Conversation Topics 1
Asking about personal views. 1 Why do you study English? 2 Why do you want to study business?
3 What do you think of some modern methods of payment (credit cards, cheques, bank transfers)?
4 What role does the computer play in modern business?
5 What are some necessary steps for preparing a business trip overseas?
6 Which kind of office would you prefer to work in, cellular or an open-plan office?
7 What do you think of international trade? 8 How to deal with customer enquires on the phone?
9 Transportation: (What is your usual means of transportation? Compare the various means of transportation)
10 Health and safety in the workplace (How to ensure a healthy working environment for employees? What are some health hazards in the office/factory shop? What safety measures should be adopted in the workplace?)
11 How to keep a balance between growth and environment protection?
12 Radio and TV (What are your favorite/TV programs? Why?)
13 What kind of role does advertising play in promoting your products/services? Which form of advertising is most effective in your opinion?
14 What are the required qualities of a modern manager? 15 What do you know about flexible time?
Conversation Topics 2
1. What's your name? How do you spell your first name / given name / last name / family name/ surname?
2. What work do you do? / What do you study? 3. What do you like about your work / studies? 4. What do you like doing in your free time? Why? 5. What do you remember about your first school? 6. Do you enjoy studying English? Why / why not? 7. Do you come from a large family or a small one? 8. Can you talk something about anyone in your family?
9. When you choose a job, do you pay attention to its environment? 10. What kind of clothes do you wear when you're at work / college? How do your colthes differ in your free time? Why?
11. Can you tell me something about the company / school you now work / study in?
12. Tell me sth about transport in your city?
13. Do you enjoy watching or doing any sports? Which sport do you find most enjoyable? Why?
14. How are you getting along with your colleague / classmate? 15. Have you ever been to any parties? Did you enjoy yourself there? Why / why not?
16. How do you entertain your guests / clients?
17. If you could travel by any means of transpaort, what would you choose?
18. How do you think you will travel to work in 20 years' time? 19. Do you have to travel a lot on business? Do you like it? 20. Tell me about one of the cities you ever travelled to? 21. How did you prepare for this exam? 22. How do you prepare for job -interviews? 23. How would you describe your personality?
24. What is the most important factor when you accept a new job? 25. What kind of clothes do you usually buy when you go shopping? 26. Do you think that nowadays sales people in supermarkerts are good at selling? How do they promote sales?
27. Are there anydifferences between your choice and your parents' when you go shopping?
28. What do you think is the decisvie factor to make you buy the goods?
29. Is technologyuseful to you in your work / studies? 30. Are there any disadvantages in using technology a lot? 31. What do you think of the idea of working at home?
32. Tell me something about your knowledge of company structure and systems.
33. Do you often go shopping? Do you enjoy it? Why / why not? 34. Where do you usually go shopping? Why do you go there? 35. Which do you prefer. Large department stores or small shops? Why?
36. How do you choose the brand to buy?
37. Do you complain about the poor service to the management? Why / why not?
38. Do you have targets in different stages of your life? Have you achieved them? How do you make progress in achieving them? 39. How do you work more effectively?
40. What do you think of the future of your company / career / life? 41. What will you do to further develop yourself / career? What is your plan in five years? What would you like to be doing in five years' time?
A: WHAT IS IMPORTANT WHEN ...? Trying to attract new staff
* Competitive wages * Company reputation *
B: WHAT IS IMPORTANT WHEN ...? Preparing to go away on a business trip * Informing colleagues and clients * Deleting essential tasks *
C: WHAT IS IMPORTANT WHEN ...? Planning corporate hospitality * Guest list * Type of event *
A: WHAT IS IMPORTANT WHEN ...?
Writing a newspaper advertisement for a job vacancy * Description of the work * Experience needed by applicants *
B: WHAT IS IMPORTANT WHEN ...? Delegating work to others * Clear instructions
* Choice of person for the task
*
C: WHAT IS IMPORTANT WHEN ...? Designing a company website * Type of information to include * Different language versions * Part III
Your company is planning to introduce an internal magazine to keep staff informed of company developments.
You have been asked to help plan the staff magazine. Discuss the situation together, and decide:
* what type of information to include in the magazine * which types of staff should contribute to the magazine Part II
A: WHAT IS IMPORTANT WHEN ...? Meeting foreign clients for the first time * Foreign language skills
* Knowledge of cultural differences *
B: WHAT IS IMPORTANT WHEN ...?
Deciding whether to buy or rent office equipment
* Cost
* Speed of technological change *
C: WHAT IS IMPORTANT WHEN ...? Aiming to increase staff productivity * Offering bonuses
* Creating a pleasant environment *
A: WHAT IS IMPORTANT WHEN ...? Choosing transport for a business trip * Convenience * Cost-effectiveness *
B: WHAT IS IMPORTANT WHEN ...? Aiming for promotion * Quality of performance * Company loyalty *
C: WHAT IS IMPORTANT WHEN ...? Exporting goods or services for the first time * Personal contacts * Professional advice
* Part III
Your company is sending a small group of employees away together for three days to encourage them to work as a team. You have been asked to help plan the programme. Discuss the situation together, and decide:
* what practical arrangements the company needs to make before the trip * what work and leisure activities would be suitable for the group
Time Management
Your company has found that ineffective time management is one of the major problem areas throughout the workforce. You have been asked to put forward some suggestions for improving the situation. Discuss and decide together:
Why poor time management can become a major problem inl companies
What procedures could be adopted to ensure that time isl managed effectively
Responding to Competition
Your company has recently begun to lose its share of the market due to competition from a new firm which charges customers less. You have been asked to suggest ways of solving the problem.
Discuss and decide together:
Howl advertising could help the company to deal with competition What typesl of incentives the company could offer to customers
New Computer System
Your company is planning to buy an up-to-date computer system to replace the existing system. You have been put in charge of supervising the changes.
Discuss and decide together:
What would be the best wayl to find out what new computer systems are available
What practical andl staffing considerations would be involved in replacing an existing system
