Student: Celia Terra

Teacher:Irene Zabiela

TECHNOLOGY AT THE WORKPLACE

A)Discuss the following questions

1. How frequently do you use technology at your workplace?

2. Are there any specific electronic devices you use more frequently?What do you use
them for?
3. Are there any particular technology brands your company prefers purchasing?
4. Which features make them more reliable or convenient?
5. Which consumer electronics and personal computers do you think are the best in
today's market?
6. What springs to mind when you hear the word Apple?

B) TRUE / FALSE:Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false

(F).
a. Apple was the worlds most valuable company for three seconds.

T/F

b. Apple was competing with an oil company for the top position.

T/F

c. Apple is worth close to half a trillion dollars.

T/F

d. Analysts believe it wont be long before Apple is number one.

T/F

e. Apples profits were also phenomenal fifteen years ago.

T/F

f.

T/F

Steve Jobs kept Apple on the same course when he took over in 1997.

g. Hewlett Packard is still the worlds biggest computer maker.

T/F

h. The average Apple employee earns around $400,000 a year.

T/F

Student: Celia Terra

Teacher:Irene Zabiela

C) Read the article and check your answers.

Apple Briefly Worlds Most Valuable Company.

Apple Inc., the innovative and pioneering technology company, was

briefly the worlds most valuable company on Wednesday. It went neck
and neck for the top spot with the oil giant Exxon. At one point in the
days trading, Apples shares went up six per cent on the Nasdaq
exchange to put its market capitalisation at $446 billion. This was higher
than Exxons $417 billion valuation. However, at the close of trading,
Exxon was up half a percentage point at $418 billion, slightly ahead of
Apple, which went down to $416 billion. Apples figures were buoyed by
news of its record profits in the last quarter of 2011.
It made $13 billion in profit on $46 billion in sales. Analysts predict Apple
will soon overtake Exxon.
Apples success has been phenomenal. It was struggling to make a profit
fifteen years ago but experienced an incredible revival of fortunes after
co-founder Steve Jobs took over as CEO in 1997. He turned the company
round with iconic products like the iPod, iMac, iPhone and iPad, which
helped the companys profits skyrocket. The past three months is one of
the most profitable ever for an American company. In that period, it
overtook Hewlett Packard as the worlds biggest computer maker and
took in more revenue than Google. Apples profit per employee now
exceeds $400,000 a year. The introduction of the iCloud and soaring
demand for the iPhone 5 this year should see the companys value
continue to surge.

D)SYNONYM MATCH:Match the following synonyms from the article.

1.

pioneering

a.

stimulated

Student: Celia Terra

Teacher:Irene Zabiela

briefly

b.

timeframe

3.

slightly

c.

incredible

4.

buoyed

d.

momentarily

5.

surge

e.

luck

6.

phenomenal

f.

cutting-edge

7.

revival

g.

rise

8.

fortunes

h.

booming

9.

period

i.

a bit

j.

comeback

10. soaring

E) Imagine as the manager of your company you are going to hold an interview with Apple

store Director from Uruguay.You must make an offer to the importer as you are interested to
purchase several electronic supplies in the near future.
Use some of the useful language for negotiations below.
Starting positions.
Thanks again for agreeing to meet today. I really appreciate you taking the time
during your breakfast/lunch
Well, let's get started .
We'd like to reach a deal with you today.
If there's anything you'd like to say first, please be my guest.
Exploring positions
Can you tell me a little about...?
What do you have in mind?
Making offers and concessions
If you order now,we'll give you a discount.
We'd be prepared to offer you a better price if you increased your order.
If necessary....

Checking understanding

Student: Celia Terra

What do you mean?

Have I got this right?
You mean,if we ordered...would....?

Showing understanding/agreement on a point:

I agree with you on that point.

Souns a good idea to me.As long as we...
Good,we agree on price,quantity,discounts...
I don't see any problem with/harm in that.

Refusing an offer

I'm not sure about that

That would be difficult for us.

I'm afraid I had something different in mind.

That's not exactly how I look at it.
I'd have to disagree with you there.
I'm afraid that doesn't work for me.
Is that your best offer?

Playing for time

I'd like to think about it.

I'll have to consult my colleagues about that.

Closing the deal

I think we've covered everything.
Great! We've got a deal.
Following up the deal
Let me know if there are any problems.
If there any other points,I'll email you.

Teacher:Irene Zabiela

Student: Celia Terra

Teacher:Irene Zabiela

Student: Celia Terra

Teacher:Irene Zabiela

ANSWERS
TRUE / FALSE:
a. F

b. F

c. F

d. F

e. F

f. F

SYNONYM MATCH:
1.

pioneering

a.

cutting-edge

briefly

b.

momentarily

3.

slightly

c.

a bit

4.

buoyed

d.

stimulated

5.

surge

e.

rise

6.

phenomenal

f.

incredible

7.

revival

g.

comeback

8.

fortunes

h.

luck

9.

period

i.

timeframe

10.

soaring

j.

booming

g. F

h. F