We will be focusing not on major conflicts between companies or inside organizations, but rather on the everyday sort of disagreements that all of us have to deal with to be successful in our work.

Listening Questions

1) Gerry says he wants to “sit down informally and thrash things out a little.” What do you think this means?

“To thrash things out” is an idiom that means to discuss things. It often carries the specific meaning of discussing things when there may be some sort of disagreement or difference of opinion.

2) A strain is something that is tiring and, perhaps, irritating. What does Gerry say is “getting to be kind of a strain?”

Gerry says it’s “getting to be kind of a strain” that he is “the last one out of here almost every night,” that is, the last person to leave the office.

3) What solution does Gerry propose?

Gerry proposes passing on to the trainers as much of the admin, that is the administration work, as possible.

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The FAB technique is useful for people working in the manufacturing and retail trade - anyone who has to present products. In particular, we’ll look at how this approach can be applied in the Merchandizing business. Merchandizing is the trade name for businesses involved in the design and manufacture of clothing and household items.

In the dialog, we rejoin Marco and Francesca on their trip to a fashion trade show in the U.S. Their company, Viva, has just created an exciting new line of clothes. With the help of their American partner, Foxtrot, they are hoping to get a couple big sales contracts with U.S. department stores.

The listening takes place in the Foxtrot showroom. We’ll hear Francesca speak to a potential customer, Bill, who is a buyer for Bancroft’s, a retail chain store that targets professional women.

Listening Questions:
1. What is the key feature of Viva’s fall colors this year? Can you name some of the colours?
2. Why is the Viva Professional line more expensive?
3. As described in the dialog, what are the main benefits of Viva’s clothing line?

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In the listening, we will return to Yala Santos’ interview. Remember, she is an HR specialist at a manufacturing company who is interviewing for an HR manager position in a business unit of a fast moving consumer goods company, Fun Beverages International.

Listening Questions

1) What is Yala’s first question for the interviewer?

2) How does the interviewer respond?

3) Yala’s second question is a little tougher - what does she ask?

The FAB presentation technique is especially useful for people working in the apparel, manufacturing and retail trades - anyone who has to present products to potential customers. In the lesson, we’ll look at how this approach can be applied in the merchandizing business. Merchandizing is the trade name for businesses involved in the design and manufacture of clothing and household items.