I Ex 1.1. Просмотрите первую часть теста и заполните пропуски в предложениях:

Politeness is about showing _______________ for others. It means thinking about other people’s _______________.

Part one

There are different opinions about what is polite or impolite. Different cultures express politeness in different ways. Even in the same company, there may be different views about what are good manners or bad manners. But the same rules apply everywhere. Politeness is about showing respect for others. It means thinking about other people’s feelings.

Ex 1.2. Прочитайте вторую часть текста и ответьте на вопросы:

1) Who are we usually polite to in a business environment? Give two examples.

2) Why is it better if managers show respect for their workers?

Part two

In formal situations we follow standard rules for politeness. In business we are usually polite when we make new contacts, meet customers or people from other companies. Politeness is often linked to status. We are usually more polite to people above us in the organizational hierarchy. In today’s working environment most managers show respect for their workers. They might say, “We really need to send the report as soon as possible. Could you please do it today?” If you consider other people’s feelings they are usually more willing to work hard, to help and to cooperate.

Ex 1.3. Заполните пропуски словами:

hierarchy rules status subordinates

1. In formal situations it is a good idea to follow standard __________when making new contacts. 2. Politeness is often linked to __________. 3. We are more polite to people who are above us in the organizational __________.

Ex 1.4. Прочитайте и переведите текст.

Office workers “admit being rude”

MOST office workers say they are rude or bad-mannered at work. Two out of three workers regularly arrive late for meetings, most ignore emails and three out of four use bad language. In a survey of 1,000 workers, two-thirds say that pressure of work is the reason for their bad manners.

Other common examples of bad office etiquette include ignoring colleagues and answering mobile phone calls during meetings. Using mobile phones in meetings is impolite, distracts others, research by the University of Survey shows. If you respond to a call when speaking to somebody, it means that the phone call is more important than the person, the survey said. If you answer a call during a meeting, it could mean that you think the meeting is not important.

Mr. Jacobs, a managing director of Office Angels, a recruitment firm, says it is easy for people to forget their manners in the working environment, which is often very informal and very busy. Workers can forget proper etiquette such as introducing people at meetings, and this is often bad for working relationships.

Psychologist Dr Colin Gill believes that people are not as polite as they were twenty years ago. He said: “Courtesy is no longer something that is so much respected in our society.” People think it is “stuffy to be polite or formal.”

Now some organizations are actually investing money in training their junior managers to be polite. Office Angels is encouraging people to arrive on time for meetings, turn off mobile phones and avoid bad language. “Avoiding bad manners at work is such a simple thing to do,” Mr. Jacobs says, “and it can have a dramatic impact on improving your working environment and your relationships with others.”

Vocabulary:

distract – отвлекать внимание

stuffy – нудный, скучный, старомодный

Ex 1.5. Ответьте на вопросы:

1. What reason do office workers give for their bad manners?

2. Why is it impolite to answer a mobile phone during a meeting?

3. Are people today more polite than they were 20 years ago?

4. What are some organizations doing to improve workers’ manners?

5. What are the benefits of avoiding bad manners at work?

Ex 1.6. Заполните в тексте пропуски словами:

admit avoid ignore introduce invest improve respond

A recruitment firm gives this advice to new workers:

2. … are people very competitive?

3. … are things changing?

Ex 4.2. Прочитайте и переведите тексты.

Sydney

We in Sydney are very easy-going and relaxed about rules. But we work hard. We start work pretty early in the morning. Breakfast meetings are common, starting at 8 am. And we like to start meetings on time – so it’s important not to be late! We’re generally very informal. Men often wear a jacket and tie during office hours. But we prefer informal clothes when the weather’s hot. For lunch, we usually go out for a sandwich. What do we talk about? Well – it isn’t difficult to talk to Australians – we’re very friendly people. But it helps a lot if you can talk about sport.

London

Most people that I know don’t like to start work early. We hate breakfast meetings! People are always in a hurry – so being on time for meetings is important. People think the British are very formal. But thins are changing. I think we’re quite informal nowadays. Some men still wear formal business suits – but a lot of people come to work in casual clothes. Lunch is often a quick sandwich and a coffee. After work we like to go to the pub with colleagues. At the pub you can talk about anything you like!

New York

Life in New York is fast and dynamic. Some people say that we’re rude. I don’t mean to be rude – I just don’t have much time for being polite! Work starts early in the morning – breakfast meetings start at 7 am – don’t be late! Most people dress in suits for business – it’s important to look smart. A lot of people eat at their desk at lunchtime. But if we go to a restaurant, we talk business right through lunch. We don’t talk about the food. People are very competitive and work always comes first!

Ex 4.3. Заполните таблицу, пользуясь текстами:

	Sydney	London	New York
Breakfast meetings	Common – 8 am
Punctuality		important
Dress
Lunch
What do people talk about outside work?			business

Ex 4.4. Ответьте на вопросы:

1. Are business people in your country easy-going or more formal?

2. What do they usually wear?

3. Do most business people in your country have a long lunch at a restaurant or do they eat a quick sandwich?

V. ПРЕДЛОЖЕНИЯ И ПРОСЬБЫ (offers and requests)

Ex 5.1. Изучите таблицу и ответьте на вопросы внизу:

Offers	Responses
Can I help you? Let me carry your bags for you. Would you like a coffee? Do you want some sugar? I could make a copy for you.	Yes, I’m looking for Mr Jones. Thanks – that’s very kind of you. Not just now, thanks. I don’t take sugar, thanks. Thanks, but I don’t really need one.
Requests	Responses
Can you phone me tomorrow? Could I have some water, please? Would you please check the figures? Could you give me some directions, please?	It’s a bit difficult. I’m very busy. Yes, of course. Yes, no problem. I’m sorry. I don’t know this place very well.

Обозначьте «галочкой» наиболее неформальные выражения в каждой группе таблицы.

2. Обозначьте «минусом» ответы, которые означают «нет». Какие слова в английском языке мы иногда используем, чтобы избежать ответа «нет»?

Ex 5.2. Выберите подходящее слово, выделенное курсивом.

1. Can I / I want to see the photos?

2. Do you want that I / Can I help you with your bags?

3. Could I / Let me borrow your magazine to read?

4. Could you / Would you like to sit down?

5. Would I / Could I have some more milk, please?

6. You could / Could you open the door for me, please?

7. Can you / Please give me your phone number?

Ex 5.3. Как можно вежливо отклонить предложение или просьбу, не используя слово «нет»?

1. Can I phone you at 10 o’clock tonight?

2. Would you like to try some of our English beer?

3. Could you give me your report today, please?

4. Let me show you around our factory.

5. Could you tell me about the history of your town?

6. Do you want a lift to the airport?

VI. BEING POLITE

6.1. Сопоставьте фразы 1-6 и ответы на них a-f.

1. Can I introduce my colleague? This is Jane Duncan. 2. I’m really sorry about my mistake. 3. Thanks very much for your help. 4. Would you like to join us for lunch? 5. Is it OK to smoke in here? 6. Thanks for a very nice lunch.

a. No problem. You’re welcome. b. That would be very nice. Thank you! c. That’s all right. Don’t worry about it. d. I’m glad you enjoyed it. e. Pleased to meet you. f. I’m sorry. It isn’t allowed.

Ex 6.2. Представьте, что вы летите в Нью-Йорк. Напишите, что бы вы сказали в следующих ситуациях:

1. You are thirsty.

2. The passenger next to you has a copy of Newsweek. You would like to read it.

3. You want to go to the toilet, but the passenger next to you is in the way.

4. It’s lunch-time. You’re a vegetarian. The stewardess has just given you the chicken.

Ex 6.3. Исправьте ошибки в следующих предложениях:

1. Would

Could you like to go to the conference in Brussels?

2. Let me to help you with that report.

3. Would I have another cup of coffee, please?

4. You can open the window, please?

5. Could you give me please some information?

6. Can I the new designs see?

Review 1