Prática Oral em Língua Inglesa II Aulas 1, 2, 3

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Prática Oral em Língua Inglesa II
Ao final desta aula, o aluno será capaz de:
1. Introduce yourself and someone else; 
2. ask and answer personal questions; 
3. learn how to have a small talk.
Signals that are formal have been left out because they are seldom used and because the neutral ones can always be used. In a truly formal situation, you can be more formal by using titles:
In the information given below, most of the signals are neutral. That means they can be used in ANY situation, formal or informal. Signals that are informal are indicated with "[informal]".
ATTENTION!!
In social situations, a man is traditionally introduced to a woman. However, inthe business world introductions are based on a person's rank or position in na organisation. Whoever is the highest-ranking person is introduced to everyone else in order of their position. If you introduce two people of equal rank to each other, introduce the one you know less well to the one you know best.
There might be occasions where you will have to introduce yourself. For example, if you are meeting a new colleague or an associate, you might start off by extending your hand and saying "Hello! I am .....". If you have been introduced earlier to someone, do not assume that the person would remember you and be prepared to reintroduce yourself should it be necessary.
The British do shake hands, i.e. when first introduced to new people, but we rarely shake hands when parting.
When meeting someone formally for the first time, we shake their hand and say "How do you do?" or "Pleased to meet you."  "How do you do?" isn't really a question, it just means "Hello". The person should answer the same way:
When young people meet informally they sometimes say "Give me five!" and slap their hands together (high five).
In an informal situation you may see social kissing (often just a peck on the cheek), this is acceptable between men and women and also between women who know each other very well.
MEETING SOMEONE NEW
When someone introduces you to another person, you have to use a correct greeting. Below there are some neutral ones and some informal ones. They are used by BOTH parties. There are no rules about which one to use. The second person can use the same greeting as the first person, or he can use a different one.
The signal "how do you do" is not used in America nearly as much as in Great Britain. Please note that it is NOT a question. It is only a greeting which requires a response with any other greeting, including "how do you do"!
**  The phrase "how are you" is normally a greeting for people you already know, not for people to whom you are being introduced for the first time. Nevertheless, many Americans use it this way.
GREETING PEOPLE YOU KNOW
When you greet people whom you already know even if you have only met them once before. You are expected to show a certain amount of informality toward them. It would be a mistake to be too formal, because formality with someone you know is interpreted as unfriendliness or a sign that something is wrong. Informality and friendliness can be shown with a smile, a friendly voice, and some communication signals like the ones below.
GREETING PEOPLE YOU DON'T KNOW WELL (NEUTRAL)
If you see someone you don’t know very well or with whom you are not very familiar, you can greet them with a neutral signal:
Good morning. / Good afternoon. / Good evening. 
Hello, Mr. Davis - Hello, Carl.
GREETING PEOPLE YOU KNOW WELL (INFORMAL)
If you are more familiar with the person, you may use more informal signals:
Morning. [informal] / Hi. [informal] / Hi, there. [informal] 
ADDING FRIENDLY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PERSON
To show more friendliness, you can add a question about the person: 
How are you today? / How are you? / How are you doing? [informal] / How's it going? [informal]
Here are some friendly questions of a very general nature:
What's new? [informal] / What's up? [informal] / What's happening? [informal]
INTRODUCING YOURSELF
There are several phrases you can use to introduce yourself to a stranger. Here are two NEUTRAL examples:
If you know who the person is but have never met him or her, you can introduce yourself in these ways: Hello. You must be Jack Robinson. My name is John Smith. I enjoyed your speech on ethics. OR: Excuse me. Aren't you Jack Robinson? I'm John Smith. I have read your book and ...  
If you must speak to a group of people (for example, to give a speech or a presentation), you may sometimes find it necessary to use the following phrases: 
For those of you who don't know me, my name is John Smith.
When it comes to introducing people in America, NEUTRAL and INFORMAL signals are most commonly used. Formal signals are so rarely needed that most Americans would not know what to do in a truly formal situation! People from other cultures are often surprised at how informal we are in situations that would be more formal in their own cultures.
We will look first at how we introduce other people. Even if you will not have to do this yourself, it is important to know the patterns. For the purpose of explaining the patterns, the person doing the introducing will be "you", and the two people being introduced will be "Mary Smith" and "John Brown".
INFORMAL INTRODUCTIONS
Informal introductions are more common and much simpler. We will give you a pattern to follow, but you should know that it is almost impossible to make a mistake with informal introductions because there really are no rules! For example, it is no problem to introduce a woman to a man or an older person to a younger person. The reason is that EQUALITY is such a very strong value in American culture the same as informality is. With informal introductions, it is okay to follow the same pattern as with neutral introductions. However, because it is an informal situation, you should address each person by his or her first name.
Mary, I'd like you to meet someone.  This is John Brown.    
John, this is Mary Smith.  She is a former colleague of mine. 
With a slightly more informal situation, you can leave out the last names altogether. 
Mary, I'd like you to meet someone. This is John.   
John, this is Mary. She is a former colleague of mine. 
And in some extremely informal situations (for example, parties), it is okay to give just the first names!
Mary, this is John. Mary, John.   
John, this is Mary.  OR: John, Mary.
CLOSING A CONVERSATION
After two people have been introduced --- and when people greet people they know --- they may talk with each other for a while. It could be small talk or it could be a serious conversation. But when it is time to close the conversation, Americans have a particular pattern which they follow. The non-American should be familiar with it.
SIGNALING THE END OF THE CONVERSATION
Before Americans actually say goodbye, we SIGNAL that the end is coming. And usually we follow that with a REASON why we are ending the conversation. Here are some examples:
1. I'm afraid it's time for me to go now. I have a meeting.
2. I'm afraid I have to leave now. I have a visitor coming.  
3. I had better be leaving. I have to pick up my wife.  
4. Well, I should be going now. I have a lot to do.  
5. I have to get going. I have an appointment.  
6. Well, I see it's getting late. I'd better go. I have to get up early. 
SAYING GOODBYE
Finally, it is time to say goodbye. But it isn't easy for Americans to say goodbye. We postpone it and avoid it, and when we finally do say it, we say it again and again. All of the expressions below mean goodbye:  
“Goodbye. Good night. Good evening I'll talk to you later. Talk to you later.
Have a nice weekend. Have a nice day. I'll see you later.
See you later. I'll see you. See you.”
“Take care of yourself. Take care.
I must go now. I (really) must be going. I must be off.
I’m afraid I’ve got to go. It’s getting (very / rather) late.
I’ve enjoyed talking to you. It’s been (most) interesting talking to you.”
“It’sbeen a very useful meeting / nice afternoon.
I look forward to our next meeting. 
I look forward to seeing you again.
It was nice to meet you. / It was nice meeting you. (first time conversation)
It was nice talking to you. / It was really good talking to you.”
“I enjoyed talking to you.  / I enjoyed our conversation.  
It was nice to see you (again). OR: 
It was nice seeing you (again). 
Thanks for coming. / I’m glad you came. / I enjoyed your visit. 
(conversations with visitors)
I enjoyed having you here. / i’m sorry you have to go. (conversations with visitors)”
INVITATIONS
Let’s see some situations:
“How would you Invite an important business partner for a meal – I was wondering if you would like to join us for a meal?
Invite a colleague for a drink - Why not come round for a drink?
Accept an invitation politely - I’d be delighted to come.
Accept an invitation in a less formal way - That sounds fun.
great new place with a fantastic view of the city.
Ask about the time and place of your meeting - What time shall we meet and where?
Suggest a concrete time to meet - At nine.
Ask about the best time to pick your colleague up - When shall I pick you up?
Say sorry because you can’t come  - Thank you very much, but I’m afraid I can’t come.”
 Prática Oral em Língua Inglesa II
Ao final desta aula, o aluno será capaz de:
1. Initiate and keep a conversation in a job interview; 
2. talk about professional experiences.
Congratulations! You have applied for a job and now you are getting ready for that important job interview. Your English is excellent and you are looking forward to make a good impression on your future (hopefully) boss. Now, you need to make sure that you also have the right type of English for that job interview.
The a job interview in English contains specific questions and appropriate answers. It also requires certain flexibility in your usage of tenses.
When you walk in the room the very first impression you make on the interviewer can have a great influence on the rest of the interview. It is important that you introduce yourself, shake hands, and be friendly. The first question is often a "breaking the ice" (establish a rapport) type of question.
Don't be surprised if the interviewer asks you something like: 
• How are you today? 
• Did you have any trouble finding us? 
• What do you think of the weather lately?
Don't be surprised by the friendly tone. The interviewer wants to put you at ease (help you relax). Answer the question without going into too much detail. The language you use should be simple but polite, for example;
“How are you today? 
GOOD! I'm fine, thank you, and you? I'm well, thank you. 
BAD. So, so. OK! Not so well.”
First, let’s take a look at a dialogue, in which a person has just been laid off and needs a new job:
DIALOGUE SITUATION: I NEED A JOB
A: I need a job.
B: I thought you had a job.
A: I did.
B: What happened?
A: I got laid off.
B: That’s terrible! When did it happen?
A: I got laid off last week.
B: Just you?
A: No, ten of my coworkers got laid off, too.
B: What are you going to do?
A: I’m looking in the newspaper for a job.
B: Good luck!
 Can you tell me something about yourself?
“I like to manage people and work on interesting projects. I have been working for IBM for the past ten years, but am looking for a new challenge right now. I like to do sports, especially football and spend my free time with my wife.” “I was born and raised in Milan, Italy. I attended the University of Milan and received my master's degree in Economics. I have worked for 12 years as a financial consultant in Milan for various companies including Rossi Consultants, Quasar Insurance and Sardi and Sons. I enjoy playing tennis in my free time and learning languages.” “I've just graduated from the University of Singapore with a degree in Computers. During the summers, I worked as a systems administrator for a small company to help pay for my education.”
Why did you apply for this job?
“I really like the job description and the working duties for this position. I believe that I am the perfect match for the job and can be an asset for your team.” “I decided to apply because I really like the vision of your company and the possibilities for me there. It is a role where I can use my full potential and really help your company to grow.” I've been looking for a job where I can use my creative skills and work with people. I've heard good things about your company.”
Why did you leave your last job/ Why are you planning to leave your job?
“My last job was not challenging enough. I was not motivated to wake up to work anymore and I really needed a change. Based on the job description I really believe that I can find what am I looking for in your company.” “There was a downsizing in our company and similarly to most people in my department, I was fired. However, it is the past. I am ready to utilize the knowledge and experience and start to build my new career in your corporation.”
Tell me something about your education
“I studied in Cambridge. I acquired knowledge from statistics, project management and process management. I was very active during my studies and took part in several practical projects. Overall my studies were really practical and I believe that I am very well prepared for this job of a project manager.” “Well, I graduated from Tokyo University with a BA in business and then did a one-year postgraduate diploma in accounting.”
Can you tell us something more about your working experience?
“My main responsibility was looking after the company's largest clients, but I also assisted in developing new business.”
Why should we hire you?
“Well, I have a relevant experience for the job and I am strongly motivated to work for your company.” “I fulfill all the requirements for the job. However, some other applicants do probably also fulfill it. I think that I am a nice guy and help to create a good atmosphere in the workplace. You can contact my previous employers to question about this.” “I believe that I bring success with me to the companies. All the companies where I worked were prospering. It is good to have such a worker in your team, isn’t it?” You need someone who can produce results, and my background and experience are proof of my ability. For example..."
What are your strengths?
“I am very responsible person and always accomplish all my duties.” “I am a very organized person, what is strongly reflected in my work.” “I have a determination and ability to get things done. At the same time, I have strong analytical abilities and problem solving skills. These skills combine to give me a unique ability to solve problems and then implement productive solutions." “I work well under pressure. When there is a deadline (a time by which the work must be finished), I can focus on the task at hand (current project) and structure my work schedule well.” “I am a trouble shooter. When there was a problem at my last job, the manager would always ask me to solve it.”
What are your weaknesses?
“I am not very patient, what is obviously not good. But I am working on it every day, doing various exercises.” “Sometimes I struggle to concentrate. However, I practice every day and my concentration has improved over the years.” “I trust the people too much. It is nice to live with it, but it brought me into many problematic situations in the past. However, as I am getting older I am starting to distinguish who I can trust and who I can not trust.” “I am overzealous (work too hard) and become nervous when my co-workers are not pulling their weight (doing their job). However, I am aware of this problem, and before I say anything to anyone, I ask myself why the colleague is having difficulties.”
What are your salary expectations?
“First of all, salary is not a deciding factor for me. I really like the job description and want to get this job. I will accept an average salary for thisposition what is something between $35,000 and $40,000″, according to my knowledge.” “I really like this job and would like to do it. I have looked at the average salaries and found out that the average is between $35,000 and $40,000 for this position. I am willing to accept the lower figure from this range, as I really like would like to have this job.” “My salary requirements are negotiable. Your firm has a reputation of compensating employees fairly and I trust you would do the same in my case. I am very interested in finding the right opportunity and will be open to any fair offer when I do so."
Now, let’s take a look at some dialogues
GLOSSARY ON COMPANIES
 
Recruitment agencies - companies which have details of jobs and details of the people who might want them.
Reputation - how other people feel about something, the opinion of other people.
Resources - things and people which can provide useful information.
Responsibilities - things that must be done.
Resume - a summary of a person's work and education.
Sorted - arranged in a particular order, e.g. putting the best CVs together.
To be transferred - to be moved from one place to another.
To handle - to take care of, to deal with.
To jump on something - to do something immediately. 
To keep track of - to be aware of or notice something.
To multi-task - to do more than one piece of work at a time.
To oversee - to be the boss of, to make sure something is done, to supervise. 
To retire - to stop working, usually because someone has reached a certain age. 
To work on your own initiative - to make decisions about your work without having to wait for someone else to help you.
Training schemes – a job training course.
Vacancies - jobs that no-one is doing that someone is needed to do.
 Prática Oral em Língua Inglesa II
Ao final desta aula, o aluno será capaz de:
1. Make a professional appointment (Fazer um contato profissional); 
2. make and/or canceling a professional appointment (Marcar e/ou cancelar um contato).
Before learning how to talk about your job and interacting in job issues, it’s necessary to state the difference between job and work. Let’s see it. 
Firstly, on a grammatical level, work is both a verb and a noun, whereas job is only a noun.
Now, people may extend the conversation and ask more questions about your job.
Let’s see these questions and some of their variations:
“Business Reporter: Thank you for taking the time to meet me today. 
Manager: It's my pleasure.
Business Reporter: Who do you work for? 
Manager: I work for Springco. 
Business Reporter: What does Springco do? 
Manager: Springoco distributes health products throughout the United States. 
Business Reporter: Where is the company based? 
Manager: Springco is located in Vermont. 
Business Reporter: How many people do you employ? 
Manager: Currently, we have 450 people on staff.
Business Reporter: What's your annual revenue? 
Manager: Our gross revenue is about $5.5. million this year. 
Business Reporter: What type of distribution services do you provide? 
Manager: We distribute to both wholesale and retail outlets. 
Business Reporter: What sort of internet presence do you have? 
Manager: We have a storefront, as well as an online forum. 
Business Reporter: Is your company public? 
Manager: No, we are a privately held company. 
Business Reporter: What type of logistical structure do you have? 
Manager: We ship from four regional warehouses. 
Business Reporter: Where are your products manufactured? 
Manager: Most of our products are manufactured abroad, but a number are also produced here in the United States.”
When talking about your work, pay attention to the preposition. Let’s see some examples:
WHY DO YOU WANT TO LEAVE YOUR CURRENT JOB?
These people are not satisfied with their jobs and they want to quit it. Read the following three answers by different people to the question 'Why do you want to leave your current job?'. Focus on the words / phrases in BOLD.
“First of all, I would like to say that I don't have any problems with my current employer. I have worked there for over 7 years and have enjoyed my time there. They have provided me with an opportunity to grow both professionally and personally. And from starting as an analyst, I am now a manager of my own team. I am very grateful for the confidence they have shown in me and also the experience that I have gained.'
But during these 7 years, I know what I excel in and what I want to specialize in. And due to the nature and size of the company, my opportunities to pursue this area there are limited. So, in order to move my career to the next stage, I have to move on. It's a shame, because I have a very good working with my manager and my team. So, it's not a decision that I have taken lightly. But, I feel that the position that is available here will provide me with the opportunity to focus on an area in which I both excel and love.
'To be honest, I wasn't job hunting. One of my ex-colleagues forwarded me the advert for the position. I am very happy in my current job. I have achieved all of my goals and I am now in a position where I make a difference for the company. The only reason I would leave my current position is for something significantly better and having read the roles and responsibilities for the job, this position offers it. This role has more responsibility, plus working in a different environment provides a new challenge, which I sure I can meet. In addition, it would be foolish to turn down the possibility of doing this role in a company with such a strong reputation as yours. I think this role provides an excellent opportunity for the progression of my career.' 
'I've spent 4 happy years with my current employer, but due to the current financial crisis, they are currently downsizing their operations. As a result, it's made a lot of people redundant and although I have been informed that my job is safe, there's a lot of uncertainty. So, I feel now is the time to move on and look for a more secure position.
Here is an additional vocabulary on employment. Can you think of situations in which you would use them? Try to put these words in a sentence:
1 bonus n. additional pay given to employee as incentive or reward
2 curriculum vitae (UK) n. short account of one’s education, career etc; CV (UK); résumé (US); resume (US).
3 dismiss v. to remove or discharge from employment; to sack [colloq.]; to fire (US).
4 employer n. person or firm who employs people - employee n. person employed.
5 fire (US) v. [colloq.] to dismiss.
6 interview v. an oral examination of an applicant for a job - also v.
7 make redundant (UK) v. [made, made] to dismiss because of not being needed – redundancy (UK).
8 maternity leave n. period of absence from work (for a woman) when having a baby.
9 notice n. advance warning of intention to resign - to give or tender one’s notice v.
10 perk abbr. perquisite; something additional to regular salary [eg: free meals; a car].
11 personnel n. the people who work for a firm.
12 personnel officer n. manager responsible for recruitment, training and welfare of personnel.
13 promotion n. advancement in rank or position - to promote v.
14 prospects n. opportunity for success, promotion etc.
15 recruit n. to look for and employ personnel - recruitment n.
16 resign v. to give up a job - letter of resignation n.
17 retire v. to leave employment, esp. because of age - retirement n.
18 salary n. a fixed, regular payment, usually monthly, made by employer to employee.
19 staff n. the people who work for a firm or a particular department; employees.
20 take on v. [took, taken] to employ; to hire.