1. Introduction to EnglishIntroduction to English
Day 2 – Introductions and Small Talk.

2. What are they talking about?What are they talking about?

3. In many Western societies, including the United
States, a person who does not 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 in
school to direct their gaze at the region of their
teachers Adam’s apple or tie knot, and, as adults,
Japanese lower their eyes when speaking to a
superior, a gesture of respect.
Cont…

4. 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 attention to a speaker, 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 and grunting.
Cont…

5. 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 contact.
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 polietly expressed anger.

6. Discussion…Discussion…
How do people in the United States
react in this article
Englishman?
Japanese Children?
Japanese people when they lower their
eyes?
Looking at a long time at someone?
Widening eyes in Chinese culture?

7. Body LanguageBody Language
Some studies show that your body language can
show 90% of your meaning.
This can include:
◦ Distance from the other person
◦ Eye contact
◦ Hand gestures
◦ Physical contact
◦ Humor
◦ Presents (when to open)
◦ General rules of talking

8. Cross-Culture BusinessCross-Culture Business
What should someone do to prepare for meeting
people of another country?
Study Language points
Study use of body language
Cuisuine (food)
Business culture
Politics
Economics
Culture
Dress

9. Listening SkillsListening Skills
What was being discussed?
What are some items he needs?
How was the conversation?
Anything they can do to be better?
What cross-cutural things was Klaus
good at discussing?

10. How to introduce yourself to theHow to introduce yourself to the
secretarysecretary
 Introduction
◦ Name
◦ Company
◦ Title
 Person you are meeting
◦ Title
◦ Full name
 State the reason you are there (optional)
◦ Why
◦ When
◦ Where
 Patiently wait / Answer any other questions

13. Practice…Practice…
Find a partner and practice the same
outline with someone else in the class.
Take about 5 minutes to practice.

14. Small TalkSmall Talk
Small talk is discussing thing that are not necessary in
your business work, but helps you to gain a
relationship with the person you are speaking with
Important to keep the conversation flowing
◦ No more than 3 seconds
silence in the conversation.
◦ Listen carefully for interesting
points that may give you
insight on the person.
◦ If you feel that the
conversation is getting boring,
politely move on with another
subject or another person.

15. Listening…Listening…
Listen to this first small talk and tell me
what is wrong?
◦ Manager: Is this your first visit here?
◦ Hemper: No, in fact the first time I
came was for a trade fair.
We began our Southeast
Asian operations here at the
1995 exhibition.
◦ Manager: Shall we have a look round
the plant before lunch?

16. TaboosTaboos
Taboo is something not acceptable in one
culture but okay in another.
Be careful of Taboo subjects
Some things are Taboo everywhere.

17. Are these Taboo in the West?Are these Taboo in the West?
Family
News
Your Country
Religion
Clothes
Health
Politics
Sex
Sports
Weather
Food & Drink
People you both
know
How is work?
The city you are
from
Your holiday plans
Your hotel
Income

18. HomeworkHomework
Three parts
◦ Part one is filling in the blanks about the
conversation
◦ Part two is fixing the English of the comments
found in Small talk
◦ Part three is answering questions as if you
were talking to someone.