English in Quality Management
Unit 1. Occupation or Profession?
Vocabulary
Import – импорт
Export – экспорт
Transport service – транспортное обслуживание
Provide – предоставлять
Private – частный
Social – общественный
Authorities - администрация
In many respects – во многих отношениях
Primarily – изначально
Achieve – достигать
There is a group of occupations which the general public usually refers to as the professions. In the nineteenth century doctors, lawyers and the clergy were generally agreed to be in this category. During the last hundred years there has been an increase in the numbers of those claiming to be members of a profession. In the main this has been a result of the rising proportion of occupations that have required a high standard of education. Many members of these newer occupations, for example engineers and accountants, have aspired to professional status.
...The practice of the professions that were recognized as such in the last century is based on the close personal relationship between the practitioner and his client. The layman who is sick consults his doctor because he is ignorant of the nature of his illness, whilst the doctor is assumed to know how to cure it. In the same way the lawyer can help his clients because of his knowledge of the complexities of the law. Therefore, the professional situation is characterized by the expert practitioner in consultation with the ignorant client who has absolute trust in the advice tendered to him. The practitioner does not use his knowledge except to benefit his clients. According to this analysis the social fact of the professions" rests upon the implications of the social situation involved. Following from the essential nature of this relationship there are, it is said, a number of characteristics that are common to all "true" professions. These characteristics concern the type of knowledge required to practice, the way in which entry to the profession is controlled, the formulation of an ethical code governing professional behavior and finally, the freedom of the professional to practice without lay interference. Though not strictly a consequence of the nature of the interrelationship between practitioner and layman one extension of these implications is usually made, namely that professions tend to found organizations to watch over the codification of the four characteristics identified above.
Answer the questions according to the text:
1. What group of occupations does the general public usually refer to as the professions?
2. Is it possible to refer your future activity to the professions? Why?
3. What is your future professional status characterized by?
4. What type of knowledge is required to practice your profession?
5. What is common to all "true" professions?
Exercises:
Wоrk with a partner. Maкe up a dialogue about the main idea of the text.
Starting a business can be a confusing operation. What could you start with according to the text?
Translate and discuss.
Managing business is a difficult thing, the text gives some positive information for your future success, use it in the situation when a new assistant will help you in your day-to-daу work. Write a list of responsibilities you are going to delegate him.
Starting a business can be a confusing operation: so many decisions to take, so many actions to carry out. It can be important to keep to the right path. If you fail to take one step when it is necessary, this can delay your start. For example, failing to appreciate the right moment to give up work or to claim the Enterprise Allowance can mean less money and, as a result, you may find the early days more of a financial struggle then they need to be.
3) Change the singular forms of the nouns into plural form. Is it possible to do in every sentence? Name the uncountable nouns.
1. There wasn’t enough evidence to prove him right.
2. You should take legal advice before start job choosing.
3. This is a matter I know little about.
4. If I don’t pay this debt I shall lose my job.
5. A solicitor deals with petty crimes.