TEXT 1: GLOBALCALL COMMUNICATIONS
Globalcall Communications has grown from a telecommunications solutions provider for local
businesses in the greater Seattle metropolitan area to a truly global corporation providing
telecommunications solutions for clients both large and small. Established to fill a significant
market gap for simple communication solutions, the company first expanded to most major
North American cities before becoming a major multinational player.
Presently, the company is extending operations to include voice over IP, as well as high-speed
cable Internet access. Globalcall Communications' team includes more than 40,000 specialists
worldwide in more than 20 countries on three continents. Next year will see the deployment of a
third generation wireless communications network in Asian countries.
The future looks bright for Globalcall Communications. By 2005 the company will be servicing
more than 15 million households and businesses globally. Globalcall Communications will have
become a household word. We look forward to serving clients and are planning to do everything
in our power to make sure that your communication future is unlimited AND simple.
Post reading task: Mark the following statements as True or False.
1. The company began by offering computer software solutions to local businesses in the greater
Seattle metropolitan area.
2. The company was founded on an approach to providing simple communication solutions.
3. The company is expanding operations at the moment.
4. Worldwide communications employs more than 40,000 specialists.
5. The company expects to be servicing more than 50 million customers worldwide by 2005.
TEXT 2: EFFECTIVE PRESENTATION TIPS
Above all know your audience and match what you say to their needs. Creating your presentation
with your audience in mind, will assure that your audience will follow you. If your presentation
doesn't appeal to your audience - no matter how well you have developed your presentation -
your presentation will fall on deaf ears. This leads us to the next rule: Know your material
thoroughly. Your material needs to be second nature to you. Practice and rehearse your
presentation with friends, in front of a mirror, and with colleagues. If you are speaking in a
second language, make sure that you record yourself and listen a number of times before going
to practice with a native speaker (if possible).
Remember that you are an actor when presenting. Make sure that not only your physical
appearance is appropriate to the occasion, but also the tone you use is well chosen. If your topic
is serious, be solemn. However, it's always a good idea to begin your presentation with an ice-
breaker. Don't worry about making friends, rather lead the audience through your materials in a
calm and relaxed manner. Speak slowly and clearly, and remember to address everyone in the
audience - even the person the farthest away from you.
To achieve the above goals follow these tips when giving your presentation:
Speak with conviction. Believe what you are saying and you will persuade your audience.
Do not read from notes. Referring to notes is fine, but do so only briefly.
Maintain eye contact with your audience. Making direct eye contact with individuals will
help them feel as if they are participating in your presentation.
Bring handouts. Don't just use a PowerPoint presentation. Provide audience members
with handouts of the most important materials so they can keep your most important take
always in mind.
Know when to stop. This cannot be underestimated. You need to make your case, but
continuing for too long will only ensure that the audience forgets what you have said.
Key Vocabulary
audience - people watching a presentation of some kind
with someone in mind - thinking about a person
to appeal to someone - to speak to someone's interests
to fall on deaf ears - to not be heard
thoroughly - completely, entirely
to be second nature - to do something naturally, with little effort
to rehearse - to practice, repeat a number of times
to record yourself - to make an audio or video recording of yourself
appropriate - in the right place, in good taste
tone - the feeling of a presentation (i.e. funny, serious, etc.)
ice-breaker - a short story or joke to put everyone at ease before you begin
to address someone - to speak to someone
conviction - with belief
to persuade - to convince someone
to refer to notes - to look at your notes while speaking
to maintain eye contact - to look someone in the eyes
handout - sheets of paper with information presented
to make your case - to state information relating to your position
TEXT 3: VIRGIN MILLIONAIRE
Why would billionaires want to do reality television? Why would Sir Richard Branson, one of
Britain’s richest people want to produce shows on mainstream American TV? You can find the
answers in “The Rebel Billionaire: Branson’s Quest for the Best”, a full-on, non-stop mixture of
thrills, adventure and business. The series started last night with a 2-hour premiere on America’s
Fox TV.
Branson is an enigmatic character. He is the 54-year-old founder of the Virgin Group, which has
under its umbrella everything from cola, rail companies and airlines to condoms, CDs and space
travel. He is also somewhat of an adventurer, attempting and succeeding in numerous daredevil
challenges. In 1986 he crossed the Atlantic Ocean in the fastest ever recorded time. He also
crossed the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans in a hot-air balloon. He’s going to send his elderly father
into space for his 90th birthday!
Branson combines his two passions of risk-loving adventurer and entrepreneur extraordinaire in
his first TV show, in which sixteen young hopefuls embark on a physically and mentally
challenging, globe-trotting competition. The carrot is $1,000,000 plus the presidency of the
Virgin Group for six months, just the kind of prize any gung-ho twenty something would risk
their high teeth for.
It is all nail-biting entertainment of the highest order. The challenges on the first show include a
heart-stopping walk between two balloons 3,000 metres up, with a picnic on top of one balloon.
Another challenge entails going over Africa’s Victoria Falls in a barrel. Branson eliminates two
contestants each week. It is definitely not for the faint-hearted, for TV viewers and participants
alike.
It seems like a tortuous way to pick a corporate boss. Branson’s rationale is that “having the
courage to know when to say no and when to say yes, to calculate the downside, to decide when
adventures are just too risky” is necessary to make it to the top. However, make no mistake – the
show is a marketing tool for Richard Branson and his latest venture: launching Virgin Airways in
the United States.
Read through the text again and mark as true (T) or false (F).
1. Richard Branson is a knight. (‘Sir’ means to be given a knighthood by Queen Elizabeth
II).
2. Richard Branson owns Fox Television, an American TV company.
3. Richard Branson is the founder of the Virgin Group.
4. Richard Branson holds the world record for the fastest Atlantic crossing in a boat.
5. Richard Branson is offering $10,000,000 in prize money.
6. Richard Branson will allow the competition winner to be President of all his companies
for six months.
7. Richard Branson likes having picnics 3,000 up in the sky.
8. Richard Branson is a key player in the US airline market.
TEXT 4: LEADERSHIP QUALITIES
There are many qualities that shape a successful leader. Consequently, there is no single recipe
for guaranteeing top management skills. If there were, there wouldn't be so few truly
international success stories. Obviously, a great decision-maker possess the ability to inspire his
employees. A charismatic boss can motivate employees to give that added-extra that puts a
company over the top. This leader is energetic while at the same time being thoughtful when it
comes to important, strategy-changing decisions. This of course does not mean that balanced
leader is without his impulsive side. In fact, it is exactly this adventurous spirit that separates true
genius from run-of-the-mill management. Take Bill Gates for example, if he hadn't left Harvard
University before graduation he might never have become the stellar public figure that he is
today. His ruthlessness, combined with a passionate conviction has made him the envy of many
an industry captain today. Many would say that Apple's Steve Jobs was taken advantage of.
While this may be true in a certain sense, if Gates had decided to become a hardware
manufacturer, as well as a software pioneer, as was the case with Jobs, he probably wouldn't
have had his past resounding success with Microsoft software products. Nowadays, however, the
tables have turned with Steve Jobs leading Apple to incredible successes in both hardware and
software developments for the computer, as well as innovative mobile phones and tablets. The
lesson to be learned is that leadership can make the difference between a good company and a
great company.
Keywords / New Vocabulary
recipe for guaranteeing something = standard way of doing something that makes sure it will
succeed
decision-maker = person who is responsible for decisions in a company
to inspire / to motivate = to encourage in a positive way
run-of-the-mill = normal, usual, nothing special
stellar = having the quality of a star
industry captain = an extremely successful CEO, director, etc.
to turn the tables = change positions with someone
Post reading task: Mark the following statements as True or False.
1. Most leaders have the same sort of qualities.
2. The ability to inspire employees is often seen in top management.
3. A charismatic boss can motivate employees to give an extra push.
4. Most run-of-the-mill managers are adventurous.
5. Both Steve Jobs and Bill Gates have been extremely successful.
