天津科技大学商务英语topics

Topic 1: Developing a conversation

Work as a class or in large groups. You are at a networking event, so stand up and walk around.

Meet one person and have the conversation below. At the end, move on to a new person.

Greet the other person→introduce yourself→talk about the event→describe your job→ talk

about where you come from→find a reason for doing business in the future→introduce your

partner to someone else→meet another person

Topic 2: Giving a presentation

Your company Your partner’s company

Your dream company:

• What is your company called?

• What product or service does it offer?

Figures for last year:

• What was its turnover?

• How was this divided up by region (country)?

• What was its final income?

• What % was spent on Research & Development (R&D)?

Structure:

• Where is the headquarters?

• How many divisions are there?

• How many people are employed?

(By division? Country?)

Trends:

• What are the future trends and changes for the industry?

• What are your company’s plans?

Topic 3:Comparing jobs

Think about a job you once did. It might have been full-time and paid or it could have been

some voluntary work or a job you did for someone in your family. fill in the first column of the

table with notes about your job.

Topic 4: A sales conversation

Choose an object in the classroom. Work in pairs and take turns to sell your objects to each other.

Follow the flow chart in the last part.

Establish customer needs→Suggest possible requirements→Compare→Close the sale

Topic 5: Giving reasons for and against

Work in pairs. Role play these discussions. Take turns to give reasons for and give reasons against.

Your manager wants everyone in the department to spend an unpaid weekend in the country on

a team-building course.

Topic 5: Giving reasons for and against

Work in pairs. Role play these discussions. Take turns to give reasons for and give reasons against.

Some employees have asked for flexitime and the opportunity to work from home.

Topic 5: Giving reasons for and against

Work in pairs. Role play these discussions. Take turns to give reasons for and give reasons against.

The company wants to replace your English teacher with lessons on a computer.

Topic 6: Making phone calls

Work in pairs and practise making some telephone calls. Try to use some of the expressions and

phrasal verbs on this page.

Student A

Call 1

• Your surname is Jingshan.

• You telephone customer care at your bank.

• Your account number is HIE364 4756.

• You paid in $3,760 last month but it doesn’t appear on your statement.

• Your number is 980 765 55 44.

Call 2

Now you are Mr. Vathone’s secretary. He is unavailable. Find out what the caller wants and find a

suitable time for Mr. Vathone to call back. Complete this message form.

Student B

Call 1

You work in Customer Care at LSA Banking. Take the caller’s details and find out what the

problem is. You are unable to solve the problem immediately so offer to call back later. Don’t

forget to take the caller’s number.

Call 2

• Your surname is Jakuczik. You are calling on a mobile phone and the battery is low.

• You want to speak to your customer care representative, Mr. Vathone.

• Your account number is YE99-087.

• You want to postpone your meeting with hi on the 24th in Hong Kong, China.

• You are in at 7pm (US time).