Lesson content

Technical English
- Vocabulary : Departments in a company
3rd Semester - Grammar : -Present Simple & Present Continuous

Week number: 1 -There is /are

Starter
What types of company do you know?
Read and match the numbers with the letters.

1_Sole trader (BrE) a) The shares of the company are privately owned, usually by a small
number of people

2_Partnership b) This is a one person Business. The person may describe themselves
as self-employed (eg the owner of a small shop).

3_Private company a) A group of people who work together as equals (eg a firm of lawyers or
architects). They share the risks and the profits.

4_Public company d) These are the large companies that are listed on stock exchanges like
Germanys DAX, Frances CAC or the UKs FTSE. They are called public
because anyone can buy their shares. Note: do not confuse a
state-owned enterprise with a public company.

COMPANY DEPARTMENTS
Vocabulary:
Marketing Dept. Department that puts goods on market, inc. packaging, advertising etc
Sales Department Department responsible for finding customers and making sales
R & D Department Department responsible for Research and Development of (new) products.
Reception The place where visitors and clients report on arrival at a company
Purchasing Dept. Department responsible for finding and buying everything for a company.
Production Dept. Department responsible for physical creation of product.
Personnel Dept. / HR Department responsible for recruitment and welfare of staff or employees.
Operations refers to all the internal processes of a company (Logistics)
IT department : (IT = information technology)
Warehouse: A large building to stock products.
accounts department a department in a company which deals with money paid, received,
borrowed, or owed.

GRAMMAR
Simple Present Present Progressive

infinitive form of 'be' and verb + ing

(3rd person singular: infinitive + 's') I am speaking you are speaking
I speak you speak he / she / it is speaking
he / she / it speaks we are speaking they are speaking
we speak they speak
only for a limited period of time (temporary)
daily routine
Bob works in a restaurant. Jenny is working in a restaurant at the moment.

in general (regularly, often, never) right now

Colin plays football every Tuesday. Look! Colin is playing football now.
Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple present or present progressive).

1. Look! He (leave) ... the house.

2. Quiet please! I (write) ... a test.
3. She usually (walk) .... to school.
4. But look! Today she (go) ... by bike.
5. Every Sunday we (go) ... to see my grandparents.
6. He often (go) ... to the cinema.
7. We (play) ... Monopoly at the moment.
8. I (not / do) ... anything at the moment.
9. (watch / he) ... the news regularly?

PRACTICE:
Underline the correct word in italics.

1. My brother is a plumber. Hes autonomous /self-employed.

2. The people who own a private company might include the founder of the company, some family
members, and perhaps a few business associates / companions.
3. In a public company anybody can buy the actions / shares.
4. A public company is listed / posted on a stock exchange.
5. Our railways were recently privatized. I think the service was better before, when they were a public
company / state-owned enterprise.
6. The Purchasing Department is responsible for buying parts and raw materials / making the final product.
7. If you have a complaint, please contact Consumer Services / Customer Services.
8. All recruitment and selection is done by our Human Relations / Human Resources Department.
9. Innovation is the key to our success and we have recently expanded the Research and Design / Research
and Development Department.
10. In the Legal Department we have three lawyers / advocates trained in commercial law.

1.2 Complete each sentence with a verb from the box.

Answers arranges checks collects deals maintains

Example: The Quality Assurance Section checks that the products have no defects.

1 The Logistics Department.. the transport of goods and materials.

2 Technical Support specific questions from customers about how to use the product.
3 The Market Research Section. and analyzes information about the needs of consumers.
4 The Accounts Department .with invoices and payments.
5 The IT Department the Computer.