Attending a conference (Дополнительное чтение)

Attending a conference. Networking for business and science.Lead-inComplete the abstract below with the words and phrases from the box.socializinggoalscommunicatehallway conversationstechniqueshear presentationsGoals of conference attendanceAttending a conference is a professionally rewarding experience. In addition to ………with colleagues from other institutions and a trip to a possibly exotic place, the two mainreasons to attend a conference are to ……… and to ……… with other researchers.Listening to presentations will inform you of what others are doing, will inspire researchideas of your own, and will expose you to different styles of presentation.You'll also learn that even though listening to the talks is extremely valuable, ………can be even more fruitful.You should tell others about your research.

Remember to talk first about the ……… ofyour research, and only then about the ……… you are using. You have to convince others thatthe work is worth hearing about.You'll learn a lot from talking about your work but remember that no one likes to be in aconversation in which they only listen. You need to always tell people about your work, butalso be sure to ask others about their work.

You'll also learn a lot by listening and by askingquestions. Keep an open mind, and try to deeply understand their research.Make a list of goals for attending a conference. Which, to your mind, is the mainone?Text 1How to network at a conferenceNetworking at a conference is easier than you think–even if you are shy or don't enjoyparticipating in networking. The benefits from networking in a conference environment areimmense such as meeting new people who can give you new research, product, or informationthat will open up new possibilities for you.Steps1. Check out the background information onlineStart networking before you even get to the conference.

It's important to know who yourfellow attendees will be and what their specializations, business, or expertise is. In particular,look up the people who will be presenting at the conference. Take the time to visit thepresenters' websites, if relevant. They should also have email addresses on their websites.2.

"Dear X, I will be coming to Z conference where you're presenting and..."Email the presenters to let them know that you look forward to hearing their talks. Thesepresenters will appreciate you taking the time. They will, most likely, email you back and thankyou. Now you can re-email them and let them know you will make sure you introduce yourself,in person, when you see them at the event.3. Go up and introduce yourself at the event.Go to the talks of those presenters you have emailed. Go early and sit in the front row sothat you're in a good position to reach them after the talk.

Turn off your cell phone if youhaven't already done so. Be attentive so that you can raise any particular points with themafterward if the opportunity presents itself. After their presentation, introduce yourself,compliment the presenter on their presentation, saying briefly why you liked it, and ask anyrelevant questions that you have4. Be ready to get to the point quickly.Presenters, business people, and others associated with the conference will generally betime-limited and won't get much of a chance to stand around chatting with you. This is anaspect that often scares novice networkers because they're worried about being tongue-tied.

Sobe prepared - make a list of questions you'd like to ask the presenter.One way of getting assurance that your questions are welcome is to preface theconversation with something like: "Have I caught you at a bad time? I had two quick questionsI wanted to ask you."5. Listen.Whatever opportunity you get to network directly with the presenter, be sure to listen well.A good networker is a good listener and while you're talking to the presenter, focus on themand their answers to your questions and not on anybody else in the room. Limit your owntalking and encourage the presenter to talk. Stay positive and don't fear pauses. Be considerateof the fact that the conference is probably more overwhelming for the presenter than it is foryou.

Don't be afraid to make notes on your business cards or in your smart phone. This showsyour enthusiasm and willingness. Enjoy talking to the other person. Here is a wonderfulopportunity, so make the most of it by enjoying it as well as trying to connect.6.

See which other conference attendees seem to be with the presenter.If the presenter came with a team and some of them are part of the audience, try tonetwork with them and exchange business cards. Let them know what your business, research,or study is, and see whether it is possible for them to connect you to the presenter in some way,or even better, find out which other people within the presenter's team are worth connectingwith more deeply in terms of doing business or exchanging information and ideas.7. Loved your talk, here is a paper I've written since...Follow up with an email to the presenter.

If you can, send a relevant article to the topic theyshared. This will show that you have an avid interest in the topic and that you're willing to shareinformation with them. And if possible, connect the presenter with other relevant people youknow personally and share information as generously as you can. Keep the channels ofcommunication flowing; not everyone follows up after networking and they miss enormousopportunities.8. Look! That guy I met at the conference said he might be able to help our project!Stay in touch with the presenter by email and phone. Anything can happen here.

It's allabout sharing who you are and what skills you offer to the world of work that should start agreat conversation around connections and opportunities for all those great influences you meetat conferences.Learn from itVocabularynetworking (n) – создание сети полезных деловых связей и контактов;attendee (n) – человек, присутствующий на встрече, конференции; fellow attendees;expertise (n) – профессионализм, профессиональные знания; a field of expertise, shareexpertise, a lack of expertise;reach (v) – достигнуть, обратиться; reach a presenter, it is beyond my reach;relevant (adj) – относящийся к делу, уместный; relevant topics, if relevant, a relevantquestion;novice (adj) – начинающий, новоиспеченный; a novice networker, a novice actor;overwhelming (adj) – подавляющий, непомерный, чрезвычайный; an overwhelmingatmosphere, an overwhelming feeling;enthusiasm (n) – энтузиазм, рвение; with enthusiasm, be/get carried away by enthusiasm;avid (adj) – ярый, страстный; an avid interest in …, an avid reader.Practice1.

Read the text once again and restore the context of the words from Vocabularysection above.2. Work with a partner to make up your own sentences with the words fromVocabulary section.3. Complete the table forming parts of speech.NounVerbAdjectiveAdverbnetworkingattendrelevantenthusiasmnovice4. Match to make collocations. Use the collocations in your own sentences.raisenoteskeep the channelscardsmakea particular questionbusinessto the pointgetflowing5.

Fill in the blanks with the words from the box.tongue-tiedbenefitsreachedbusiness cardsfollow uprelevantnetworkingexpertise1. One of the main reasons that people have for attending a conference is the ………opportunities.2. I make sure to have my ……… ……… with me at all times and hand those out asmuch as I can.3. If you meet interesting people and you never ………, it makes no difference.4.

Barbara was the first-time presenter at an annual scientific conference last March andshe couldn’t help being ……… in the presence of famous scientists.5. The company is keen to develop its own ……… in the area of computerprogramming.6. How is that ……… to this discussion?7. He turned round and ……… for his notebook.8. You should consider the potential ……… of the deal for the company.6.

Translate these sentences into English. Try to use Vocabulary where suitable.1) Выгоды активного общения на конференциях огромны. Так, встречи с новымилюдьми могут дать вам новые идеи для исследований или информацию, котораяоткроет новые возможности.2) Установление деловых контактов везде и повсюду — прямая дорога к успеху.Всегда помните об этом.

На любом мероприятии знакомьтесь хотя бы с двумялюдьми, обменивайтесь контактами, а позже напомните о себе. Улыбка, энтузиазм,и страстный интерес к сотрудничеству и общению – ваши помощники.3) Вам нужно построить долгосрочные контакты и извлечь из них пользу. Первыйконтакт после встречи — самый важный. Будет правильным отправить послезнакомства письмо по электронной почте.4) Хорошие отношения — залог вашей карьеры. Если к вам обращаются за помощью,не важно, какой — не отказывайте. Это может быть совет (наверняка, вы обладаетепрофессиональными знаниями в своей области), дружеская поддержка или важнаяинформация, которой вы владеете.