Slow down, you move too fast
Philomena Tan knows all about stress. By her early 30s,she was a successful, highly paid market research consultant who sometimes worked till 10 p.m. “We had a lot of meetings and deadlines: we had to win projects, so I was writing proposals, making presentations, supervising staff”, she says.
Tan had studied psychology, and she was also good with statistics and computers. In the early 1980s, these were a rare and valuable combination of skills, so Tan made steady progress up the corporate ladder. But the turning point came the year she spent the entire week of her husband’s birthday in Brisbane running market research groups while he was home alone in Melbourne.
It made her examine her life and think about what she was really contributing to society. Tan planned her escape carefully. She saved money and returned to study. A decade later, it has all come together, and she is happy. The research she did for a doctorate in psychology not only added to her qualifications as a psychologist and psychotherapist, but gave her the raw material for her first book, Leaving the Rat Race to Get a Life, a handbook for anyone seriously considering changing the pace of their lives.
These days, Tan is in private practice in her local community, does yoga and chooses her own hours. She rarely works more than four hours. A week, and because she sees clients in the evening, she keeps her afternoons free to catch up with reading, meet with friends or research her next book. She is happy. “ When you are working up to 70 hours a week, you don’t have time for this”, she says.
Decide whether these statements are true (T) or false(F).
2. One day, she realized she was not giving enough care to her husband because of the job.
3. It took her more than five years to achieve a good-work-life balance.
4. She did not write her first book exclusively for business people.
5. These days, she works up to 70 hours a week, but she is happy.
Unit 10 Stress in the Working Place
Match the words (1-5) to their definitions (a-e).
a. a time or date by which you have to do something
b. a system where employees choose the time they start and finish work each day
c. the way people choose to organize their lives
d. someone who cannot stop working and has no time for anything else
e. the amount of work a person is expected to do
1. I worked until 11 o’clock at night to meet … for presenting the report.
2. I work six days a week and never have a holiday. My girlfriend says I’m a …
3. Karl has a heavy … at the moment because several colleagues are off sick.
4. She gave up a highly paid job to join a meditation group in India. She’s completely changed her …
5. A … system can help to reduce stress levels of employees by giving them more control over their working hours.
Discuss the following questions.
1. Do you like working under pressure? Why or why not?
2. What deadlines do you have to meet in you daily life?
Which are the most difficult to meet?
3. Why do people become workaholics?
Rank these situations from 1 (most stressful) to 9 (least stressful). Then discuss your choices.
1. making a presentation to senior executives
2. leading a formal meting
3. telephoning in English
4. writing a report with tight deadline
5. negotiating a very valuable contract
6. meeting important visitors from abroad for the first time
7. asking your boss for a pay rise
8. dealing with a customer who has a major complaint
9. being afraid of losing your job
Alan Bradshaw is a director of In Equilibrium, a stress management consultancy. Listen to the first part of the interview and complete these notes.
The most common cause of stress is usually a … of things rather than …
For example, a very bad combination is where someone is under a lot of …, but they also feel that they have no …, and they feel unsupported.
That combination can cause severe stress and … People in that situation often feel that nothing they can do will make …, and that’s a very bad feeling.
Listen to the second part of the interview and answer this question.
What are the two main ways in which In Equilibrium helps companies deal with stress?
Listen to the third part of the interview. Choose the correct answer, according to Alan Bradshaw. Then discuss whether you agree with him.
1.Men/women report less stress.
2. Men/women are better at asking for and getting support
3..Men/women don’t like to appear vulnerable.
4.Men/women are in fact often more vulnerable.
5.Men/women cope with pressure better.
Slow down, you move too fast
The clock rules our lives. The more we try to save time, the less time we seem to have. In every area of our lives we are doing things faster. And many of us live in towns and cities which are getting noisier and more stressful as each day passes. But now a worldwide movement, whose aim is to slow life down, has started a counter-revolution. Its supporters are people who believe that a happier and healthier way of life is possible.
Do you eat Slow Food ‘Slow Food’?
The Slow Food movement was founded the day that an Italian journalist, Carlo Petrini, saw that McDonald’s had opened a restaurant in Piazza di Spagna, the beautiful square in Rome. He thought it was tragic that many people today live too quickly to sit down for a proper meal and only eat mass-produced fast food. He decided that he had to try to do something about it and so he started the Slow Food movement. Although he didn’t succeed in banning McDonald’s from Piazza di Spagna, Slow Food has become a global organization and now has more than 80,000 members in 100 countries. ‘We believe,’ says Fiona Richmond of Slow Food UK, ‘that people should take time to enjoy food.’ Slow Food also encourages people to eat local and regional food, to use local shops and markets, to eat out in small family restaurants, and to cook with traditional recipes. ‘There is nothing more satisfying than relaxing around a lively table in the company of family and friends. The pleasure of eating quality food should be celebrated,’ says Richmond.
Would you like to live in a ‘Slow City’?
The idea of ‘Cittaslow’ or ‘Slow Cities’ was inspired by the Slow Food movement and it was started by the mayor of the small Italian town of Greve in Chianti. The aim of Slow Cities is to make our towns places where people enjoy living and working, and where they value and protect the things that make the town different. Towns which want to become a Slow City have to reduce traffic and noise, increase the number of green areas, plant trees, build pedestrian zones, and promote local businesses and traditions. Many other small towns in Italy have joined the movement and it has spread to other countries all over the world, from the UK to Japan and Australia. Aylsham in the UK recently became a Slow City, and most people are delighted. ‘Slow Cities are about having a community life in the town, so people don’t come home from work, shut their doors and that’s it,’ said a local resident. ‘It is not «slow» as in «stupid». It is «slow» as in the opposite of «frantic» and «stressful». It is about quality of life.’ But not everybody in Aylsham is happy. For teenagers, who have to go 25 km to Norwich, the nearest city, to buy trainers or CDs, living in a Slow City is not very attractive. ‘It’s all right here,’ says Lewis Cook, 16. ‘But if you want excitement, you have to go to Norwich. We need more things here for young people.’
Ex. 4. Group 1 students speak about the Slow Food movement. Use the answers to the questions given in exercises 2 a). Group 2 students speak about the Slow City movement. Make use of the answers to the questions of the previous exercise.
Ex. 5. Discuss the following questions.
a) Do you think these movements are a good idea? Why?
b) Would you like to become a member of the Slow Food movement? Why?
c) Would you like to live in a Slow City? Why?
Focus on speaking II
Ex. 1. Work in pairs. Imagine that your town is thinking of becoming a ‘Slow City’ and is planning to do the following things.
· Ban all fast food restaurants.
· Promote small family restaurants.
· Ban cars from the city centre.
· Create more pedestrian zones.
· Create more green areas and plant more trees.
· Reduce the speed limit in the town to 30 km/h.
· Use speed bumps and police cameras to control speed.
· Move all big supermarkets outside the city.
· Encourage local shops and ban multinational chain stores.
· Ban loud music in bars and clubs.
Which of the above mentioned ideas would you agree/disagree with? Give some arguments in support of your opinion.
While expressing your viewpoint make use of the phrases given below.
Slow down, you move too fast
Philomena Tan knows all about stress. By her early 30s, she was a successful, highly paid market research consultant, who sometimes worked till 10 p.m. “We had a lot of meetings and deadlines; we had to win projects, so I was writing proposals, making presentations, supervising staff,” she says.
Tan had studied psychology, and she was also good with statistics and computers, so Tan made steady progress up the corporate ladder. But the turning point came the year she spent the entire week of her husband’s birthday in Brisbane running market research groups while he was home alone in Melbourne.
It made her examine her life and think about what she was really contributing to society. Tan planned her escape carefully. She saved money and returned to study. The research she did for a doctorate in psychology not only added to her qualifications as a psychologist and psychotherapist, but gave her the raw material for her book, Leaving the Rat Race to Get a Life, a handbook for anyone seriously considering changing the pace of their lives.
These days, Yan is in private practice in her local community, does yoga and chooses her own hours. She rarely works more than four days a week and, because she sees clients in the evening, she keeps her afternoon free to catch up with reading, meet with her friends or research her next book. She is happy. “When you are working up to 70 hours a week, you don’t have time for this”, she says.
Text 4.
What Your Desk Says About You
Look at your desk. Is it scattered with unread papers? Adorned with family photos? Do you have toys that help you think? The way you organize and decorate your desk reveals a surprising amount of information about who you are. Sam Gosling, psychologist and professor at the University of Texas at Austin says there are a few easy things that can reveal somebody’s personality.
An organized desk says you’re dependable and timely.
People with organized desks tend to be reliable, task oriented people who plan well and get their work done on time. «When I go into a space, I look for a calendar first,» Gosling says, since an up-to-date, used desk calendar is another sign of an organized person.
Having a messy desk isn’t a bad thing (creative people often do), but others may judge you incorrectly. «When people see a messy office, they may think that the person is disagreeable, which is not necessarily true,» Gosling says. «My hunch is that the mess is unpleasant [to look at], so they assume the person is inconsiderate.»
Uncommon objects say you’re creative and open to new experiences.
People with original art or a diverse array of objects tend to be open; they embrace new ideas or experiences and are often very creative. Innovative companies, such as advertising agencies or tech startups, tend to attract creative people and encourage their employees to showcase their personalities.
Inspirational posters and messages say you’re neurotic.
People who pepper their desks with inspirational statements are typically a bit more neurotic. If you have inspirational posters up, don’t worry that they’re sending the wrong message. Neurotic people are often highly successful in the workplace and the sayings they choose to display communicate their values to others.
An inviting space says you’re extroverted.
Sociability can pave the way for promotions and a new opportunity, so introverts may help their careers by adding a few inviting touches. «People can learn to exercise that side,» Gosling says.
Text 5.
How to survive in a new job
How can you make sure that your first few weeks in a new job won’t be your last?
Let’s start with your clothes. Plan what you are going to wear in advance. Being smart tells people that you are organized and reliable. Have a good breakfast and don’t forget to work out how to get to your new workplace before you leave!
Walk into the company with a smile and make eye contact. It can be difficult to do this when you are nervous but it will make you look more approachable. Be polite and friendly to everyone. Don’t forget to find out where things are, such as the water cooler and the toilets.
Introduce yourself to your new colleagues. It’s useful to learn names as soon as possible. It’s good to have a positive attitude, too. You need to watch the things you say and do as they will be remembered.
You don’t have to be perfect in your first weeks – everyone has to learn. So don’t be afraid to ask questions. It’s better to ask for help than to do a job wrong! Listening is also important. Use a notebook and make notes so you don’t have to keep asking the same thing. Find out from your boss your responsibilities, specific projects and deadlines.
You should watch how your colleagues behave. Every company has its own culture. It may be formal or informal. For example, you may be allowed to make personal calls and surf the net, or you may not. Ideally in the first weeks you should arrive early, and leave not earlier than the majority of your colleagues. Starting late and finishing early never makes a good impression. Stay out of office politics and avoid criticizing your boss or colleagues to other people. But take advantage of after hours activities to get to know your co-workers. And join them for lunch if they invite you!
Text 6.
Job adventures
Working abroad can help your career and expand your horizons. Working with people from different cultural backgrounds can also give you new insights and a new perspective.
You should do lots of research to find potential opportunities. Don’t forget to ask your friends, family and co-workers for ideas. You can find organizations online that arrange work experience – they often deal with accommodation and red tape such as visas and health insurance. You can also check out companies who offer internships and contact them immediately. Don’t underestimate the value of volunteering in a developing country where you can get valuable skills and experience.
It can take months to find a job and sort out all the arrangements. You need to be well organized. Find out as much as possible about the country you’re going to visit. Websites can give you specific cultural information to help you fit better. Do research about the company, too.
Whatever the country, you’ will probably require a reasonable level of English as it is the international business language. How well you need to speak the local language will depend on the country, job and employer. But even an elementary knowledge will show your cultural sensitivity and help you get with people.
Coming back can be harder than you think. You may experience culture shock – you can feel emotional and it can be difficult to fit in. People change when they work abroad and things will change at home, too. It can take time to adapt.
Text 7.
News form the workplace
Karoshi – death by overwork
Do you do a lot of overtime? Work at weekends? Well, you work could be killing you. The Japanese have a word for death by overwork – “Karoshi”. And 30,000 Japanese have died of Karoshi; families can even apply for compensation. Workaholism has now spread to the US, which has the longest working hours in the world (Americans work about 1,978 hours a year, almost 12 weeks more than Germans). People who work late tend to eat fast food, don’t get enough sleep or exercise, and are more likely to be injured, have car accidents or become ill. Overwork is a disease that kills.
Workplace bloggers in danger
Be careful what you write in a blog. If you write about your workplace you may lose your job. Blogging is a very popular activity, you can tell other people about your life and work. But companies often feel that in-house bloggers’ comments and criticism go against their codes of conduct. Recently several companies have sacked offending bloggers.
Has anyone criticized you all the time, ignored you or made you feel embarrassed in front of other people? Then you have experienced bullying. We often think that bullying only happens in school, but it is very common in the workplace as well. In fact studies show that about one in five people have been bullied at work. Bullies are often managers but they can also be co-workers. They make their victims look incompetent, feel failure and lose belief in themselves. Eighty-two percent of people who are bullied leave their workplace. Companies need to make sure they have policies to fight bullying.
Немецкий язык
Контрольные работы
Контрольные работы относятся к обязательным контрольным точкам, предусмотренным программой по иностранному языку для экономических вузов.
Основной грамматический материал немецкого языка распределен по контрольным работам равномерно, по мере нарастания сложностей. Тематически, лексически и грамматически материал контрольных работ связан с учебным аудиторным материалом, что позволяет в комплексе обучать студентов устной речи.
Контрольные работы выполняются письменно и при положительной их оценке защищаются устно во время сессии.
В четвертом семестре выполняется контрольная работа № 4.
Требования к выполнению контрольной работы
1. Контрольная работа высылается не позднее, чем за месяц до сессии.
2. Если имеется несколько вариантов перевода данного предложения, то все возможные варианты следует дать в скобках.
3. Задания должны быть выполнены в той последовательности, в которой они даны в контрольной работе.
4. Перед началом выполнения контрольной работы необходимо повторить указанный грамматический материал данной работы.
Справочная учебная литература
При выполнении работы может быть использован любой грамматический справочник по немецкому языку, любой учебник и учебное пособие по немецкому языку: словари немецко-русские и русско-немецкие, учебные лекции по грамматике.
В качестве базовых учебников используются:
Wolfgang Hieber. Lernziel Deutsch (Deutsch als Fremdsprache), Grundstufen l und 2, Max Hueber Verlag, 1993.
T. V.Kullkova u.a. Deutsch für Geschäftsleute; ч. l, Москва. Высшая школа. 1989.
Задания на 4-ый семестр из учебника «Немецкий язык» под общей редакцией Монаховой Г.Н., Екатеринбург, 2005
I. Тексты для самостоятельного чтения – 10 тыс. печатных знаков
с составлением рукописного словаря по каждому тексту
II. Темы для устного высказывания „Meine Firma“стр. 27-29, „Betrieb“ стр. 29-31
Контрольная работа № 4
Организация стока поверхностных вод: Наибольшее количество влаги на земном шаре испаряется с поверхности морей и океанов (88‰).
