BUSINESS ENGLISH CONVERSATION & LISTENING INSTRUCTOR: HSIN-HSIN CINDY LEE, PHD

Lesson 2Introductions & Greeting

Contents

Basic Rules and ConceptsConversation and Listening Practices - Check Answers and Further

Practice Writing PracticeCheckpoint

INTRODUCTION

Basic Rules of Greeting

Basic Rules of Greeting

Having good ability of business English conversation is important because it helps people to establish a sound relationship with workmates.

All the relationships begin with greetings. If you meet people for the first time, your fluent self-

introduction and friendly greeting will make the positive first impression on them and vice versa. Remember, ‘the first’ impression can never be re-

made because it is formed when you ‘first’ meet. Your self-introduction and greeting in the first

meeting may decide whether the other person will like or trust you or not in the future!

Basic Rules of Greeting

Once you get to know a new workmate, greetings remain important. Whenever you greet, you are advised to be polite

and thoughtful. People tend to assume that those who greet are

nice to work with. Without greeting, the atmosphere in the office will

seem stiff, unfriendly and indifferent. Greetings work like motor oil which makes all parts

of the machine operate smoothly. Try to leave a good impression on others as well as

make busy life more pleasant to deal with!

•FAMILIARIZE WITH THE COMMON SITUATIONS•STUDY THE MODEL CONVERSATIONS

Conversation & Listening

Common Business Situations

There are various business situations in which you may meet people for the first time.

You get to know a stranger on an occasion. E.g. You have exchanged several emails with a

business partner before a face-to-face meeting. E.g. You get to know a stranger who attends the same

meeting/seminar/conference with you.

You are introduced to an unknown senior. E.g. You are a new entrant in a company and being

introduced to the executives. E.g. You visit your business partner’s company and

are introduced to that company’s executives.

Common Business Situations

You are introduced to an unknown peer. E.g. You are a new entrant in a company and being

introduced to other colleagues. E.g. You are introduced to other people who have the

same social status.

All kinds of introductions should go with courteous greetings.

Show your professional image, business manners and leave a good impression on others in the first meeting!

Listening to Conversation 2-A

Topic: Introducing yourself and greeting in the first meetingSituation: Lisa is attending an international training program

provided by her multinational company at Tokyo. The program offers two classes for 35 middle and senior executives of 7 different nationalities .

Task: Listen to the following conversation and fill in the blanks. Tip: Always greet as soon as you hear the other person’s

name.

Listening and Filling in the Blanks

Lisa: Hello, I don’t suppose we’ve met before. I am Lisa _____ from Canada.

Joyce: ___ ___ ___ ____! My _____ is Joyce Wang. Please call me Joyce. I’m from _____.

Lisa: ____ ____ ____ _____, too! Joyce.

Listening to Conversation 2-B

Topic: Introducing a peer to a senior Situation: Joyce, an assistant manager of marketing from

Taiwan, introduces her new friend, Paul Johnson, whom she just met in her class, to her supervisor at a coffee break.

Task: Listen to the following conversation and fill in the

blanks. Tip: While introducing a peer to a senior, paying respect

to the senior before the introduction.

Listening and Filling in the Blanks

Joyce: Sir, ____ ____ ____ an American HR associate in my class to you?

Wu: Sure, my _____. Joyce: Mr. Wu, this is Paul Johnson, HR Officer

from the______. Joyce: Paul, this is my _____, Mr. David Wu,

Marketing Director of Taiwan ______. Wu: ______ to meet you, Mr. Johnson. Paul: Please call me Paul, sir. It’s my ______ to

______ you.

Listening to Conversation 2-C

Topic: Introducing two peers to each otherSituation: Joyce introduces Lisa and Paul to each other. Task: Listen to the following conversation and fill in the

blanks. Tips:

While introducing two people to each other, make sure you know how to pronounce their names.

Check if the two people have ever met before the introduction.

Listening & Filling in the Blanks

Joyce: ____ you two ____? Paul: I ____ had the pleasure.Lisa: We _____ been properly introduced.Joyce: Then, ____ me introduce you. Joyce: Lisa, this is Paul Johnson from the _____.Joyce: Paul, this is Lisa Black from Canada. Lisa and Paul: ____ ____ ____ ____!

•CHECK YOUR ANSWERS •FIND A PARTNER AND READ ALOUD THE DIALOGUES •ADD THE BODY LANGUAGE

• Handshaking • Exchanging business cards

Practices

Conversation 2-A

Lisa: Hello, I don’t suppose we’ve met before. I am Lisa Black from Canada.

Joyce: Nice to meet you! My name is Joyce Wang. Please call me Joyce. I’m from Taiwan.

Lisa: Nice to meet you, too! Joyce.

Conversation 2-B

Joyce: Sir, may I introduce an American HR associate in my class to you?

Wu: Sure, my pleasure. Joyce: Mr. Wu, this is Paul Johnson, HR Associate

from the headquarter. Joyce: Paul, this is my supervisor, Mr. David Wu, the

Marketing Director of Taiwan branch. Wu: Pleased to meet you, Mr. Johnson. Paul: Please call me Paul, sir. It’s my pleasure to

meet you.

Conversation 2-C

Joyce: Have you two met? Paul: I haven’t had the pleasure.Lisa: We haven’t been properly introduced. Joyce: Then, let me introduce you. Joyce: Lisa, this is Paul Johnson from the

headquarter.Joyce: Paul, this is Lisa Black from Canada. Lisa and Paul: Nice to meet you!

Further Practice

Replace you and your partner’s names with the ones provided in the script.

Read the script again by using your own names.

Practice the different situations for introducing and

greeting with your own names without reading the script.

WRITE DOWN YOUR WON SENTENCES.

Writing Practice

Write alternative expressions to the following statements.

Write down your own sentences.1)I am Lisa Black.e.g. My name is Lisa Black. 2) Nice to meet you!______________________________________3) Have you two met yet?______________________________________4) He is a human resources (HR) associate. ______________________________________5) May I introduce you to Ms Lee? ______________________________________

You can also say this…Study the following alternative expressions.

1) I am Lisa Black.e.g. My name is Lisa Black. 2) Nice to meet you!(I’m) Pleased to meet you.(I’m) Glad to meet you.It’s a pleasure to meet you. It’s my honor to meet you.3) Have you two met?Do you two know each

other? May I introduce you to

him?

4) He is a HR associate. He reports to HR

Manager. He is (in charge of

training and recruiting) in HR department.

5) May I introduce you to Ms. Lee?

Please allow me to introduce you to Ms. Lee.

Please let me introduce you to Ms. Lee.

Checkpoint

1. Why is the first impression important? 2. When do you need to introduce yourself to

others? Provide three examples. 3. How do you introduce a peer to a senior? 4. How do you introduce two peers to each

other? 5. Ho do you greet a new acquaintance?

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?

End