TEXT 3. BUSINESS SUCCESS
- Work with a partner and discuss these questions.
- Are the rules for social gatherings and business meetings the same?
- Can you use the same topics for conversation during the party and business meeting?
- How do business partners from different countries/cultures introduce themselves?
- Now read the text and check your answers.
Americans often plan social gatherings on short notice, so don't be surprised if you get invited to someone's home or to see a movie or baseball game without much warning. If the time is convenient for you, by all means accept their invitation. But if you are busy, do not be afraid to decline the invitation, perhaps suggesting a time that would be better. Your host will not be insulted. If a friend has invited you to drop by anytime, it is best to call before visiting to make sure it is convenient for them. Do not stay too long, since you do not want to overstay your welcome.
Invitations are usually issued in person or over the telephone. The main exception is for receptions and other formal occasions, in which case a written invitation will be mailed. For a casual dinner invitation, do not arrive more than 5 minutes early, because your host may still be preparing for your visit. Arriving more than 10 minutes late is considered rude if very few people were invited. If many people were invited, it is ok to arrive a little late, even as much as half an hour late. For example, it is ok to arrive late for a party, for apotluck dinner or for a social gathering involving a large group of people. The main consideration is whether there are enough people in the group so that your late arrival will not be noticed. At a party, don't be surprised if you are asked what you do for a living (What do you do for a living?). This is a normal opening line of conversation, and not an insult. If you are invited for dinner, it is appropriate to bring the host a bottle of wine, a gift basket of fruit, a box of candy, or a small potted plant or bouquet of flowers. Do not bring roses, as they have a more intimate connotation; men often give roses to women on a date. If you wish to thank the host for his or her hospitality, it is appropriate to call or send a brief written thank you note the next day.
Business visits, on the other hand, tend to be extremely punctual. If you arrive late to a business appointment, it will reflect badly on you. So try to arrive on time, or even a little early. If you know that you will be arriving late, you should telephone ahead to let them know of the delay. If a business meeting takes place over a meal, expect the business discussions to begin after everyone has ordered their meal, sometimes as soon as everyone is seated. Socializing tends to occur after the business is concluded, not before. This is in contrast with the practice in many other countries, where the purpose of the meal is to socialize with and get to know each other before any business is discussed.
|
|
|
Many American companies have women in management positions. So don't be surprised if the person who meets you is a woman, not a man. When businessmen or businesswomen meet, they usually introduce themselves by shaking right hands. When you shake hands, don't crush their fingers, but also don't hold their hand too lightly. A firm handshake is best. Business cards are not normally exchanged upon meeting. If you need a colleague's contact information, it is ok to ask them for their card. It is also ok to offer someone your card. But there is not an elaborate ritual of exchanging cards as in other cultures.
3. Read the text again and complete the chart below:
| Americans often plan social gatherings on short notice, so... | don't be surprised if you get invited to someone's home or to see a movie or baseball game without much warning. |
| Invitations are usually issued... the main exception is for... | |
| For a casual dinner invitation... | |
| Arriving more than 10 minutes late... | |
| If you are invited for dinner, it is appropriate to bring... | |
| Business visits tend to be.... If you arrive late to a business appointment..., so try... |
| When businessmen or businesswomen meet, they usually introduce themselves... | |
| When you shake hands... | |
| Business cards... |
Essential Vocabulary
| social gathering ['saufl .]] | (, ) |
| convenient [k,invi:niant] | , ; |
| invitation f invi'teijn] | |
| decline [di'klain] | , , |
| insult [in'SAlt] | ; |
| exception [ik'sepjn] | , |
| reception [ri'sepjn] | ; , |
| casual [ka^ju.al] | , ; ; ( ) |
| rude [ru:d] | , , |
| Conversation [.ktmva'seijh] | 1), , 2) , ; |
| appropriate [a'praupriat] | , ; |
| date [deit] | |
| hospitality [ hns.pi'tael.sti] | , , |
| ahead [o'hed] | ; |
| purpose ['p3:pss] | , ; , |
| elaborate [V lasb.ar.at] | (, ); |
| , , | |
| exchange [iks'tfeind3] | , |
4. Use dictionaries to study the meaning of the following vocabulary items:
conversation, date, purpose.
1. Write out common collocations with them.
2. Find derivatives formed from these vocabulary items.
5. Match the words with their definitions. There is one extra definition:
| 1. Convenient 2. decline 3. insult 4. reception 5. invitation 6. casual 7. appropriate 8. ahead 9. elaborate | a) to say or do something offensive b) relaxed and informal c) suitable or right for a particular situation or purpose d) easy to do, or not causing problems or difficulties e) before a time or event f) to give more details or information about something g) to say politely that you will not accept something or do something h) a situation in which people give each other information or discuss their ideas and opinions i) a written or spoken request asking someone to spend time with you socially or to come to a social event j) a formal party to welcome someone or to celebrate something |
|
|
|
6. Fill in the blanks with words from the word-box. There are two extra vocabulary items:
| hospitality | exception | social gathering |
| rude | invitation | exchange |
1. Food and beverages were served as they comprise an essential part of any________
2. Most nurses are women; the most notable________ is psychiatric nurses.
3. It's________to keep people waiting.
4. We were delighted by the wonderful________of the local people.
5. He hardly heard the________ of compliments.
7. Supply the necessary derivative/compound related to the italicized word the complete each sentence.
1. conversation She spoke in a quiet_______tone.
2. invitation Leaders of the warring factions were_______ to attend peace talks in Geneva,
3. hospitality They were_______to travellers.
4. convenient Are you prepared to sacrifice the pleasures of nature to the______of city life?
5. exception I would like to stress, however, that this would be an_______case.
6. elaborate The principle might benefit from further________ to ensure an appropriate balance of these concerns.
8. Paraphrase the following sentences using your active vocabulary:
1. I tried to call you about our meeting, but you weren't in.
2. The officer inclined his head in a shadow of courtesy.
3. He declared he was not at all affronted.
4. Thanks for inviting me to the party.
5. He had an engagement at a restaurant at eight.
6. Charlie and I knew that and were always prepared to laugh at it beforehand.
7. He aimed rather at consolidating and securing his empire than at enlarging it.
8. Sometimes, it is useful for a pair of interviewers to tag-teamswitch roles from question poser to note taker during the session.
9. When I was called in, all the guests were waiting for in the dining-room ready to celebrate the birthday.
10. One would never have expected such delicacy from this uncultured man.
Continue the sentences using your imagination and creativity.
1. I didn't mean to be rude, but...
2. It is simple and convenient to...
3. 3.She had a casual attitude to...
4. Social gatherings help people...
5. Exchanging ideas makes people...
6. The purpose of the last formal conversation was...
7. He refused to elaborate...
8. As for their hospitality I...
9. The clothes are appropriate for...
10. The reception desk was...
