Table Of ContentБЕЛОРУССКИЙ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЙ УНИВЕРСИТЕТ
Рекомендовано
Учебно-методическим объединением
по гуманитарному образованию
в качестве учебно-методического пособия
для студентов экономических специальностей
МИНСК
БГУ
2016
УДК 811.111’276.6:33(075.8)
Составители:
И. А. Трубочкина, Л. Б. Тихомирова, Э. В. Рунцова
Под общей редакцией Л. В. Хведчени
Рецензенты:
кандидат педагогических наук Г. П. Савченко;
кандидат филологических наук Т. Г. Шелягова
Дебаты на экономические темы = Debating Economic Issues [Элек-
тронный ресурс] : учеб.-метод. пособие / сост.: И. А. Трубочкина,
Л. Б. Тихомирова, Э. В. Рунцова ; под общ. ред. Л. В. Хведчени. –
Минск : БГУ, 2016.
ISBN 978-985-566-310-3.
Учебно-методическое пособие состоит из трех блоков:Economics, Business Ad-
ministration, New Economy. Представлены такие темы, как Profession of an Economist,
Supply and Demand, Market Structure и др. Материал издания унифицирован и струк-
турирован следующим образом: Warm-up, Reading, Comprehension, Role play, способ-
ствует формированию коммуникативной и дискуссионной культуры у обучаемых.
УДК 811.111’276.6:33(075.8)
ISBN 978-985-566-310-3 © БГУ, 2016
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............................................................................................................6
......................................................................7
TIPS DURING DISCUSSION ....................................................................................7
MOTIVATION AT WORK: WHAT MOTIVATES EMPLOYEES TO WORK
BETTER AT THEIR JOB PLACES? ...........................................................................8
GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD: GRAFTING DIFFERENT PLANTS
TOGETHER AS ONE OF THE OUTCOMES
TO THE PROBLEM OF FAMINE ...........................................................................12
TECHNOLOGICAL PROGRESS: WHAT FUTURE EXPECTS
MODERN INNOVATIONS? ......................................................................................15
COMPETITIVE STRATEGY: HOW TO WIN A PRICE WAR? ...............................18
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: CAN WE LIVE A GOOD LIFE
WITHOUT ECONOMIC GROWTH? ........................................................................21
DOES GENDER INEQUALITY IMPACT ON RECESSION
AND AUSTERITY IN THE COUNTRY? ................................................................24
CAN FINANCIAL SCAMS CAUSE GLOBAL ECONOMIC RECESSION? .........27
HOW TO PROMOTE GLOBAL ECONOMIC RECOVERY? ...................................30
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WHAT CREATIVE AND MEMORABLE THINGS SHOULD
JOB SEAKERS DO TO GET NOTICED?................................................................33
WILL DIGITAL CURRENCY EVER REPLACE PAPER MONEY? ......................36
DOES MONEY MAKE US WORRY? .......................................................................39
WHAT IS IT LIKE TO BE A BILLIONARE? ..........................................................42
SHOULD THE BANK BE FINED FOR MONEY LAUNDERING? .....................46
ARE THERE ANY PERSPECTIVES OF LAB-PRODUCED
AND ANIMAL-TESTED GOODS? ..........................................................................51
ARE FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS MORE HARMFUL THAN HELFUL? .......52
DO THE BENEFITS OF THE MERGER AND ACQUISITION (M&A)
PROCESS OUTWEIGH THE RISKS INVOLVED? .................................................55
DOES THE ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE PROVIDE
GOOD CONDITIONS FOR EMPLOYEES’ PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
OR DETAIN IT? ........................................................................................................58
IS FAILING TO EVALUATE MANAGERS’ WORK
AN EXPENSIVE MISTAKE FOR ANY BUSINESS? ..............................................61
MANAGEMENT JARGON: IS IT GOOD OR BAD FOR BUSINESS? ................64
ARE COMPANIES EXPOSED TO RISK
OR ENJOYING SUBSTANTIAL BENEFITS WHILE OUTSOURCING? .............67
AS A NATIONAL PRODUCER OF GOOD WHAT CHANNEL
OF DISTRIBUTION WOULD YOU PREFER: DIRECT SALES OR
DISTRIBUTING THROUGH A WHOLESALER? ...................................................70
DO YOU BELIEVE IT IS WRONG OR RIGHT FOR COMPANIES
TO TARGET BABIES? ..............................................................................................72
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DO BRANDS DOMINATE PEOPLE’S LIFE?.........................................................75
ARE ALCOHOL PROMOTING MESSAGES IN SONGS HARMFUL
OR HARMLESS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE? ..............................................................77
WILL CONTINUOUS CYCLE BECOME A COMMON BUSINESS
PRACTICE ALL OVER THE WORLD? ...................................................................80
CAN POOR COUNTRIES BUILD SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY
WITHOUT FOREIGN AID? .....................................................................................83
DO RENEWABLE POWER PLANTS MAKE BUSINESS SENSE? .......................86
WHY DO COMPANIES INVEST IN CORPORATE
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY? .....................................................................................89
WHY INVEST IN CLOUD SERVICES? ...................................................................92
WILL ROBOTS BECOME SMARTER THAN HUMANS? .....................................95
WHY DO WE NEED TO DIVERSIFY INVESTMENTS? .......................................98
WHAT NEW IDEAS WILL VENTURE CAPITALISTS INVEST
IN FUTURE? ...........................................................................................................101
WOULD IT BE BETTER IF THE WORLD HAD JUST ONE CURRENCY? ....103
Appendix 1. Debating – Useful Expressions .................................................................105
Appendix 2. Conversational formulas ...........................................................................108
Appendix 3. Useful Expressions and Linking Words / Phrases.......................................112
..............................................................................................................115
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Учебно-методическое пособие “Debating Economic Issues” содер-
жит материал, способствующий формированию профессиональной
иноязычной компетенции, развивающий умение дискутировать. Со-
ставлено на основе аутентичных текстов и представлено тремя тема-
тическими блоками: Economics, Business Administration, New Economy.
Каждый блок включает ряд тем по основным проблемам экономики.
В свою очередь каждая тема имеет унифицированную структуру и со-
стоит из следующих частей:
● аутентичного текста;
● заданий в рамках изучаемой темы;
● ролевой игры, максимально приближенной к реальным профес-
сиональным ситуациям.
В приложениях, которые носят справочно-информационный харак-
тер, представлен материал для грамотного ведения дискуссии.
Необходимость настоящего издания вызвана отсутствием единого
пособия, включающего дискуссионный материал по проблемам эко-
номики, в том числе инновационной экономики XXI века. Обсуждение
данных тем поможет приобрести умения профессионального иноязыч-
ного общения, направлено на развитие личности, способной использо-
вать иностранный язык как средство делового общения в диалоге куль-
тур – родной и иностранной.
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The main objective of any GD is to provide wide range of solutions to
a particular problem and then streamlining and creating a viable consensus
solution by means of discussion.
TIPS DURING DISCUSSION
● Listen attentively to the topic and weigh its pros and cons and then
comment.
● Initiate the discussion if you are confident of the topic and if you can provide
valid justification to prove your point. Or else wait for the right opportunity
to express.
● If possible open the discussion with a wonderful quotation or shocking
statements or revelations to make your comments catchy.
● Demonstrate conceptual, human, critical, and analytical skills in the entire
discussion.
● Support and substantiate your views with facts and figures or by narrating
a brief story.
● Don’t get emotional and do maintain calm and stability.
● Don’t agree for the sake of agreeing in order to build consensus and don’t
dilute your independent thinking.
● If someone talks for a longer time, request him to make it brief and concise
and also request him to provide an opportunity for others too to speak.
● Be cheerful and maintain smile.
● When you differ with the views of other person, you may say like “I respect
your views. However I differ with your views on the topic...” and offer your
own views.
● Be always tactful and diplomatic especially when your views are not in tune
with that of other participant.
● At the end, take initiative to synthesize and summarize what was discussed
and provide conclusion. But don’t add any fresh points.
● Study Appendix 1 (Debating – Useful Expressions), Appendix 2 (Conversational
formulas) and Appendix 3 (Useful Expressions and Linking Words / Phrases)
at the end of the book and use the appropriate ones in your speech.
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MOTIVATION AT WORK: WHAT MOTIVATES EMPLOYEES
TO WORK BETTER AT THEIR JOB PLACES?
● Which motivators would be important for you in your choice of a job: good
remuneration (salary, bonuses or perks), good working relations with your
manager and colleagues, good working conditions (a large, light, quiet
office), more flexible working hours, promotion opportunities, making
a name for yourself in the company, a belief in what the company does,
long holidays, etc.? Why?
● For what reasons might you change jobs? How often do you expect to do so
in your lifetime? Is changing jobs a sign of success?
● Would you prefer a male or female boss? Why?
● What do you find satisfying or frustrating about your work or studies?
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Text-Centered Discussion
1. How important is motivation at work?
2. Do you agree that men have never really been interested in pay?
3. Do the survey findings point to clear, new methods to motivate staff?
4. Do you think that adopting the research into the workplace may be good?
New research shows that men are not just motivated by money, but also by
how much more or less they earn than their colleagues. Traditional thinking
was that men were only interested in the size of their pay packets. New findings
from a study at the University of Bonn reveal that men are also concerned
about how much their peers are getting. The research is published in this
month’s edition of the journal Science. Researchers put 38 male volunteers
under the microscope. The men had to perform simple tasks so that scientists
could analyze the activity in the “reward centre” in their brain. They played
a game in which they received payments depending on how well they did. They
were also told how much money the other men were getting. The researchers
discovered a lot more brain activity with the men who knew they were beating
their rivals.
Lead scientist Dr Bernd Weber said he now wants to conduct a similar
study on women. He wants to gauge whether they too are motivated by
their peers’ earnings and not just individual success. It is not yet clear how
the new findings will affect the workplace. There is a possibility that worker
productivity could increase with the introduction of a system that created
competition. Sales staff have long been in competition with each other to
win bonuses. Human resource officers may now look at this research to find
ways of bringing a sense of competitiveness to offices and perhaps schools.
However, this may have a negative impact in the workplace if rivalries turn
sour with jealousy. One company CEO, Jackie Baxter said: “It’s a balancing
act between keeping harmony in the office and encouraging workers to be
more efficient.”
Let’s Discuss
What are the ways that drive companies to job satisfaction or restrain them from?
PROS
● Highly motivating if the reward is desirable;
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● attractive perks can increase the appeal of an employer to prospective
employees, attracting higher calibre candidates;
● could compensate for jobs with lower rates of pay or job satisfaction;
● increases employees’ sense of competence and worth, resulting in increased
pride and care in their work;
● builds meaningfulness and purpose for an employee, contributing to their job
satisfaction as they recognise the relevance / importance of their role within
the greater organization.
CONS
● Short-term motivation only, leading to ongoing financial costs to produce
regular reward opportunities;
● could lead to increased culture of competition, rather than collaboration
and teamwork, amongst staff;
● could lead staff to focus only on achieving outcomes associated with
rewards, and neglect other areas of performance;
● increases employees’ sense of competence and worth, resulting in increased
pride and care in their work;
● builds meaningfulness and purpose for an employee, contributing to their
job satisfaction as they recognise the relevance / importance of their role
within the greater organization.
Express your opinion
А. What would you do to try to motivate
subordinates who didn’t want to take
responsibilities at work, and who had
uninteresting, repetitive jobs?
В. Would working for a manager who has
influence within the organization motivate
you?
С. Being a manager of a big company consider the ways of increasing staff
motivation and decide whether any of the following suggestions would be
appropriate for employees to implement:
– building sports facilities (e.g. gymnasium, tennis courts);
– establishing a profit-sharing programme;
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