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Top Tips for Business English
Teaching socializing skills
Basics socializing
Activities ¦ Teacher's notes

onestopenglish.com

Top Tips for Business English
Teaching socializing skills
by Rosemary Richey

Activities

> Main article
> Teacher's notes

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.