9
COMMUNICATING CONFIDENTLY
1.2
VOCABULARY
IDIOMS
6
a
Match these idioms with their meanings.
1
actions speak louder than words
2
think before you speak
3
get a word in edgeways
4
hear it on the grapevine
5
be on the same wavelength
6
get straight to the point
7
have a quick word with someone
a
talk about the most important thing immediately
b
share similar ideas
c
hear about a rumour passed from one person to another
d
get a chance to say something
e
talk briefly to someone
f
what you do is more important than what you say
g
don’t start talking until you have thought about what you want to say
6
b
Work with a partner and discuss the questions.
1
Does it irritate you when people do not get straight to the point?
2
When was the last time you felt you were really on the same
wavelength as someone else?
3
Who was the last person to ask to have a quick word with you?
4
What have you heard on the grapevine recently?
GRAMMAR
THE CONTINUOUS ASPECT
7
a
Underline the seven continuous forms in the leaflet and
course handouts.
The world of communication is changing rapidly.
7
b
Look again at the leaflet and answer these questions.
1
Is the amount of stress in the workplace changing?
2
Is the number of people taking communication courses staying
the same?
3
Has Anika finished her research?
4
Is Anika’s research for her doctorate temporary or permanent?
5
When did Anika become interested in communication skills?
8
Work with a partner and look at the verb forms in the sentences
below. What is the difference in meaning between each sentence?
1
a
I’m writing an email to my parents.
b
I write a letter to my parents every week.
2
a
I work in London.
b
I’m working in London, but I’m looking for a
job in Paris.
3
a
When my colleague arrived, we were having dinner.
b
When my colleague arrived, we had dinner.
4
a
Everyone around me cried and screamed.
b
Everyone around me was crying and screaming.
5
a
I live in Istanbul.
b
I am living with my parents at the moment.
6
a
I walk to work every day.
b
I am walking to work this week, as my car is broken.
¬
Language reference and extra practice, pages 126–149
9
a
Read the beginning of the leaflet and
answer these questions.
1
How is the world of communication
changing?
2
How is stress in the workplace
increasing?
GRAMMAR TIP
The present continuous is often used to
talk about trends. Below are some of
the most frequently used verbs, together
with the adverbs they most commonly
collocate with in academic texts.
change
constantly, dramatically,
rapidly, frequently
increase
constantly, dramatically,
rapidly
occur
frequently
expand
constantly, dramatically,
rapidly
behave differently
9
b
Think of as many sentences as
possible about these topics using verbs
and adverbs from the Grammar tip box.
The web is changing our lives dramatically.
1
The web
5
Men/behave
2
The use of tablets
6
The population
3
The universe
7
Identity fraud
4
Hurricanes
SPEAKING
10
a
Work in groups and talk about
current trends in communication. Think
about the following topics.
•
reading
• writing letters
•
texting
• writing emails
•
the internet
• smartphones
•
tablets
• using Twitter
•
telephoning
People are reading fewer novels these days
because they’re using computers more.
10
b
Considering consequences
Choose
the trend you think is most important,
worrying or interesting, and explain why.
Say how it affects different groups or parts
of society (e.g. large families, business
people, students, publishers, libraries, etc.).
People are texting more and more these
days because they find it so convenient. I
find this worrying because it affects family
relationships. I have even seen people texting
at the dinner table or when they are out for a
meal together. Personally, I find it very rude.
