Learn English Professionals

1.01	c
1.02	e
1.03	d
1.04	h
1.05	a
1.06	g
1.07	b
1.08	f

2.01	a) Let’s get straight to business – this is a bit direct and aggressive. The context of a business lunch is supposed to mix business with pleasure. b) I’m not interested in the weather – this is a bit rude and stops the conversation. It would have a negative effect on any lunch partner. c) I hear it rains a lot in the UK – this is a natural extension of the conversation.
2.02	a) 10 mins early if possible – this gives you time to relax before the meeting. An American client will also like to see that you are prepared to spend time waiting for them b) exactly on time – this is okay, but you might be flustered when you arrive c) at least 10 mins late – this is rude. Time is money in business and you must not waste your client’s time
2.03	a) take it with one hand and put it in your pocket – this is casual and rude. The Japanese business person will expect you to respect their name by treating the business card as important. b) take it in two hands and read the name carefully – correct behaviour in Japan c) take it in one hand while giving them your card with the other hand – a bit difficult to manage properly and not what the Japanese person will expect
2.04	a) step on the coin to stop it – very rude. In Thailand, coins have the King’s head on them. b) leave the coin on the floor – rude. In Asia, money is lucky and important. You must show respect to coins. c) wait for the coin to stop and pick it up – correct behaviour
2.05	a) sit, cross your legs, lift your foot and try to relax – showing your foot is rude in the Middle East b) agree to a quick coffee and sit with both feet on the floor – polite behaviour c) say you are too busy – a wasted opportunity. In the Middle East, the personal and professional are commonly mixed
2.06	a) toast them and drink it quickly – expected behaviour, since in Eastern Europe, a drink often ‘seals a deal’. b) say you don’t drink – this is sometimes seen as weakness. Also, it can look like you are refusing to treat the client as a respected friend. c) refuse to drink – this is rude if you don’t try to explain why you will not drink

3.01	T – books and documents are seen as wisdom or knowledge. You must respect them and keep them off the dirty floor
3.02	T – the average Briton has a personal space of 1.41m, according to studies
3.03	T – the left hand is considered unclean. It should not be used for eating either.
3.04	F – only good friends kiss on the cheek in greeting
3.05	T
3.06	T – a man is not permitted to touch a woman in public
3.07	T – statistically, most accountants are female
3.08	T

4.01	h	4.02	b	4.03	i	4.04	a	4.05	j
4.06	c	4.07	g	4.08	f	4.09	e	4.10	d

		F	L
5.01 5.02	There’s not a snowball’s chance in hell! I’m afraid that’s quite unlikely.	X	X
5.03 5.04	A mistake has been made. You have made a mistake.	X	X
5.05 5.06	When are you arriving? Could you let me know when you will be arriving?	X	X
5.07 5.08	Could you pass me the pen? Pass me the pen, please.	X	X
5.09 5.10	Write soon! I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.	X	X
5.11 5.12	It’s really cheap! The product is very reasonably priced.	X	X
5.13 5.14	I want to put the price up. Why don’t we increase the price?	X	X
5.15 5.16	The total is wrong. The total might not be correct.	X	X
5.17 5.18	Could you phone me at 4pm? You will please phone me at 4pm.	X	X

	Grammar	F/L?
6.01	phrasal verbs e.g. ‘put up a price’, ‘get on with someone’	L
6.02	adjectives of feeling e.g. ‘great!’, ‘excellent!’	L
6.03	short, direct questions e.g. ‘Where is it?’, ‘When are you arriving?’	L
6.04	idioms e.g. ‘put your feet up’, ‘not a snowball’s chance in hell’	L
6.05	slang e.g. Using ‘guy’ instead of ‘man’, ‘quid’ instead of ‘pound’	L
6.06	modal verbs e.g. ‘could’, ‘would’	F
6.07	imperatives/orders e.g. ‘Write soon!’, ‘Pass me the pen!’	L
6.08	longer words and sentences e.g. ‘increase’ instead of ‘put up’, ‘reasonably- priced’ instead of ‘cheap’	F
6.09	more difficult grammar e.g. ‘When will you be arriving?’ instead of ‘When are you arriving?’	F
6.10	using the passive tense when describing a problem e.g. ‘A mistake has been made’ instead of ‘You have made a mistake’	F
6.11	using a question when giving an instruction e.g. ‘Could you …?’ instead of ‘You will …’	F
6.12	making a suggestion instead of using the present simple ‘Why don’t we …’ instead of ‘I want to …’	F

*7.01*	Example: Names	In Japan, a worker addresses their boss formally using the boss’s family name followed by ‘san’ to show respect. In a UK office, everyone uses first names.
7.02	Friendly bosses and working relationships	In the UK, the relationship between a worker and a boss is not very formal. A boss in the UK will often treat a worker as an equal.
7.03	Business problems and decision-making	In the UK, a boss is expected to consult all team members before making a decision. One boss cannot be expected to have more ideas than a big team can.
7.04	Tea and coffee and duties	In a UK office, a boss cannot ask a worker to make them a cup of tea or coffee, unless making tea and coffee is one of the normal duties of the worker. Colleagues offer to make each other tea or coffee, but it is not suitable for a boss to ask.
7.05	New tasks and responsibilities	In a UK office, it is common for a boss to ask a worker to take on new tasks and responsibilities. New tasks help a worker to develop their skills. Sometimes, training is given when a worker needs to develop a lot.
7.06	Checking work and accountability	In a UK office, your work will normally be checked by a boss. This checking is ‘quality controlling’ and ‘performance management’.

	Prejudice	Guideline
8.01	racism	8
8.02	sexism	2
8.03	nepotism	9,10
8.04	ageism	2
8.05	sizeism	3
8.06	discrimination against appearance	1, 4, 5, 6
8.07	discrimination against lifestyle habits	7
8.08	discrimination against physical ability	3

In this lesson you have:

	assessed your own level of cultural awareness
	explored differences in behaviour and body language in different cultures
	analysed what makes English formal or less formal
	examined local cultural attitudes within the global business culture

In this study block – Work: Job Hunting and Lifestyles – you have looked at the process of finding a job. You have practised writing a CV and a job application form using job competencies. You have also considered the issues around the interviewing process. You have studied the problems that you may encounter if you are asked to relocate to a foreign country. Finally, you have considered the importance of being sensitive to different cultures.

This is the final study block of the Work module. We hope you have found these materials useful.

LearnEnglish Professionals