Presenting yourself
1. Listening Manders Plc are having their annual party. Listen to the dialogues overheard at the party. Match up the people's names with their type of work. The first one has been done for you.
Name Type of work
1. Peter a. Production
2. John b. Personal Assistant
3. Susan c. Software development
4. Mike d. Market research
5. Sarah e. Fashion design
6. Mr. Fields f. Personnel
7. Martin g. Accounts
8. Jean h. Sales
9. Jean's husband i. Finance
Dialogue 1
A: Nice to meet you, Peter. What do you do for a living?
B: I'm in computers-software development. What about you, John?
A: Oh, I work for Manders- in the Personnel Department. Not a bad job.
B: Is that one of your colleagues over there?
A: Yes, that's Susan. She works in the Accounts Department. Let me introduce you.
Dialogue 2
A: Hello. I'm Mike.
B: Nice to meet you, I'm Sarah. I haven't seen you around before.
A: No, I've just started work for Manders. I'm in the Sales Department.
B: What do you do there?
A: Oh, I'm on the market research side. And you?
B: Well, I've been with Manders for years. I'm Mr. Field's Personal Assistant. He's the Sales Director.
A: Ah, I haven't met him. Is he here?
B: Yes, that's him. Let me introduce you.
Dialogue 3
A: That's interesting. Do you work here, Martin?
B: Yes, I'm in Finance. What about you, Jean?
A: Well, my husband works at Manders. He's in the Production Department.
B: Oh yes, I think I've met him.What about you? Do you work?
A: Yes, I'm a fashion designer. I work from home.
B: That's interesting.
2.Presentation It is very common to present yourself in terms of your job. The job identifies the person. The dialogues that you heard follow a certain pattern:
(1) A: What do you do (for a living)?
B: Well, I'm in computers. Not a bad job.
(2) A: Do you work?
B: Yes, I'm a fashion designer.
A: That's interesting.
(3) A: What do you do ( in the ----Department)?
B: Oh, I'm on the market research side. What about you? / And you?
(4) A: I haven't seen you around before.
B: No, I've just started with Manders. I'm in the Sales Department.
A: What do you do there?
Notes:
1. We often use the simple present when talking about jobs.
e.g. A: What do you do?
B: I work for Manders.
2. We use a variety of prepositions to indicate work relationships.
e.g. I work for Manders (they are my employers)
I work at Manders (the place)
I work with Manders (a sense of collaboration)
I'm in computers (general type of work)
I'm on the market research side (general type of work)
I'm in the Sales Department (specific place of work)
3. Controlled practice
Choose the most appropriate response.
1. I'm in computers. What about you?
a. Oh, I live in London.
b. Well. I work in Sales.
c. Oh, I've been here for years.
2. I'm Mr. Jane's secretary. He's the Production Manager.
a. Ah, that's interesting.
b. Is that one of your colleagues over there?
c. Oh, I haven't met him.
3. I live in Paris. What about you?
a. I'm a fashion designer.
b. I live right here.
c. Well, I work from home.
4. My husband's in the Production Department.
a. I'm in the Sales Department.
b. Not a bad job.
c. Oh yes, I think I've met him.
5. Hello. I'm Sarah. I haven't seen you around before.
a. What do you do for a living?
b. Is that one of your colleagues?
c. No, I'm new here.
