Specialized Reading

Task 1. Read the words and give the Russian equivalents.

a software marketing manager high-tech marketing firm via laptop connected to the Internet via laptop and aircard remote working roughly 75 percent flexible; workplace flexibility in order to face time boomer boss

a middle ground to work virtually to develop face-to-face interpersonal skills to use the technology advantage to tаke course online the live stream an information technology professional a trust issue to get ahead

Task 2. Answer the questions.

1. What is “remote working”?

2. What words is it derived from? Is it a neologism? Give the Russian equivalent.

3. “We’re more creative in our own space than in an office with no windows.” Do you agree?

Task 3. Read and translate the article.

Working at home vs. The office: The face time faceoff

It’s a blue sky day in South Florida and Erik Bortzfield, a software marketing manager, would love to be ocean side on a beach chair connected to the Internet via laptop and aircard. A year out of college, Bortzfield, 23, has discovered the rules of the workplace typically don’t allow remote working, but he is convinced his generation will make it happen. “When people my age start to own and manage companies, I think you’ll start to see a noticeable change,” he says.

Millennials will be change makers, says Dan Schawbel, managing partner of Millennial Branding. By 2025, Generation Y will make up roughly 75 percent of the world’s workforce, a Business and Professional Women’s Foundation study shows. With such a large presence, expect them to put pressure on companies to shift how people work, Schawbel says: “Gen Y wants to rip apart work styles and create new relationships with the office that are more flexible.”

It’s not that Gen Y-ers don’t see value in coming to the office some of the time. But because they are networked, they believe reporting to an office from 9 to 5 every day in order to call and send emails to people in other places makes absolutely no sense. Many are asking: “Why are bosses insisting on face time?” — and planning for the day when they will make the office rules.

Amanda Delprete, a 24-year-old PR account executive, says her generation wants to use the technology advantage. In college, she and her friends took one or more courses online or sat in their dorms watching the live stream. “It was not mandatory for us to be physically in class,” she says. “Now, we come into the workplace and there’s an insistence on face time and we don’t get it. We’re more creative in our own space than in an office with no windows.”

Leadership consultant Jane Goldner says boomer bosses trying to lead this new chaotic environment and still keep a handle on things will need to find a middle ground acceptable to all. Rather than just insist on face time, they will need to explain why it is important. “Without it, you might not be building the alliances you need to get ahead.” Even more, she adds: “When you work virtually, you don’t develop face-to-face interpersonal skills. That’s a huge skill set missing in the workplace.”

Richard Fleites, an information technology professional, believes the generational conflict over face time remains a trust issue. There remains a belief that if you’re not in the office, you’re napping or downing martinis during business hours, he says.

Sorraya, a 34-year-old attorney, discovered getting the flexibility is possible — but it has to be earned. She’s worked from libraries, hotel rooms, court rooms rather than return to her office. But she’s proved her value. “You’re not going to start day one and work from home one morning a week. If you become trusted, you get more flexibility.”

By understanding Gen Y-ers’ need for workplace flexibility, companies are better able to recruit and grow young talent for the future, workplace experts say. Adam, a Miami attorney, says he’s much happier as a lawyer at United Auto Insurance Company where he can work from the courthouse or home at times rather than at a big law firm where the emphasis on face time at the office during and after hours was much greater.

Meanwhile, Bortzfield, the software marketing manager, looks forward to the day when he’s the boss: “If it’s the nicest day of all time, I’m going to say, ‘Everyone work from home or wherever today. Let me know if you need anything.’ C.K.Goodman “The Miami Herald”, 2012

Task 4. Answer the questions.

1. What are Erik Bortzfield’s ideas about new style of work?

2. Have you ever heard about a beach chair connected to the Internet via laptop and aircard? Is it useful invention?

3. Do Gen Y-ers see value in face time? Prove your answer.

4. What experts are mentioned in the article? What are their names? What are the names of their firms or organizations?

5. Why do millennials believe reporting to an office from 9 to 5 every day in order to call and send emails to people in other places makes absolutely no sense?

6. What problems are discussed in the article?

Task 5. a) Note the advantages and disadvantages of remote working in the table.

Give reasons for good and bad points of remote working. Fill in the table.

Remote working
Advantages You don’t need to report to an office from 9 to 5 every day ………………… …………………	Reasons You are networked ………………… …………………
Disadvantages ………………… …………………	Reasons ………………… …………………

b) add your own ideas to the table.

Task 6. Read paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4 again and find neologisms. How are they formed? What words are they derived from? Give the Russian equivalents.

Task 7. Read the sentences from the texts, find the verbs and identify the tense. Translate the sentences. Use Appendix “English Tenses”.

1. There probably isn’t a company in America that isn’t wrestling with managing different generations.

2. But at the same time, employers will have to get used to the fact that they may choose to text message even if they’re standing next to you.

3. Teens want the workplace to accommodate them.

4. Lee has helped move supervisors toward the style of communication the iGeneration expects.

5. Erik Bortzfield, a software marketing manager, would love to be ocean side on a beach chair connected to the Internet via laptop and aircard.

6. But because they are networked, they believe reporting to an office from 9 to 5 every day in order to call and send emails to people in other places makes absolutely no sense.

7. Expect them to put pressure on companies to shift how people work,

8. Many are asking: “Why are bosses insisting on face time?”

9. I’m going to say, ‘Everyone works from home or wherever today. Let me know if you need anything.’

Task 8. Identify the functions of have (main verb; modal verb; auxiliary verb; verbal noun; participle). Translate the sentences.

1. He has discovered that having hundreds of Facebook friends doesn’t teach you interpersonal skills and sometimes you have to interact with co-workers and customers “whether you like them or not.

2. It’s easier for her, she doesn’t have to stop what she’s doing to talk to me.

3. Sorraya discovered getting the flexibility is possible — but it has to be earned.

4. At 17, he already has worked for three years at Publix, has secured two paid internships at high-tech marketing firms and has founded three online businesses.

Recommended function

Read the Function 13 “HOW TO deal with modal verbs” write some sentences to describe what you can, have to, should do in your studies.