Module 10

THE OFFICE WORK AND

BUSINESS CORRESPONDENCE

Warming up. Read the two following dialogues and one voicemail. Make up your own short situations.

A. Signing a Memo

— Mr. Carlson, Johnny Chow called this morning. He wants to know if you're satisfied with the terms outlined in the fax he sent yesterday. He also said he'll need you to sign the memorandum by Wednesday.

— Oh, that's right. He wants to get a press release out before the weekend. Would you please e-mail him today and let him know we have the fax?

— Sure. Should I tell him you'll sign the memo as well?

— No, not quite yet. I need to have the marketing team review it first. I'll give marketing a deadline of Tuesday, so if everything looks good, tell Mr. Chow we can get the memo to him by Thursday morning.

B. A Call about a Missing Business Report

— Hello, Lance Smithers? This is Victoria Balderston in corporate headquarters. The reason I'm calling is that I haven't received last month's expense reports from your office yet, and they were due on Tuesday. Was this something that was overlooked?

— No, I actually sent them to you on Monday with the company courier. I'm sure of it. You haven't received them yet? That's strange.

— Yes, it is. Listen, I can check with the courier's office, but in the meantime, could you send please the expense reports again today, just to ensure that I have them by this afternoon? I'd really appreciate it.

— Sure, no problem. Let's see, it's 8: 45. I'll try to get them on the 9 o'clock courier run, but if I miss that I'll have them ready for the 11 o'clock pickup. Sorry about the confusion.

C. A Voicemail about a Meeting

Hey, Rebecca, this is Jerome. I've got good news! I closed the deal here in Dallas early, so I can be back tomorrow in time to make the meeting with the clients from Seoul. I'm catching a flight back to Atlanta. The only problem is, I arrive early in the morning, and I need a ride from the airport to my house, and then into the office so I can make the meeting at 9. Oh, I also need for Erika to set up my power-point presentation and get it ready for the meeting. Could you please ask Antonio if he could pick me up at the airport? I know he lives near there. I arrive on Flight 397 from Dallas at 7 a.m. Thanks a lot Rebecca. If there are any problems, call me on my cell. Otherwise I'll see you tomorrow morning.

Words and Phrases for the Topic:

business correspondence – деловая корреспонденция (документация)

a way of communication – средство общения (коммуникации)

the exchange of letters – обмен писем

to send a letter – отправить письмо

to receive a letter – получить письмо

an addresser (a sender) – адресат, отправитель

an addressee (a recipient) – адресант, получатель

a party – сторона (напр., в договоре, проекте и пр.)

business parties – деловые стороны, партнёры

a text message – текстовое сообщение

a voicemail – голосовое сообщение

a note – запись, записка, сообщение

an email – электронное письмо

business agreements – бизнес-договор, деловое соглашение

business deals – бизнес-сделки

to involve – включать, вовлекать

gradual changes – постепенные, поэтапные перемены

to evolve – развиваться, эволюционировать

a business letter – деловое письмо

a memo (сокр. от memorandum) – деловая служебная записка

a recommendation letter (letter of reference) – рекомендательное письмо

a cover letter (application letter) – сопроводительное письмо, письмо-заявка (на приём на работу, на зачисление в университет, на соискание гранта или проекта)

an invitation – пригласительное письмо

an inquiry (a letter of inquiry) – письмо-запрос

CV (Curriculum vitae) or a resume – резюме

a summary – краткое изложение или содержание, краткий отчёт, обобщённые итоговые результаты, аннотация, краткая справка

an appropriate –подходящий, адекватный

via –через, посредством

a background – происхождение, истоки, опыт, биографические данные

to apply for – подать заявку

a primarily used – преимущественно использующийся

concerns – проблемы, вопросы

to face (a problem) –столкнуться с, испытывать что-л. (напр., проблему)

a conventional – условный

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