BE – L2 – Networking

BE2.1_Read the list of companies and answer the questions below. 

1. Which company do you use the most? Which one do you use the least?

3. Is there a company that everyone needs? Which one?

4. Is there a company that you don’t use at all? Why?

5. How do different companies help you every day?

BE2.2_Listen to the recording and complete the sentences below.

BE2.3_Listen to the recording again and choose True or False. Which of these companies would you like to work at? Why?

BE2.4_Read the sentences and complete the definitions with the words in bold. Use infinitive forms of the verbs.

BE2.4_Practice vocabulary by choosing the right options

BE2.5_Complete the questions with the words from the list. Then, answer these questions.

BE2.5_Change the sentences so they are true about you. 

Example: My name is Jason. My company is based in Tokyo. → My name is Lars. My company is based in Salzburg.

1. I’m Sophie, an employee at TechGadgets in Silicon Valley. 

2. Our company specializes in trendy clothing and accessories for men and women. 

3. My job is to help customers find stylish outfits that suit their tastes.

4. Our design agency is based in London. 

5. We provide creative design services for websites and branding projects. 

6. TechGadgets sells the latest technology gadgets and accessories. 

7. My job is to produce the best tech products that customers need.

8. Our store’s main competitor is the shop across the street.

BE2.6_Choose the correct options to complete the comments below. What do you like the most about the company you work at?

BE2.7_Think of something for each point on the list and share it with your teacher.

• service your company provides or a product your company produces that you are proud of
• field your company specializes in that makes it different from others
• best things about your company’s location
• the most popular product / service your company sells 
• a good thing about employees at your company
• the largest competitor of your company
• ways you provide support to your employees
• what can make your products /services better

BE2.8_Imagine you work at one of the companies below. Your teacher is a potential customer. Answer your customer’s questions about the company. Then, switch the roles.

BE2.9_Make a speech about what your company does. Follow the plan:

BE2.10_Read Inna’s comments and answer the questions.

1. Where is Inna going?

2. What is a small talk?

3. Why does Inna need to review the rules of small talk?

4. Do you know any small talk rules? Which ones?

BE2.11_Read the text and complete its headings. Then, answer the question.

1. Which rule is the most important? Why?
2. What other rules can you add to this list?

BE2.12_Read the text again and choose if the sentences are True or False. 

BE2.13_Listen to the dialogs and put the phrases in the correct order.

BE2.14_Listen to the dialogs again and complete the missing parts below. Then, answer the questions.

1. What are the regular actions that Inna, Elon, and Bill are discussing?
2. What are the temporary actions that Inna, Elon, and Bill are discussing?
3. What tense do you use to describe regular actions: Present Simple or Present Continuous?
4. What tense do you use to describe temporary actions: Present Simple or Present Continuous?

Present Simple and Present Continuous

BE2.15_Read the sentences and answer the questions.

1. Does Mark develop the games?

2. Is he developing a game right now?

3. Does Sally give interviews?

4. Is she giving an interview now?

BE2.16_Complete the sentences with the missing parts.

BE2.17_Complete the sentences choosing from options available

BE2.18_Complete the text with the missing parts.

BE2.19_Look at the common small talk questions and answer them. 

1. What is your name?

2. Where do you work?

3. What does your company do?

4. Who are your customers?

5. Are you working on any new projects?

6. Are you enjoying the event?

7. What is your company doing at the moment?

BE2.20_Imagine you and your teacher are participants in a business networking event. You are the owner of a logistics company, and your teacher is the investor, and it’s your first meeting. Use small talk to get to know each other. Use other scenarios if preferred.

BE2.21_Complete the sentences with the correct Present Simple or Present Continuous forms. Then, transform these sentences to make them true about your company.

B2.22_Check this word out in a dictionary and answer the questions

1. What is networking?

2. Is networking important in today’s world? Why/why not?

3. How do you usually meet people and make connections?

B2.23_Read the article and match the paragraphs with their names. Which of these tips is the most useful one? Why?

BE2.24_Read the sentences and try to guess the meanings of the phrases in bold. Then, type these phrases next to their definitions.

BE2.25_Complete the statements. Then, explain why you agree or disagree with them.

BE2.26_Listen to the audio and put the questions in the order you hear answers to them. Then, say what the answers to the questions were.

BE2.27_Complete the sentences with the words from the list.

BE2.28_Read the scenarios and explain how you can deal with these challenges.

1. You talk to someone you don’t know well. How do you start the dialog?

2. You meet someone who doesn’t make eye contact. How do you make them feel more comfortable?

3. You meet someone who keeps checking their phone. How do you get their attention?

4. You meet someone who interrupts you often. How do you handle this?

5. You meet someone who is very negative about their job. How do you change the topic?

6. You meet someone who doesn’t ask you any questions. How do you share about yourself?

7. You meet someone who has a strong accent. How do you ask them to repeat something?

8. You meet someone who disagrees with your opinion. How do you respond politely?

BE2.29_Develop your networking strategy. Use the following questions to help:

• What are your goals for networking?
• Who are the people you want to meet?
• Where can you meet these people?
• How can you introduce yourself?
• What topics can you talk about?
• What can you offer to help others?
• How can you follow up after meeting someone?

BE2.30_Read the statements and tell the teacher if they are correct or wrong. Correct the wrong statements.

1. A professional network is a group of people you know personally. 

2. To make connections means to build links with other professionals. 

3. Career opportunities mean chances to move up in your job. 

4. To connect with someone means to ignore their messages. 

5. To build relationships is to develop and keep professional links. 

6. A networking strategy is a plan to stay isolated from other professionals.

BE2.31_Listen to the audio and finish the statements.

• Both colleagues use … 
• Mark started using LinkedIn … 
• Jane created her profile … 
• Mark has connected with … 
• Mark has built relationships with …

BE2.32_Listen to the audio and fill in the gaps to complete the summary. Do you agree with Mark?

BE2.33_Read Jane’s message and answer the questions. 

1. How has Jane’s LinkedIn activity changed since she last talked to Mark?

2. What makes it difficult for Jane to stay active on LinkedIn?

3. How does Jane feel about sending personalized messages?

4. What positive result does Jane mention about the personalized messages?

5. What is Jane’s overall feeling about her progress on LinkedIn?

6. Have you ever used social media for professional connections? If so, which platform do you use the most?

7. What is the most difficult thing about trying to build your professional network online?

Present Perfect or Past Simple

B2.34_Read the sentences and answer the questions below.

1. What do we use for actions that happened at a specific time in the past?

2. What do we use for past experiences when we don’t mention a specific time?

3. What do we use with ever?

BE2.35_Read the sentences and answer the questions. 

BE2.36_Complete the sentences with the verbs in the right form.

BE2.37_Build up the questions using the prompts. Then, answer the questions using the Past Simple or Present Perfect.

Example: you / ever / follow /  professional social media account? → Have you ever followed a professional social media account? If yes, who and when?

1. you / ever / virtual networking event / be? 

If yes, when?

2. you / ever / provide / feedback on someone’s post? 

If yes, what was it and when?

3. you / ever / specialized in / specific area of your industry? 

4. you / ever / sell / product or service through social media? 

If yes, what was it and when?

If yes, which area and for how long?

5. you / ever / base in / different city for your job? 

If yes, which city and when?

BE2.38_Share with the teacher your experience when you successfully used social media to develop your professional network. Include details about what motivated you to start using social media for professional purposes, and describe the specific platforms you used. Discuss the process and any difficulties you had. 

Additional questions:

1. What did you do to make new connections and build relationships?

2. What kind of posts or content did you share to get people interested?

3. How did you keep in touch with the people you connected with?

4. What were some surprises or good things that happened because you used social media for networking?

BE2.39_BEEN or GONE? Choose the correct alternative

BE2.40_Share your personal opinion and explain your choice.

1. “Social media networking is better than traditional networking. Do you agree or disagree?”

2. “It is better to have a small group of close professional connections than many loose connections. Do you agree or disagree?”

3. “Online networking can replace the need to go to physical events. Do you agree or disagree?”

4. “Younger people are better at using social media for networking than older people. Do you agree or disagree?”

5. “It is easier to make international connections through social media than traditional methods. Do you agree or disagree?”

6. “Success in work today depends a lot on how well you use social media. Do you agree or disagree?”

BE2.41_Complete the sentences with the Past Simple or Present Perfect forms of the verbs.

Business Conferences

BE2.42_Read the questions and answer them

1. What is a business conference? 

2. Why do people attend them? 

3. How to prepare for a conference?

4. What is the usual plan for a business conference?

5. What do you need to do before and after attending a conference?

BE2.43_Listen to the audio and put the conference parts in the order you hear. Then, explain what each part is used for.

BE2.44_Choose the correct options to complete the article. Which ideas do you agree and disagree with? Why?

Note: Etiquette is a set of rules for polite behavior in different situations. It includes respect and good manners with others.

BE2.45_Complete the extracts with the correct Present Simple or Present Continuous verb forms. How do the two conversations differ? What do the characters need to do to look more polite?

BE2.46_Practice using the correct tenses

BE2.47_Complete the comments with the words from the list. Share your positive and negative experiences about business conferences.

BE2.48_Use the prompts to complete the questions. Use the present simple or the present continuous.

BE2.49_Complete the conversation with the Past Simple or Present Perfect forms of the verbs below.

BE2.50_Make the top 5 rules about business conferences. Explain why they are important. 

Example: Rule 1 – be punctual. When you arrive on time, you show respect to the event and the people there. It also helps you not miss important information and chances to meet new people.

BE.51_Imagine you’re attending your first business conference. Role-play a conversation during a networking session with your teacher. Follow the prompts below.