Business English Basics

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After reading this chapter you should:

- know more about national stereotypes;

- know how to react in an intercultural business context;

- familiarize yourself with the specific vocabulary and grammar structures used

in social interaction (within a business frame).

SECTION A

INTRODUCTION

1. a. Fill in the following text about business contacts with words from the box

below.

impolite offended Asian gift useful conventions

cultural social foreign common handshake customs

A lot of business is done outside the boardroom, so, it is important to be able to

function effectively in (1) ..situations.

Therefore, you should be informed about the clients or (2) .. partners‟

countries, namely their political and economic background, their major

companies, their religion and its influence on the state. It is also very (3) to

have good knowledge on some social aspects, such as the role of women or

the education in those countries, as well as the (4) .. concerning food and

4

drink. (5) .. differences may create a lot of problems in business relations if

they are not treated with care. You should know, for example, that it is usual in

the UK and the USA to (6) when meeting for the first time, and when

saying good-bye at the end of the meeting. Since names often create

confusions, when you introduce yourself to a foreign partner/ customer, you

should say your name clearly. Then, to avoid being (7) ., it is better not to

address someone by their first name unless you are invited to do so. It is very

(8) .. to be on first name terms with a business associate in UK, but not

usual in most (9) .. countries.

If you are invited to someone‟s house for a meal, it is usual to take a small gift,

though the type of gift varies from one country to another; in the UK, for

example, you could take a bottle of wine, a box of chocolate, some flowers, or a

(10) . from your own country. Note, however, that in some countries it is not

polite to open a gift immediately, while in others it is usual. If you are aware of

the (11) . of the country you are visiting, you will not cause offence or be

(12).

1. b. Relying on information in the text above, state if the following sentences

are true or false:

1. It is unusual in the UK and USA to give a firm handshaking, when meeting for the

first time.

2. When developing the social side of a business relationship, you should be able to

talk about your own country and be informed about your foreign customers‟

countries.

3. It is important to appreciate cultural differences when dealing with people from

other countries.