Business English
Business English(BE) is English especially related to international trade. It is a part of English for Specific Purposes. Many non-native English speakers study the subject with the goal of doing business with English-speaking countries, or with companies located outside the Anglosphere but which nonetheless use English as a shared language. Much of the English communication that takes place within business circles all over the world occurs between non-native speakers. In such cases the object of the exercise is efficient and effective communication. The strict rules of grammar are in such cases sometimes ignored, when, for example, a stressed negotiator's only goal is to reach an agreement as quickly as possible.
Business English means different things to different people. For some, it focuses on vocabulary and topics used in the worlds of business, trade, finance, and international relations. For others it refers to the communication skills used in the workplace, and focuses on the language and skills needed for typical business communication such as presentations, negotiations, meetings, small talk, socializing, correspondence, report writing, and so on. In both of these cases it can be taught to native speakers of English, for example, high school students preparing to enter the job market.
It can also be a form of international English.
It is possible to study Business English at college and university; institutes around the world have on offer courses (modules) in BE which can even lead to a degree in the subject.
Unit I.MEETING PEOPLE
| Learn how to meet for the first time, how to catch up, how to tell a story, how to describe someone else, how to make, accept and decline offers. |
Lesson 1. Early Business Contacts
Warm up
I. Which of the following happens the first time you meet someone?
· I talk too much because I’m nervous.
· I don’t speak at all because I think of anything to say.
· I smile a lot so that the other person likes me.
· I act in exactly the same way as I would with a person I know.
II. Can you remember when and where you met some of the following people for the first time? Tell your teacher what happened.
· • a very good friend
· • your boss
· • a girlfriend / boyfriend
· • a colleague
· • a customer
· • a teacher
Active Vocabulary
Introductions often include these steps:
· Greeting or request for introduction
· Introduction
· Response to greeting
Phrases for introducing yourself:
| Greeting | Introduction | Response |
| Hello Good morning/afternoon How do you do? | Let me introduce myself. My name’s…. I’m …. | Pleased to meet you. I’m …. Nice to meet you. Mine’s…. Glad to meet you. I’m…. |
Phrases for introducing someone else:
| Request for introduction | Introduction | Response |
| …, could you introduce me to…? …, I haven’t met…. …, I don’t know anyone here. You’ll have to introduce me. | Of course… Let me introduce you to…. I’m sorry… This is …. Of course, I’ll introduce you to…. …, this is …. Let me introduce you two. …, this is …. | (Very) nice to meet you. … … |
Note: some introductions are more formal than others. The use of first names indicates informality. In English-speaking cultures, people usually shake hands on first meeting.
It’s very common to present yourself in terms of your job. The job identifies the person.
| Question/comment | Filler | Response | Comment/question |
| What do you do (for a living)? Do you work? What do you do (in the … Department)? I haven’t seen you around before. | Well Oh | I’m in computers. Yes, I’m a fashion designer. I’m on the market research side. I’ve just started with Manders. I’m in the Sales Department. | Not a bad job. That’s interesting. What about you? And you? What do you do there? |
