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1. Talking Face to Face Return to Menu • Sample • Act Out • Put in Use • Data Bank New Practical English 3

2. SAMPLES Dialogue 1 Discussing a Business Plan Dialogue 2 Business Development Planning New Practical English 3

3. Sample 1 Discussing a Business Plan Click here to listen Mr. Brown: Shall we get started? OK, we are going to discuss the general plan for the next five years. Any comments? Ms. Zhang: I think we first need to go over the new product. We should readjust the launch date and advertising campaign. Mr. Brown: When do you think is the best time to launch the advertising campaign? Ms. Zhang: In November and December, just before Christmas. Mr. Brown: I agree. Have we already agreed on the membership of the business project team? New Practical English 3

4. Sample 1 Discussing a Business Plan Ms. Zhang: Not yet, but we can include that in the agenda. Mr. Brown: We should also discuss how to expand the project team to secure initial growth. Ms. Zhang: Not only initial growth, but if we will achieve a rapid growth and can enter the main markets of the country, we have to plan the further training and expansion of the management team. Mr. Brown: That's a good suggestion. Anything else? New Practical English 3

5. Sample 1 Discussing a Business Plan Ms. Zhang: I am still unclear how our product will continue to be attractive once it becomes a market leader. Are we planning to set up a research and development department? Mr. Brown: Yes. Once we have achieved a satisfactory initial growth, we are planning to invest in R&D. New Practical English 3

6. Sample 2 Business Development Planning Click here to listen Mr. Dong: OK, let's have a brief look at the current development projects. What about the R&D? Ms. Jin: We're conducting a study of the new model of micro ovens at the moment. Mr. Dong: Right, what about finance? I believe they are thinking of changing our accounting system. Ms. Jin: Yes. They're having problems with the old system so they're looking into a new accounting system. New Practical English 3

7. Sample 2 Business Development Planning Mr. Dong: Fine, let's move on to marketing. Are they working on any special projects? Ms. Jin: Not really, but they are planning an advertising campaign for the new product. Mr. Dong: Interesting. I look forward to seeing it at work. What about production? Ms. Jin: Well, as you know, they are currently installing the automatic assembly line. Mr. Dong: I guess they must be pretty busy. New Practical English 3

8. Here is a group of short dialogues. Follow the examples and make more conversations with your partner. Click here to listen -- Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to present the Chairman of ABC Motors, Mr. Samuel Fernstein. -- Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for coming for the meeting. Naturally, we at ABC Motors want to increase our sales in your country. And to this end, I am happy to announce that ABC Motors is going to set up a joint venture with your company here. We plan to start production in two years... Now, are there any questions? -- I'd like to know what new models you are going to produce in this joint venture. -- We're going to produce a new model, the ZZ2 sedan. -- How many cars are you expecting to produce in the first year? -- 300 000 in the first year. ... Task: Chair a meeting about starting a new project. Let’s Talk. New Practical English 3

9. Here is a group of short dialogues. Follow the examples and make more conversations with your partner. Click here to listen A: Everyone's here now. Shall we get started? We need to discuss the quality problems of the new product. Any views on this? B: Yes, the important thing is the timing. The customers can't wait any longer for this product. I think we should go ahead with production immediately. A: I'm afraid I can't agree with you there. We need to be patient and produce a good product that will sell well. We need zero defects. B: But the time is pressing. Don't you agree? A: I'm sorry, but I don't think we should start production until the design is finalized. Task: Chair a debate about advertising a new product. New Practical English 3

10. Here is a group of short dialogues. Follow the examples and make more conversations with your partner. Click here to listen A: We need to develop a new strategy, which should be flexible enough to take into account the changing market conditions. B: I agree. Our main objective must be to gain market share, and to do this we must reduce prices. A: But are you sure the market share will increase with the reduction of the price? B: Yes, I'm sure. A: But our margins will be lower and that will cut profits. Task: Have a discussion with your partner about the relationship between the price and the profit. New Practical English 3

11. Here is a group of short dialogues. Follow the examples and make more conversations with your partner. Click here to listen A: I understand there's a problem with the prototype. Could you fill us in, Sarah? B: Certainly. It all began when the designer had to incorporate two mini-batteries. A: Could you tell us more about the problem with the mini-batteries? B: Yes. We're having trouble locating the holes for the batteries. There's a limit to how precise we can be with the tooling equipment. A: So are you saying we can't produce the new design? B: Yes. I'm afraid we can't. Task: Report to the business meeting about your problem in designing an imagined product. New Practical English 3

12. 1. Complete the conversation at a meeting by inserting the correct form of the verbs given in the brackets. A: At the moment, the market (expand) __________________. So we must seize this opportunity. Our advertising agency (work) _____________ on a new campaign for the next month. Now, what about production? B: Currently we (run) _________________________ 75% capacity. So, that gives us some spare capacity. A: Good, how are we doing on the staffing levels in the factory? is expanding is working are running at New Practical English 3

13. B: We (find)_________________ it difficult to recruit technicians. There seems to be a shortage on the job market. A: What (plan) __________ you ___________ to do about it? B: Well, we (think)_______________ of using a recruitment agency. A manager from a local agency (come) _____________________ in to see me on Monday to talk about it. A: Fine, what about cash flow? The upturn in the market is likely to bring about a drain on cash. find are planning are thinking is coming New Practical English 3

14. C: That's right. At the moment, we are managing on an overdraft of about $50,000 and our current debts (approach) _____________________________ $85,000. I can go and talk to the bank manager about it. We've always been a good customer. A: Yes, do that as soon as possible. Finally, let's discuss training. We're going to need some more sales associates and technicians in production. What (happen) ________________ at the moment in training? D: We (teach) _____________________ a refresher sales course. A: OK, thank you. are approaching/have approached is happening are teaching New Practical English 3

15. 2. Suppose you are at a business meeting. Complete the conversation by translating the Chinese into English. Chair: It's ten o'clock, everybody, so I think we'll need a start. The first item on the agenda is the management's proposals on flextime. Now, you've all discussed the proposals within your departments, haven't you? All: Yes. Chair: Good. Miss Maria, __________________________ (那么从你开始谈谈，好吗？) Maria: OK. Most of my people are perfectly happy with the present non-flexible system. They think a change would be dangerous. would you like to start, then? New Practical English 3

16. Williams: I am sorry, ____________________ (我不太理解你的意思。) Maria: Well, they feel flexible hours would make it difficult to cover all the staff. Some people would benefit more than others from this system. Brown: It seems to me that your people can just agree to go on working together from nine to five. Therefore, they don't have to work later. Chair: Mr. Bergman, ___________________________ (你对此有什么看法？) Bergman: Well...um...the thing is that...er... I’m not quite with you. what are your views on this? be with sb; catch views New Practical English 3

17. Williams: Look, I'm really sorry to interrupt. I'd suggest that all departments have to vote and the majority wins. Jones: Um...could I make a suggestion? ______________________________________________________________ (是不是最好听听每个成员的意见？)_____________________________________________________________（他们可以站在各自部门的立场来谈谈这些提议。） Chair: Yes, all right. Ms Bruce, what are your views? Bruce: Well, the main problem is making a decision about basic core times. Wouldn’t it be best to hear what each member has to say about the proposals? They can talk about them from the viewpoint of their own department. proposal;comment from the viewpoint of New Practical English 3

18. DataBank • 1. The next item on the agenda is ... 下一个议程是… • 2. I'd like to propose that we ... 我提议我们… • 3. Any views on this? 对此有何看法? • 4. How do you feel about the proposal? 你对这项提议如何看? • 5. Let's bring this meeting to a close. 会议可以结束了。 New Practical English 3

19. DataBank • 6. Now let's have a look at what we've got so far. 现在来谈谈我们已完成的事。 • 7. Can you explain what you mean by "increased efficiency"? 你能否解释一下“提高了的效率”? • 8. Time is pressing on. Can we move on to the next point now? 时间紧。我们可以进入下—个议题吗? • 9. In today's session I'd like to consider ... 今天的会上，我将谈… • 10. Sorry, but could you just go over those figures again, please? 对不起，可以再解释一下这些数据吗? New Practical English 3

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