LESSON

01
2 Language Preview

A Business Expressions
Read the following expressions and write your own sentence for each.

BREAKING need a boost: need energy or motivation.

THE ICE E.g.) A shot of espresso is always helpful when you need a boost of energy.
Make your own:

objectives take a power nap: get short, restful sleep.

E.g.) When I’m too tired to focus, I take a 15-minute power nap and I’m ready to go.
After this chapter, you will be able to...
Make your own:
start a conversation with unfamiliar people
can’t even imagine: it’s difficult to consider (often indicating sympathy).
use basic conjunctions to convey deeper opinions
brainstorm and discuss the pros and cons of different E.g.) I can’t even imagine how you’re able to function so well on 3 hours of sleep!
career choices Make your own:

B Key Patterns
Here are some key patterns that you can use when starting and developing a conversation.

1 getting started I don’t believe... Looks like I’m not the Not only... but...
only one who...
A Let’s look at the image. B Discuss the
Describe what’s happening in the picture. questions below: ... we’ve met ... forgot an umbrella ... did we do it... we did it well
›› What’s a good way to get ... we’ve been introduced ... needs energy ... is he intelligent... also friendly
Why are people smiling or laughing ... I’ve seen you before ... loves sugar ... are we prepared... we are
moments in your culture? Why doesn’t determined
like these so it happen more often?
important
in office ›› What is a helpful way to 3 The Formal Sort
environments break the ice with some-
one? When does it not work
very well?
A Formal or Informal?
With a partner, sort the expressions and explain why you believe it is formal or informal.
›› Is it easier or harder to
break the ice with someone It’s beneficial for... It’s good for... I support...
from another culture? Why? I’m for... ...yet it may lead to... ...but it is bad for...

GOOD Formal Informal

TO KNOW One or both? Circle the best answer. Check your answers in
the back of the book.
Common ›› I bought him a present. I did it to/ for him.
Mistakes ›› Apples are good to/ for you.
›› My co-worker is good to/ for me.
LESSON 01 / Breaking The Ice 11
 4 Interactions 5 Attentive Listening
A Listen and fill in the blanks. B Practice the dialogue Extended Dialogue · Three co-workers talk near an exit at work as they wait for
with the options below. the weather to improve.
Breaking the Ice in the Breakroom
A Active Listening. Think about the following questions as you listen. Write the answers
Option 1 in the spaces below.
Zoe:
(1) I’m not the only one who
needs a 3:00 boost.
›› How does Zoe break the ice?
Theo: Just brewed a fresh pot. I either drink coffee or 1. I see
take a power nap. 2. Sales
3. around ›› What do the co-workers talk about?
Zoe: Both sound good to me. 4. Palm Pilots
Theo: I don’t believe we’ve met. 5. My pleasure
›› What information do we discover about the co-workers?
Zoe: I’m Zoe. I started in (2) on
Monday.

Theo: Nice to meet you. My name’s Theo, and I started in Option 2

Accounting before coffee breaks were (3) . B True or False. Circle T for true and F for false. Explain your answer.

Zoe: I can’t even imagine. “False! Dan brought an umbrella but

1. Clearly 01 No one brought an umbrella to T/F left it in the car.”
2. Logistics work.
Theo: Not only did we not have coffee, but we had to
use these gadgets called (4) . 3. created
02 Zoe thinks waiting is not any fun. T/F
4. beepers
Zoe: Well, it was nice meeting you. Thanks for making the 5. You’re welcome
coffee. 03 One of the workers believes he is T/F
not very intelligent.
Theo: (5) .
04 Zoe thinks Miami is the worst T/F
place to live.

05 Zoe and Steve have seen each T/F

C Pragmatic Comprehension other before.

01 How does Zoe break the ice with

Theo? Why was it effective? Audio Script p. 86

02 What expressions helped the two QUOTE

QUOTE
workers relate to each other?
OF THE
OF THE DAY
DAY
03 Is this a good start to a friendship/ A man and a friend are closes his eyes, and bows
positive working relationship? Why playing golf one day at their down in prayer. His friend
> What made this joke
do you think so? local golf course. One of the says: “Wow, that is the most
funny or not so funny?
guys is about to chip his ball thoughtful and touching
onto the green when he sees thing I have ever seen. You > Do jokes make good
funeral cars next to the truly are a kind man.” The icebreakers? Why do you
course. He stops in mid- man then replies: “Yeah, well think so?
Grammar Brief p. 76 swing, takes off his golf cap, we were married 35 years.”

12 LESSON 01 / Breaking The Ice LESSON 01 / Breaking The Ice 13

 6 BUSINESS BASICS 7 Talking Shop
A Pros & Cons A Group Discussion
In groups of 3-4, choose one topic from below and think of it’s pros and cons. In groups, choose questions that interest you the most and discuss.
Do you support or oppose the topic?
01 What are safe topics to talk about when 05 What can you say to people at a conven-
breaking the ice with someone? What tion who try to talk to you, but you don’t
PROS CONS makes them safe? want to talk to them?
02 Do you ever practice meeting new people 06 What are different strategies for ice
›› retiring (in front of the mirror, role play, etc.)? If breakers that you use?
early yes, what what do you do? If no, why not?
07 Use an ice breakers to start a conversa-
03 Is it easier to start networking with tion with your group members.
people in a business setting? Why?
›› owning 08 Your own:
your own 04 Have you ever failed in trying to break
company the ice with someone? What happened?

›› being an
executive 8 CASE STUDY

Staffers Co. has nearly 50 employees. Senior account managers provide staff for
›› working for clients and suggest available candidates. Junior employees are in charge of finding
an NGO available temporary workers (“temps”). Junior employees are typically younger and
communicate almost entirely by e-mail or by instant messaging. Senior managers
often forget to open the instant messaging program, so they miss messages about
›› transferring which temps are available. The delays and missed messages are causing clients to
overseas for
go to competitors.
work
The Generation X office manager has proposed the following solutions:
01 The IT department can update the system settings so that the instant
messaging program opens automatically when employees log in each morning.
B Contrast a pro and a con for each topic, then say which you support.
02 The company can adopt “Face-to-Face Fridays” once a month. On these days, if
Get into new groups and repeat Part A. Create your own if necessary.
employees are both in the office, they will have to speak with each other in person.
›› Retiring early is undesirable because you make less money, but you have less 03 The company can create a “reverse” mentoring program that matches a younger
stress. Therefore I support retiring early employee with a senior employee to teach him or her how to use new technology to
›› communicate in the workplace and to connect with clients.

›› TASK You
TASK
are the CEO of Staffers Co. You want the employees to learn to be flexible in
how they communicate and to choose the most efficient method based on the
circumstances. Which of the three options do you instruct the office manager to put
›› in place?

›› After reading
this chapter, I can... SNEAK
SNEAK
... start a conversation with unfamiliar people
... use basic conjunctions to convey deeper opinions
PEAK: > How well do you keep
PEAK:
track of time?
... brainstorm and discuss the pros and cons of
different career choices
14 LESSON 01 / Breaking The Ice LESSON 01 / Breaking The Ice 15