Travelling on business

Boris Petrov is an engineer of a Russian foreign-trade organiza­tion. He often goes on business to different European, Asian and African countries. His organization does business with lots of foreign firms.

Last month he was in Great Britain. He went there to sign a contract for the purchase of some equipment. The talks were very difficult. Petrov and the British businessmen discussed prices, terms of delivery, terms of shipment and other business matters. The sup­plier agreed to reduce the price.

During his trip Petrov visited different plants where he saw the equipment in operation. He also attended a 3-day conference on industrial investment policy and financial management and met with consultants from law firms. Boris was lucky with the weather. It was warm and it didn't rain. He was pleased with the trip.

purchase покупка; to agree соглашаться; to reduce сни­жать; to attend a conference участвовать в конференции; industrial investment policy политика инвестиций в промышленности; financial management финансовый менеджмент; consultant консультант, кон­сультационная фирма; law firm юридическая фирма; to be pleased with быть довольным чем-л.

3. Dialogue about traveling. (Любимцева С.Н. p. 205.)

About travelling

PETER: Hello. Can I speak to Boris Baker, please?

BORIS: Speaking. Hello, Pete.

PETER: Pm back from the Caucasus, Boris. We're having a little party at my place next Friday. Will you and your wife come?

BORIS: Oh, it's a pity but we can't come, we're leaving for holi­day next Friday.

PETER: I see. Then I wish you a good holiday.

BORIS: Thank you. By the way, did you enjoy your holiday, Pe­ter?

PETER: Yes, very much. I stayed at a hotel in the mountains and then spent a week at the seaside.

BORIS: Was the hotel at the seaside good?

PETER: Fantastic! Modern, comfortable and quiet. How do you usually spend your holidays?

BORIS: I'm fond of traveling. I prefer to travel by car with my family.

PETER: Does your wife enjoy traveling?

BORIS: Yes, she does.

PETER: Where are you going?

BORIS: This time we are going to spend our holiday here, in Russia. There are so many places of interest here!

PETER: All the best to you.

I wish you a good holiday Я желаю тебе хорошо провести отпуск; quiet тихий, спокойный; to prefer предпочитать; to find зд. считать

4. A trip to Brazil. (Любимцева С.Н. p. 208.)

Trip to brazil

My business friend Paul went for a holiday to Brazil last year. He stayed with his friends in the capital and then he traveled about the country. The trip was very interesting because there are lots of places of interest in Brazil.

Paul's sister went for a holiday to Switzerland. She skied in the mountains and then stayed at a hotel in Geneva.

Next year my friends are coming to Russia. They are going to travel in Siberia.

about зд. no; Switzerland [‘switsələnd] Швейцария; Geneva [dzi’ni:və]Женева

5. Ex 17. Dialogues 1, 2, 3, 4. (Любимцева С.Н. p.p. 286-287.)

1.

HOTEL GUEST: Hello, is that room service?

HOTEL CLERK: Yes, sir. What can I do for you?

HOTEL GUEST: This is room 252. I’m leaving very early tomorrow morning. I must be at the airport at 8. I’d like to book a taxi, if possible.

HOTEL CLERK: Certainly, sir. What time is convenient for you?

HOTEL GUEST: I really don’t know. How long will it take me to get to the airport?

HOTEL CLERK: About an hour, I guess.

HOTEL GUEST: Then, will you book a taxi for 6.30?

HOTEL CLERK: All right, sir.

2.

HOTEL GUEST: Can I have breakfast in my room, please?

HOTEL CLERK: Surely. What king of breakfast would you like?

HOTEL GUEST: Something very light: some toasts, jam and coffee.

HOTEL CLERK: Very good. What time shall I serve breakfast?

HOTEL GUEST: At 6 sharp, please.

toast [toust] жареный хлебец; jam [dzæm] повидло, джем

3.

WAITER: Welcome to our restaurant, sir.

A: Thank you. It’s very cosy in here and it’s not hot.

WAITER: Yes, sir. The restaurant is air-conditioned. What will you have?

B: Do you serve the local food here?

A: We have a very wide choice. Our guests come from different countries, you know, and we serve both continental and local dishes.

4.

A: Can I have my key, please? Room 315.

B: Here you are. There’s a message for you, sir.

A: Thank you. Aha, I’ll have to leave the city for two days.

B: Are you going to check out, sir?

A: No, I’d rather keep the room, the hotel is full up, isn’t it?

B: That’s right, sir. There’s an international conference here.

6. Ex. 20. Dialogues 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. (Любимцева С.Н. p.p. 288-289.)

1.

A: Could you telephone the Airflot booking-office and find out if

we can book two seats on a plane to Warsaw?

B: I'll do it right away. Do you want to go by a morning plane?

A: Yes, I'd rather do that.

2.

A: Shall we take' this table?

B: Yes, we'll be very comfortable here.

A: What would you like to begin with?

B: I'll have a tomato juice.

3.

A: Here's the menu, Ann. What would you like to have for the second course?

B: I really don't know. What will you recommend?.

A: The choice is good. Will a steak do?

B: Perfectly.

4.

A: What shall we order for dessert?

B: Anything you say.

A: Do you mind if I order vanilla ice-cream?

B: That's all right with me.

5.

A: Where have you recently been, Nick? I've phoned you several times but nobody answered the calls.

B: No wonder, Val. I've just come back from Suzdal. I took our customer's delegation there.

A: Are they pleased with the trip?

B: Oh, it was great!

A: They say there's a restaurant in Suzdal which is famous for Russian cuisine. Did you go there?

6.

A: Sorry to trouble you, the London train leaves at 6, doesn't it?

B: That's right, madam. You mean the express, don't you?

A: Yes, the express. And it arrives at about 8, doesn't it?

B: Yes, 8.05.

A: And I have to change at Dorking, don't I?

B: No, you don't have to change. It's a through train.

A: A ticket for the London train, please. What's the fare?

B: ... pounds, please. The train leaves from platform 2.

7.

A: 123-45-67.

B: Can I speak to Bob, please?

A: Speaking.

B: Good morning, Bob. Tom is here. I'm giving a little party at the restaurant tonight. Will you come?

A.: Thank you for the invitation, Bob, but I'm leaving for Paris tonight and I've got a lot of things to do. I'll have to have my hair cut, my photo taken and things cleaned.

B.: I see. Have a good journey. A. Thanks for calling. Tom.

7. Role-Play. (Любимцева С.Н. p.p. 294-295.)

Setting: Petrov, head of the Russian delegation, and his col­leagues were invited to Warri, Nigeria, to give recommendations on the construction site for a new plant. It was agreed that the experts would go there by train as it could give them a good opportunity to see more of the country. All the arrangements for their trip were made by the customers. They booked first-class tickets on the 8 o'clock express to Warri. It was a very convenient train as the Rus­sian experts did not have to change anywhere. Their compartment was air-conditioned and the experts enjoyed the trip. On the way they read illustrated magazines and newspapers, talked and looked out of the window of their carriage. Though the train was due in Warri late at night the Russian experts were met by the chief engi­neer and taken to the local hotel where accommodation had been booked for them.

The next day the Russian experts saw the construction site and had talks all day long. In the evening they were invited to a restau­rant. When they came to the restaurant the waiter showed them to the table reserved for them. They looked at the menu, chose the dishes and the waiter took their order. The dinner was wonderful and everybody was pleased with it. The customer's representative paid the bill and they left the restaurant.

Re-enact all these scenes.

8. Trip to Russia. (Любимцева С.Н. p. 295.)