Making requests (Unit 2)

Here is more information and some suggestions for making requests. They are for general communication in English, not just in the workplace. Please try some of them out when you are communicating in English. Be careful to use the appropriate one for the situation.
Sorry for the poor visuals. Please try your best to read them on your own.

Sample email to the Transal board (Unit 1 Delimma and Decision)

From: macgregor@transco.com
Date: Jun 6, 2014
To: board@transco.com
Subject: Safety Charity Challenge

Dear Members of the Board

I am writing to recommend my team's favored option, the Safety Charity Challenge, for developing a safety-conscious culture within Transco. There are several reasons for this choice:
1 We have already tried more traditional solutions. These have all failed.
2. The proposal is unusual and is likely to capture the interest of a large number of workers.
3. This approach reinforces positive action: each time an idea is successful, staff will see an improvement in safety and they also will see a contribution to the charity they have chosen.
4. The solution should be cheap in comparison with the other options.
Of course, the idea has not been tested, while the other options are more familiar and return results more quickly. However, we argue that in order to have a dramatic impact, we need a dramatic solution.

Sincerely,

Laura MacGregor

Team Leader



Note to students: Two important things to include: the cost to implement your proposal, and the time it will take to see improvements in safety. If there are weaknesses in your proposal, it is important to point them out, even though they weaken your argument. Being honest is more important.

Another point is that in your email, you must explain the reasons for your choice; simply stating the characteristics of the program is not stating the reasons. They are different. Make sure you understand that.

Tokyo is voted #1

From The Japan Times,  May 31, 2014: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2014/05/31/editorials/tourists-rate-tokyo-top-city/#.U4n-uIkazCQ

Tourists rate Tokyo top city

(1) Tokyo was voted the world’s most satisfying tourist city for 2013, according to a poll by online travel site TripAdvisor. Tokyo came in number one of 37 major world cities for overall satisfaction based on tens of thousands of online reviews by travelers.

(2) That top spot should be a boost for the still struggling tourist industry in Japan. It will surely encourage more travelers to come to Japan in the coming year.

Tokyo received positive reviews in a number of areas that put it ahead of New York City (second) and Barcelona (third) followed by Istanbul, Prague, Vienna, Berlin, Rome, Paris and Dubrovnik in Croatia.

(3) Tokyo came out on top in five sections: local friendliness, taxi services, cleanliness, transport and overall satisfaction. Tokyo also came out in the top 10 in another eight areas including restaurants, shopping and suitability for families.

(4) However, Tokyo was ranked lower for cultural attractions and sightseeing activities. Instead of emphasizing shopping only, the tourist industry here should strive to increase accessibility to and information about the many cultural sites in the capital city.

(5) A tourist industry built primarily on shopping is not as durable as one built on interesting cultural attractions. Certainly no one will travel across the globe just to see how clean Tokyo is or how friendly the taxi drivers are.

(6) Tokyo has many sites of tremendous interest, though they are often spread far apart. Building up a tourist industry involves a lot of work to communicate to potential visitors. That hard work of revealing key points and explaining their interest is more important than large shopping complexes. The tourist industry should also ensure that hotels, restaurants and attractions are ready for people from many different countries.

(7) Most tourists to Japan last year came from Taiwan, China and South Korea. Visitors from those three countries accounted for 68 percent of all tourist spending.

(8) Progress has been made in easier transportation and friendliness, but more importantly Tokyo people should learn how to stop and help lost, or even not-yet-lost travelers, as happens in other travel destinations.

(9) Even a short, helpful conversation can mean a lot to a lost traveler anywhere, and become a wonderful vacation memory. Perfect English is not required.

Most travelers are ready to communicate at any level. With the right improvements, a travel industry that is built on human interaction and cultural pride will be one that Tokyo can be even more proud of than the first-place ranking last year.

Questions to answer in writing and hand in on June 10:

1. What makes Tokyo a good place to visit, in your opinion? Think of this question from the viewpoints of tourists from abroad and tourists from other parts of Japan.

2. In paragraph 4, the writer says that Tokyo needs to improve accessibility (around the town) to places of interest, and improve the information about these sightseeing places. Suggest how Tokyo should do that.

3. The article stresses communication between the locals and tourists. Do you think this is important? Explain your answer.

4. In paragraph 6, the article says, "The tourist industry should also ensure that hotels, restaurants and attractions are ready for people from many different countries." How can it do that? Make two suggestions. If you have any examples, please include them. 

The difference between collocations and idioms

Today in class, a student asked me, "What is the difference between collocations and idioms?" I simply replied "No" without a full explanation. Let me share the explanation with all of you in this post.

A collocation is the way words combine to produce natural speech and writing. For example when you say "pay attention," it could be "give attention, or put attention" but it is not, it is "pay attention" because it is the natural way in which native speakers express that.
 
 An idiom is a sequence of words which has a different meaning than the meaning they would have if you understood them separately.  For example, when you say "it's raining cats and dogs" you do not really mean that cats and dogs are falling down from the sky but that there is a heavy rain.

from: http://education.blurtit.com/2508568/what-is-the-difference-between-collocation-and-idioms

Here are some more idioms:
1. piece of cake - to say that something was very easy to accomplish
2. cost an arm and a leg - to say that something is very expensive
3. break a leg - to wish someone good luck
4. hit the books - to study
5. let the cat out of the bag - to tell a secret that was not meant to be told

Unit 2: Leadership (May 20 class)

This unit looks at the qualities, skills, and experience that effective leaders need. It also looks at different management styles and focuses on the aggressive management style sometimes used by managers of football teams.

In addition this unit covers employee motivation.  Think about your part-time job - how are you motivated to do a good job (or not do a good job)? There are different opinions on the best way to motivate and inspire employees - such as setting an example for employees to follow, inspiring respect, giving a financial reward or non-financial reward (such as respect or status). The best way to motivate staff may be different according to the situation and the personal and cultural background of the staff.  However, many agree that in order to delegate effectively, a leader must make sure to give the employees enough information so they can do the job they are given. Also, leaders must show that they are willing to give responsibility to others.

WARMUP Work in pairs: each pair should choose 2 people who they think are great leaders - they should be from different areas, such as politics, education, sports, business, etc. Brainstorm what makes a great leader.

MANAGEMENT VS. LEADERSHIP
Management and leadership are not the same, though both work hand in hand. Here are a couple of examples of the differences:
1. Leaders are the forward thinkers - they innovate, taking the "big picture" of the company, looking at where it is now and where it should be headed. Managers put these innovations into practice.
2. Leaders have a long-range perspective while managers have a short-range view.
3. Leaders focus on ideas and plans; managers put the ideas and plans into practice. In other words, managers organize and coordinate the various tasks and the people who will do them.

READING (p. 17)
Additional information - When you have time, read about who John Patterson was and his company NCR here.

May 13 class

p. 13 "Culture at work" - Hierarchy: Hierarchy refers to the distance between different layers of staff and management in an organisation (company). Recently, some companies have restructured their company, removing levels of management and producing a flatter hierarchy. Why? To cut costs and improve communication. Some organisations have also begun to regroup their staff into project teams.
In a steep hierarchy - there are many levels of management; there is unequal distribution of power; each member of staff has a fixed role or function.
In a flatter hierarchy - there are fewer levels of management; power is more equally distributed among employees, and their roles are more flexible.

p. 13 Listening
2. Harry Wilson: oversees every aspect of policy practice
15,000 employees
"I am responsible for...."
3. Karl-Heinz Egonolf: deals with external auditors. He oversees quarterly reports
10 accountants
Phrase: "My job entails...."
4. Jill Black: in charge of people taking phone orders for different companies
responsible for recruitment and training[reporting to client companies and contacting new clients
25 people
Phrase: "I am in charge of...." "I report to...."
5. Mary Fitzsimmons: deals with the press, sends out press releases, is in charge of a team of writers
15 staff plus 20 freelance writers
Phrase: "I'm also in charge of....."

HW for May 20: write the email on p. 14 ("write it up"). Read p. 18 in the style guide to prepare and refer to the two examples on p. 19. Your email should follow the model for a formal email.
Details for the header: The sender of the email is you. Choose the position you have in the company. The date is the day you do the HW. Don't forget to write an imaginary Cc,. Bcc. and a real Subject. If you want to add an imaginary attachment, give the attachment a name.
Type your HW on A4 paper, put your name at the top and bring to class to hand in. I would like to see your HW this time.

Unit 1 pp. 8-13 (April 29)

Reading 1 (p.8)
If consumers, producers, and shareholders have more choice, companies will have to structure themselves differently. They will have to be more flexible to satisfy what the customers want.
Companies will have to offer more choices - a greater variety of goods and services, for example.

Reading 2 (p. 8)
There are 7 paragraphs in this article. Number them 1-7.
1. par 2: In the past, they were hierarchical or buraucratic organisations making long runs of standardised products (the same lineup of products year after year). They improved products instead of innovating. They provided lifelong employment, and had good relationships with others in the industry.
2. par 3: Giant corporations disappeared or were transformed. They changed from high volume to high value, from standardised to customised.  There are flatter hierarchies, meaning that the vertical structure of the employees became more horizontal, and so does the power in the company (there are more people with some power and fewer people with a lot of power). There is less lifelong employment.
3. High volume = mass production. High value = small quantities with a larger profit margin (therefore more expensive).
4. The author mentions giant companies (par 4), small companies (par 5), and networks of entrepreneurs (par 6).
5. par 7: Because consumers, producters, and shareholders have more choice.
6. par 7: Fiexibility.

FYI, Monorail, the company mentioned in par 5 no longer exists.

Vocabulary 1 (1), p. 10
1. freelancer
2. entrepreneurs
3. venture capitalists
4. bidder/comsumers
5. producer
6. shareholder

Vocabulary 1 (2), p. 10
2. d  3. a  4. f  5. h  6. g  7. c  (tangible = concrete) 8. c

Vocabulary 2 (1), p. 12
Transatlantica is a traditional hierarchichal company. Spearhead is less traditional: it has a loose organisational structure, and works with a network of companies.

Vocabulary 2 (2), p. 12
1. Information Technology (IT)  2. Human Resources (HR)   3. Finance   4 Legal Affairs   5. Electronic Supplies Ltd.    6. Global Transport Solutions Ltd.   7. Always Answers Call Centre, Solutions Vehicle Hire   8. Paul Phillips   9. Solutions Vehicle Hire

HW for 5.13
Do page 13 - listening (you have the CDs) and writing exercises
Write a paragraph or two to answer the questions in "Culture at work" at the bottom of p. 13, which is about hierarchies.