Connections

Interview a partner and complete the questionnaire on p. 24 of Basic Survival (unit 18). Do ex. 1-7.

4. Conversation practice

1. Watch Unit 3. Introductions of the Video Conference.

Unit 3. Introductions.

Daniel Conway, Bob Davis, Pablo Gonzalez.

• Bob: Good morning.

• Daniel: Hi, Bob. Let me introduce you to Pablo Gonzalez. Pablo, this is Bob Davis. He is sales manager for the U.K.

• Pablo: How do you do?

• Bob: Pleased to meet you, Pablo.

• Daniel: Pablo works in the Buenos Aires office. He is responsible for the Latin American market.

• Bob: Oh, and how are things there?

• Pablo: Not bad, thanks. Sales are doing pretty good. … I hear the U.K. is doing very well this year.

• Bob: Yeah. Sales are up by 15% on last year. We are very pleased.

• Pablo: That’s great. So, maybe you’ll win the big prize, then.

• Bob: Oh, I don’t think so.

* * *

Isabelle Pelletier, Ann Richards, Daniel Conway, Pablo Gonzalez.

• Ann: Hello, Isabelle.

• Isabelle: Good morning, Ann.

• Ann: Is everything OK at the hotel?

• Isabelle: Yes, thanks, it’s very comfortable.

• Ann: Good. I’m glad to hear it. Oh, I’d like you to meet Daniel Conway… Daniel, may I introduce Isabelle Pelletier? She is the new sales manager for southern Europe.

• Daniel: Hello. Pleased to meet you.

• Isabelle: It’s nice to meet you too, Mr. Conway.

• Daniel: Please, call me Daniel.

• Isabelle: You are in charge of marketing, aren’t you, Daniel?

• Daniel: That’s right.

• Ann: Will you excuse me a moment?

• Daniel: Sure.

• Isabelle: Yes, of course.

• Daniel: So, how are you finding the job?

• Isabelle: I’m enjoying it, thanks. There is a lot to learn. But I think this conference will be very useful.

• Daniel: Where are you based?

• Isabelle: Paris. What about you?

• Daniel: I work in the head office in New York. Pablo, have you met Isabelle Pelletier?

• Pablo: Yes. We met at the hotel last night. Hello again.

• Isabelle: Hello, Pablo.

• Daniel: What time does the first session start?

• Isabelle: In half an hour.

• Daniel: Shall we get some fresh air before it begins?

• Pablo: Good idea.

• Isabelle: O.K.

* * *

Daniel Conway, Isabelle Pelletier, Pablo Gonzalez.

• Pablo: It’s so cold here!

• Isabelle: It’s normal for this time of year! What’s the weather like in Argentina?

• Pablo: It’s spring. Warm and sunny!

• Isabelle: You speak excellent English, Pablo.

• Pablo: Ah, well, my mother is English, you see. I usually speak English with her and Spanish with my father.

• Daniel: Your English is very good too, Isabelle.

• Isabelle: Thank you. It’s getting better - slowly. I go to evening classes in Paris…. What about you, Daniel? Do you speak any other languages?

• Daniel: Well, I speak a little Spanish, but I’m afraid, I don’t speak French.

• Pablo: His Spanish is very good, actually.

• Daniel: Well, I can certainly order a beer! Do you live in Paris, Isabelle?

• Isabelle: No, I live in Meudon. It’s a small town near Paris. Do you know France?

• Daniel: No, not very well. But I like Paris very much.

• Pablo: Yeah, it’s beautiful. It’s my second favourite city - after Buenos Aires, of course! … Is this your first visit to Birmingham, Isabelle?

• Isabelle: Yes, it is. Do you like Birmingham?

• Pablo: Yes, it’s a very lively place - there are some good restaurants and pubs.

• Daniel: Yes, Pablo knows all the good places to eat.

• Pablo: That’s my favourite hobby!

2. Be ready to act out the following situations:

• Introduce your colleagues to each other.

• Ask your colleagues about their job.

• Discuss the weather.