PART 1: VOCABULARY

PRACTICE: CONVERGENCE IN TELECOMS AND IT

Task 1: Match the words on the left with the words on the right to make pairs of words that often go
together (The words on the left must go with all three words in the set.)
1. access a. chip, wafer, valley
2. download b. an application, a network, an account
3. go c. online, offline, on holiday
4. mobile d. phone, telephony, broadband
5. silicon e. a file, an image, a demo version
Task 2: Complete the sentences using pairs of words from Task 1
1. Everyone has ____, so payphones are becoming redundant.
2. Many internet entrepreneurs from ____ in California are now turning their attention to alternative forms of
energy.
3. Before you buy the program, you can ____ just to see how you like it.
4. With a mobile broadband connection, you can ____ anytime and anywhere.
5. Internet banking allows users to ____ and check their balances.
6. How many transistors can you fit onto a ____?

PART 2: GRAMMAR
I. PRESENT SIMPLE
Uses Examples
IBM is one of the largest computer companies in the world; it manufactures
Permanent situations
mainframes and PCs, and sells its products all over the world.
I usually get to the showroom at about 8.00 and I have a quick look at my
Routines and frequency
emails. The sales reps arrive at about 8.15 and we open at 8.30.
Superconductors are materials that conduct electricity and do not create
Facts
electrical resistance.
The fast train to London leaves at 7.39 and gets in to Paddington at 8.45.
Programs and timetables Then you catch the Heathrow Express to the airport - it goes every fifteen
minutes.
II. PRESENT CONTINUOUS
Uses Examples
I'm afraid Herr Seifert isn't available at the moment. He is talking to a
Moment of speaking
customer on the other phone.
Barton's is one of the largest local construction companies. At the moment
Current projects we are building a new estate with 200 houses and we are negotiating with
the council for the sale of development land in Boxley Wood.
Janet organizes our conferences and book launches. (The present simple is
used because this is generally true.)
Temporary situations Janet is away on maternity leave, so I am organizing the conferences and
book launches. (The present continuous is used because this is only true for a
limited time.)
The latest economic statistics from the European Central Bank show that
Current trends & slow
both unemployment and inflation are falling in the Eurozone countries, and
changes
that the economy is growing at an annual rate of 2.6%.

TALKING ABOUT CHANGE

We can use the present continuous to talk about change.
Manufacturing costs are falling significantly.
More and more experts are producing open-source software.

We often use one or more comparative adjectives to talk about change.

Broadband is getting cheaper and cheaper.
Open-source software is becoming more and more popular.

PRACTICE: Complete the sentences with the words in brackets, making any changes that are
necessary

1. Digital radio sets (become) ____ less and less popular.

2. More and more people (listen) ____ to radio over the internet.

3. Laptops are getting (cheap) ____.

4. Handheld devices are becoming (sophisticated) ____.

5. Battery life (get) ____ (long) ____.

6. In some areas, VoIP (take over) ____ from PSTN.

7. Mobile broadband speeds (increase) ____ dramatically.

PART 3: LISTENING
PRACTICE: Audio
Task 1: Listen to the four businesspeople (1-4) introducing themselves and match the speakers to their
business cards (A-D)
1- 2-
3- 4-

Task 2: Choose the place where each speaker is

a. on the phone: __
b. in a hotel: __
c. at a conference: __
d. at the airport: __
PRACTICE: Listen and decide whether these statements are TRUE (T) or FALSE (F) | Audio
Jeremy Keeley is a consultant. He is introducing himself.
1. He lives in London. __
2. He has three very young children. __
3. He runs his own business. __
4. His business works for organizations across the USA and Asia. __
5. He helps leaders become better leaders. __
6. He always shakes hands when he meets people. __

Pop-up questions:
In business, when do you:
• shake hands?
• bow?
• exchange business cards?

PART 4: SPEAKING

USEFUL LANGUAGE
Introducing people Offering a drink Thanks very much. I’d love one.
I’m … / My name’s … Would you like a drink? Yes, please. / No, thanks.
I work for … How about a cup of tea / a coffee?
This is … Another drink?
Greetings
He’s/She’s in sales / with Nokia.
How do you do?
Replying Pleased to meet you.
Asking questions I’m from … Nice to meet you.
Where are you from? The weather’s (quite) good/hot/cold Good to see you again.
What’s the reason for your visit? in my country.
How’s your business doing? I’m staying at [name of hotel].
Saying goodbye
What’s the weather like in your I’m here to [reason for visit].
See you later.
country? The room is [describe the room].
Nice talking to you.
Where are you staying? We’re doing OK / quite well / very
Have a good day.
What’s your hotel like? well.
PRACTICE: Role-play the situation below
You meet over breakfast in a hotel where a business conference is being held. You do not know each other.
Speaker A
Fill in the missing information. Add any other information you wish.
Then develop a conversation with your partner.

Your name: __
Where you are from: __
Your position: Business Manager, JC Electronics
Reason for your visit: to meet important customers of your company
How your business is doing: very well - many new customers
Weather in your country: __
Where are you staying: Empire Hotel
What the hotel is like: small rooms, but comfortable bed; big television; good service
Say goodbye.

Speaker B
Fill in the missing information. Add any other information you wish.
Then develop a conversation with your partner.

Your name: __
Where you are from: __
Your position: Marketing Director, Universal Travel
Reason for your visit: to visit tourist offices and get information about tourist attractions
How your business is doing: not very well at the moment - too many competitors
Weather in your country: __
Where are you staying: Eastern Hotel
What the hotel is like: good value for money; big room; large bed, armchair and desk; lots of lights
Say goodbye.
PART 5: WRITING
Reply | Reply to all | Forward | Delete
From: Samir
To: Sales Team
CC: Hatem Trabelsi; Patricia Bartlett
Subject: RE: Meeting next week
Attachments: New proposal.rtf (376KB)

Hello Sales Team,

I’ve got an idea for next week – see the attached file. I’d like to hear what you think about my suggestion.
I think Hatem and Patricia may be interested, so I’ve copied them in too. Let’s talk more at the meeting next
week.

Regards,
Samir

PRACTICE: Complete the sentences

send link attachment open delete CC

A
Hello Sanjay,

Could you please send the schedule to Mr Aziz at Bisco Ltd when it is ready? Please ____ me, so that I
have the document as well.

With thanks,
Abdul Qadir
Managing Director

B
Dear Mr Prabang,

As we agreed, I am sending the contract as a(n) ____. It is a PDF file.

Please let me know if you have any queries.

Yours,
Andrew Mortimer
C
Hi Mustafa,

Here’s a(n) ____ to something I saw today: http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/ielts-interview-

skills/dont-get-over-emotional.
Watch it if you can – it’s really funny!!!!!!!!

Enjoy!
Hans

D
Dear Mrs Piano,

I am interested in applying for the post as Account Manager (ref. 23JS56).

Could you please ____ me further details?

With thanks,
Zara Hussein

E
Hello everybody,

I must apologize. I gave you the wrong dates for this year’s conference in my email this morning. So
please ____ that email as soon as you can. I will send you the correct dates soon.
Sorry again for the problem.

Pietro

F
Hello Andy,

My computer is very slow this morning. I’m going through my inbox, but it’s taking about one minute just
to ____ every email. And attachments are even slower. What can I do?

Regards,
Atul