Extra exercise: Writing 5 "Short reports"

Complete the conclusion and recommendations in this time management report using the following words.
also, efficiently, recommendations, moment, unneccesary, good, finally, better

In conclusion, here are my recommendations on how to manage time more
efficiently in our department. At the moment we spend too much time
answering unneccesary business correspondence. It would be a good
idea to prioritise all written communication: letters, emails and phone calls,
so that the most important are dealt with first. Also, employees
should note down how long they will spend on each job. A task that is
important should be give more time than a less important task.
Finally, we usually have a monthly meeting to discuss and prioritise
departamental deadlines. It would be better if this was changed to a
weekly meeting.

Extra exercise: Writing 4 "Letters"

Write a letter.


Mr. Larson.
Customer Services Department
Lang and Turner
Coleford
Gloncester
12th May, 2008


Dear Mr. Larson,
Customer Services Complaint

I´m writing to complaint because
I phoned the Sales Department today
to ask for information about a product
and the sales assistant was impolite
and unhelpful.

Could you arrange for a supervisor
to contact to me to discuss this
as soon as possible?

Thank you for your help with this matter.

Yours sincerely.

Jessica Lemus

Extra exercise: Writing 3 "Memos"

Read the memo and match the descriptions with the parts of the memo.

To: All staff
A.- Who the memo is to.

From: Lee Stone, Facilities Manager
A.- Who the memo is from.

Subject: Smoking.
A.- What the memo in about.

Please note that from Monday 18 th July smoking will not be allowed in any part of the building.
A.- The main point.

We have taken this decision for the comfort and health of all staff, and to comply with new Health and Safety laws.
A.- More information.

We are investigating the possibility of installing a special ventilated smoking area in the future.
A.- A solution.

Thank for your cooperation.

Extra exercise: Writing 2 "Emails"

Use the phrases to complete Emir´s reply to Emma.
Let me know, Thanks, can, ideal, Hi, regards, quality, information


To: Emma

From: Emir Mahoud

Hi Emma.
Thanks for your email.
Here is the information you asked for, about the electronic dictionary on
page 9 of the brocgure. Tou can add up to 10,000 new words to it
and it´s ideal for use with both American and British Englis. It´s also
very good quality.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Kind regards

Emir

Extra exercise: Writing 1 "Messages and notes"

Add puntuation to this note. Add nine capital letters, two apostrophes, one comma, a full stop and a question mark.

Robert,
I can´t come to the presentation today
because, I´m meeting Mr Mullers at the
airport. Could you take notes and give
them to me on Friday?
Thanks
Kate

Exercise: "Glosary test"

Choose the best option to complete the sentences.

1. We increased spending on production and this has reduced our profit margin.
2. Doug Richards is a successful entrenepeur who has started a number of profitablebusinesses.
3. When we had a fire, the insurance company paid the cost of the damage.
4. Our regional sales representative will visit you and shou you our product range.
5. It was a difficult problem, so they had a brainstorming meeting to collect some ideas.
6. This graph shows the increase in oil prices over the last ten years.
7. Venture capitalists lokk for a big return on investment when they provide finance.
8. If you need more informatio, browse the company website.
9. Employees say that they get more job satisfaction when they are able to use their own initiative in their work.
10. To be sure of being polite to people, it is best to follow the rules of etiquette.
11. Banks, financial services and consultancy businesses all belong to the service sector.
12. The new product didn´t sell well and the company lost market share to its competitors.
13. If you tell your insurance company that the value of your loss was higher than it really was, you are making a fraudulent claim.
14. The new technology is good, but the company needs a lot of funding to develop it.
15. Supermarkets and other retailers sell goods directly to people who will use them.
16. The city is attracting lots of new business, which is good for economic growth.
17. We use a system of just-in-time delivery to reduce the cost of keeping large stocks.
18. Staff who stay with the company for longer than ten years receive an extra week´s holiday as a reward for their loyalty.
19. The human resources department has over 100 applications for the new position.
20. The bank is introducing a new surveillance system to increase security.
21. Stefan claimed 5,000 pounds from the insurance company after his car was stolen.
22. The news story generated excellent publicity for our brand.
23. When you have a meeting with new business partners, it is important to be puntual.
24. Some of the items were damaged so the buyer made a complaint.
25. Senior managers are responsible for their subordinates in the organisational hierarchy.
26. I think we should offer a five per cent discount to encourage people to buy more.
27. Innovators are people who have new ideas and think of new ways to do things.
28. We´ve reduced the price by 15 per cent, so the buyer is getting a good deal.
29. Giorgio Armani is famous for creating a luxury brand.
30. We ask customers for tjeir feeback to help us improve.
31. Ferdinand is hoping to go abroad to work in one of his company´s regional offices.
32. On the assembly line, the parts are put together to make the finished product.
33. People on the trainee scheme have no work experience, just a university qualification.
34. We´ll have to promote our products more if we want to sell more!
35. Our staff are important resources which we try to use efficiently.
36. Several companies worked together on a joint venture to launch the new satelite.
37. The team did a brillant job so the company decided to reward each of them with a large bonus
38. John is applying for a better job in a different company.
39. We collect information about our customers and store it on a database.
40. The company is weak, with high inflation and unemployment.
41. The product has a one-year guarantee, so just bring it back if you have any problems with it.
42. Bill Sorter, a finance manager, has responsability for a team of 12 accountants.
43. We sponsor a football club, so our company name is on the players´ shirts.
44. Advertising companies need good creative staff.
45. Before you ask a bank for money, it is important to prepare a good business plan.

Review 5 (2nd part)

LANGUAJE CHECK

Consolidation:

Choose the correct form of the word or phrase.

In the past, Britons mainly drank tea; but in recent years, coffee has become increasingly popular. Chains of coffee shops, such as Starbucks, have opened in city centres across the country and now more than 80 per cent of Britons visit a coffee shop at least once a week. Spending on coffee has risen by 15 per cent since last year. A recent report shows that Starbucks is the chain that is growing most rapidly and has a market share of 25 per cent. Costa coffee is a close competitor with a 21 per cent market share. The number of coffee shops in city centres has now reached a maximum level, and the chains are trying to expand into small towns. This could be bads news for small cafés: if the chians continue to expand, many small outlets could go out of business.

We asked two consumers for their opinions on coffee shops. Matt Wingford, an accountant, says: "I like the coffee - it´s excellent. But my local coffee shop is often very noisy. I would go more often if it was quieter". Cathy Mansfield, a student, says: "It´s great. My friends and I go there regulary. But the coffee is quite expensive. I would drink more coffee if it was cheaper".

VOCABULARY CHECK

Choose the best option to complete the text.

The product development team at Playtime plc, a toy manufacturer, were highly innovative. They produced a remarkable number of good ideas for new toys, which meant that their company was able to extend its range of popular products. But things changed when the team´s manager left to join a competitor. The new manager was much less successful in motivating the team. Instead of encouraging staff and praising them for their ideas, he put pressure on them. He tried to make them work harder and longer. This didn´t increase their efficiency: it reduced it. In fact, as the team became more and more stressed, their creativity declined. Their product ideas were unpopular and failed to satisfy customer demand. Now the company is losing market share and needs to find a radical solution.

CAREER SKILLS

Managing tme:

Choose a phrase to complete the reminders about time.

1.- We don´t have...

A.- Much time.

2.- We must finish...

A.- By 5 o´clock.

3.- It´s time...

A.- To finish.

4.- We´re running...

A.- Out of time.

5.- Please keep it...

A.- Short.

Finding creative solutions:

Complete the dialogue with the following phrases.

Would it help if, That could be a solution, If we did that, What could we do, What if we, That wouldn´t help.

A) The sales staff are selling lots of products, but it takes us too long to deliver the orders to the customer. What could we do to make the system more efficient?

B) What if we took on more sales staff?

A) That wouldn´t help. We´ve got enough staff. It´s the order processing system that´s not working well.

C) Would it help if the sales reps carried laptops when they visited the customers? That way, they could enter orders inmediately.

B) Yes! If we did that, we could reduce the time it takes to transfer orders to the sales office.

A) That could be a solution!

Giving reasons:

Complete the reasons with the following phrases.

because. because of, so that, in order, means that.

1.- I need a large desk because I have a lot of books and papers.

2.- You should make lists of things to do so that you don´t forget anything.

3.- A lot of people have to work in a quiet environment in order to think clearly.

4.- I usually switch off my mobile phone when I´m working. This means that I don´t get any interruptions.

5.- I can´t work at home because of the televison.

Excercise: Giving reasons"

1.- Managers should listen to the staff so that we can satisfy their needs suggestions.

2.- They have to support their team´s ideas so the staff understand their role in the company.

3.- That means that they have to encourage to staff to be creative.

4.- The staff wanted rewards because the pay isn´t enough.

5.- We needed to build up a good climate because of productivity.

6.- We need to up date our computers in order to work better.

Exercise: "What workers need in order to feel motivate?"

1.- Match the factors with their explanations.

1) Connection.
A.- We need to understand our role in the company.

2) Content.
A.- We need to enjoy our job and get satisfaction from it.

3) Context.
A.- The company´s systems need to work well.

4) Climate.
A.- Staff need to have a good relationship with managers.



2- What should managers do in order to create a good climate?
A.- The managers should do these things:
*Listen to the staff.
*Respond to their solutions.
*Encourage the staff to use their initiative / ideas.
*Support their team.

Extra exercise about present perfect and past simple

Put the word in brackets into the present perfect or past simple.

1.- (John ever visit) Has John ever visited Indonesia?

2.- I (never flew) have never flown on an airplane anywhere before.

3.- (you be) Have you been to my office yet?

4.- (you ever hear) Have you ever heard this kind of music?

5.- (you send) Have you sent the letter yet?

6.- (you watch) Did you watch TV last night?

7.- He (know) knew all these words a year ago.

8.- She (live) has been living here since 1989. I believe he will die here.

9.- He (understand) understood everything at school.

10.- How many lessons (you have) have you had today?

11.- I (never write) have never written any poem.

12.- I (read) read twenty novels last year.

13.- I (remember) remembered to close the door.

14.- Last summer I (swim) swam in the Red Sea.

15.- Mr. Jones (go) has gone to Australia. He is not in this country.

16.- My brother (see) saw him last week at Jane's birthday party.

17.- My father (translate) translated two pages yesterday.

18.- She (just finish) has just finished her homework. She can go out with friends.

19.- This is the first time I (drive) have driven a BMW.

20.- Tom (just come) has just come. Do you want to talk to him?

Examples of present perfect and simple past

Match the examples with their rules:

1.- In the old days, companies grew slowly.
A.- We use the past simple to talk about the things that belong to the past and are finished.

2.- Now the kids have taken over.
A.- We use the present perfect to show the result of an event without saying with it happened.

3.- Jack Welch took over as CEO of GE in 1981.
A.- We use the past simple when we give the specific time that an event tokk place.

4.- He was CEO for 20 years, and retired in 2001.
A.- We use the past simple with for when the activity is finished.

5.- Mike works for MV. He has been with the company for three years now.
A.- We use the present perfect with for and since to talk about things that started in the past but continue up to the present.

6.- Mike has worked at head office since June.
A.- We use the present perfect with for and since to talk about things that started in the past but continue up to the present.

Present perfect and past simple

Present perfect.
The present perfect has the following uses:

°Recent events.
Examples:
-Sales figures have improved recently
-We haven´t seen a big rise in demand.
- Has your manager just started?


°Events that affect the present situation (but we don´t say when they happened).
Example:
-Prices have gone up so they´re very high now.


°Unfinished events starting in the past and continuing up to the present (using for and since).
Examples:
-I´ve been in sales since 1992.
-The company has beeen the market leader for three years now.


°Answering How long? about an unfinished event.
Example:
-How long have you worked for Exxon?


Key words:
recently, in recent months / years, in the last month / year, just, now, since, for (except with finished periods of time).




Past simple.
The past simple has the following uses:

°Events that happened at a definite time in the past.
Examples:
-I joined the company in 2003.
-The new secretary didn´t come in yesterday.


°Finished actions or events.
Examples:
-When you were a student, did you work in the holidays?
-Yes, I worked for a telecoms company in the holidays.


°Finished time periods (with for).
Example:
-Aisha worked in the finance department for two years, from 2003 till 2005.


Key words:
in 2005, from 2002 to 2004, las week / month / year, yesterday, ago, in the past.

Exercise: "Multi-part verbs"

1.- Take can have different meanings when combined with different words. Study the examples and match the verbs with their meanings.

1) The kids have taken over.
A.- Take control of something.

2) The company has taken on 20 new staff.
A.- Recruit or hire.

3) Maria has taken up the job offer from Microsoft.
A.- Accept.

4) The management told John to take off his earrings at work.
A.- Remove.

5) Everyone in the department took part in the volley ball match.
A.- Do an activity, participate.

6) The meeting will take place on Monday at 9:00.
A.- Happen.


2.- Complete the sentences with the following words.
on, off, up, over, part, place

1) The company was reorganised after John Green took over as CEO.

2) We offered the staff a bonus in exchange for a reduction of holiday time, but they didn´t take it up.

3) When it´s hot, the men often take off their jackets and ties.

4) All the staff we´ve taken on this year are under 25.

5) Would you like to take part in the company quiz night?

6) The dinal match will take place on Friday at 4 pm.

Vocabulary of the article: "The kids are all right"

*suddenly = derrepente
*deeply = profundamente
*feasible = factible
*brave = valiente
*faithful = fiel
*faith = fe

Exercise: "What motivates you to work harder?"

1.- Working in a friendly environment.
A.- Is important so that the people can´t be stressfull and they can help ech other.


2.- Received praise.
A.- Increase self-esteem of the employees.


3.- Working on something that is interesting and exciting.
A.- They will have the willingness to work harder.

Exercise: "Working environment"

Things of a good working environment:
-Relaxing.
-More fun.
-Rewards.
-Dynamic.
-Comfortable.
-Money.
-Bonuses.
-Vacations.



Things of a bad working environment:
-Stressfull.
-Boring.
-Over work.
-Uncomfortable.

Vocabulary: Unit 15 "Motivation"

°skills = habilidades
°commited = involucrado / comprometido
°cheer up = dar ánimos
°achieve = lograr / tener éxito
°encourage = animar
°rewarded = recompensado
°loyalty = lealtad
°hierarchical = jerárquico
°environment = ambiente
°praise = premio / cumplidos
°challengue = desafío
°so that = para que...
°so = así pues
°that means that = éso significa que...
°because of = debido a...
°apply = solicitar / aplicar por...
°develop = desarrollar
°a few of us = algunos de nosotros
°whereas the others = mientras que para los otros
°in order to = para
°B to B = negocios para negocios
°surveillance = vigilancia
°hiring = contratando
°recruiting = reclutando
°applying = solicitando
°advising = asesorando
°moreover = por otra parte
°besides = además
°also = también
°however = sin embargo
°eventhough =aún cuando
°although = aunque
°nevertheless = sin embargo / no obstante
°in the hand = por un lado
°on the other hand = por el otro lado
°therefore = por tanto
°furthermore = más allá
°in spite of the fact = a pesar de...
°despite of = a pesar de...
°regardless = a pesar de...
°result = resultado / consecuencia
°as a result of = como resultado de...
°due to = debido a...
°packing = departamento de compras