setting off to work every day in the most elegant business suits and pretentious dresses. They work hard, rise quickly, and stop at nothing. Don't contuse «Yuppies» with «Americans»: to most American intellectuals «Yuppie» has a negative connotation.

Text 5. THE SEMINAR IN WASHINGTON

The seminar program included such topics in Bank Management as Banking and Foreign Exchange Management, Foreign Exchange Market and Commercial Banks Mechanics, Trade Finance, Sources of Finance, Computerized Bank Management and others. The seminar was conducted by a highly experienced staff of lecturers.

During the seminar program a few social activities were arranged for the participants. To start, an informal Welcome Party was organized which gave them a possibility to get acquainted with the staff concerned with the seminar. During their stay in Washington the participants saw the most famous sights of the capital (the Washington monument, the White House, the Capitol, the Lincoln Memorial, the Kennedy Center and others).

The sponsors also arranged a day's visit to New York City which included a tour of Manhattan (Wall Street, the World Trade Center, Battery Park from where they could see the Statue of Liberty). They rode through Chinatown, Greenwich Village and Soho, shopping and visiting various museums.

The last function the Russian participants attended was the dinner in their honour at the Trivoli Restaurants. The participants expressed gratitude for hospitality and thanked the instructors for the training which they found useful and informative because it gave them better understanding of the banking system operations. The next day the Russian trainees left Washington for Moscow.

Text 6. MANAGER'S WORKING DAY

Mr. Price stood at the window of his office. He had stopped working at last. The building was empty. Everyone has gone home by half past five. Now it was half past six and the street below had emptied.

What a busy day he had had! He had arrived at the office well before nine o'clock. Why, before nine o'clock he had made two telephone calls! The other offices were still empty when he had phoned, so of course nobody had answered the telephone. Poor Mr. Price!

But then he had opened all the correspondence. By ten o'clock, he had dictated replies to nearly all the letters. When Miss King left the room he had started to make telephone calls again. By the time the Acting Manager sent for him he had talked to three of the buyers. When the Acting Manager had asked him for information about stocks he had been able to give the information from memory. He was sure the Acting Manager had noticed that!

By one o'clock he had examined the figures from the production sheets and he had signed a dozen letters for Miss King. By two o'clock he had had his lunch and he had done a lot more work on those production figures. By three o'clock he had found two mistakes! By four o'clock he had seen both the Production Manager and the Foreman. He had asked them for an explanation. He had pointed out that the explanation was urgent. By ten o'clock tomorrow the corrected figures must be on his desk. Mr. Price sighed. What a load of responsibility he had!

Mr. Price sighed again. Tomorrow he must make more telephone calls; he must dictate more letters; he must try again to speak to the Acting Assistant Manager. But now he must go home. He put on his coat and his hat. He picked up his attaché case and his umbrella and went to the door. He locked the door and walked towards the lift. Then he stopped. He had turned off the electric fire near his desk. It was a quarter to seven. Really he worked too hard!

Text 7. ECONOMIC OUTLINE OF BRITAIN

In the past century Britain secured a leading position in the world as manufacturer, merchant and banker. After World War I the world demand for the products of Britain's traditional industries – textiles, coal and machinery – fell off, and Britain began expanding trade in new engineering products and electrical goods.

The crisis of 1929 – 1933 brought about mass unemployment, which reached its peak in 1932. Britain's share in the world industrial output decreased. After the crisis production and employment increased following some revival in world trade and as a result of the extensive armament program.

During World War II Britain's economy was fully, employed in the war effort. Massed raids of German planes on British industrial centers caused considerable damage to Britain's industry. World War II brought about a further weakening of Britain's might. Great Britain is no longer the leading imperialist power it used to be. It has lost its colonies which used to supply it with cheap raw materials.

The original basis of British industry was coalmining, and the early factories grew up not far from the main mining areas. Glasgow and Newcastle became centers of engineering and shipbuilding. Lancashire produced cotton goods and Yorkshire woolens, with Sheffield concentrating on iron and steel. Birmingham developed light engineering. There appeared a tendency for industry and population, to move to the south, particularly to the London area. (Britain's industry is now widely dispersed). Great progress was made in the development of new industries such as the aircraft, automobile, electronic industries and others. A number of atomic power reactors were made. Great emphasis was made on the development of the war industry.

Now Britain produces high quality expensive goods, which has always been characteristic of its industry. A shortage of raw materials, as well as the high cost of production makes it unprofitable for British industry to produce semi-finished goods or cheap articles. Britain mostly produces articles requiring skilled labour, such as precision instruments, electronic equipment, chemicals and high quality consumer goods.

Text 8. ECONOMY OF THE USA

The United States of America is a highly developed industrialized country. Shipbuilding, electronics, automobile industry, aircraft industry, space research are highly developed in the States.

Each region, of the United States has characteristics of its own due to the differences in climate, landscape and geographical position.

Great Lakes, Atlantic Coast, Pennsylvania, New Jersey are biggest industrial regions of the country.

The United States has a lot of mineral deposits or resources such as coal, gold, silver, copper, lead and zinc. The south, especially Texas is rich in oil. The coalfields of Pennsylvania are rich in coal. There are plenty of coal mines.

Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska is the richest farming region of America and it is known as the Corn Belt, The land is fertile and well watered. They grow mostly corn and wheat there. Much livestock is also raised here.

California oranges, grapefruit, lemons, as well as other fruits, wines and vegetables are shipped all over the States and to other parts of the world. The most important crops grown in the States are also tobacco, soy-beans, peanuts, grapes and many others. There are a lot of large and modern cities, but a great proportion of the country consists of open land dotted with farmhouses and small towns. The usual average town, in any part of the United States, has its Main Street with the same types of stores selling the same products. Many American residential areas tend to have a similar look. As to big cities their centers or downtowns look very much alike. Downtown is the cluster of skyscrapers imitations of New York giants.

New York City is the first biggest city of the States. Its population is more than eight million people. It is a financial and advertising business centre. It is also a biggest seaport of the Hudson River. Industry of consumer goods is also developed here.

Chicago with a population of more than three and a half million is the second largest city in the U.S.A. It deals in wheat and other grains, cattle meat processing and manufacturing. Other big cities are Houston, an oil refining and NASA space research centre. New Orleans, a cotton industry centre, Los Angeles with Hollywood, Philadelphia, a shipping commercial centre, Detroit, a world's leading motor car producer and many others.

Text 9. BUSINESS LETTER

Dear Sir,

I've read your advertisement in today's Daily Telegraph for a sales manager and I'm writing to offer my services. I am thirty four years of age and have had ten years' experience in the sales departments of two well-known companies.

I received my education at the City of London School and remained there to take a full sixth-form course in economics. After completing my period of national service I was accepted at Manchester University and took a course in modern languages. I then joined the sales department of Alpha Machine Tools Ltd., Birmingham, as a trainee. After staying with this company for further two years I took up my present appointment with Oral Plastics Ltd., Preston. My special duties here include the training of sales personnel, dealing with the company's foreign correspondence and organizing market research. I enjoy my work and am very happy here, but I feel my experience in marketing, both in the field and in administration, has prepared me for the responsibility of full sales management,

Mr. James Watkinson, my managing director, and Mr. Harold Webb, sales manager of my former company, both have consented to my naming them as referees.

I shall be pleased to provide any further information you may need and I hope to have the opportunity of an interview.

Yours faithfully,

John Martin

Text 10. WHAT IS BUSINESS?

Business is a word which is commonly used in many different languages. But exactly what does it mean? The concepts and activities of business have increased in modern times. Traditionally, business simply meant exchange or trade for things people wanted or needed. Today it has a more technical definition. One definition of business is the production, distribution, and sale of goods and services for a profit. To examine this definition, we will look at its various parts.

First, production is a creation of service or the changing of materials into products. One example is the conversion of iron ore into metal car parts. Next these products need to be moved from the factory to the marketplace. This is known as distribution. A car might be moved from a factory in Detroit to a car dealership in Miami.

Third is the sale of goods and services. Sale is the exchange of a product or service for money. A car is sold to someone in exchange for money. Goods are products which people either need or want; for example, car can be classified as goods. Services, on the other hand, are activities which a person or group performs for another person or organization. For instance, an auto mechanic performs a service when he repairs a car. A doctor also performs a service by taking care of people when they are sick.

Business, then, is a combination of all these activities: production, distribution, and sale. However, these is one other important factor. This factor is the creation of profit or economic surplus. A major goal in the functioning of an American business company is making a profit. Profit is the money that remains after all the expenses are paid. Creating an economic surplus or prоfit is, therefore, a primary goal of business activity.

Text 11. FINANCIAL MANAGER

Usually businesses have the financial managers who work with the banks. They negotiate terms of financial transactions, compare rates among competing financial institutions. Financial management begins with the creation of a financial plan. The plan includes amount of funds and the inflow and outflow of money. The financial manager develops and controls the financial plan. He also forecasts the economic conditions, the company's revenues, expenses and profits.

The financial manager's job starts and ends with the company's objectives. He reviews them and determines the funding they require. The financial manager compares the expenses involved to the expected revenues. It helps him to predict cash flow.

The financial manager plans a strategy to make the ending cash positive. If cash outflow exceeds cash inflow the company will run out of cash. The solution is to reduce outflows. The financial manager also chooses financing techniques. One of them is short-term financing. Another is long-term financing.

At the end of the fiscal year the financial manager reviews the company's financial status and plans the next year's financial strategy.

Text 12. INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION

First thing Monday morning the phone rings. You've hardly got your coat off. The call is for your boss.

– Is Bill Harris in?

– No, I'm afraid he doesn't usually arrive until 10:00. Would you like him to return your call when he comes in?

– Well, maybe you can help me. We've had some trouble with … Now, like it or not, you’re on the spot. Maybe you can help, maybe you can't. Either way, you're expected to try.

– We've had some trouble getting an answer from your office I personally sent a request three weeks ago and have received no response from your office. What's going on over there?

The caller is apparently unhappy about the delay. He is not being very polite. Perhaps you won't be able to help him yourself. How would you handle the call now?

You could insist that the caller speak to your supervisor directly. You could refer the call to someone else. To handle such a complaint you may have to be assertive. How assertive is a cultural question. It should be assertiveness without insult. The key is to remain friendly and cooperative at all times, even when being assertive. You might say to the caller in this case:

– I'm sorry, but you'll really need to speak with Mr. Harris about that. I'll be happy to have him call you.

Notice how the boldfaced phrases show politeness. They indicate that you are doing your best to cooperate, even while being assertive. To express cooperation, avoid the word no. Whenever possible, offer to help. Here are several examples.

If you become confused how to handle situations with people with different levels of culture, talk to your supervisor. Speaking to a superior is an example of being direct. Being direct in this kind of situation can clarify the expectations of a supervisor and can help you meet them.

Interoffice Communication

Being on the job calls for interacting constantly with co-workers. Many jobs also include contact with people outside of the organization. Communication between organizations takes place in various ways. Corresponding by mail, talking by phone, and speaking in person each calls for clear communication of information, opinions, and attitudes. Recognizing the attitudes and values of people of other cultural backgrounds makes it easier to communicate or work together. After all, it is not necessary to abandon your personal beliefs to respect others, even when their thinking does not agree completely with your own. We all face various cultural backgrounds and styles of conduct at work. One may classify them in different ways. Here we are presenting one of the classifications.

The Superfriendlies

Superfriendlies try to get along with everyone and try to be nice at all costs. They do not make trouble and get very nervous when they see people arguing or fighting. They value relationship above all else and are quite willing to sacrifice achievement for harmony. They go out of their way to maintain peace in a group even if it is a false peace.

They will often allow themselves to be exploited and will not speak up even if accused unjustly. They cannot deal with the idea that someone may not like them or even be mad of them. They are quite willing to give up their own desires and give in to the desires of others as long as it means acceptance by the group. Their motto is «Peace at any cost».

The Tough Guys

Tough guys (including women) enjoy a good fight and love to argue about problems and issues. When they have their mind set on accomplishing a particular achievement, they work toward that goal with a single-minded effort that astounds their co-workers. They sacrifice a great deal to be a winner. It does not matter to them whether other people like them or agree with their tactics. In their struggle for power, they show very little concern for the feelings of others and often yell or shout when things don't go their way. They seldom regret sacrificing friendship for success. Their motto is: «Winning isn't the only thing. It's everything».

The Experts

Experts set themselves up as authorities on any matter – technical, social, or political. They seem to have all the answers and enjoy making suggestions. They are very happy to give advice on any problem and do not mind sharing their vast knowledge with their co-workers. Their motto is: «Ask me anything; I'll give you the answer».

The Logical Problem Solvers

Logical problem solvers concentrate on tasks instead of on people. Often they don't understand why some employees are having problems with each other. To the logical problem solvers, emotional problems are not «real» and feelings don't matter in a business environment. They prefer to see all problems from an intellectual point of view and try to find a logical solution to any conflict. Their motto is: «There seems to be no logical basis for emotional conflict».

The Pessimists

Pessimists always expect the worst. They don't believe in luck and try to prepare for negative results. They dampen spirits when co-workers stall to get excited about the idea or when enthusiasm runs high. Generally they would not be surprised if the company went out of business and everyone got fired. Their motto is: «It won't work».

The Pollyannas

Pollyannas look at the world through rose-colored glasses. They keep hoping that everything will turn out well despite many signs to the contrary. They try to keep morale high by telling everyone that things will get better. They tend to smile a lot. They are sure that they will be happy and successful even if they don't deserve to be. Their motto is: «It'll all work out. No problem».

The Complainers

Complainers enjoy griping. Nothing is ever good enough for them. In their mind, all the bosses are too demanding and the company is trying to cheat everyone. They complain that coworkers are either too lazy or not carrying their load or compulsive about their work and trying to impress their superiors. The temperature in their office is either too hot or too cold and the food in the cafeteria is never edible. Their motto is: «This place stinks».

The Indecisive

Indecisive people have a hard time making up their minds. They put off making any decision for fear it might be a wrong one. When given a new responsibility, they continue to ask everyone for advice long after they should have mastered the task. They are so afraid of making a mistake that they will take forever to finish a project. Their motto is: «You can't be too careful».

The Middle of the Readers

Middle of the roaders look for the middle ground in any conflict. They try to find a compromise for any position and feel that no matter what the situation, each side should be gaining something. Often as a result of these compromises, neither group wins anything and both may lose.

Text 13. WORK ATTITUDES

Work Attitudes

When a customer asks a difficult question, sometimes Americans reply with a humorous expression: «I only work here! » This expression means: I am not the owner or the manager, just an employee. Unfortunately, it can also indicate that a person is not willing to help the customer of doing so involves any extra work. This chapter examines more positive attitudes toward one's work.

Initiative

There's probably no better way to please an employer than by showing the willingness to do a job well. One way is to work conscientiously, making sure that a job is done carefully. As the saying goes, «Actions speak louder than words». However, there are many ways to communicate a positive attitude toward a job such as listening attentively to instructions and asking questions whenever necessary, also showing initiative. Initiative means being ready to do a little more than your own job. Initiative means being ready to do things that need to be done, without being told to do them. Initiative means arriving on time, ready to work. Initiative means working as carefully and quickly as possible.

Dependability

Commitment to work is an attitude deeply rooted in many cultures. Commitment to job responsibilities comes from the belief that a good person is hard-working. This idea has been held by cultures in Europe, Asia, America and elsewhere for centuries. In some cases it was connected to religious beliefs. The belief that working hard is a personal virtue survives in most countries to this day.

An employee shows commitment to the job in many ways. One way is keeping to the schedule. Working more is fine; working less is not. Keeping to the schedule faithfully is called dependability. Dependability involves several attitudes. One of these attitudes is honesty: speaking truthfully and not cheating the employee in any way. A related attitude is loyalty, which is shown by speaking well of the organization and the job.

Sometimes an employee can get by with little or no extra effort. However, a negative attitude is shown when an employee is uninterested or unwilling to do a fair share of work. A person who seems lazy is not very valuable to an organization. Such as employee is unlikely to receive promotions and may lose the job. On the other hand, positive attitudes earn real rewards.

Accepting Corrections and Criticism

It is normal for people to feel uncomfortable about being judged on the job. Most people don't like being judged or evaluated by others. Like bad wine, criticism is hard to swallow. While some supervisors give correction in a friendly way, others do not. Yet directions, even when given firmly, are only meant to help get the job done. After all, only work is criticized – not the worker – and the work can be improved. Criticism is easier to accept when not taken personally.

When one instructor teaches many students for months at a time, it is not easy to be completely objective in grading. Just as a teacher must carefully establish criteria by which students are evaluated, so too a supervisor must carefully follow criteria for evaluating personnel.

Criteria refer to the standard or measure by which we evaluate the performance of others. If, for example, salespeople are evaluated in terms of how many units they sell, units of sale are the criteria by which they are measured. If, however, they are measured in terms of their amount of sales in dollars (rather than units), then sales dollars becomes the criteria of evaluation.