Projekt:Kurswerkstatt/Mitschriften2007

Wirtschaftsenglisch Mitschrift

Structure of the course „Business English"

- General focus: communication in business

- Application for jobs: cover letter, curriculum vitae (CV)

- Listening comprehension, note taking, memo

- Role plays with telephoning, conversations, small talk

- Presentations and discussions about current business topics

- Commercial correspondence: business letters (enquiries, offers), memos

- Business vocabularies: marketing, management, office work, finance, etc.

Formalities

- Certificate of attendance (Teilnahmebescheinigung): regular attendance at the course,

absence not more than 3 x

- Certificate with a mark, optional attendance at a examination in the last lesson: 10

July, 4 p.m. and / or a presentation about a business topic (about 15 minutes)

Correspondance

- j.koch@ish.de

- leissner@rca.uni-essen.de

Topics

All presentations have to be in a context of business!

- Powerpoint Presentation

- Decision of making a presentation and/or writing the examination until next week

Test

Es sollen andere vergleichbare Ausdrücke für die Ausdrücke in Klammern gefunden werden

I'm of the opinion that

In my view

I'm in favour of

It is undisputed that

I'm certain / convinced that

I'm worried about

Apparently

The crucial point is

I'd like to emphasize Precisely / Absolutely

I understand

Great / Amazing

I'm against / opposed

I appreciate your dedication

I'm afraid I can't agree

I see what you meant but

I have to contradict you here

I'm opposed

I think you are mistaken

How about Pardon me?

Let's come to an consensus

Despite

It is conceivable

I would like to apologize

(I think that)

(In my opinion)

(I'm for)

(not discussed) (I'm sure that)

(I'm concerned)

(Obviously)

(The most important point is)

(I'd like to stress)

(Exactly)

(I see)

(Super)

(contra point)

(I like your work)

(go alone with you) (partly agreement)

(I'm of a different opinion)

(I'm against)

(I think you are wrong)

(What about)

(Can you please say it again?) (Let's come to an agreement)

(Although)

(It's thinkable)

(I'm sorry)

Telephone Role Play Answers:

1. Daniela is interested in1 a job as a customer services representative with German.

2. Daniela is put through to the bilingual recruitment section.

3. Daniela speaks to Martin Jones.

4. A big American computer printer manufacture located in Seattle called Super X - Printers Incorporated has advertised the post.

5. They are setting up an international business center in Manchester.

6. She is looking forward to get 30000 per annum plus extra money depending on experience. 7. The company will pay all her relocation costs.

8. The first Interview will take place in Frankfurt and the final Interview will take place in Manchester.

9. Daniela has 2 more weeks to send in her application. 10. She is going to send her application to Net Recruit.

11. In a full application a CV, testimonials, certificates, qualifications, a covering letter and references must be included.

12. Daniela has to take orders over the phone from German speaking customers and troubleshoot if their systems are down.

13. Daniela still has to work for about a month for her old employer.

Test:

internship / placement -short work

to apply -to ask for a job

application -the noun of apply

requirements -expectations

accomplished / completed -finished

reference -report

attach -enclose

referees -people who write a report about you

provide -to give / offer

at your earliest convenience -as soon as possible

personnel manager -manager you want to talk to if you apply

for a job

vacancy -free post

interview -conversation

Yours faithfully -Yours sincerely (If you don't know the

name)

curriculum vitae / CV -live story

section -department

to put through -to get connected

Telephone Role Play:

B: Baring & Price Technology plc in Reading, Julia Parson speaking. A: Hello Ms Parson, this is Otto Spickernagel speaking.

B: Hello Mr. Spickernagel, what can I do for you?

A: I'm calling you up referring to your advertisement in the Job Seekers Weekly for a job as a European sales Clerk.

B: Okay Mr. Spickernagel, do you have any experiences in the export trade?

1

To connect

A: Yes, I've been working at the Scholl Industriebedarf GmbH in Munich for about 3 years. This company exports tools to English speaking countries like Great Britain, USA, Kanda or

Australia. That's why the firm has a lot of English speaking customers I had to deal with. B: That sounds great and is a great advantage if you want to apply for this job. What's the

reason why you want to leave your old firm?

A: I want to gain my own experiences abroad instead of working in my country of birth my whole life.

B: What is with computer-literate? Do you have any knowledge of working with computer

programs?

A: Yes, I'm able to work with Microsoft Windows, Word and Excel.

B: What's about your English? Have you attended any courses in Commercial English?

A: I have attended an Commercial English course at the vocational training college and I've

attended an in-house language course at work. Additionally I have gained the London

Chamber of Commerce and Industry Certificate in English for Business!

B: That's very good. When would you be able to move to the UK? Is it possible to come here

in the near future?

A: I'm not married and would be able to move to Great Britain in about 3 month.

B: When will you be able for an interview?

A: I'm always ready for an interview. Is it possible that the Braing & price Technology plc in

Reading pays my travel expenses?

B: Of course my company will pay the travel expanses if you're invited to an interview! How

about your application, when will you send it off?

A: When will I hear from you, when I'm going to send it off as fast as possible?

B: You'll hear from us in three weeks time after the closing date for applications! Do you still

have any questions?

A: No I think my questions are all answered! Good Bye Ms Parson! B: Good Bye Mr. Spickernagel.

Paper „Listening":

Answers:

1) The applicants name is Mr. Robert Browning. 2) He saw the advertisement on the internet. 3) He applied by email.

4) In the past he worked at a clothing factory in Bradford and learned all about production

there. In addition to that he worked for the TIPP TOPP men's wear department in North London for two years.

5) He was made redundant when they closed the branch. (office)

6) In general he attends a marketing course at London College. In particular he is doing a three month placement in a French fashion company.

7) He would be available at the end of the placement in one month time.

8) His college course is only a part time course that's why he could work at daytime.

9) He knows the South East of England like the back of his hand because he was born there.

10) He has to send his CV, testimonials of TIPP TOPP fashion and the registration of the college off.

Memo:

From: Denise Lohman, Human Resources Department

To: Mr Sam Hayworth, European Sales Director

Subject: Recruitment of Robert Browning

Dear Mr Hayworth,

Today I called up Mr Robert Browning. He applied for our advertisement on the internet by

email. In the past he worked at a clothing factory in Bradford and learned all production there.

In addition to that he had a job at TIPP TOPP men's wear department in North London for

two years, but was made redundant when they closed the branch. At the moment he is

attending a part time marketing course and has a placement at daytime in a French fashion

company which will end in one month. Robert is going to send in all his enclosures like CV and his registration of college as fast as possible. In my opinion the applicant is very suitable

because he gained a lot of practical experiences. Further on he knows South England very

well because he was born there. I take the view that this applicant is a very ambitious candidate for our advertisement.

Kind regards

Denise Lohman

Test:

Branch -Office

To shadow somebody -to assist

Favourable -positive impression

Unfavourable -negative impression

To reject -to refuse To acquire -to gain

Trial period -test period

Testimonial -report from old company Fringe benefits (perks) -Prämie

Period of notice -minimum period when you want to resign

Interview / psychometric test -intelligence and personality test

Gratuity -extra payment

Eligible -to be the right person for the job

To shortlist -to select

To recruit, appoint, employ -to hire

Internship -placement

Appointment pages -article with free jobs

Applicant -people who look for a job

To apply -to ask for a job

Outsourcing to China:

Three questions which summarize the text:

1. Why is China a good place for computer firms?

2. Why are the Chinese students not so well educated like the Indian ones?

3. What's the reason why India is developing still a little bit better than China?

Answers:

1. In China there are several low cost workers which earn very few money. Big computer

firms don't have to pay much loan for them that's why they're outsourcing to China.

2. The Chinese students don't have enough practical experiences when they pass their

examinations.

3. Indian continues to dominate higher - value functions in contrast to China which is

concentrating on lower - level functions.

Discussion themes:

- Disadvantage of our university system (is it comparable to the Chinese system?)

- Political disadvantages in China? (Communism)

- Consequences of outsourcing for Germany?

- Could outsourcing be a solution for the German Telekom?

Making appointments:

Diana: Heike:

Dina:

Heike: Diana: Heike: Diana:

Heike:

Diana: Heike: Diana: Heike:

TopFit Ltd in Lancaster, Diana Dors speaking.

Designer Mode GmbH, this is Heike Hensch speaking. Hello Diana. I'm

calling concerning your email. I would like to arrange an appointment with you.

Just a moment, I'll get my diary. Right.

Now when would you like to see me exactly?

Arte you available at 3 pm at Monday the first June?

No, I'm sorry. I'm having a meeting with Carlos Homberto for one hour. What

About 4 pm?

Oh dear, I'm afraid I've got a discussion with a model agency called

BodyStyle. How about 12 am on Tuesday the second June?

Yes, that'll be fine!

Excellent, I've made a note of that and I'll look forward to seeing you then. Good. Bye for now.

Thanks for calling. Bye.

Memo:

From:

To:

Date:

Subject:

Melanie Schwarz, Landshut

Mr Miles Foreman, Vice President (Europe)

22 May 2007

Order of ten tents from Wales / Urgent order for ten tents Dear Mr Foreman,

Today a customer called Dyllan Jones phoned me up because of a delivery of ten tents to Wales.

He is going to have a party with some Japanese students and needs the tents for them. I

suggested him to take the averest expedition model or the Alaska model but these models were too expensive or too heavy for the students.

He decided to take the Arctic model and needs the tents in about 5 days. I suggested him to deliver them by our van which is going to Wales for a mountain expedition tomorrow.

I'm writing to you in order to get a confirmation for the delivery by van. What do you think of

this suggestion? Would we be able to place ten additional tents into the van? Could I have

your comment in this matter please?

Kind regards

Melanie Schwarz

Notes: Presentation 'Fair Trade'

What is 'Fair Trade':

- Trading partnership (offer better conditions)

History:

- First 1940s & 1950s only represented by religious groups & political oriented groups

- First 'worldshop' in the Netherlands 1969 (success)

- 1980 handcraft goods replaced by agriculture products (perfect alternative)

- 1990s label foundation you pay a higher price but you know why

- In last 10 years world - wide boom

Traded goods:

- Tea, coffee, cocoa, sugar, fruits, juices, rice, spices, flowers (roses), honey, vegetable

oil, wine, cotton

Key principles:

- Opportunities for disadvantaged producers

- Transparency deal fairly

- Payment of a fair price

- Capacity building producers should develop themselves

- Gender equity

- Safe and healthy working conditions

- Environment protection

Effect:

- Return of small producers to markets - Better quality of life for the producers

- Producers get political influence

- Better quality of traded goods

Criticism:

- Price distortion (price is set by an organisation not by the market)

- Insider/outsider markets political influences - Mainstreaming system radical/strict enough?

- No consumer transparency how many of the money is really for the producer

Booking Flights

Travel agent (TA): Cosmos Travel Incorporated. How may I help you?

Marc: Hello, I'd like to enquire about two one way flights to Austin (Texas), please.

TA: Certainly, ma'am. When do you plan to go there? In a week's time.

Marc: OK, so we have to adults travelling to Austin in a week's time.

TA: What time of day would you like to travel, ma'am? Let's say about 10 am.

Marc: I see and do you wish to travel first class, business class or economy? I would like to travel business class.

TA: OK, just give me a moment to check¼ Well ma'am, we can offer you a direct flight at 11 am.

Marc:And how much would that cost?

TA: Two adult one way flights will cost you $270.

Marc: Good. In that case I'd like to book two seats on the 11.00 flight.

TA: If you wish to make a firm reservation now, I'll need your names and a credit card number.

Marc: My name's Marc Wallmann - that's M-A-R-C and the surname's W-A-L-L-M-A-N-N. OK.

And the other person's Doctor Antonia Klar - that's A-N-T-O-N-I-A and the surname's K-L-A-R.

TA: OK, I've got that. Now I need the number of your credit card.

Marc: Certainly. It's a VISA card and the number's 5232540210174386.

TA: Expiration date?

Marc: December of next year.

Memo:

From:

To:

Date:

Subject:

Gisela Riedel, Customer Service

Mr. Peter Radon

5 June 2007

Delay of five weeks for the Klarluft Z1 Dear Mr. Radon,

Today I called Mr. Deboner from Heatmaster Inc. to tell him that our product the Klarluft Z1 has a delay of five weeks because of a massive demand. I suggested him to take the Klarluft Z3 with more power but it was too expensive for him. In addition to that his customers don't

need such powerful cooling & heating units. So my second suggestion was it to take 100 of

the cooling & heating units which are going to Boston by ship. The customer there first needs

them in 3 weeks. He wasn't satisfied by this suggestion, too because he has to pay higher transport costs then. He asked me to grant a 5 % discount on his next order and to pay the

delivery of the transport costs. I confirmed this suggestion because of Mr. Deboner agreeing to take at least 100 units on his next order. In my opinion Mr. Deboner is one of our biggest customers and that's why I agreed to this arrangement.

Kind regards

Gisela Riedel [[Image:]]12.06.2007

Vocabulary test:

Price, product, promotion, place, packaging -5 p's of marketing

Sales representative -people who sell for a company

Flea market -market for old goods

Bargain, snip -very cheap

Reasonable -cheap

Prohibitive -very expensive

Product line -company's products

To launch -to introduce a product

To abandon -to take away a product from the

M a r ke t

Social market economy -market system of Germany

Product lifecycle -stages of life of a product

Fixed costs -costs that do not change

Variable costs -cost that do change Sales target -the amount you want to sell

Listening3:

1. Harry Brown has the order number OF/ZW95A and ordered the furniture a month ago.

2. Möbel Havermann supplied 15 computer tables, 15 swivel chairs, 3 conference tables

and 30 leather chairs.

3. Continental Furniture wants the goods for a big American company called Data Inc. 4. One of the conference tables has a scratch along one edge. Five of the swivel chairs

don't go up and down and three of the leather chairs are discoloured.

5. Probably the leather got discoloured by the sun and the conference table get a scratch

due to rough handling while the transport.

6. Möbel Havermann should replace the damaged furniture within the next 7 days or

Continental Furniture will send back all the goods with carriage forward. That means that Havermann has to pay the delivery.

7. Continental Furniture accepts a big discount on the next order. In addition to that the

damaged things have to be repaired.

8. Pam Adams has to call on Mr Brown to arrange a meeting with him where he should

also check the damaged furniture.

The constitution is dead:

Question 1: What are the new guidelines of the treaty and why is everyone satisfied?

Question 2: What are the crucial points of the new constitution?

Klausur besteht aus:

- Listening Übung (inkl. Memo)

- Business letter - Vocabulary test

Vocabulary Test:

Phrase -another word for saying

Schedule -another word for timetable

Target / goal / aim / sense -another word for purpose

Nervous breakdown -another word for collapse

Misery guts -another word for bad tempered people

Trouble -muddle makes¼

Battle -order is half the ¼

More -less is ¼

Diary -another word for calendar

Priority, prioritise -to order things after ¼ (noun, verb)

Distraction -another word for interruptions

Evaluate -another word for to check

Ahead of schedule -another words for ahead of time

Behind schedule -another word for behind time

Downtime -time while the computer can't be used

Occasionally -another word for sometimes

Vocabulary Test:

Phrase, proverb, saying -"time is money"

Schedule -another word for timetable

Ahead of time -finish earlier then planned

Behind time -finish later

Down time -time which is lost when pc doesn't work Nervous breakdown -nervous collapse

Target, aim -purpose

Diary, calendar -Tagebuch

Prioritise / -ze, priority -to put activities in order (verb & noun)

Distractions -things like TV, Internet,¼ Trouble -muddle makes ¼

Battle -order is half the ¼

At times -sometimes

Evaluate -to check your work

Misery guts -bad tempered people

Spare / leisure time -free time

Eternal life -not ending lifer after death

Product, place, promotion, packaging, price - 5 p's of marketing

Brand: all goods, label: clothes -difference between band & label

Market mechanism -the way how a market get's into balance

Market equilibrium -Marktgleichgewicht

A snip, bargain -very cheap

Extortionate, prohibitive -very expensive

Social market economy -Economy system of Germany

Product lifecycle -stages in the life of a product

To launch a product -to introduce a product

Appliances -machines

Fair -exhibition

Product range / line -all the products of a company

Quantity discount -discount for large orders

Franco to our premises / domicile -free delivery

To manufacture -to produce

Sample -test products

Substantial, sizeable -large orders

Attached -enclosed

Prospectuses -brochure

Purchasing manager -opposite of sales manager

Lecturer -teacher at a university

Graduate -when you finish university

Undergraduates -study for first degree

Post graduates -study for second degree

Grant -financial help

Tuition fee -money to pay each semester

Recruit and dismiss -hire and fire

Psychometric test -test you have to do as an applicant

CV, curriculum vitae -life story

Testimonials -report from old boss

Post, vacancy -free job

Internship, placement -you want to get to know a company

Yours faithfully, sincerely -ending of business letter

Interview -conversation with personnel manager

Applicants -people looking for a job

The crucial point -the most important point

I'm against -I'm not of your opinion

Up to a point I can agree with you¼ -I can't agree with you completely

I think you are mistaken -I think you are wrong