unit 5

Unit 5

Big Business

Vocabulary Link

International companies

These people are talking about their companies. Read what they say. Notice the words in blue.

Lesson B Big business

This company employs 500 people. We manage three offices in three different countries.

We produce millions of computer games and ship them to many countries.

Lesson A Success stories

Vocabulary Link


These people are talking about their companies. Read what they say. Notice the words in blue.


Our customers want new products. To compete with other companies, we must work to develop new products first.

We advertise using TV commercials and the Internet. You can purchase our products in stores or online.


Vocabulary Link

Use the correct form of the words in blue from the pictures to complete the sentences below.

Keys

1. Starbucks ________ and sells bottled coffee drinks. They also ________ coffee from farmers and sell it in their stores. Starbucks has over 5,500 stores and ________ thousands of people worldwide.

produces



2. Microsoft ________ software and Internet technology for computer users. They ____ their products to Europe, Asia, and Latin America. They ________ branch offices in more than 60 countries.

3. In 1971, Nike was a young company. Its owners paid a struggling designer only $35 for their famous “swoosh” logo. Today they use the logo to ________ their products and to _________ with other sports and fitness companies worldwide.

purchase

employs

developsship

manage

advertise compete


employ, manage, produce, ship, compete, develop, advertise, purchase

How to Avoid Bankruptcy 1. new words 2. listen to the dialog.Expressions: Have you any suggestions about how we can avoid bankruptcy? Downsizing would certainly reduce our operating costs. They are usually overstaffed. A fairly decent severance package Office computerization/ streamline/ eliminate

Speaking

Tell me about your company.

Talking about approximate amounts

Useful Expressions


Approximately 400 employees work here.

The average worker earns about $20,000 per year.

We have a large number of opportunities to expand our business.

We spent nearly three months on the project.

Our profits will decline over two percent this year.

You can save up to 50% if you buy it now.

Talking about approximate amounts


So, welcome to our show. Why don’t you tell our listeners who you are and what you do.My name is Beverly Smith. I’m the CEO for TalkBack Communications.Can you tell us your company?Certainly. Our company was founded in 1995. We’re based in New York City.We have about 10,000 employees worldwide.What does your company do?We do business in fields, such as telecommunications and computers. Our main area of business is new cell phone technology.I hear your company is doing quite well.Well, we made five million dollars profit last year. Experts say our company will grow by 10% next year.

Speaking

Listen to this interview with a successful businesswoman. Underline the expressions she uses to talk about approximate amounts.

Host:

Woman:Host:Woman:

Host:Woman:

Host:Woman:


about

a large number of _______________

over____


up to ____ Keys


_____

So, welcome to our show. Why don’t you tell our listeners who you are and what you do.My name is Beverly Smith. I’m the CEO for TalkBack Communications.Can you tell us your company?Certainly. Our company was founded in 1995. We’re based in New York City.We have about 10,000 employees worldwide.What does your company do?We do business in fields, such as telecommunications and computers. Our main area of business is new cell phone technology.I hear your company is doing quite well.Well, we made five million dollars profit last year. Experts say our company will grow by 10% next year.

Speaking

Practice the conversation with a partner.

Host:

Woman:Host:Woman:

Host:Woman:

Host:Woman:


about

a large number of

over


up to


Speaking

Create your own company and complete a company profile for it.

Company Profile

Name of company: ___________________Location:___________________________Number of employees: ________________Fields you work in: __________________ __________________________________Main industry: ______________________Current projects:_____________________ __________________________________Profit/loss in past year: _______________Growth prospect for next year: _________ __________________________________




Speaking

Play the parts of a TV host and a business professional. Ask and answer questions about your companies. Use the Useful Expressions to help you.



Information for practice

What does your company do? Can you tell us about your company? Where are you based? How many employees does your company have? What was your profit last year? What’s your current project? What are you developing now? Is your company doing well? …

Questions the host may ask


Communication

Read this company profile.

MTV was launched on August1, 1981. A video called “Video Killed the Radio Star” was shown first. MTV was not very popular in the beginning. That changed, however, when Michael Jackson’s videos were played by the network.

Today MTV is a world wide success story. It still shows music videos. Other programs are broadcast by MTV as well. MTV is consistently voted one of the most popular TV stations by young TV viewers.

In 1985, MTV started a second video channel, VH1. In the 1990s, MTV Asia, MTV Latino, and MTV Russia were started.


Company profiles


Communication

Make notes about MTV. Divide your notes into the history of MTV, and MTV today.


Company profiles

does music videos and other programs

was launched in 1981


History of MTV MTV Today

THE COMPANY TODAY This company’s (6) destination is visited by (7) people worldwide. It is used to find (8) . Free (9) are offered, too. Most of its (10) is provided by advertising. Its main offices are found in California.

Communication

Fill in the blanks with the information you hear.


Company profiles

HISTORY OF THE COMPANY This company was originally started as (1) by two (2) in 1994. In the beginning it was called “(3) to the World Wide Web.” Their product was placed on two (4) . The computers were named after two sumo wrestlers. The company (5) . Many stories were broadcast about it in the 1990s.

a hobby students Jerry and David’s Guide

computers

Internet

grew quickly

millionsinformation e-mail services

profit

Keys


Develop the profile of the company you created in the previous activity. Include some information about its past. Then tell your partner about your company’s history and what it does today.

Communication


History of the Company________________________________ ________________________________

________________________________

________________________________

________________________________

The Company Today ________________________________

________________________________

________________________________

________________________________

________________________________

Company profiles


Global Viewpoints

Companies and advertising

Before You Watch

Words and phrasesshelter management consulting firm executive brochure smoothie hand outflyer advert janitorial service after hours

Language Notes

Lesson A Success stories Lesson B Big business

Global Viewpoints

While You Watch

What companies does each person describe? Watch the interviews and match the names with the information.


Keys

Global Viewpoints

1. Catherine ___

2. Gian ___

3. Kevin ___

4. Malinda ___

5. Calum ___

6. Dave ___

While You Watch

■

What companies does each person describe? Watch the interviews and match the names with the information.

a. a smoothie business that was founded by college students

b. a company that helps get housing, food, and shelter

c. a successful janitorial business

d. a company that produces complex, easy-to-remember ads

e. a company that offers training programs

f. a company that employs about thirty people

b

e

a

f

d

c


Global Viewpoints

While You Watch

Watch the interviews again and fill in the blanks.


My company is a management consulting firm. We do education for (1) . I make (2) that I send out to many executives throughout the United States. We invite those people to come to our trainings. My friends and I founded a (3) business back in college. We advertise by (4) and we also hand out (5) to students on campus. My friend’s dad’s business is a (6) . And businesses call him and he has people come in and clean the building, after hours. The business is successful because he’s a very hard worker.

Global Viewpoints

While You Watch

■

Watch the interviews again and fill in the blanks.

Gian:

Kevin:

David:

executives

Keys

brochures

smoothieword of mouth flyers

a janitorial service


City Living

Main characters

“Furniture Showroom” – Take one

Tara GreeneMike JohnsonTakeshi Mifune John Howard


City Living

In this episode, Takeshi films his first TV commercial with a little help from Mike.

Takeshi gets his first “real” job filming a commercial for a furniture store, but there’s a

problem.

Preview

I can’t believe Tara got sick! And on the day of my first real commercial shoot.


City Living


But not to worry, Mike takes Tara’s place as Takeshi’s assistant for the commercial.

Preview

Hello there. My name is John Howard, president of Furniture Showroom …


City Living


Preview

All our loungers are covered in 100% genuine leather …


The filming goes very well and Mike does a great job showing off the furniture while Mr. Howard speaks.

City Living


But then, something unexpected happens during the shoot and Takeshi doesn’t know what to do.

Preview


City Living


Later, Tara asks about the commercial, and Takeshi’s not too sure about it. However, his opinion soon changes …

Preview

Who know what’ll happen …


Look at the photos. Then match the information to make true sentences.

City Living

I can’t believe Tara got sick! And on the day of my first real commercial shoot.

Preview

1. Takeshi is making _____2. The commercial is about _____3. Mike helps Takeshi _____4. Mr. Howard is _____5. In the commercial, Mr. Howard talks about _____ 6. Tara wants to know _____

a. the president of Furniture Showroom.

b. make the commercial.c. a leather chair.d. about the commercial.e. a furniture store.f. his first TV commercial.

Keys

fe

ba

cd


Hello there. My name is John Howard, president of Furniture Showroom …

All our loungers are covered in 100% genuine leather…

Who know what’ll happen …

While You Watch

What’s the story? Watch the video and check (√) True or False. Correct the false sentences.

City Living


1. Mike is helping Takeshi shoot a film school project.

2. Tara was originally scheduled to help Takeshi.3. Tara had to study, so Mike agreed to help out.4. During the shoot, Mike falls a sleep on the sofa.5. At first, Takeshi is unsure about how Mr. Howard feels

about the tape.6. Mr. Howard calls and says the tape was unsatisfactory.7. Mr. Howard says his company wants Takeshi to remake the

tape.8. Takeshi says he’s sorry that he got angry at Mike.

City Living

While You Watch

Keys


True False

commercial

■

√


1. Mike is helping Takeshi shoot a film school project.

2. Tara was originally scheduled to help Takeshi.3. Tara had to study, so Mike agreed to help out.

4. During the shoot, Mike falls a sleep on the sofa.5. At first, Takeshi is unsure about how Mr. Howard feels about the

tape.

6. Mr. Howard calls and says the tape was unsatisfactory.

7. Mr. Howard says his company wants Takeshi to remake the tape.

8. Takeshi says he’s sorry that he got angry at Mike.

While You Watch

City Living

While You Watch

was sick

satisfactory

make more tapes

True False

√

√

√

√

commercial√

√

√

√



Here are some useful expressions from the video.

Everyday English Describing business positively

talk about …Check!Hello there! folksThat should do it. encorewhy

the most successful excellent quality great design 100% genuine most comfortable the best product the right price affordable prices stylish

City Living

While You Watch


Check

Don’t worry about it. It’s going to be great ... especially since you have a “lovely assistant” like me. Right ... there, (1) ______________. Got your signs? (2) ______!Ready, Mr. Howard? And rolling … OK … “Furniture Showroom” commercial — take one.

Watch the video again and fill in the blanks with the information you hear.

that should do it

Keys

City Living

While You Watch

Mike:

Takeshi: Mike: Takeshi:


(3)__________! My name is John Howard, president of Furniture Showroom,

and I’m here to tell you why we’re one of (4) ________________ furniture stores around. The keys to our success are: (5) ______________, (6) ___________ , and (7)______________ . And who are these keys for? (8) ____ for you — our customers! And that’s why I’m here today to show you some of our premier pieces. Like this sleek and (9) _____ lounge chair. All our loungers are covered in (10) ____________ leather, and built with solid steel-frame construction. Take a look at that — (11) ________ well-made. Or take a look at … See for yourself ! You know, (12) ____ , Furniture Showroom is not one of those fly-by-night operations —“here today, gone tomorrow.”… we really pride ourselves in giving you (13) _____________ , at (14)_____________ ! So come on down to Furniture Showroom and take a look at our ...

great design


excellent quality

Keys

City Living

affordable prices

Mr. Howard: Hello there the most successful

Why

stylish100% genuine

talk about

folks

the best product the right price


While You Watch

Mike:

Takeshi: Mike:

Keys

City Living

While You Watch

encore


Well, you know what this calls for, don’t you? Yeah … an apology. No, an (15) ______ !

… … … … … …

… … … … … …


City Living

After You Watch

Read these popular advertising slogans. Complete each one with a word from the box. What kind of product or service do you think each one was used for?

driving flowers milk news skies world

1.“Got ____?”

2. “Say it with _______.”

3. “Fly the friendly _____.”

Keys

milk

4.“All the _____ that’s fit to print.”

5. “The ultimate ______ machine.”

6. “Give us 20 minutes and we’ll give you the _____.”

flowers

skies

news driving

world


Present your ad to the group. Your classmates will use the checklist below to rate your ad.

City Living

After You Watch

1. Is the slogan easy to remember?2. Is the ad eye-catching?3. Is the message positive?4. Is the design simple and clean?5. Is the ad original?6. What do you like most about this ad? _____________________7. Would you buy this product? Why or why not? _____________ ____________________________________________________

Yes No


unit 5

Documents

new products

young company

fitness companies

new words2

success storiesso

success storiesemploy

thousands of people

new york city