16

Professional PAGE
LAN S OF
G
PRA UAGE

English CTIC
E

A SERIES OF PODCASTS
TO IMPROVE YOUR ENGLISH FOR
YOUR CAREER IN THE WORKPLACE!
Exercises by Pamela Linwood
 PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH

MANAGING CONFLICT
TRACK 9 Listen to some people trying to resolve a dispute
THE SPEAKERS
B1/B2 INTERMEDIATE at work with the help of Mike, a mediator.

1. Listen and decide whether these statements are true (T) or false (F).
1. Mike asks Gavin for his version of how the dispute started.
2. Gavin has been working on a special project for the past six months.
3. Gavin and Craig accuse each other of being unfriendly.
4. Gavin doesnt think his colleagues are dynamic enough.
5. Mike wants to hear Gavins and Craigs opinions of each other.
6. Craig wanted to make some changes, but Gavin was opposed to them.
7. Mike says its more a problem of job descriptions than of personalities.
8. He says they need to review everyones roles and responsibilities.

2. Complete the second sentence with 2 to 4 words so that it means the same as the first
sentence.
Example: I realise that you have had some problems recently.
I realise that there have been some problems between you recently.
1. Id like to try and solve them right now.
Id like to try and sort ____________________ right now.
2. Why has this problem arisen now?
Can you tell me why ________________________________________ now?
3. I always feel as if Im unwelcome here.
Ive ________________________________ as if Im welcome here.
4. All the other people here seem half asleep.
________________ ________________ seems half asleep.
5. I could see that we needed to make some changes here.
I could see that ________________________________________________ making here.
6. Can we just avoid personal comments?
Can we just keep ________________________________ personal comments?

3. Complete this summary of the conversation using the correct form of the following
reporting verbs. (Sometimes there is more than one answer.)
accuse agree ask claim complain deny explain suggest
Mike wanted to try and sort out the problems between Gavin and Craig. He started by
1__________________ how the dispute had arisen. Gavin 2__________________ that Craig had
tried to block his progress on the special project but Craig strongly 3__________________ it. Gavin
went on to 4__________________ Craig and the others of being unfriendly and not wanting to make
any changes.
Craig, in turn, 5__________________ that Gavin didnt respect the limits of his job description and
that he had tried to change the way everyone else worked. Gavin tried to 6__________________ that
this was unavoidable as his project involved everyone else and the way they worked.
At this point, Gavin and Craig both 7___________________________ with Mark that personality
issues were crucial to the problem, so Mark 8___________________________ reviewing everyones
roles and responsibilities and trying to come to some agreement.

II
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AUDIOSCRIPT
Mike (Mild Northern English accent): OK, Craig and
Gavin, I realise that there have been some problems
between you recently, and Id like to try and sort them
out right now. Gavin, can you tell me why you think this
problem has arisen now?
Gavin: Youre asking me!? I really have no idea. I mean
I came into this job a year ago with a special project to
do I had a very positive attitude, I was excited about
it, and Craigs just blocked me all along
Craig (Welsh accent): Well, thats not fair at all, thats
just not true!
Mike: OK, OK, one second. Can everyone speak one at
a time, please! Gavin, go on
Gavin: Well, thats about it, really. Ive never felt as if Ive
been welcomed here. I mean, when I walk in to the of-
ce, the others dont even say hello to me
Craig: Thats just not true!!! Its you who doesnt say
hello!! He came in here for a one-year project, but has then
Mike: Craig, please! Gavin, can you tell me why you tried to change the way everyone else works as well
think this situation may have arisen? Mike: Gavin? Can you respond to that?
Gavin: Well, as I said, Ive really no idea. Perhaps its Gavin: Well, my project involved everyone else! It was
just my style Im very positive, energetic and outgoing, impossible to do what I had to do without getting other
while everyone else here seems to be half-asleep people to rethink the way they work.
Mike: Erm, listen, I dont think that personal, judgmen- Mike: OK, I think that personality issues are crucial here.
tal comments like that help. Can we just stick to facts, Gavin/Craig: Right! Absolutely!
rather than opinions? Mike: Personality issues are the most difcult things to
Gavin: Ok, well, I could see right away that some chang- change. Perhaps well never be able resolve them. You
es needed making here, so I set about making those are different people with different personalities and dif-
changes ferent ways of working.
Mike: And was that part of your job description? Gavin: And so?
Gavin: Job description! Job description! Thats all I ever Mike: Well, that doesnt mean the problem cant be
hear round here, thats the problem with this place, solved. We have to be exible, accept change and be
theres no initiative, no energy tolerant of difference.
Mike: Hmm, OK, Craig, would you like to tell us what you Craig: Easy to say!!
feel the problem is? Mike: Well, yes, it is easy to say but difcult to do! I
Craig: Well, I think its quite clear, isnt it? Him! Thats it! dont deny that. However, what we need to do is review
Mike: OK, as I said, can we keep away from personal your project, and look at everyones roles and responsi-
comments here, and stick to talking about the work- bilities in the project and in this organisation as a whole.
place? If everyone sticks to and respects other peoples roles
Craig: Well, I am talking about the workplace! He and responsibilities, then we can at least settle on a
doesnt respect the limits of what hes supposed to do. good, constructive working atmosphere.

plain 7. agreed 8. suggested

3. 1. asking 2. claimed/complained/explained 3. denied 4. accuse 5. complained/claimed 6. ex-
changes needed 6. away from
2. 1. them out 2. this problem has arisen 3. never felt 4. Everyone/Everybody else here 5. some
more important. 8. T
rather than opinions. 6. F Gavin wanted to make some changes. 7. F He says personality issues are
1. T 2. F He has been working on it for a year. 3. T 4. T 5. F He wants them to stick to facts
ANSWERS

III
PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH

WORK BURNOUT
TRACK 10 Listen to the guests on a radio chat show
THE SPEAKERS
B1/B2 INTERMEDIATE talking about work-related stress and burnout.

1. As you listen, number the topics in the order in which you hear them.
a. The importance of the support of family and friends.
b. Steves attitude to medication.
c. How Steve realised his problem was serious.
d. The benefits of meditation.
e. Pams new book.
f. The difference between stress and burnout.

2. Listen again and choose the correct answer: A, B or C.

1. Pams book is about
A. stress. B. burnout. C. these and other work-related health problems.
2. Steve got better by
A. going to Pams clinic. B. reading Pams book. C. attending lessons.
3. Pam says that
A. burnout and stress are a bit different. B. stress can lead to burnout. C. burnout is like drowning.
4. Steve describes his usual character as
A. optimistic. B. a bit cynical. C. subject to depression.
5. Pam says anti-depressants
A. arent effective. B. arent as good as they used to be C. werent necessary in Steves case.
6. Meditation can help patients to recover because
A. it has a calming effect. B. it takes you away from the outside world. C. it does both of these things.

3. Complete the second sentence with 2 to 4 words so that it means the same as the first
sentence.
Example: I was a case study for Pam.
Pam used me as a case study.
1. Steve was suffering from burnout in a serious way.
Steve had a ________________________________ of burnout.
2. Could you define burnout for us?
Could you tell us what ________________________________ ?
3. Anti-depressants used to be different.
Anti-depressants arent the same ________________________________ be.
4. Steve felt quite strongly about it.
It was something Steve ________________________________ .
5. I dont even take aspirin if I dont have to.
I dont even take aspirin unless ________________________________ .
6. Its years since I felt so good.
I ________________________________ so good for years.

IV
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AUDOSCRIPT
Host: Id like to thank you both for coming along to-
day. Pam, this is your new book, Taking the Blues
out of Work - How to Deal with Work-related Health
Problems.
Pam: Yes.
Host: And Steve, youve just recovered from work
burnout one of the most serious and common -
work related problems yes?
Steve: Yes, thats right. Im in the book! Pam used me
as a case study.
Pam: Yes, Steve came along to my clinic for help. He
had a serious case of burnout. He followed a course
of therapy and
Steve: and she helped me to get my health back
again.
Host: Well, thats great. Its good to hear theres a
happy ending. Pam, could you tell us what work burn-
out actually is? Arent we just talking about stress
here? Is there a difference?
Pam: Yes! There is a difference. A very big differ-
ence. But thats a good question because most peo-
ple make the mistake of thinking that burnout is just
another word for stress so Ill start with that. Eve-
ryone understands stress. We live in a world where with the doctor. He was helpful and referred me to
stress is part of our everyday lives. Burnout can be Pam.
the result of too much stress, but it isnt the same Pam: But Steve was lucky to have the support of his
thing. I once heard somebody say that if stress is like family and friends. Its difcult to get better on your
drowning in an overload of work, burnout is more like own. Its important to do normal things, exercise, so-
being all dried up. With stress we lose our energy, cialise, go for a walk, meet a friend for a coffee
with burnout we lose much more our motivation, Host: And did Steve need medication?
our hope and one very important difference be- Steve: No.
tween stress and burnout is that we know when we Pam: We decided to try with everything else rst medi-
are stressed, but we dont usually realise we are suf- cation can be effective, anti-depressants arent the same
fering from burnout these days as they used to be, but Steve got better without
Host until its too late. any. In fact it was something he felt quite strongly about.
Pam: Exactly. Steve: I dont even like taking an aspirin, unless I really have
Host: Steve, how did you know that your problem to so I think I made a real effort to listen to Pam and do the
was more serious than just being stressed? things she suggested. I even started meditating!
Steve: Well, I didnt realise myself. Other people real- Host: Meditating?
ised rst. I changed my behaviour and started feeling Pam: Yes, it can really help. It calms the mind and helps to
really negative and cynical about everything. That shut out the worlds distractions.
wasnt me at all. Ive always been a happy-go-lucky Host: And how are you now, Steve?
sort of bloke. It got to the point where I felt so hope- Steve: I feel great. Better than I have for years!
less and depressed that I couldnt even face getting Host: Well, Im glad to hear it .. now lets talk a bit about the
up in the morning. My wife made me an appointment more general picture (fade out)

6. I havent felt
3. 1. serious case 2. burnout (actually) is 3. as they used to 4. felt quite strongly about 5. I have to
2. 1. C 2. A 3. B 4. A 5. C 6. C
1. 1. e 2. f 3. c 4. a 5. b 6. d
ANSWERS

V
PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH

LINE MANAGEMENT
TRACK 11 Listen to part of a radio programme in which a manager,
THE SPEAKERS
B1/B2 INTERMEDIATE Jenny Buxton, is being interviewed about her job.

1. As you listen, number the parts of the conversation in the correct order.
a. Jenny describes some of the negative aspects of line management.
b. The presenter asks Jenny how she gets on with her staff.
c. Jenny describes what she likes about her job.
d. The presenter introduces the second part of the programme.
e. The presenter asks Jenny how she came to be in her present position.

2. Listen again and choose the correct answer: A, B or C.

1. How many people does Jenny have working under her?
A. 5 B. 15 C. 50
2. How long has Jenny worked for the firm?
A. Since she left university. B. for a year or so. C. She doesnt say.
3. What does Jenny say you have to do when managing people?
A. Make people respect you. B. Be prepared to be unpopular at times. C. Avoid being the one to
bring bad news.
4. What, according to Jenny, is the hardest aspect of the job?
A. Making sure people understand their responsibilities. B. Getting people to agree to the rules.
C. Dealing with matters of discipline.
5. What does Jenny like about her work?
A. Encouraging people to develop new skills and further their careers. B. Involving staff in the
development of new products. C. Helping to find alternative jobs for dissatisfied employees.
6. What does she say about the role of planning in her job?
A. She avoids making plans because every day brings a different challenge. B. Every possible situation
has to be foreseen and planned for. C. Plans have to be made but she has to be ready to face different
problems every day.

3. Fill the gaps in the sentences by choosing one of the words in brackets.
1. I dont like my job very much but Ive decided to stick ________________ (to/on/at) it because the
salarys very good.
2. Starting a different job usually presents you with a whole new ________________ (pack/set/group)
of challenges.
3. Sandra prides herself ________________ (at/of/on ) her organising skills.
4. In his new management position, Richard is responsible ________________ (for/of/with) a staff of
35 people.
5. The standard of Toms work isnt high enough. If he doesnt shape ________________ (off/over/up),
well have to replace him.
6. In this talk, Id like to focus ________________ (to/on/at) the positive aspects of the present situation.
7. Before allowing us to start work in the factory, the safety officer ________________ (took/brought/
sent) us through all the safety procedures.
8. If we say someone has a ________________ (deep/thick/strong) skin, we mean they dont care if
other people criticise them.

VI
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AUDIOSCRIPT
Presenter: Welcome back to the second part of our
programme How Do You Manage? I have with me
Jenny Buxton, who works in Ipswich. Welcome Jenny.
JB: Hi.
Presenter: You work for a well-known rm of retailers,
but its not the products I wanted to talk to you about
today, its the people involved. Youve been responsi-
ble for a staff of 15 for a year or so now. Tell me how
you got there.
JB: Well, I did the standard round of applications from
university and this is my second employer. I enjoy the
area of retailing, but, as far as managing staff, thats
more recent and so its quite a new area for me, with
a whole new set of challenges.
Presenter: You pride yourself on being good with peo-
ple. Youve got quite a sociable, outgoing personality. I
imagine youd be a good person to work under.
JB: Well, thats what I like to think! But managing peo-
ple isnt all about sitting down with a cup of tea and
talking over issues. Being in a position of responsi-
bility means you can be the bringer of bad news, as
well as good. You have to develop a thick skin, to be
unpopular, not to be liked for a decision you make.
Presenter: And I guess that can be hard at rst.
JB: Yes, but the thing you learn, if you stick at it long
enough, is that people will still respect you, even if
3. 1. at 2. set 3. on 4. for 5. up 6. on 7. took 8. thick
2. 1. B 2. C 3. B 4. C 5. A 6. C
1. 1. d 2. e 3. b 4. a 5. c
ANSWERS
they dont like what you had to say on a particular
subject, or the way you acted.
Presenter: Are there other aspects of line managing
that you nd difcult?
JB: One of the hardest, most awkward things is the
issue of disciplinary action. The company should have
a system in place for dealing with this kind of area and
you have to make sure the system is understood and
agreed by everyone. But, ultimately, if youve taken
the employee through all the procedures and he or
she still doesnt shape up, some hard decisions have
got to be made.
Presenter: We seem to be focusing a lot on the nega-
tive side here! What about some of the positive things?
JB: Oh, the chance to help people reect on things,
how theyre developing with the company. I like see-
ing people develop, change and perhaps go off on a
completely new path, something that may never have
occurred to them, if you hadnt pointed them in that
direction.
Presenter: I imagine it can be quite satisfying.
JB: Yes, and then theres the sheer variety. You plan
your work, you have to get yourself well-organised,
but ultimately no two days are ever the same. Theres
always a new challenge, and I like that more than any-
thing.
VII
PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH

INTERVIEWING TECHNIQUES
TRACK 12 Listen to a journalist giving advice on
THE SPEAKER
B1/B2 INTERMEDIATE interviewing techniques.

1. Listen and tick the topics the journalist talks about.

1. The importance of preparing for the interview.
2. How to dress for the interview.
3. The best time of day for conducting an interview.
4. The order of the questions.
5. Where to have the interview.
6. How to start the interview.
7. The interviewers manner.
8. How to interrupt an interviewee politely.
9. Summing up what has been said.
10. What to do after the interview.

2. Listen again and write in the missing words.

1. ______________ ______________ as much as you can about the person youre going to interview,
and the ______________ ______________ of the interview.
2. Most people find questions about ______________ much easier to answer, so they start to feel more
______________ ______________.
3. Be ______________ and courteous. Start by ______________ ______________ and stating the
reason for the interview.
4. During the interview, you should be ______________ but ______________.
5. Ask ____________ questions. Ask for evidence to _________ any claims made by the interviewee.
6. But never ask _______________ questions. _____________ the person say what they want to say.
7. When ending the interview, you should ______________ ______________ ______________ the
main things that have been said. This gives you a _____________ to ______________ your notes.
8. You should then ask the ______________ if they want to ______________ anything else. And finally,
ask if you can ______________ them again, should you need to.

3. Complete these definitions with words or phrases from the audioscript.

1. The ________________ rules for something are the fundamental principles on which it will be based.
2. A rule of ________________ is a practical rule based on experience.
3. Another word for polite is ________________.
4. If you say something off the ____________, you dont want it to be reported or attributed to you.
5. If you are ________________, you are sure of your abilities and qualities.
6. A ______________ ________________ is a question that suggests what the answer should be.
7. If you make a ________________, you say something is true without giving any proof.
8. If you do something in ________________, you do it before a particular event or date.

VIII
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AUDIOSCRIPT
I know it sounds obvious, but you really must pre-
pare before the interview. Find out as much as you
can about the person youre going to interview, and
the subject matter of the interview. Prepare your
questions in advance. Think about the order you will
ask them. A rule of thumb is to ask questions about
facts rst, leaving opinion questions until later. Most
people nd questions about facts much easier to an-
swer, so they start to feel more at ease. Spend a little
time imagining how you hope the interview will go.
Visualise yourself in the situation, introducing your-
self, asking the rst question.
Think about where the interview will take place. Try
to interview the person in a place which is appropri-
ate to the interview their place of work, for exam-
ple. Interviewing a person on their territory can put
them at ease, and also provide you with colour for
your story.
How you start the interview can inuence how suc-
cessful it will be. Be condent and courteous. Start
by introducing yourself and stating the reason for the
interview. Set your ground rules. For example, you
may want to insist that the interviewee says in ad-
vance if they want what they say to be off the record.
3. 1. ground 2. thumb 3. courteous 4. record 5. condent 6. leading question 7. claim 8. advance
tact
5. follow-up support 6. leading Let 7. go back over chance review 8. interviewee add con-
2. 1. Find out subject matter 2. facts at ease 3. condent introducing yourself 4. polite - rm
1. The topics mentioned by the journalist are: 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10.
ANSWERS
During the interview, you should be polite but rm.
Ask your questions in a condent manner, and listen
carefully to the answers. Very often an inexperienced
interviewer will simply go through their list of ques-
tions, not realising that some of them have already
been answered. Use your list of questions as a base
for the interview, not a rigid script. Ask follow-up
questions. Ask for evidence to support any claims
made by the interviewee. Dont be afraid to ask How
do you know that? But never ask leading questions.
Let the person say what they want to say, not what
you want them to say.
When ending the interview, you should go back over
the main things that have been said. This gives you
a chance to review your notes. You should then ask
the interviewee if they want to add anything else. And
nally, ask if you can contact them again, should you
need to.
OK, so the interview is over, but you have one last
task. As soon as possible, sit down and look at your
notes. Are they clear? Is there anything else you can
add to them? Do this while you can still remember
what was said. And write down all the colour you can
remember about the person and the place.
IX
PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH

MANAGING DIVERSITY
Listen to part of an interview in which business
TRACK 13
THE SPEAKERS management expert Alan Griffin talks about the
B1/B2 INTERMEDIATE
diversity-related risks some companies face.

1. As you listen, number the topics in the order in which you hear them.
a. Some less-known forms of discrimination.
b. How companies can protect themselves against the risks of complaints.
c. The widening concept of diversity and discrimination.
d. The example of security firms.
e. The cost of insurance.
f. The number of complaints received by the Equal Opportunities Commission.
g. The law regarding a job applicant with a criminal record.
h. The increase in complaints of ageism.

2. Match a verb in column A with a word or phrase in column B to form some common
collocations used in the recording.

A B
1. to deal a. insurance
2. to discriminate b. a direct relation to something
3. to le c. a complaint
4. to take out d. an applicant
5. to turn away e. with a problem
6. to bear f. a sentence
7. to serve g. a reputation
8. to address h. time and effort in doing something
9. to build up i. an issue
10. to invest j. against a person

3. Complete the second sentence with 2 to 4 words so that it means the same as the first
sentence.
Example: They are a matter of great importance.
They are very much an issue.
1. Companies dont only have a persons skin colour or gender to consider.
Companies have a lot more __________________________ a persons skin colour or gender
2. They should think carefully about how they recruit people.
They should think carefully about their ____________________________________.
3. Insurance is cheaper than you might think.
Insurance isnt _______________________________ you might think.
4. The cost of insurance is lower than it was some years ago.
The cost of insurance ______________________________ over the years.
5. How many people actually carry out their threats to sue a company?
How many people actually ________________________ with their threats to sue a company?
6. Theres a much higher probability that youll be sued by an employee.
Youre much more _____________________________________ by an employee.

X
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AUDIOSCRIPT
Interviewer: Tell me, Mr. Grifn, are diversity risks re-
ally still an issue? Arent companies these days deal-
ing with diversity?
AG (Welsh accent): Oh yes, they are very much an is-
sue. We have come a long way since those days when
employers were allowed to discriminate against job
candidates just because of their race or their sex. The
trouble is, the boundaries of diversity and discrimina-
tion are widening. Companies have a lot more to con-
sider than a persons skin colour or a persons gender.
Interviewer: So can you give listeners an example of
what kind of things you are referring to here?
AG: OK, lets see. Well, one growing area of discrimi-
nation is ageism. In 1998, companies in the United
States had to pay out more than 55 million dollars
to employers who had led age-related discrimination
complaints against their companies. Thats a lot of
money.
Interviewer: Phew! So how should companies protect
themselves from this kind of thing?
AG: Well, rst of all, they should think carefully about
their recruitment policies and then they should take
out insurance to cover themselves.
Interviewer: Well, isnt that expensive? For the compa-
nies, I mean.
AG: No, not as expensive as you might think. These
days most small- and medium-sized organisations
take out EPLI, thats Employment Practices Liability
Insurance. The cost of the insurance has fallen over
the years and, if a company isnt covered and loses
a discrimination case, well, lets just say this is the
cheaper option!
Interviewer: Youve mentioned ageism as a grow-
ing concern, but what other kinds of diversity should
managers be aware of?
AG: Well, youd probably be surprised to hear about
some: discrimination against single people, against
married parents, against people who are too tall, too
short, too heavy!
Interviewer: Really?
AG: Oh, yes! Security rms are a good example here.
They typically state that their employees need to be
over or under a certain height or weight. They claim
its necessary for the job, but there have been cases
where people have claimed discrimination.
Interviewer: And won?
AG: Sometimes, yes. Then there are people with a
criminal background. Employers used to feel justied
in turning away job applicants just because theyd
been in trouble with the law.
Interviewer: Isnt that still the case?
AG: No, not exactly. The law states that employers can
only reject a job applicant with a criminal record if the
crime bears a direct relation to the job in question. So
somebody who has served a sentence for lets say
stealing cars, would be all right in a job as a kitchen
porter.
Interviewer: And Mr. Grifn, tell me, how many people
actually go through with their threats to sue a com-
pany for discrimination?
AG: Well, I... havent got the latest gures for the UK
but in the United States the Equal Opportunities Com-
mission receive around 85,000 complaints every year
and that gure is rising. Race and sex account for
most of the complaints that are led, but age discrimi-
nation is on the increase, too.
Interviewer: So, any words of advice for risk manag-
ers?
AG: Well, rst of all, make sure that you have adequate
insurance. Then address the issues of diversity from
within the organisation. Get the employees involved.
Celebrate the differences and try to build up a repu-
tation as a fair employer. And remember, it is worth
investing time and effort in addressing these issues
because statistics have shown that youre much more
likely to be sued by an employee than a third party.

6. likely to be sued
3. 1. to consider than 2. recruitment policies 3. as expensive as 4. has fallen 5. go through/ahead
2. 1. e 2. j 3. c 4. a 5. d 6. b 7. f 8. i 9. g 10. h
1. 1. c 2. h 3. b 4. e 5. a 6. d 7. g 8. f
ANSWERS

XI
PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH

TREND ANALYSIS
Listen to an interview with Nicola Bailey, a social
TRACK 14
THE SPEAKERS affairs commentator, on changes in patterns of
B1/B2 INTERMEDIATE
working.

1. As you listen, number the topics in the order in which Nicola Bailey talks about them.
a. The number of women in full-time work.
b. The need to put some trends into perspective.
c. The proportion of permanent job contracts today compared to the past.
d. The number of people with flexible working hours.
e. The percentage of temporary jobs.
f. The working week in the UK compared to that in the rest of Europe.

2. Listen again and decide whether these statements are true (T) or false (F).
1. The interviewer thinks working patterns are considerably different from those of previous
generations.
2. Nicola Bailey doesnt entirely agree with the interviewer.
3. Bailey says the media are creating an accurate picture of the present situation.
4. The number of British people with permanent jobs has fallen dramatically.
5. The number of working women with dependent children is the same as before.
6. In the rest of Europe there is less part-time work than in the UK.
7. Two thirds of British workers do over 46 hours a week.
8. Only one worker in five has a contract that foresees flexible working or job sharing.

3. Complete the sentences using some of the following words from the interview.
account for agreement borne out clerical compared employment engaged job
patterns permanent perspective redundancy research work
1. In order to find a solution to this problem, we need to look at it from a different
______________________.
2. The prime ministers claim that unemployment in this country is falling is not _________ _________
by the latest statistics.
3. At present, women ____________________________ 60 per cent of our companys workforce.
4. The changes in working _________ _________ arent as great as the media often make out.
5. Hundreds of employees will face __________________ if the merger of the two large banks goes
ahead.
6. It was predicted that most of us would soon be __________________ in flexible working instead of
9 to 5 jobs.
7. When I was a student, I used to do a temporary __________________ during the summer.
8. The proportion of women in __________________, secretarial and sales jobs has changed little.

XII
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AUDIOSCRIPT
Interviewer: We have with us in the studio Nicola Bai-
ley, our social affairs commentator, to give us some
perspective on the changes that have taken place in
our working lives over the last 20 years or so. Good
morning, Nicola.
NB: Good morning.
Interviewer: Now, we hear an awful lot these days
about the end to a job for life, the rise of exible work-
ing, the numbers of women now engaged in employ-
ment and so on. Its very different from our parents
day, isnt it?
NB: Well, its true theres a lot more terminology
around these days. Anyone would think from listening
to the media that some kind of social revolution was
going on.
Interviewer: And are you saying that these are not
real trends for the future?
NB: Im not saying these phenomena are not present
today, but I just think we need to put them into some
kind of perspective. Traditional 9 to 5 working is not
going to disappear quite as fast as some analysts
would like to believe.
Interviewer: I think you have some interesting gures
from recent research on the subject. pendent children in the workforce than before, but the
NB: Thats right, if you look at the proportion of work- overall proportion of women in full-time work hasnt
ing people in Britain today who have a permanent really changed in 25 years, especially in the more tra-
contract of employment, for example, youll nd its ditional sectors: clerical, secretarial and sales jobs.
not very much different from 20 years ago. Its still Interviewer: And what about specic patterns of
around 80 per cent. And around 30 per cent of us working? Is it true theres more part-time work in the
have had the same job for more than 10 years, which UK, compared to the rest of Europe? And arent we
is also little changed from the past. working longer hours than before?
Interviewer: That doesnt mean that people necessar- NB: Well, yes, both of these are unfortunately true. A
ily feel more secure, though third of us work more than 46 hours a week, while for
NB: Oh no, employers still retain the right to use re- other European countries its not much more than 10
dundancy as a way of reducing their labour force, per cent.
for example, but the idea that most of us are moving Interviewer: So much for new technology liberating us
from one temporary job to another is not borne out to do other things! And how about the golden future,
by the gures. Temporary employment only accounts where were all engaged in exible working? Is this
for about 6 per cent of all jobs. a reality today?
Interviewer: Well, lets talk about womens employ- NB: Again, if you look at how many people have some
ment. Isnt it true that there are far more women in formal agreement, for example, to annualise their
the workplace today? hours or job share, its only about 20 per cent of us.
NB: Oh yes, there are certainly more women with de- The old working patterns persist

cal
3. 1. perspective 2. borne out 3. account for 4. patterns 5. redundancy 6. engaged 7. job 8. cleri-
46 hours. 8. T
not much different from 20 years ago. 5. F There are more today. 6. T 7. F A third work more than
2. 1. T 2. T 3. F She says they give the impression that a social revolution is taking place. 4. F Its
1. 1. b 2. c 3. e 4. a 5. f 6. d
ANSWERS

XIII
PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH

VIRAL MARKETING
TRACK 15 Listen to part of a radio programme in which
THE SPEAKERS
B1/B2 INTERMEDIATE people are talking about viral marketing.

1. As you listen, number the topics in the order in which you hear them.
a. A definition of viral marketing
b. The difference between viral marketing and spam
c. A presentation of todays guest
d. Examples of companies using viral marketing
e. Some recent negative developments in viral marketing.
f. The initial advantage of viral marketing for companies

2. Listen again and mark these statements true (T) or false (F).
1. The buzz.com website keeps an eye on whats happening on the internet.
2. Some internet email providers are well-known for their use of viral marketing.
3. Michael MacAulay thinks less money is being spent on this form of marketing nowadays.
4. This kind of marketing is called viral because the games and animations that are received often
contain hidden viruses.
5. Tony says many of his listeners are worried about computer viruses.
6. He wonders whether there is much difference between viral marketing and spam.
7. Michael admits that in some cases the dividing line between the two is unclear.
8. He cites the case of a UK firm that effectively encouraged people to send unwanted emails.

3. Complete these definitions with words or phrases from the radio programme.
1. If something is worrying you, you are __________________ about it
2. A __________________ is a change or development in a situation or in peoples behaviour.
3. If something is very inexpensive, you can say it costs __________________________ to
__________________.
4. A __________________ is a fashionable word or expression that is used a lot, especially by the
media.
5. If an image is __________________, you cant see it clearly because its outline isnt distinct.
6. A __________________ is a new project or enterprise that involves an element of risk.
7. Your __________________ is the amount of money that you have available for a particular project
or for your day-to-day expenses.
8. If something happens at __________________, it takes place without a definite plan or method and
can happen to anybody.

XIV
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AUDIOSCRIPT
Presenter: Now, one of the latest buzzwords in e-com-
merce is viral marketing using the power of the in-
ternet to advertise a product or service. Im joined in
the studio today by Michael MacAulay of the buzz.com
website, which monitors internet trends. Michael, what
exactly is viral marketing?
Michael (Northern English accent): Hi, Tony. The idea of
viral marketing is basically that the internet does your
advertising for you. A good example is internet email
providers like Hotmail or Yahoo. Every time someone
sends you an email using a Yahoo address you get that
little Do you Yahoo? message at the end, basically ad-
vertising what Yahoo does, while still providing you with
the service the message youve received.
Presenter: But its not limited to internet email provid-
ers, is it?
Michael: Not at all. Hotmail is perhaps the most fa-
mous example, but theres lots and lots of stuff on
the web that can be seen as viral marketing. You
might get sent, for example, a little game to play on
your PC or a funny animation, something like that.
More often than not, theyre advertising a product or
an event. The initial idea of viral marketing was that
it cost next to nothing great for ventures without a
huge start-up budget but I suspect theres quite a
lot of money spent on this sort of thing now.
Presenter: And presumably the idea is that people like
the game, or animation, or whatever and send it on to
their friends...
Michael: Exactly. It spreads like a virus.
Presenter: So far so good, but the word virus is quite
a negative one. I know from the emails we receive on
the programme that a lot of our listeners are very con-
cerned about the amount of unwanted emails spam,
as its known they already receive. Isnt viral marketing
just another form of spam?
Michael: Its a good point, Tony. The vital difference be-
tween viral marketing and spam is that one is provid-
ing a service and the other isnt. Viral marketing relies
on people sending things on to their friends and family.
Spam is sent to thousands of people at random. (Inter-
viewer: Right) So theyre very different. Having said that,
the line does begin to get a bit blurred in places. Theres
the example of the company in the US that paid people
(50 cents an hour, I think) to let the companys viewbar
display advertisements on their screens. However, the
company also paid people 10 cents an hour if they sent
the viewbar to another person who allowed the ads onto
their screen. Now that can be seen as encouraging
people to send unwanted emails.

3. 1. concerned 2. trend 3. next to nothing 4. buzzword 5. blurred 6. venture 7. budget 8. ran-

company.
He says theyre worried about the amount of spam they get. 6. T 7. T 8. F He cites the case of a US
it. 4. F Its called viral because it spreads by passing from one person to another, like a virus. 5. F
2. 1. T 2. T 3. F It used to cost very little but now he suspects theres quite a lot of money spent on
1. 1. c 2. a 3. d 4. f 5. b 6. e
ANSWERS

XV