Tutorato lingua inglesesecondo semestre 2017/18

Corso di Laurea inEconomia, Finanza e Politiche Pubbliche

Università di Cagliari

Tutor: Eleonora Mamusa (eleonora.Mamusa@gmail.com)

Docente: Alessandra Loi

Textbook

• Cotton, D., Falvey, D., Kent, S. (2011), Market Leader Upper Intermediate. Business English Course Book. Harlow, Essex: Pearson.

• Rogers, J. (2011), Market Leader Upper Intermediate. Business English Practice File. Harlow, Essex: Pearson.

LESSON 1

Communication

What is communication?

What is communication?

The process by which information is exchanged. It can take place in a number of ways:

• through the written word• through the spoken word• through pictures and diagrams• through facial expressions, behaviour and

posture• through non-verbal sounds

[Bennie, M. (2009:1)]

What are the most common forms of communication in business?

A. written communication B. facial expressions, behaviour, posture, gestures…

C. non verbal sounds

D. spoken communication E. visual communication

What are the most common forms of communication in business?

written communication spoken communication

visual communication

The Functions of Business Communication

We communicate in business for a number of different reasons, and the methods we use will depend on the reasons, the circumstances, and perhaps the people with whom we are communicating. These are some of the reasons why we may need to communicatewith others in a business setting:

• to pass on information• to persuade people to buy a product or use a service• to discuss an issue• to recommend a course of action• to make or answer a request• to make or answer a complaint• to keep a record of something that has happened or been agreed• to explain or clarify a situation• to give an instruction

[Bennie, M. (2009:1)]

What makes a good communicator? Choose the three most important factorsfrom the list [Cotton et al. (2011: 6)]

fluency in the language an extensive vocabulary

a sense of humour grammatical accuracy

being a good listener physical appearance

an awareness of body language not being afraid of making mistakes

no strong accent

What other factors are important for communication?

1. Which of these words apply to good communicators and which apply to bad communicators? Add two adjectives of your own to the list

articulate coherent eloquent extrovert

fluent focused hesitant inhibited

persuasive rambling reserved responsive

sensitive succinct vague

[Cotton et al. (2011:6)]

2. Which of the words have these meanings?

articulate coherent eloquent extrovert fluent

focused hesitant inhibited persuasive rambling

reserved responsive sensitive succinct vague

1.concise 5.clear and easy to understand

2.reluctant to speak 6.good at influencing people

3.talking in a confused way 7.outgoing

4.able to express ideas well 8.eager to react and communicate

[Cotton et al. (2011:7)]

Answer keys1. Good communicators: articulate, coherent, eloquent, extrovert, fluent, focused, persuasive, responsive, sensitive, succinctBad communicators: hesitant, inhibited, rambling, reserved, vague

2.

1. focused, succint2.hesitant, inhibited, reserved3.rambling, vague4.fluent, eloquent, sensitive5.articulate, coherent6.persuasive7.extrovert8.responsive

The Three Rules of Business Communication

Business communication should be:

• clear and precise• brief and uncluttered• direct and to the point

[Bennie, M. (2009:7)]

Think of a poor or badcommunicator you know. How could they improve their skills? What advice would you give to them? [Cotton et al. (2011:7)]

Listening

1.Listen to the first part of an interviewwith Alaistair Dryburgh, an expert on communication. Does he thinktechnology makes good communicationeasier?

2.Listen again: what four key points doesAlaistair make about communication?

[Cotton et al. (2011:7)]

What is an IDIOM?

Once in

a blue

moon

What is an IDIOM?

An expression with a meaningthat can be difficult to guessfrom the meanings of itsseparate words

bush grapevine loopmouth nutshell picturepoint purposes sticktail wall wavelength

a)To put in a… g)can’t make head nor….of it

b)To get straight to the… h)to talk at cross-…

c)To hear it on the… i)to beat about the…

d)To put someone in the… j)to get it straight from the horse’s…

e)To get the wrong end of the… k)to be like talking to a brick…

f)To be on the same… l)to keep someone in the…

[Cotton et al. (2011:9)]

Answer keys

a)To put in a nutshell g)can’t make head nor tail of it

b)To get straight to the point h)to talk at cross-purposes

c)To hear it on the grapevine i)to beat about the bush

d)To put someone in the picture j)to get it straight from the horse’s mouth

e)To get the wrong end of the stick k)to be like talking to a brick wall

f)To be on the same wavelength l)to keep someone in the loop

What’s the meaning of…? [Cotton (2007:9-10)]a)To put in a nutshell g)can’t make head nor tail of it

b)To get straight to the point h)to talk at cross-purposes

c)To hear it on the grapevine i)to beat about the bush

d)To put someone in the picture j)to get it straight from the horse’s mouth

e)To get the wrong end of the stick k)to be like talking to a brick wall

f)To be on the same wavelength l)to keep someone in the loop

1)To fail to understand anything g 7) to talk about the most important thing

2)To share similar opinions and ideas 8)to hear about something because the information hasbeen passed from one person to another in conversation

3)To give the main facts in a short, clear way 9)to be told something by someone who has directknowledge of it

4)To not understand something 10)to try to communicate with an unresponsive person

5)To delay talking about something 11)to include someone in group communication

6)To give the latest information 12)to not understand someone

What’s the meaning of…?

a)to put in a nutshell g)can’t make head nor tail of it

b)to get straight to the point h)to talk at cross-purposes

c)to hear it on the grapevine i)to beat about the bush

d)to put someone in the picture j)to get it straight from the horse’s mouth

e)to get the wrong end of the stick k)to be like talking to a brick wall

f)to be on the same wavelength l)to keep someone in the loop

1)to fail to understand anything g 7) to talk about the most important thing b

2)to share similar opinions and ideas f 8)to hear about something because the information hasbeen passed from one person to another in conversation c

3)to give the main facts in a short, clear way a 9)to be told something by someone who has directknowledge of it j

4)to not understand something e 10)to try to communicate with an unresponsive person k

5)to delay talking about something i 11)to include someone in group communication l

6)to give the latest information d 12)to not understand someone h

Complete these sentences with the idioms in the correct form [Cotton et al. (2011:10)]

1. Ok, I’ll________. I’m afraid it’s the last time we’re going to miss a deadline.

2. Paola and I agree on most things. We seem to be ________.

3. A lot happened while you were on holiday. Let me ________.

4. I think we are ________ . I mean next week, not this week.

5. He never gives you a straight answer. He’s always ________.

6. I ________ that he’s been fired. Is it true?

7. The new organogram is very complicated, but to ________, westill report to the same manager.

8. I’m afraid that isn’t right. If you think our biggest problem iscommunication, then you have ________.

9. This document from our subsidiary makes no sense at all. I ________.

10. I’ve tried to get my supplier to give us a discount severaltimes, but they just won’t. it’s like ________.

11. The company is going bankrupt. The CEO told me himself. I heard it ________.

12. I’ll need regular updates about the progress of the project. I’llalso need to know what’s going on when I’m away. Please________.

Complete these sentences with the idiomsin the correct form [Cotton et al. (2011:10)]

Complete these sentences with the idiomsin the correct form – answer keys

1. Ok, I’ll get straight to the point. I’m afraid it’s the last time we’re going to miss a deadline.

2. Paola and I agree on most things. We seem to be on the same wavelength.

3. A lot happened while you were on holiday. Let me put you in the picture.

4. I think we are talking at cross-purposes. I mean nextweek, not this week.

5. He never gives you a straight answer. He’s alwaysbeating about the bush.

6. I hear it on a grapevine that he’s been fired. Is it true?

7. The new organogram is very complicated, but to put it in a nutshell, we still report to the same manager.

8. I’m afraid that isn’t right. If you think our biggest problem iscommunication, then you have got the wrong end of the stick.

9. This document from our subsidiary makes no sense at all. I can’tmake head nor tail of it.

10. I’ve tried to get my supplier to give us a discount several times, but they just won’t. it’s like talking to a brick wall.

11. The company is going bankrupt. The CEO told me himself. I heardit straight from the horse’s mouth.

12. I’ll need regular updates about the progress of the project. I’llalso need to know what’s going on when I’m away. Please keep me in the loop.

Complete these sentences with the idiomsin the correct form – answer keys

Conversation [Cotton et al. (2011:10)]

• What have you heard on the grapevine recently?

• When is it necessary to put someone in the picture?

• In what situations is it good to get straight to the point?

• Is there anything you can’t make head nor tail of it?

• Who are you on the same wavelength as? Why?

• Have you ever felt you were talking to a brick wall?

• When have you kept either in or out of the loop? How did you feel?

Bibliography

• Bennie, M. (2009), A Guide to Good Business Communication. 5th edition How to write and speak English well in every business situation. Oxford: How to books Ltd.

• Cotton, D., Falvey, D., Kent, S. (2011), Market Leader Upper Intermediate. Business English Course Book. Harlow, Essex: Pearson.