Professional Documents
Culture Documents
good/pays
attention to
details
Initiative
lacks initiative/
needs constant
support
shows initiative/
resourceful
Reliability
irresponsible/
untrustworthy
sometimes
unreliable/fails to
carry out duties on
occasions
reliable and
responsible
Personality
anti-social/
makes no effort
to get on with
people
can be moody/
impatient/
tactless at times
sociable/
good-humoured/
patient
Attitude
reluctant/
unmotivated
needs frequent
motivating
willing/
motivated/
disciplined
consistently
accurate/thorough
highly resourceful
highly committed/
motivates others
1b Read the expressions below describing peoples aptitude at work. Match each
underlined word or phrase with a word in the form which has a similar meaning.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
1c Self-assessment
How would you describe yourself? Assess your own aptitude at work by circling the
sections of the appraisal form in Exercise 1a which apply to you.
1d. Opposites
Look at these adjectives from the form in Exercise 1a. Notice that the adjective with
a positive meaning can be changed into an adjective with a negative meaning by
adding some letters at the beginning of the word. This is called a prefix.
accurate inaccurate
reliable unreliable
Look at the appraisal form again. Find three more examples of adjectives and their
opposite meanings
Prefixes
The most common prefix for making opposites of adjectives negative is un-.Other
prefixes include in-, im-, ir-, il- and dis-.
reliableunreliable
honestdishonest
There are not many rules for prefixes but it helps to remember some general tendencies:
un- can be used with many more adjectives than other prefixes
im- is often used if an adjective begins with m- or ppatient impatient
ir- is often used if an adjective begins with rrelevant irrelevant
moral immoral
Prefixes cannot be used with all adjectives. There are other ways of making opposites of
adjectives. You will need to use your dictionary to check the correct form.
If an adjective with a positive meaning ends in ful, the suffix less can sometimes
replace ful to make an adjective with a negative meaning.
Tactful tactless
careful careless
With some adjectives, it is not possible to use a prefix or a suffix to make an opposite.
unmoody
Instead, use not or a different adjective.
He is not moody, hes cheerful.
He is not reluctant, he is enthusiastic.
Look at the adjectives you wrote in Exercise 1b. What is the opposite form of these
adjectives? Add a prefix or NOT to each adjective, using a dictionary to help you.
2a Listen to the cassette. A crewing office manager is telephoning a Captain to talk
about a seafarer in his crew. Answer these questions.
1. Why is the manager calling the Captain?
2. What recommendation does the Captain make?
2b Listen again and complete the details for the 2nd Officer the form by circling the
appropriate sections.
Performance Assessment Form
Name:..Rank:.
Certificate:..Vessel:..Period:
good/pays
attention to
details
Initiative
lacks initiative/
needs constant
support
shows initiative/
resourceful
Reliability
irresponsible/
untrustworthy
sometimes
unreliable/fails to
carry out duties on
occasions
reliable and
responsible
Personality
anti-social/
makes no effort
to get on with
people
can be moody/
impatient/
tactless at times
sociable/
good-humoured/
patient
Attitude
reluctant/
unmotivated
needs frequent
motivating
willing/
motivated/
disciplined
consistently
accurate/thorough
highly resourceful
highly committed/
motivates others
He lacks (+noun)
He wouldnt(+verb)
He tends to be (+adj).
Person A: You are the crewing office manager and you have received some
complaints from the Captain of one of your vessels about his 3 rd Engineer. You dont
know why there is a problem as the engineer has always performed well on other
vessels. Before the Captain calls you, read the engineers appraisal form written by
a different Captain.
CURRENT STAFF APPRAISALS-COMMENTS
3 Engineer Laurence has been a very good crew member during the five years that
has worked on this vessel. I can recommend him for the following reasons.
rd
He is good at his job and frequently works extra overtime to supervise the
ratings.
He is always punctual about maintaining the engine room watch.
He is friendly and socializes with all the crew without letting it interfere with
his duties.
Think about what to say when the Captain complains. What action will you suggest? Try
to find out what the real problem is and then suggest a solution that is acceptable to the
Captain.
Person B: You are a Captain and you are going to telephone the crewing office
manager about your 3rd Engineer who is causing a lot of problems on board. Before
you speak to the manager, read this report and decide what action to take. Then
speak to the crewing office manager and discuss the problem with him.
He has a poor safety record. He has caused several accidents in the engine room
as a result of bad housekeeping practice.
His time-keeping is poor and he regularly sleeps in, meaning that he is often late
for his watch.
He makes no effort to get on well with the other men and has been rude to
superintendents on two occasions.
The 2nd Engineer had reported that he frequently fails to carry out orders.
Read sentences (a)-(f) again and match each sentence with a definition in the
grammar box.
Present Perfect I
The Present Perfect tense connects the past with the present. It shows how the present
situation is influenced by the past. With this tense, the emphasis is on the present
situation, not the details of the past tense. It is used:
1. to talk about experiences ( we dont know when the experience occurred)
2. to talk about present results of past events (we can still see the result)
3. to talk about recent events such as news (we dont know exactly when the event
occurred)
4. to talk about states or ongoing situations (the time when it started is not
important)
5. to talk about things that have not happened yet
6. to comment on the number of times that an event has occurred
Time Expression
Different time expressions are used with the Present Perfect and the Past Simple. In
Unit 5 you practiced using just, still, already, yet and always. Here are some more
phrases that are also used with the Present Perfect.
Ever and never are used to talk about experiences. Ever means at any time in your
life.
Have you ever been to North America? (ever is mainly used in questions. It comes
before the main verb).
No, Ive never been there but I have traveled round Europe a lot.
Before is used to mean at any point in the past with a similar meaning to ever.
They dont make those radars any more. I havent seen one.1980.
Work with a study partner. Interview each other, answering the questions from
your own experience.
6a Read the outline of the fax below. Imagine you are the manager of the marine
recruitment agency and you are proposing the seafarer who you interviewed in
Exercise 4c for selection. You are writing a fax to the management office to tell
them about the seafarer you interviewed. Continue the fax with the following
information.
Give details of the training and qualifications that the seafarer has completed.
Give your opinion of his aptitude and his ability to do the job, based on what
you know about him.
25-AUG-98 16:55
To:
From:
Fax:
Phone:
Re:
Dear Mr Williams
I am now able to pass on details of the person we propose for the rank of.on your
vessel. After interviews this morning, I am pleased to inform you that (name)will
be able to meet you in two days time.
We have recommended Mr.for the job because..
.
I trust you will agree that he is suitable for the position. I will contact you again soon
regarding further interviews at your office.
Best regards
25/08/98
14:56
TX/RX No.1530
P.001
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
organized
accurate
patient
congenial/social
responsible/reliable
Exercise 1d
responsible/irresponsible
patient/impatient
unmotivated/motivated
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
uncommitted
unresourceful
not thorough
disorganized
inaccurate
impatient
uncongenial/unsociable
irresponsible/unreliable
Exercise 2a
COM: Good morning, Captain. Donald from the crewing office speaking. Im calling
about your Chief Officer.
Captain: Oh, yes. How is he.
COM: Well, he was a bit shaken by the bad news but glad to get home. It looks like
itll be some time before hes back so we need to find a replacement officer quickly.
Captain: Right. So, what about our present 2nd Officer.
COM: Yes, hes obvious candidate. Ive got the appraisal form that you filled in for
him here and Id like to check a few of the details with you.
Captain: OK.
COM: Firstly, you mentioned in your assessment that his work is of a very standard.
How has he proven this exactly?
Captain: Oh, well, hes very systematic about carrying out his duties. Hes precise
with his voyage planning and he always ensures that the 3rd Officer knows exactly
whats happening. Hes taken it upon himself to supervise the 3rd Officer very closely.
COM: Good. So he obviously shows initiative then. But you didnt describe him as
being highly resourceful. Why is that?
Captain: Well, hes fairly good at problem-solving but Ive found him to be quite
cautious at times. He wouldnt just act on something without reporting it first. Thats
Ok as 2nd Officer-it wouldnt do if he was too resourceful.
COM: True. But if hes over-cautious he might not be right for the job. How do you
think hed cope with increased responsibility as Chief Officer?
Captain: Well, I dont really doubt his ability to do the job. As I said, hes proven
himself to be highly conscientious. Its only his personality that might count against
him.
COM: Oh? Why is that?
Captain: Well, its not hes anti-social in any way, hes just pretty quiet. He comes
across as being a bit moody at first but when you get to know him, you realize he just
like to keep himself to himself, thats all.
COM: I see. So how is that reflected in his overall attitude then. Would you say that
he has good leadership skills?
Captain: Oh, you really cant fault his attitude-hes been willing to stand in for
colleagues on several occasions. As for leadership skills, well, I imagine hed rise to
the challenge of the job. Even though hes shy, he motivates men indirectly, just by
setting an example. Yes, I think hed do well as Chief Officer, given the opportunity.
COM: Right, well, it seems that hes made quite an impression on you, Captain.
Thanks for your time. I should think that hell be able to arrange his promotion
immediately.
Captain: Good. Glad to be of some help.
Exercise 2a
(possible answers)
1. Because he wants to check the 2nd Officers aptitude for the position of Chief
Officer.
2. He recommends the officer for the job.
Exercise 2b
Performance Assessment Form
Name:..Rank:.
Certificate:..Vessel:..Period:
lacks initiative/
needs constant
support
Reliability
irresponsible/
untrustworthy
Personality
Attitude
able to proceed
with guidance
good/pays
attention to
details
consistently
accurate/thorough
shows initiative/
resourceful
highly resourceful
sometimes
unreliable/fails to
carry out duties on
occasions
reliable and
responsible
anti-social/
makes no effort
to get on with
people
can be moody/
impatient/
tactless at times
sociable/
good-humoured/
patient
extremely congenial/
diplomatic
reluctant/
unmotivated
needs frequent
motivating
willing/
motivated/
disciplined
Exercise 2c
1. He wouldnt (verb)
2. Ive found him to be (adj)
3. He tends to be (adj)
4. I get on well with him.
5. He comes across as being (adj)
6. You cant fault his (noun)
Hes (fairly) good at (problem solving)
Ive found him to be (quite cautious at times)
highly committed/
motivates others