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.

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