1.4. Writing Enhancement

Assignment 7. Read the profile of Derek Stirling and then write another profile about yourself (you may need to invent information about yourself as a member of your virtual company). Use the topics below to help you:

• Name

• Nationality

• Home town

• Company

• Position in the company

• Responsibilities

• Hobbies

My name is Derek Stirling and I'm Scottish. I live in Hadlow, a lovely English village near London, and I work for The Swire Group, Britain's largest private company. The Group's activities are divided into five business areas: shipping, aviation, property, industries, and trading. Our best-known company is Cathay Pacific Airways. I work at our London head office; I'm head of Corporate Finance, and I'm responsible for developing the business of the Group. I'm always very busy and I don't have much free time, but when I do, I like fishing and I grow my own vegetables, just for fun.

1.5. Speaking Reinforcement

Assignment 1. Read the conversations aloud completing them with appropriate phrases. Then get ready to produce similar conversations in class with one of your groupmates.

Conversation 1

J o y c e. __________________! What are you doing?

B u f f y. There's a lot of weird people outside at night... I just feel better with you safe and sound inside, Mom.

J o y c e. You have no idea how much tired I’m and...

B u f f y. Well, then why don't you go upstairs and get into bed, and I can bring you some hot tea?

J o y c e. That's sweet! (suspiciously) What'd you do?

B u f f y. Can't a daughter just be concerned about her mother?

J o y c e. (seeing Angel) Hi.

A n g e l. __________________.

B u f f y. Oh! Okay... Um... Angel, uh, __________________. Mom, this is Angel. Uh, we __________ ________ each other on the way home.

A n g e l.__________________.

J o y c e. Delighted… What do you do, Angel?

B u f f y. He's my business associate. Uh, Angel's been helping me with my new project, you know I've been toiling there.

J o y c e. It's a little late for working. I'm gonna go to bed, and, uh, Buffy?

B u f f y. I'll say _________ _________and do the same!

J o y c e. (to Angel) __________________. (goes up the stairs)

B u f f y. (pretending) Good night! We'll hook up soon and do that project thing!

Conversation 2

G i l e s: Olivia!

O l i v i a: Sorry I'm so late. The flight was a horror.

G i l e s: Bad weather?

O l i v i a: Baseball movie.

G i l e s (amused): Oh… so sorry.

O l i v i a: Yeah. That's enough small talk, don't you think?

(They kiss.)

Assignment 2. This role play is to meet your groupmates after the holiday and to discuss how their holidays were, whether or not they are ready to start up a new academic year, what their impressions of the first year are; which expectations they have; what problems they have (eg, where to live, etc.) Try to develop your ideas. Be ready to perform the role-play in class.