Smirnov's Work at the Office

I'm the company manager. Our company is very large. We've got offices in different cities. Our company sells goods to many foreign countries. We do business with French and British companies.

My office is in Minsk. I've got much work to do every day. My office hours begin at 9 o'clock but I come earlier to get ready for work.

In the morning my secretary brings me the mail. I read the mail and write business letters to foreign firms. Every day 1 look through

newspapers and journals. I'm interested in the latest political and business events. I receive customers in my office and discuss business problems with them: prices for different goods, terms of payment, shipment and delivery and some other contract terms.

I often speak to our customers on the phone. They are interested in buying a new model of office equipment from our company. They'd like to have the latest catalogues and quotations. I usually make appointments with our customers on the phone. Sometimes I go abroad on business.

I finish my work at 6 o'clock but if there are some urgent matters, I stay in the office later.

2. Word Study

A. Give Russian equivalents to the following English word
combinations:

to do business with; to have much work to do; to get ready for work; to look through the mail; to be interested in sth; the latest business and political events; to receive customers; to discuss different problems; to go abroad on business; prices for goods; to speak to the customers on the phone; the latest catalogues and quotations; urgent matters; to stay in the office later.

B. Supply the sentences with required words. If necessary, change
their grammatical forms.

mail equipment shipment

customer goods urgent

1. The demand for ... and services is lower this year. 2. Discounts are available for our regular ... 3. Some of the equipment was lost during ... .4. Tell him the message is .... 5. A computer is the most important piece of ... in the office. 6. I haven't had a chance to open my ... yet.

C. Find words in the text which have the following meanings:

1) the process of bringing goods or letters to a place; 2) a book containing pictures and information about things you can buy; 3) the conditions you accept when you buy or sell something; 4) the price that someone says they will charge you for doing a particular piece of work.

Diving Deeper

Put thepoints of the plan in the right order.

Smirnovarrives at his work earlier than required.

___ Smirnov looks through the mail.

__ If there is nothing urgent, Smirnov's working day finishes

at six.

___ Smirnov meets his customers to discuss business problems

with them or speaks to them on the phone.

___ Smirnov's company deals with many foreign firms.

4. Role-Playing

Student A: You are Mr. Smirnov, you met your former school-mate whoyou haven't seen for ages. Your friend doesn't know anything aboutyou. Answer his questions about your work.

Student B: You are Smirnov's former school-mate. You haven't seenSmirnov for a long time and want to know about his job and working day. Ask your friend questions.

5. What kind of work do you like I dislike doing?

A. Use the verbs listed in the left column to describe your feelings about the kind of work listed in the right column. Make the appropriate structural changes.

Example: I don't mind working alone.

avoid	work alone
dislike	do paper work
enjoy	make decisions
don't mind	manage people (projects)
can't stand	write reports
be interested in	do research
object to	work in a team