Revision Activity Sheet 3

1. Managing a dialogue
TASK:Read and complete the dialogue in discourse.
A Business Traveler
Interviewer: Good morning Sir. I'd like to ask you a few questions if I may.
Jamal: Well, I'm waiting to catch my flight so I guess I can answer a few questions.
Interviewer: Thank you Sir. First of all, how often do you travel?
Jamal: I travel about twice a month.
Interviewer: Where are you flying to on this trip?
Jamal: I'm flying to Karachi.
Interviewer: and where did you fly on your last trip?
Jamal: I flew to Lahore. I've already been there three times!
Interviewer: Really! Do you enjoy traveling for business?
Jamal: Yes, although I prefer .
NOTE: In order to continue the dialogue think on the following lines
What do you like most about traveling? Which cities have you traveled? Which food
have you tried? Which places you havent visited yet etc?
2. TASK: Write a complete dialogue between two workers in an office discussing
about an important meeting that is to be held. Try to make the dialogue as natural
as possible. You may consult the exemplary dialogue given below. The Meeting (Two
workers in an office)
EXAMPLE: Hooking Up My Computer
Peter: Hi Jack. Can you give me a hand?
Jack: Sure. Whats up?
Peter: I've just bought a new computer and I'm having some problems hooking
everything up.
Jack: and I'm a geek. Yeah, I know. I'd be happy to help.
Peter: Thanks! I've connected all the cables from my monitor, mouse and keyboard, and
I've plugged it in.
Jack: Have you installed the software yet?
Peter: No, I haven't. Do I need to?
Jack: Not always, but it's best to install drivers for your keyboard and mouse, as well as
your printer.
Peter: Will the computer boot up without those?
Jack: Of course. Boot up the computer and then we can update the drives.
Peter: OK. What's that thing (points to a computer component)
Jack: Oh, that's a memory reader. You can insert things like SD cards from your camera
and mp3 players into it.
Peter: That's handy.
Jack: You've bought a nice system. How big is the hard drive?
Peter: I think it's 750 gigabyte.
Jack: Good... The computer's booted up. Let's install those drivers.
Peter: Before we do that, can I get online?
Jack: Do you have a modem?
Peter: Yes, I do. I think I have a cable modem.
Jack: hmmm... yes you do. Is the Ethernet cable plugged in?
Peter: What's that?
Jack: It's the cable that connects your modem to your computer.
Peter: Let's surf the internet!
Jack: Just a moment... first we need to launch the browser.
Peter: The browser?
Jack: It's the program that allows you to surf the internet.
Peter: oh ... I've got a lot to learn.
Jack: Yes, you do. I can see I'm going to be here all day...
3. Complete the dialogues by supplying appropriate questions.

A: whats the matter?

B: I have a cold.
A:________________________________________
B: Terrible. I think I will go home.
A: Are you going to summer school?
B:I havent decided yet. ?
A; ooh! Im going to my grandmothers house.
A: Do you like movies?
B:I guess. ?
A: I dont like them much.
A: I have never met her husband. ?
B: Hes a civil engineer. He works for a rail road company.
A: I was late for work this morning
B:__________________________________________________
A: I missed my bus.

4. REVIEW: Read the two versions of the same dialogue and underline those words
which are difficult in dialogue A. Also locate and underline the explanatory phrases
in dialogue B.
Dialogue A
Timi: Hey, can I get a little facetime?
Rana: Sure, let's dialogue.
Timi: Great. I tried to ping you earlier, but you weren't in.
Rana: Yeah, I had to handle some pushback on my proposal.
Timi: Really, why was that?
Rana: Well, I've come up with a number of synergies in the value chain. My value
proposition was to seamlessly integrate our customer service reps.
Timi: Sounds like a win-win. How long is the ramp-up?
Rana: That's the problem. I projected a roll-out in two months. C-level people want to
dial-in the project in two weeks.
Timi: ...but you're proposing an end-to-end solution!
Rana: Yeah, I know. I had the time-frame mapped out for all the deliverables, too.
Timi: Sometimes you have to wonder about high-level management's capabilities to
leverage people like you!
Rana: You're much too kind! Anyway, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?
Timi: Nothing much, I just wanted to give you a heads-up on some performance
management issues I've been having with Pete.
Rana: No room to breathe?
Dialogue B
Timi: Hey, do you have some time for me?
Rana: Sure, let's talk.
Timi: Great. I tried to contact you earlier, but you weren't in.
Rana: Yeah, I had to manage some complaints about my idea for the company.
Timi: Really, why was that?
Rana: Well, I thought of a number of tasks that can complement each other in how we
provide our service. My improvement idea was to include our customer service
representatives our processes.
Timi: That sounds like a good idea for everybody. How long will it take to put your plan
into action?
Rana: That's the problem. I think it will take two months to put into place. The directors
want to put the project into action in two weeks.
Timi: ...but you've suggested a complete solution to the problem!
Rana: Yes, I know. I had developed a schedule for all of the improvements, too.
Timi: Sometimes it's difficult to understand why upper management can't take advantage
of people like you!
Rana: You're much too kind! Anyway, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?
Timi: Nothing much. I just wanted to tell you ahead of time about some problems I'm
having with Pete trying to control everything I do.
Rana: No room for your own efforts?
Timi: That's right.
REVIEW: After finishing the task please review the following.
facetime (noun)- time together
to dialogue (verb) - to speak
to ping (verb) - to contact someone
pushback (noun) - to object to, complain about
synergies (noun) - combinations in efforts that improve something
value chain (noun) - the group of processes that provide something positive
value proposition (noun) - the improvement idea
seamlessly (adverb) - flowing smoothly
to integrate (verb) - to include in a process
win-win (noun, also used as an adjective) - successful outcome for everyone involved
ramp-up (noun, also used as a verb) - time it takes to do something
roll-out (noun, also used as a verb) - time it takes to do something
C-level (adjective) - upper management, directors
to dial-in (verb) - time it takes to do something
end-to-end (adjective) - complete
time-frame (noun) - amount of time needed
to map out (verb) - to plan
deliverables (noun) - specific improvements or products to be made
to leverage (verb) - to take advantage of something
heads-up (noun) - notice of something
performance management (noun) - way of managing someone