UNIT 05 - Company history
In this unit you will learn how to inform about company history, recent business and past activities.
STARTING OUT
Listen to these important highlights in the history of this Canadian transportation company and check the tab with the correct verbs you hear.
Made its 2,000th Learjet.
Won contracts of $135 million in Europe.
Began a cooperation agreement with a Japanese industry.
Invested $13 million in new facilities.
Delivered an order for 210 buses in Belgium.
Produced its 2,000th Learjet.
Signed contracts of $135 million in Europe.
Started a cooperation agreement with a Japanese industry.
Spent $13 million in new facilities.
Received an order for 210 buses in Belgium.
Now listen again and repeat. Then, tell about past events in your company’s history and send the audio to you teacher and to your colleagues.
LET'S TALK
Listen to these people talking about the officed they opened last year and check the words and expressions you know. The new ones will be START OUT/OPEN and FIND NEW/EXPAND MARKETS.
Now listen again and do yourself the Korean executive’s part as many times as necessary for a good performance. Then, record it and send the audio to your teacher.
LISTEN TO ME
Listen to the audio with information about events in a Mexican company history and choose the tab that brings only the correct facts.
CHOOSE ONE
Canada, Mexico and the USA formed NAFTA in 1995.
Mr. Madero and his partners bought Sanluis in 1991.
Sanluis sold some of its companies in 1978.
Sanluis opened an office in Detroit in 1993.
Canada, Mexico and the USA formed NAFTA in 1993.
Mr. Madero and his partners bought Sanluis in 1978.
Sanluis sold some of its companies in 1991.
Sanluis opened an office in Detroit in 1995.
Canada, Mexico and the USA formed NAFTA in 1978.
Mr. Madero and his partners bought Sanluis in 1991.
Sanluis sold some of its companies in 1993.
Sanluis opened an office in Detroit in 1995.
LET'S READ
Company mergers
In the late 1990s, many large companies joined to form new big ones. Brazilian financial services merged, Swiss drug companies joined and American and German automobile makers partnered.
In many cases, mergers were successful. But there were also many difficulties executives face due to cultural differences such as, for example, American executives with a higher salary than their German bosses.
Problems to solve
Balancing differences is not easy and it is always a great challenge to manage and solve some awkward situations.
LISTEN AGAIN
Listen to the audio with information containing dates and take notes of the dates you hear. Then, check your answers with your colleagues.
UP TO YOU
When did your company start its activities?
What is the most important landmark in the company’s history?
When did they open the first office in Brazil?
When did they open the first office abroad?
Did your company ever take part in any merger?
What problems did your company have with the merger?
SUMMARIZING
Awkward
Challenge
Cooperation agreement
Events
Find new/expand markets
Highlight/landmark
Join/partner
Merge/merger
New facilities
Order
Start out/open
Take part
