Intellectual ability Attitude towards people Attitude towards life
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ENTERTAIN YOURSELF
Read and try to memorize this poem (by J. Patrick Lewis).
Small Talk in the Neighborhood
I said, “Hello, how do you do?” He said, “Oh, pretty good, and you?”
He said, “Well, how about this rain?” I said, “The weather’s been a pain.”
I said, “And when it rains, it pours.” He said, “We’ll have to get the oars.”
There wasn’t any more to say – We said the same thing yesterday.
| MODULE 1 | THE WORLD AROUND US |
| UNIT 1 | SOCIALIZING |
| LESSON 1 | FIRST IMPRESSION |
WARMING UP
1. It is very important to do or say something to get conversation going when strangers meet. Do you know what topics are OK for making small talk with someone? What questions could you ask?
2. Do you remember a small poem about a talk with a neighbour? Start saying its first line and let your neighbour on the right say the second line and so on.
VOCABULARY
3. When you get acquainted to people you create a general impression of them.
There are useful words for describing someone’s personality.
The table below shows the words with positive associationsand words
with negative associations.
a) Read aloud these words:
| Positive | Negative | Positive | Negative | Positive | Negative |
| inquiring | nosy | generous | extravagant | astute | sly |
| tolerant | unprincipled | hard-working | work-obsessed | dogged | mulish |
| serious | gloomy | witty | sharp-tongued | thrifty | stingy |
b) Read the comments and say what opinion (positive or negative) the speaker has about his colleagues.
Let me tell you about my new colleagues. Pat, my boss, seems very astute and witty.
I find her assistant, Vince, a bit stingy and work-obsessed. I share an office with Julie
who’s a bit gloomy and mulish. I also do a lot of work with Sam who’s very tolerant and generous.
c) Imagine that someone else is talking about the same people but sees them
in a different light. How might he or she describe them?
E.g. Pat is very sly and sharp-tongued.
4. There are many people around us. Our attitude to different people often is not definite. It can be described with words which have both positive and negative meaning.
a) Match the words on the left with their opposites on the right.
| 1) intellectual | a. lazy | |
| 2) calm | b. stubborn | |
| 3) cheerful | c. thick-skinned | |
| 4) flexible | d. selfish | |
| 5) selfless | e. miserable | |
| 6) sensitive | f. lowbrow | |
| 7) hard-working | g. quick-tempered |
b) Think of the names of one /*two people you know and write them in the chart below.
Who is the person? What’s he/she like? How do you know?
My cousin Kate lazy avoids work
cheerful tells lots of jokes
selfless gives a lot of presents
c) Describe each person you have mentioned.
E.g.My cousin Kate is cheerful and selfless.
She always tells a great many of jokes and gives heaps of presents.
However, sometimes she can be lazy.
I know it because she often wants to shirk work and responsibilities.
Nevertheless, I like her.
READING & SPEAKING
5. Personality traits are very important to produce the better impression.
However, they say a person’s appearance greatly affects the first impression.
a)Skim the text paying special attention to the words/word expressions in italics.
People’s choice of clothes for different circumstances shows not only the impression they want to give other people but also their respect for the situation. What you wear to relax in at home is usually very different to what you wear for a job interview or a wedding. Сlothes are an important part of your non-verbal communication with others. In any situation, a person dressed inappropriately will not be taken very seriously. Knowing what is appropriate is a key to success.
ARGENTINA: formal. The Argentines have adopted British traditions towards clothing, usually wearing formal, conservative outfits, even in many social situations. Foreign business executives visiting Argentina should do likewise.
FRANCE: stylish; best quality. As one would expect, the Inventors of haute couture put a premium on style. Even low-paid, entry-level executives buy the best clothes they can afford.Unlike in the USA, businessmen in France do not usually loosen their ties or take off their jackets in the office. French women are famous for their feminine chic: a smart suit and good shoes as a must.
U.K.: custom tailoring. In the past a gentleman wore well-made old clothes. British business executives are likely to have a new, custom-tailored wardrobe, though conservative styles are still preferred. English weather is often cold and wet. One of the reasons tweed is so popular in England is that it is both warm and comparatively water-resistant.
Brazil: casual but stylish. Style is the most important factor in Brazilian dress. Well-cut, fashionable clothing is expected of Brazilian executives. Many male executives give up neckties. Keep in mind, however, that Brazil is very large, and the degree of casualness varies from city to city. Rio de Janeiro is more casual than Sao Paulo, which itself is more casual than Brasilia.
b) Try to explain the words in italics. *Why are they marked out?
c) Give an appropriate title to the text;
d) Draw a conclusion about ways of dressing in different countries and add information about Russia.
| COUNTRY | STYLE | CLOTHING |
| Argentina | ||
| France | ||
| U.K. | ||
| Brazil | ||
| Russia |
e) Tell 5 / *7 sentences about traditions towards clothing in different countries basing on the table.
6. If you want to be noticedand climb a career ladder the first impression is a necessary survival mechanism. There are some important tips on how to make a good impression.
a) Read and arrange them in order of importance for you:
§ 
Be dressed appropriately / neatly.
§ Introduce yourself.
§ Listen attentively.
§ React appropriately.
§ Ask questions.
§ Address people by name.
§ Give and receive compliments graciously.
§ Smile and nod a lot.
§ Remember the name of the person you are talking to.
§ Always try to add a statement or a question after “yes” or “no” answers.
§ Maintain eye contact.
§ Involve everyone.
§ Avoid interrupting.
b) Work with your partner and discuss your priorities.
The examples below will help you make a dialogue.
E.g. 1) – It’s very important to listen attentively.
– I agree / Sure / I can’t agree more /etc.,
and it’s also important to ask questions and maintain eye contact.
*2) – I don’t think that clothing is important.
– I disagree / I’m afraid you’re mistaken / etc. I know the proverb: “Greet him according to his clothes, take leave according to what he knows”.
WRITING
7. Write a letter to your parents and share the impressions your new classmates (2–*4 people) made on you.
NB!
Informal style of writing is characterized by the use of:
– short opening and closing remarks (Hi Mum, Love, See you ….)
– abbreviations (I’m)
– colloquial phrasal verbs, idioms, and everyday language
(I get on well with her)
– the imperative (Do write me more often)
– informal linkers (and, so, but NOT however
DIY
1. Listen to the text You Never Get a Second Chance to Make a First Impression and complete the sentences 1–5 with the best answers a–c.
1) The moment two people first meet they…
a) look and talk to each other.
b) look at each other.
c) look at each other and build a picture of each other.
2) The story about Jake and Caroline shows that
a) problems stop communication.
b) we can make mistakes based on first impressions.
c) they liked each other in the end.
3) Studying good communicators tells us that they
a) make us feel positive.
b) make us feel friendly.
c) make us feel like good communicators too.
4) Powerful communicators
a) do not always know the effect they have on the other person.
b) are never honest.
c) are not always honest.
5) PCs are
a) the best at running.
b) the best at winning.
c) the best at creating positive first impressions.
2. Read the text and check if you are right