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Partner A
1) You work in the finance department of your company. Today a new colleague from your overseas parent company is coming to the office for the first time. (He or she only speaks English.) You have been asked to welcome the new colleague, show him/her around the office, and make him/her feel comfortable. At the end you should introduce your new colleague to the head of the department.
2) You're in trouble. You've just spilt coffee all over this document, and you need it for an important meeting in a few minutes. Phone your colleague (Partner B) and ask him/her to give you the missing numbers.
3) You would like to arrange a meeting with a colleague to discuss your ideas for some new software for the department. It is very urgent as you have a meeting next Friday with the head of your department and your boss expects results. Phone your colleague and find a suitable time to meet. (You will need your diary.)
4) Look at the following graphs. They are incomplete. You have one part, while your partner has the missing part. Work with your partner to complete the information.
5) Times are tough. Costs have to be reduced. But where? As the MD (Managing Director) of a large international conglomerate, you have to reduce your budget for next year. Make some notes on how the finance department can save costs (e.g., less staff, more software), and be prepared to explain your position in a preliminary meeting with your Chief Financial Officer.
6) You work in the finance department of a large U.S. based conglomerate, and are currently at a trade fair in Valencia. Your boss has asked you to look out for European companies interested in working with you - your company needs to get a foothold in :he expanding European market. You are about to meet up with someone from medium-sized European company which is looking for investment from abroad. This would be your chance. Your aim in the meeting is to decide what information you need Tom the other company, and what happens next.
Partner B
1) It is your first day in your new job as a member of the finance department in one of your company's European subsidiaries. You only speak English, but hope to start learning the local language soon. One of your new colleagues will meet you and show you around the company. Make small talk and ask questions about the company. (How many people work there? Do they have a canteen? Does the company offer language classes? etc.)
2) The following document has just been faxed to you, but some of the information has not printed properly. Unfortunately you need all the information in order to brief your boss. You are just wondering what to do when your phone rings.
3) You are looking through your diary for next week when the phone rings. You see from the number on your display that it is a colleague. Answer it. (You are very busy next week and it will be difficult to schedule any new appointments but you might be able to fit something in if it is important!)
4) Look at the following graphs. They are incomplete. You have one part, while your partner has the missing part. Work with your partner to complete the information.
5) Times are tough. Costs have to be reduced. But where? As the CFO (Chief Financial Officer) of a large international conglomerate, you have to defend your budget for next year. Make some notes on why the employees in your department are so important, and be prepared to defend your position in a preliminary meeting with your boss, the Managing Director.
6) You are at a trade fair in Valencia, representing a medium-sized European company which is looking for investment from abroad. You meet up with a representative from a large U.S.-based conglomerate who sounds interested. Your aim in the meeting is to decide what information you need from the other company, and what happens next.
Source: Evan Frendo and Sean Mahoney "English for Accounting"
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