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The government has announced that it is
considering the possibility of building the tallest
city in the world – a vertical city located just
on the edge of our capital, which would bring
new life to the city, as well as boosting tourism.
It will be over 1,500 metres high – at least that’s
the idea – with a width of about 500 metres at
its base. The idea is that about 40,000 people
will live there, and over 100,000 will work in
the city during the day. The vertical city, which
is being called at present the ‘Mega Project’,
will have apartments, a hotel, an international
conference centre, offices, food outlets, and
entertainment and leisure facilities. And, just
like any other city, there’ll be green spaces,
fountains, parks and gardens.
At the moment, it’s just an idea, but an exciting
one – it would really put the country on the
map, no doubt about that. The minister plans to
contact engineering departments in universities
and invite new angles and discussion of the idea.
LESSON 9.4 RECORDING 9.4
A:
Hey, did you see the news on TV last night?
There was something about building a new,
vertical city?
B:
Yeah, I saw the interview. Really interesting.
I think it’s a great project, building a new
city. It’d create a lot of publicity and attract
foreign businesspeople. That’s just what we
need, isn’t it?
A:
Yeah – I like the idea a lot. It’s really
exciting, a big project like that. It’d certainly
help to solve the housing problem, that’d be
a big advantage, and it’d probably reduce
crime in the area. Also, it’d create lots of
jobs and really boost the economy.
B:
Yes, exactly. I suppose the people working
there would also live there. That’s probably
what they have in mind. People would walk
to work instead of driving, so there’d be fewer
traffic jams and a lot less stress for people.
A:
Mmm, I must say, a vertical city sounds like
a really good idea. I think it’d be a good
way of using the land in the area. A good
use of resources, I mean, putting a lot of
people in a small space. That makes sense
to me. I just hope the government approves
the project. Do you think they will?
B:
I suppose it depends on a lot of things. Erm,
you know, will it be popular with the
public? Are there any strong arguments
against it? Can we actually do it? Where will
the money come from? Have you thought
about that one?
LESSON 9.4 RECORDING 9.5
A:
What about calling it Mega City? It’s easy to
remember.
B:
Mmm, it’s a possible solution, I suppose,
but there are other possibilities. How about
Hope City? It’s a really good name because
it’ll provide a lot of housing for poor people.
Give them hope for the future.
C:
Yeah, Hope City. It sounds good to me, I must
say. But what other names can we think of?
A:
Well, one option would be to call it Tower
City. That’s exactly what it would be – a
towering city, one of the highest in the world.
B:
I don’t know, I’m not too keen on that
name. We have one other option, you
know. If we called it Paradise City, I think
most people would like that name. It
suggests the city would be a wonderful
place to live and work in. That’s what we all
want, don’t we?
C
Mmm, nice idea, I really like the name.
A:
Me too. OK, we all seem to like it. Are we
all agreed then? Have we reached a
decision? It’ll be Paradise City.
B/C:
Yeah. Agreed.
A:
OK then. I’ll recommend the name to the
minister. We’re all agreed. It’s the best name.
LESSON 9.5 VIDEO RECORDING 9
J = Jake, D = Davide, S = Sheeba, V = Valerie
J:
… I think I agree, Sheeba. With an
engineering degree, OK, maybe you can get
a position on a team or become a project
manager. But you don’t have the skills to
start your own company or become head of
a company, a CEO. So maybe management
qualifications are really important for
engineers.
D:
Can I come in here, please? Sheeba, are you
saying all engineers must do a management
course?
S:
No, that’s not what I think at all. Let me
explain my point of view. I’m saying that
technical ability isn’t enough if you want to
get to the top of your career – that’s all.
V:
Can I make a quick point, please? It’s just
not true you can’t get to the top without
management training. There are lots of heads
of big companies who’ve never been to
university. They have leadership qualities …
S:
OK, but the point is …
V:
Hang on, let me finish what I want to say.
S:
Yes, sorry.
V:
And they have other abilities, really good
communication and interpersonal skills.
Some are very charismatic.
S:
OK, true, but most of these skills can be
taught on a management course – that’s my
point. Davide, you want to say something?
D:
Yes, in my opinion, most engineers will
make good managers, even if they haven’t
studied management.
S:
Really, what makes you say that?
D:
When you study engineering, you learn the
skills you need to be a good manager. Like,
erm, analysing things, evaluating risks,
being creative and innovative, dealing with
figures, working in teams, those kind of
things. You don’t need to do an MBA to
learn those things, you know them already.
I think you agree with me, don’t you,
Valerie?
V:
Yes, I agree completely. I’d like to ask
Sheeba and Jake a question, if I may.
S/J:
Yeah/OK.
V:
Do you think all engineers want to get to
top positions in industry?
S:
No, of course not. Let me clarify … let me
explain. I’m saying most engineers will get
better jobs and earn more money if they
have the management skills as well as the
technical ones.
J:
Perhaps that’s true. But many engineers
study management for the wrong reasons.
Let me explain. They’ve been in the same
job for a long time and they just get bored.
They haven’t got a promotion so they think,
oh well, I’d better do some management
studies. You see, they don’t really have a
career plan, they just can’t think of anything
better to do.
D:
Can I just say something here? In my
opinion, it’s better for most engineers to
work in a technical field, in an area where
they can use the knowledge they’ve gained
during their engineering studies.
J:
Absolutely, Davide. When I leave here, I want
to do research and use my engineering
skills. I didn’t come here to learn to be a
manager. When I leave here with a degree,
I want to do something fantastic, build a new
bridge or a dam or invent a new system of
communication, that’s what really motivates
me. For me, management studies is a total
waste of time – right now. Later, maybe ...
LESSON 9.5 RECORDING 9.6
Most people are effective in group discussion
when they’ve had a lot of practice. It’s normal
to be nervous, of course, if you’re taking part
in a group discussion, a tutorial or seminar, for
example, for the first time. There are, however
a few Dos and Don’ts when it comes to group
discussions. I hope you’ll find my advice useful.
A golden rule, I’d say, is to listen carefully to
the opinion and advice of other speakers. That
shows that you respect their opinions, even
if you don’t agree with them. If you disagree,
you can do so politely. You can say things like,
‘That’s a good point, but …’, or ‘I see what
you’re getting at, but …’, or even ‘I’m afraid
I don’t agree with you.’ Above all, don’t use
strong language like, ‘That’s nonsense, rubbish,
really stupid.’ Other speakers may have
different opinions from you. They may not be
wrong, just different.
If you are nervous about making a contribution,
start with something small. For example, agree
with what someone says, ask for an example
or prepare a question you want to ask. Try to
speak clearly, even if you’re uncertain about
your ideas or language.
A very important point now. Don’t speak while
someone else is speaking, in other words,
don’t talk over another person. It’s very rude
to do that. Also, don’t speak a lot more than
everyone else in the discussion. Give other
people a chance to have their say. So, try not to
interrupt speakers, let them finish what they’re
saying. If you feel you have to interrupt a
speaker because your point is really important,
how about saying, ‘Could I just say something
please’, and use a bit of body language as well,
like a small movement of the hand to attract
attention.
Finally, pay attention to your body language.
Try to look relaxed and friendly. Don’t make
aggressive gestures, like pointing your finger or
banging the table. And if you ask a question,
make sure you don’t sound aggressive. Use
polite language like ‘Could I ask a question,
please?’ or ‘Could you expand on that, please?’
LESSON 10.2 RECORDING 10.1
M = Manager, C = Chloe
M:
Hello Chloe, good to see you. We’ve got a
little time before my next meeting, so …
how are things going?
C:
Very well, thanks. I’ve really enjoyed my
first week here. I’ve talked to a lot of the
trainees and helped a few employees.
M:
No problems, I hope?
C:
Not really. There were just a couple of
employees who were a bit difficult, but they
were OK in the end.
M:
Good. Let me give you one or two tips
while I have the time. First of all, many
trainees think they don’t need to know
anything about the rest of the company, but
we’ve found the best technical support are
