INTRODUCTION: Discuss these questions: What is Twitter? Do you use it? What is the point of it?
LISTENING 1: Listen and answer these questions.
Visit www.businessenglishstudy.com for the free MP3 listening file NOTE: The questions are not in chronological order
a. What percentage of tweets is inconsequential nonsense?
b. What has Red Bull signed up for? c. What revenue did it make in 2010? d. Where does the name come from? e. How many characters can you use in a tweet? f. What is Twitter sometimes described as?
PRONUNCIATION: ‘e’ sound
Read these words aloud to find the odd one out, and then practice saying the sentences that follow e.g. Tweet – Ten – Enter – Rent 1. Feet – Seat – Weight – Piece 2. Text – Team – Employ – Lend 3. Dream – Hello – People – Free 4. Reach – Scheme – Meet – Height • We went to England and then to Egypt to see the employees • My methods are seven times more effective than Henry’s • I received eleven tweets from Elizabeth yesterday • Examine the entries to see if there are any irregularities
Uses: Verb + preposition is used to express action in an informal style. It is not used in formal writing, but it is commonly used in English speech.
Some phrasal verbs keep the individual meaning of verb and preposition e.g. I’ve bought back the company when I had enough money to invest.
Other phrasal verbs have a different meaning from the individual parts e.g. After two months of searching my suitcase turned up in Berlin (turn up = appear)
Form: Verb + preposition consists of:
Verb + preposition (+object) + rest of sentence Give in the document at reception.
Common prepositions used in phrasal verbs are:
about – along – away – back – down – forward off – on – out – over – round – through – up – in
EXERCISE 1: Match the verb (1-8) with the correct phrasal verb (a-h)
1. Stop trying a. Break down
2. Read / check quickly b. Take off 3. Become a success c. Look over 4. Propose / suggest d. Find out 5. Cause / make happen e. Give up 6. Discover f. Put forward 7. Stop working g. Keep tabs on 8. Monitor h. Bring about
EXERCISE 2: Place the correct phrasal verb from exercise 1 into the gaps. 1. The investment a major change in Twitter’s business. 2. When did they about the takeover plan? 3. I tried to negotiate a deal but it was impossible and in the end I . 4. We need to the amount of customers using Twitter. 5. The computer during the meeting. 6. Did you get a chance to the figures? 7. Twitter really after the SWSX festival. 8. They knew that the company was safe when the rescue plan was .
• Expressing doubts: What worries me is … I’m not sure about that … • Reassuring: That true but … Let me reassure you … • Stressing importance: It’s critical we reach agreement on this … Let me make this clear …
2. Bargaining • Opening question: What sort of order did you have in mind? What do you think you could deliver? • Avoiding the answer: I’ll have to confirm that. Would you mind waiting while I check on that? • Leading the negotiation: I’m surprised by your terms and conditions We would like a reduction in the price. Would you be willing to consider this … ? • Defending a position: I’m afraid that’s as far as I can go I’m sure you will agree with me on this
3. Closing the deal
• Expressions to close the deal: You strike a hard bargain, but let’s shake on it If we can do this and this are you willing to place an order?
EXERCISE 1: Word study – complete the dialogue with a selected expression:
To clinch – to be stretched – to shake on – to draw up – to quote – to split the difference
1. That sounds good, let’s it.
2. I’ll ask my assistant to a contract and send it to you today. 3. I say $50,000 you say $55,000, let’s and call it $52,500. 4. With no external investment our ability to compete really . 5. After long negotiations we the deal by offering an extra 5% discount. 6. Can you for a ten-year lease on the building?
EXERCISE 2: Recognising the meaning and purpose of a particular statement in a
negotiation is vital. This avoids misunderstanding. Match the purpose with the expression in the box below:
1. It’s crucial we keep transport costs down a. Leading the negotiation
2. I assume there is some flexibility on the price b. Defending your position 3. Please bear in mind our expenses c. Avoiding the answer 4. Could you give us a ballpark figure? d. Opening question 5. You are a tough negotiator but let’s shake on it e. Stressing importance 6. I’ll have to get back to you on that point. f. Closing a deal
SPEAKING PRACTICE: Media Company negotiates with a Music Festival • A Media Group is offering a Music Festival an advertising package to promote the event through its magazine, newspaper, radio station and website. This is to compete with Twitter. The deal includes different options but is regional not national or global. In groups:
• Festival Promoters: Negotiate the best deal with the Media Group. Decide what you want and what you want to pay
• Media Group: Negotiate with the Festival Promoters to secure a deal. Decide what you can offer and the price
• Practice using the language of Negotiating when discussing the options
Reading: Read the article and fill the gaps with a suitable preposition and explain the underlined phrases.
Creation Twitter's origins lie a brainstorming session held at the podcasting company, Odeo. There, Jack Dorsey and Biz Stone they put the idea of an individual using an SMS service to communicate with a small group rather than an individual.
The tipping point for Twitter was the 2007 South by Southwest (SXSW) festival. It really took during the event, Twitter usage increased from 20,000 tweets per day to 60,000 and this was brought when Twitter placed two 60” plasma screens the conference hallways, exclusively streaming Twitter messages.
Conference-goers kept tabs each other via constant twitters.
Blogger Scott Beale said that Twitter "absolutely ruled SXSW. It rocked.” Twitter staff received the festival's Web Award prize the remark "we'd like to thank you 140 characters or less. And we just did!”
Uses Twitter has been used a variety of purposes. For example, it has been used in political campaigning, and to organize protests, such as the 2011 Tunisian and Egyptian popular uprisings, referred as "Twitter Revolutions"
Twitter is utilised TV to make it more interactive and real time. This effect is sometimes called the virtual water-cooler. Twitter encourages people to watch live TV events, such as the Oscars and MTV Awards.
Criticism Fans say it is a good way to keep touch with busy friends, but some users are starting to feel 'too' connected, and need to tell acquaintances to stop announcing what they're having dinner.
"Why would you subject your friends your daily minutiae? And how much of their trivia can you absorb? The growth ambient intimacy is like modern narcissism.
In 2009, Twitter had a user retention rate forty percent. A lot of people stop using the service after a month, therefore the site may reach only about ten percent all Internet users.
Biz Stone and Jack Dorsey – co-founders of Twitter
Listening 2: Listen and answer these questions.
Visit www.businessenglishstudy.com for the free MP3 listening file NOTE: they are not in chronological order
1. Micro blogging is …? 2. What don’t a lot of people understand about Twitter? 3. Who created the hash tag symbol? 4. When will the point of Twitter become clearer? 5. What does $7bn refer to? 6. What is Jack Dorsey trying to define?
ROLE-PLAY Negotiations: Apple Inc. Twitter
Split into groups and negotiate an advertising deal.
Apple Inc.: you might use Twitter to advertise products. You already use Google and Facebook. What can Twitter offer that is different? What are the restrictions? What is the price? Can it be reduced?
Twitter: you want Apple to use Twitter because it will attract other high profile clients. See if you can tempt the company with a great offer
Try to make the role-play as authentic as possible. See if you can come to a deal, and remember to practice using the target grammar and vocabulary studied in this module.
Audio 1 Twitter – Advanced level – listening 1 Twitter is a website which offers a social networking and micro blogging service, enabling its users to send out and read messages called tweets. Tweets are text- based posts of up to 140 characters. The name Twitter comes from the noise a large group of birds emit. The website is based in San Francisco.
Twitter was created in 2006 by employees of the Odeo Podcasting site, including: Jack Dorsey and Biz Stone. The website has gained popularity worldwide and by 2011 it was estimated to have over 200 million users, generating 65 million tweets a day. It is sometimes described as the "SMS of the Internet or a web within a web.
The content of tweets was researched in August 2009 and inconsequential nonsense made up 40%. News accounted for just 4%. Its critics say it is a waste of time but with such huge traffic figures and enormous global reach, it began to focus on generating revenue.
To do this Twitter launched advertising products via promoted tweets and made $45 million dollars in 2010. It has already signed advertising deals with companies like Red Bull, Sony and Starbucks.
Audio 2 Listening 2 What is the point of Twitter? This question is difficult to answer but with an implied valuation of over $7bn in March 2011 there is obviously some worth to the millions of tweets. Unfortunately, Twitter's co-founder Jack Dorsey, has trouble with the question too. “I am trying to define what Twitter’s purpose is in the long term,” he says, “but a lot of its intention has been defined by its users, for example the hash tags indicating a group response was created by users and adopted by Twitter.” Put in simple terms, micro-blogging is a more conversational form of networking. It is real-time, and a lot more open-ended. It has redefined "social networking" from a group of friends communicating with one and other to followers of tweeters, such as celebrities, politicians, business people or educators. A lot of people don’t understand that in order to get the most out of Twitter, you don’t have to tweet. To expand globally Twitter needs to market its potential to advertisers. However, the product itself remains key to the company’s success and this needs to constantly innovate. When billions of people around the world are using Twitter on a daily basis to consume the majority of their information in real time, the point will become a lot clearer to all.
Key objectives – to practise aural and oral Business English
INTRODUCTION: Ask the students what they know about Twitter.
Teacher (T) – Students (SS) 5 mins
LISTENING 1: Next tell students they are going to hear a spokesman talking about Twitter. They need to answer the questions at the end. Play the listening and ask students the questions. (T) – (SS) 10 mins
PRONUNCIATION: Ask the students to pronounce words and sentences and correct any mistakes. (T) – (SS) 5 mins
GRAMMAR Ask the question and then go through rules of phrasal verbs. Do the exercise that follows (S) – (T) 10 mins
FINANCIAL TERMS – Ask the students to match the words / phrases with their meanings. Make sure the meanings are clear. (S) – (T) 5 mins
FUNCTIONAL LANGUAGE: – read the examples of Negotiating Terms and do the
gap-fill exercise that follows. (SS) – (T) 10 mins
TALKING POINT: – read the text and discuss the questions. (SS) – (T) 10 mins
READING: Ask the students the lead in questions. Go through the reading and gap fill exercise. (S) – (T) 10 mins
LISTENING 2: Tell students they are going to hear the 2nd part of the listening. Play the listening and students answer the questions (SS) – (T) 10 mins
ROLE PLAY: Go through the instructions and begin the role-play. Make sure they practice the grammar and vocabulary learnt in the lesson and to try and use the case study material in their argument. Get the other students to discuss and offer feedback. (SS) – (SS) 10 mins
Exercise Answers LISTENING 1: a. 40% b. Product advertising deal c. $45m d. The noise a group of large group of birds makes e. Up to 140 Help us to improve the quality. f. The SMS of the Internet or a web within a web If you notice any mistakes in this PRONUNCIATION: module please report the error to: 1. Feet – Seat – Weight – Piece info@businessenglishstudy.com 2. Text – Team – Employ – Lend 3. Dream – Hello – People – Free 4. Reach – Scheme – Meet – Height GRAMMAR: EXERCISE 1: 1. Stop trying a. Give up 2. Read / check quickly b. Look over 3. Become a success c. Take off 4. Propose / suggest d. Put forward 5. Discover e. find out 6. Cause / make happen f. Find out 7. Stop working g. Break down 8. Monitor h. Keep tabs on GRAMMAR EXERCISE 2: 1. The investment brought about a change in Twitter’s business. 2. When did they find out about the takeover plan? 3. I tried to negotiate a deal but it was impossible and in the end I gave up. 4. We need to keep tabs on the amount of customers using Twitter. 5. The computer broke down during the meeting. 6. Did you get a chance to look over the figures? 7. Twitter really took off after the SXSW festival. 8. They knew that the company was safe when the rescue plan was put forward. BUSINESS VOCABULARY: 1. Calls in 2. Ballpark figure 3. Drove a hard bargain 4. Tipping point 5. Good fit 6. Is in the black 7. were in the red 8. Lent 9. Borrowed READING EXERCISE: In – forward – off – about – on – with – in - for - to – by – in – for – to – of – of - of FUNCTIONAL LANGUAGE - EXERCISE 1: 1. That sounds good, let’s shake on it. 2. I’ll ask my assistant to draw up a contract and send it to you today. 3. I say $50,000 you say $55,000, let’s split the difference and call it $52,500. 4. With no external investment our ability to compete is really stretched. 5. After long negotiations we clinched the deal by offering an extra 5% discount. 6. Can you quote for a ten-year lease on the building? EXERCISE 2: 1. It’s crucial we keep transport costs down a. Stressing importance 2. I assume there is some flexibility on the price b. Leading the negotiation 3. Please bear in mind, we have a lot of expenses c. Defending you position 4. Could you give us a ballpark figure? d. Opening question 5. You are a tough negotiator but okay, let’s do it e. Closing a deal 6. I’ll have to get back to you on that point. f. Avoiding the answer LISTENING 2: 1. Micro blogging is a more conversational form of networking, real time and more open-ended 2. In order to get the most out of Twitter, you don’t have to tweet. 3. The users 4. When billions of people around the world are using Twitter on a daily basis to consume the majority of their information in real time 5. The implied valuation of Twitter in March 2011 6. Twitter’s purpose is in the long term
