In the Office
Lead-in
Let’s get acquainted!
1
3
3
1. Describe the gestures of greeting in the photos with these words:
| body bow cheek hug kiss lips nod shake shoulder hand chin |
2. 
Listen to four short dialogues. Match the dialogue with the situation.
| a. at the bank | b. at a friend’s party | c. in a business meeting | d. in class |
3. Work in pairs. Which of these expressions did you hear in 2?
| Good morning. Good afternoon. Good evening. Good day. Good night. Hi! Hello! How are you? I’m fine, thanks. Not bad, thank you. So, so, thanks. It might be better…I want to introduce…, Please meet…, This is…, May I introduce you to…, Nice to meet you. Pleased to meet you. How do you do? |
Answer the questions about expression in 3.
1. Which are the most formal?
2. Which are the most informal?
3. Which do you use when you meet someone for the first time?
4. Which do you use when you know someone well?
5. Which do you use to greet other people in class?
6. Which do you use to greet your teacher?
7. Say which of these factors is important for you when you greet people:
- how old they are
- how well you know them
-what they do
Reading
Read the article and answer the following questions.
1. What does “good eye contact” mean?
2. How can “eye contact”be interpreted in different countries?
Eye contact
In many Western societies, including the United States, a person who doesn’t maintain “good eye contact” is regarded as being slightly suspicious, or a “shifty” character. Americans unconsciously associate people who avoid eye contact as unfriendly, insecure, untrustworthy, inattentive and impersonal. However, in contrast, Japanese children are taught at school to direct their gaze at the region of their teacher’s Adam’s apple or tie knot, and, as adults, Japanese lower their eyes when speaking to a superior, a gesture of respect.
Latin American cultures, as well as some African cultures, such as Nigeria, have longer looking time, but prolonged eye contact from an individual of lower status is considered disrespectful. In the US, it is considered rude to stare – regardless of who is looking at whom. In contrast, the polite Englishman is taught to pay strict attention to a speaker, to listen carefully, and to blink his eyes to let the speaker know he or she has been understood as well, as heard. Americans signal interest and comprehension by bobbing their heads or grunting.
A widening of the eyes can also be interpreted differently, depending on circumstances and culture. Take, for instance, the case of an American and a Chinese discussing the terms of a proposed contract. Regardless of the language in which the proposed contract is carried out, the US negotiator may interpret a Chinese person’s widened eyes as an expression of astonishment instead of as a danger signal (its true meaning) of politely expressed anger.
6. If necessary, read the text again. Then comment on the following:
a) observations about many people from the United States
b) observations about English
c) an observation about Japanese children
d) the meaning of lowering one’s eyes in Japan
e) why looking at someone for a long time may be considered disrespectful
f) the meaning of widened eyes in Chinese culture
Language development
Fill in the words from the list, then make sentences using the completed phrases.
eye, looking, strict, proposed, American, polite, to listen
1……………………………… contact
2……………………………… time
3……………………………… attention
4……………………………… contract
5……………………………… cultures
6……………………………… Englishman
7……………………………… carefully
