2020-10-10
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Review the communication strategy of Taking Sides
Would-be in-laws are taking sides and suggesting pros and cons: your would-be spouse is against / for; take his / her side relying on the pros/cons list below
Pros of Prenuptial Agreements:
· Having a prenup does not mean that a couple is anticipating divorce.
· Financial matters need to be faced.
· Prenuptial agreements can preserve family ties and inheritance.
· If your future spouse won't sign a prenuptial marriage agreement, it may be best to discover this before the wedding.
· The financial well-being of children from a previous marriage can be protected.
· Personal and business assets accumulated before your marriage are protected.
· A prenup puts financial expectations out on the table before your wedding.
· A prenuptial marriage agreement spells out which assets a spouse may want to give to children or other family members in the event of death.
· In the event of a divorce, a prenuptial agreement eliminates battles over assets
Cons of Prenuptial Agreements:
· Prenup agreements can be set aside for failure to disclose all assets, or if there is evidence of fraud, duress, unfairness, or lack of representation at the time of signing the agreement.
· They are unromantic.
· Prenups can imply that there is a lack of trust between the partners.
A prenuptial agreement could create resentment between spouses, as it might seem like there is a lack of a life-time commitment to one another.
PROGRESS TEST 3 (part 2) 
Topic 4. BEING HONEST
I. General
Practicum 4.1
Study the communication strategy of Being honest
a) Being honest assessing the other party
| Step 1 | Appreciate what the other party suggested / did |
| Step 2 | If it is crucial, expose the downsides as you see them |
| Step 3 | Provide arguments to support your criticism |
| Step 4 | Specify what you really want |
Tips to keep in mind
1. Using an individual’s name anchors a positive emotional stimulus with the suggestion or criticism contained in the sentence.
2. While criticizing, try opening up opportunities to consider rather than voicing values and judgments. Otherwise the addressee might think more about the speaker than the message. When people tell others what they must, there is a high probability that it will clash with their map of the world and trigger resentment (and resistance).
D. Guilefoyle. The Charisma Effect
b) Being honest to admit that you committed a mistake
| Step 1 | Admit what you have done wrong, never make it worse persisting |
| Step 2 | Suggest how you could make up for your faux pas |
Tips to keep in mind
1. Telling unadulterated truth can get you into trouble. Be straightforward, but also make sure you won’t be made the scapegoat under the circumstances.
2. It is important to learn the art of being honest and at the same time trying to turn negative into positive.
| Change this: | To this: |
| I have to admit I could have done a better job to ensure we remained under the budget. | Although we didn’t come under the budget, we did complete the project ahead of schedule. |
| I wish I had done more inquiry before making the final decision about that candidate. | Although the employee proved to be a bad match for the job, we learnt a good lesson in what we really want. |
| I don’t think I’d be the right person for the job – I don’t possess all the qualifications listed in the job description. | It’s true I don’t have all the qualifications listed, but what makes me a viable candidate is my depth of hands-on experience. |
L.P. Frankel. Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office
Practicum 4.2
What did the author do to shift the perspective to a more optimistic one?(e.g. use of Conditionals, modals, etc.)
Practicum 4.3
Arrange Being honest vocabulary in the groups relating to the steps of the communication strategy, e.g.
| Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | |
| A. I appreciate how you feel | Still there seem to be downsides | There is evidence | I’d like to offer some alternatives | |
| Step 1 | Step 2 | |||
| B. Honestly, we haven’t managed the deadline | I want you to know I followed the instructions I was given | |||
I agree to some extent
I might have accepted that
I see strong points in what you said, unless / provided
I do believe / I argue that / my stand is / position is
You may frown on it, still
Honestly / frankly / to be honest
There is evidence in favour of my view
I am wondering how you see the situation
I am not happy with
This is a bit difficult for me to say, but I do want to let you know how I see the situation
That position is understandable, but it does not take into account
II. Being honest Practice
Practicum 4.4
Be honest to criticize or reject the proposal which runs counter to your interests. Assume the roles to follow
- you are at the negotiations on the purchase of a house. Being a prospective buyer, you like the house, but find the price too high under the circumstances. Define the circumstances and brief your opponents on your stand
- mother of a teen daughter, who brought her boyfriend to dinner for the first time to meet the family. You didn’t like the way the boy behaved at dinner and are determined to be soft but honest, explaining your daughter why
- a lawyer, discussing with a client a punishment his crime might entail. The client is accused of cheating on his tax returns and owes the government a big sum of money. Be honest and outline how it will affect his / her future
- tell the boyfriend that you are breaking up. Be honest and soft, try to spare his feelings.
Practicum 4.5
Study the terms related to customs and taxes and memorize them
pay customs on smth; get through / pass the customs; customs duty / tariff; customs examination / inspection / clearance; customs fraud; duty-free import; Customs and Excise; IRS (Inland Revenue Service); seize counterfeit products
Practicum 4.6
Translate from Russian into English, relying on the terms from Practicum 4.5
1. Для того чтобы растаможить товары, импортер должен заполнить предписанную форму и представить коносамент от иностранного экспортера. За эти товары необходимо уплатить пошлину.
2. На днях британской таможней была конфискована крупная партия контрафактной продукции; в данный момент эти товары на сумму около 30 млн. евро находятся на таможенном складе.
3. Правительственная комиссия рекомендовала продлить срок действия повышенных импортных пошлин на иномарки еще на девять месяцев.
4. Вам необходимо пройти таможенный досмотр в соседнем помещении.
5. Таможенное управление Великобритании не ограничивает ввоз и вывоз национальной валюты. Разрешен беспошлинный ввоз сигарет, спиртных напитков, парфюмерии. Запрещен ввоз наркотиков, оружия, предметов антиквариата без разрешения соответствующих организаций.
Text 4a
The text to follow deals in talking law. Study the text and use it as a starting point for communication
