Unit 4 Is Work Another Four-letter Word?

Unit Organization

At Work

Lead in DISCUSSION

Basic LISTENING

Practice

SPEAKING out

LISTENING in

Let’s TALK

Leaving and taking

a message

Making and postponing

an Appointment

Lead in Discussion• In an enterprise or institution, is it necessary to

describe each employee’s duties clearly?• Detailed job description, definite aim, high

motivation, know the reward and punishment, prevent unnecessary duplication and conflict

• Stand in the way of cooperation, turn a blind eye to things that fall outside their scope of responsibilities

Multiple choice

1. If your boss does not describe your job responsibility clearly, what can you do?

a) Ask your colleagues in private.

b) Ask the boss questions about it until you understand.

c) Ask the boss to clarify it just once.

d) Watch how your colleagues do the same job.

2. What kind of questions can you ask about your job?

a) Questions about daily routine

b) Long-term goals

c) The role of your job in the company’s aim

d) All of the above.

3. When James was transferred to a new department, how many managers did she have to work for?

a) One.

b) Two.

c) Three.

d) Four.

4.With whom did James draft a list of goals?

a) Her principal boss.

b) The quality control manager.

c) The human resource manager.

d) Her colleague.

5. How was her list of goals received?a) The boss was displeased with her

ambition.b) Her colleagues were unhappy about her

ambition.c) The boss used it to assess her annual

performance.d) The boss used it to assess all

employee’s annual performance.

Basic listening Practice

Depend on the circumstances, weak leadership, take over

Have an appointment, leave a messageGet a promotion, hang around muchSelf-made success, a loyal and faithful

employeeConsider somebody for a position, be

pleased with somebody’s work, welcome more responsibility

1. What does the woman want to be?a) A team player.b) A leader.c) Either a team member or a leader.d) A weak leader but a good team player.

2. Where is the conversation probably taking place?

a) In a coffee shop.b) In an office.c) In a restaurant.d) At a railway station.

3. Why is the man unhappy?a) He won’t be promoted.b) His colleagues instead of him will be

promoted.c) The boss is going to fire him.d) His close friend is going to leave.

4. What is true of the woman?a) She praises Mr. Jones for being faithful.b) She admires Mr. Jones.c) She is a self-made millionaire.d) She wants to employ an accountant.

5. Which of the following is true?a) The woman likes working there but

worries about too much responsibility.b) The man likes working there but worries

about too much responsibility.c) The man will be promoted to be an office

manager.d) The woman may be promoted to be an

office manager.

Listening in This is going to hurt me more than it will hurt

you I find that surprising I am not here to argue No one is indispensable Clear out your desk A different kettle of fish Live up to someone’s trust

1. Why is the man surprised at being fired?a) He never took illegal commissions.b) He sold the company’s products at

higher prices.c) He sold more of the company’s products

than other salespeople.d) He is getting along well with his

colleagues.

2. What is the second reason mentioned for the man to object to his being fired?

a) He knows more customers than any other employee.

b) Only he knows how to get a certain large contract.

c) He used to be a manager of a large company.

d) A relative of his is the manager of a large company.

3. What mistake did the woman make?a) She mistook the man for Carl Smith.b) She raised the man’s pay by mistake.c) She praised the wrong person.d) She almost fired the wrong person.

4. What do you know about the man’s work performance?

a) He often works overtime.b) He is a lazy worker.c) He works neither too hard nor lazily.d) He is often late for work.

5. What does the man finally get?a) A salary increase for the first time.b) A salary increase for the second time.c) A promotion.d) A demotion.

Video Clip

• Family Album/Smell the flowers/ Act 2• Susan:…Sam, get Mr. Levine at Toytown Stores

on the telephone for me, please.• Sam:…Hello. Susan Stewart calling Mr. Levine,

please….He’s on the phone.• Susan: Mr. Levine, Susan Stewart. I find myself

in an embarrassing situation. I made another lunch date for today and forgot to enter it in my appointment book. Can you and I meet for drinks tomorrow? I’d really appreciate it…Yes…Thank you….Tomorrow at five o’clock at the Biltmore. I’ll see you then. Thank you, Mr. Levine.

Speaking out

• Task 1: Please repeat the useful expressions you have learned up to now about leaving/taking a message to your group.

• Task 2: Please repeat the useful expressions you have learned up to now about making/postponing an appointment to your group.

Let’s talk

• Task 1: Call the secretary of your Professor to make an appointment to talk about your term essay. Call him/her again to cancel the previous appointment and make another one.

• Task 2: Debate: Are interpersonal relationship more important than one’s practical ability to a successful career.(p54)

Further Listening and Speaking

• hang out with

• lay down the law

• follow regulations to the letter

• call in sick

• crack the whip

• No more punching in late. No More clocking out early. No more…

Question for discussion

• Would you like to work under the direction of a strict but efficient manager or a considerate abut inefficient manager? Why?