MED Magazine

MED Magazine - Issue 27 - February 2005

Top Tips for Business English
Teaching socializing skills: activities
by Rosemary Richey

Introduction

Successful socializing in English requires special language. These activities will help you learn and practise words and phrases you'll need for basic socializing in a business context. Use the Macmillan English Dictionary when completing the exercises.

Activity 1

Read through these sentences taken from people socializing with clients and customers.

•	On behalf of the sales and marketing department, I'd like to welcome you to MGH Enterprises.
•	Let me introduce myself. My name's John Simmons and I'm the executive director.
•	Could I give you a hand with your documents?
•	How do you take your tea? With sugar, lemon or milk?
•	I hope you find your hotel convenient. Are the rooms comfortable?
•	What do you think of our dismal weather? I hope it's more cheerful in Dublin.
•	What line are you in? Is the job rewarding?
•	Since you mentioned it, let's discuss the details.
•	I was wondering if you could do me a favour.
•	Do you fancy having dinner with us this evening?
•	I'd like to get the next round of drinks. Let's propose a toast to our good working relationship!
•	Thanks for coming. You can reach me best by email. Safe journey!

Activity 2

Look up the underlined words taken from activity 1 in the dictionary. Write a synonym or short explanation for each.

a	on behalf of instead of or as a representative of someone_________________
b	executive _______________________________________________________
c	give you a hand _______________________________________________________
d	take (your tea) _______________________________________________________
e	convenient _______________________________________________________
f	dismal _______________________________________________________
g	cheerful _______________________________________________________
h	line _______________________________________________________
i	rewarding _______________________________________________________
j	mentioned _______________________________________________________
k	favour _______________________________________________________
l	fancy _______________________________________________________
m	round _______________________________________________________
n	propose a toast _______________________________________________________
o	reach _______________________________________________________
p	journey _______________________________________________________

Activity 3

Finish these sentences with a word from the box. Make sure you use the correct form of the word.

dismal	fancy	reach
rewarding take

a	Do you __take__ your coffee black or white?
b	I work long hours, but my job is __________ and I enjoy it very much.
c	Since it's so_______ outside, today's not a good day to take you on a city tour.
d	I'm afraid Ms Collins cannot be _________ since she's in a meeting all day.
e	Do you________ taking a tour of the company?

Activity 4

Choose words or phrases from the box to finish these important culture notes on socializing. Check your answers in the dictionary

avoid	offended	proximity	sensitive
stereotype	taboo	titles

a	Successful socializing depends on you being __sensitive___ to the other person's culture.
b	Both Americans and the British usually don't use ________ when speaking to another person. They call each other by their first names.
c	When making small talk, certain topics might be __________ such as family, religion or politics. You may have to _________ these subjects.
d	You must be careful about your body language. Make sure you don't stand in close _____ of the other person. They might be _______ by this.
e	In any socializing situation, never _______ the other person. Your ideas may be totally mistaken about his/her culture.