Business English
Socializing (Part I)
Socializing (Part I)
1. Socializing for Success
Effective socializing = successful business!
Business parties, lunches, dinners etc. = business!
7 steps to help use business social events to your advantage:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Prepare before the event
Make an entrance
Get connected
Meet the power
Cultivate friendships
Don’t overstay your welcome
Use what you’ve learned
2. Welcoming : Sample dialogue
A:
B:
A:
B:
A:
B:
I’d like to welcome you to our Institute. I am Professor Johnson.
It’s an honour to meet you, professor.
Did you have a good trip?
Yes, thank you.
Good. So, shall we start the tour?
Certainly. I’m looking forward to it.
3. Welcoming : language focus
Welcome to…
It’s a great pleasure to welcome you to….
On behalf of…I’d like to welcome you to…
4. Introducing yourself : Sample dialogue
A:
B:
A:
B:
A:
Hello, I’m Pete Russell.
Hi. Nice to meet you, I’m Sharon, a colleague of Paul’s.
So, do you know many people here?
Most of them. I’ll introduce you to a few if you like.
Thanks. So where are you from?
Page 1 of 7
Business English
Socializing (Part I)
5. Identifying or introducing yourself – first meetings: language focus
Identification
Hello, I’m…
Hello, my name is…
Hello, let/may/could/can I introduce
myself, I’m…
Hello, first name + surname
We haven’t met. I’m…
Relevant information
From…
I work for…
I’m in charge of…/I’m responsible for…
I’ve got an appointment with…
I’m the IT manager here.
6. Greetings for first meetings : language focus
First greeting
Nice to meet you.
Pleased to meet you.
It’s a pleasure to meet you.
I’m delighted to finally meet you.
How do you do?
Reply to the greeting
Nice to meet you too.
Pleased to meet you too.
It’s very nice to meet you too.
It’s great to meet you too.
How do you do?
7. Introducing someone else : Sample dialogue
A:
B:
A:
C:
B:
C:
B:
C:
B:
Have you met John?
No, I haven’t. Please introduce me.
Jonathan; this is Samantha. She works in the Research Department.
Nice to meet you, Samantha.
Nice to meet you, too.
How long have you been here?
With the company? Oh…too long…nearly fifteen years. What about you?
I don’t work here. I’m just on a visit for a couple of days.
Oh? Where are you staying?
8. Introducing someone else: language focus
I’d like to introduce you to…
Let me introduce…
May/Could/Can I introduce….
It’s my pleasure to introduce…
Have you met…?
…., this is…..
9. Tips for making small talk
1. As you prepare for a function, come up with 3 things to talk about & 4 generic
questions that will get others talking.
2. Be the first to say “hello”.
3. Take your time during introductions.
4. Get the other person talking with a common ground statement regarding the
event or location and then asking a related open-ended question.
Page 2 of 7
Business English
Socializing (Part I)
5. Stay focused on your conversational partner by actively listening and giving
feedback.
6. Listen more than you talk.
7. Have something interesting to contribute.
8. If there are people you especially want to meet, one of the best ways to approach
them is to be introduced by someone they respect.
9. If someone hands you a business card, accept it as a gift.
10. Watch your body language.
11. Before entering into a conversation that’s already in progress, observe and
listen.
12. Have a few exit lines ready so that you can both gracefully move on.
10. Small talk : Keeping the conversation going
(*What’s wrong with this conversation?)
Manager: Is this your first visit here?
Smith: No, in fact the first time I came was for a trade fair. We began our Southeast
Asian operations here at the 2006 Exhibition.
Manager: Shall we have a look round the plant before lunch?
11. What’s wrong with what the Product manager says?
It breaks a ‘rule’ of conversation
If you ask a question you should comment on the answer or ask a supplementary
question.
Question
Answer
Comment
or
Supplementary
Question
12. Small talk : Keeping the conversation going : sample dialogue – successful
Brad: Hello, James! Welcome to California! It’s good to finally meet you.
James : It’s good to be here at last.
Brad: Did you have any problems finding us?
James: No. Jack Wilson gave me directions in London last week. I got a taxi here.
Brad: Good. How was your flight?
James: There was a short delay in London, but the flight was fine. Fortunately, I
slept on the plane, so I’m not very tired.
Brad: Glad to hear it. You’ve got a very busy programme ahead. Let’s discuss it
over lunch. I booked a table for one-thirty. Do you like Italian food?
Page 3 of 7
Business English
Socializing (Part I)
13. Language focus: Small talk topics : Travel
How was your trip?
Did you have any trouble finding us?
It was fine/very smooth/easy.
The flight was delayed.
The traffic was terrible.
It was a bit rough.
There was quite a bit of turbulence.
I missed my connection.
The plane was late.
There were no problems.
14. Language focus: Small talk topics: Accommodation
How’s your hotel?
What’s your hotel like?
Is everything all right?
It’s very comfortable/ convenient/ luxurious.
The service is excellent.
It’s rather noisy/dirty.
The rooms are a bit cramped.
I’ve got a great room overlooking the bay.
15. Language focus : Small talk topics: Weather
How do you find the weather here?
What was the weather like when you left?
It’s lovely/sunny/warm.
It was dismal/cloudy/cold/wet/stormy/raining.
16. Small talk – Questions and answers : Sample dialogue (Unsuccessful)
A:
B:
A:
B:
A:
B:
A:
B:
A:
B:
A:
Where do you come from?
India
Oh, whereabouts?
The south.
Interesting. Which city?
Madras.
Oh, I see….and is your family here with you?
No.
So you left them at home?
That’s right.
I suppose that must be hard for them.
Page 4 of 7
Business English
Socializing (Part I)
17. Small talk – Questions and answers : Sample dialogue (Successful)
A:
B:
A:
B:
A:
B:
A:
B:
A:
B:
A:
B:
Where did you grow up?
In Greece, actually. But my parents are Danish.
That sounds complicated.
Not really. My father had a job as an adviser to the government.
So, did you go to school there?
Yes, I did. It was an international school and we had to speak English.
Your English is very good.
Thanks. In fact, I use it all the time in my current job.
What do you do?
I’m a pilot….you know, on a commercial airline.
Really? My brother is training to become a pilot.
Oh? Where’s he training?
18. Successful small talk



The initiator of small talk always hopes his/her questions will elicit more than a oneor two-word answer.
You need to have a number of questions available in order to find a topic that
develops into an interesting conversation.
Responder gives full answers
conversation develops positively
19. Question types : language focus
Closed
Did you see that film on television?
Do you live near here?
Have you been here long?
Open
Where do you spend your holidays?
What do you think of Milan?
Language focus : encouraging reactions
Statement
I don’t like working late.
We are very excited about the new marketing campaign.
Starting later in the morning suits me.
Reactions
Yes, I agree.
Really?
That’s interesting.
Me too.
So do I. / Neither do I.
Reflections
So you think…?
I suppose you are….?
Page 5 of 7
Business English
Socializing (Part I)
20. Language focus: More small talk topics
Jobs
What do you do?
I’m a teacher/engineer/lawyer. (profession)
I work for the Pomodori Corporation. (employer)
I work for myself at the moment. (self-employed)
I own my own business. (self-employed)
I look after the children. / I’m a housewife/husband.
What line of work/field are you in?
I’m in computing. (industry)
I’m in marketing. (function)
How long have you been with them?
Do you like it?
Is the job interesting?
How’s business?
21. Language focus: More small talk topics
Family
Are you married?
What does your wife/husband do?
Do you have any children?
How old are they?
Do they work/study?
Do they still live at home?
Spare time
What do you do in the evenings/at weekends?
What do you do in your spare time?
Where do you spend your holidays?
Do you like films/ gardening/ walking/ sport?
What kind of music do you like?
Origins
Where do you come from?
Where were you brought up?
Where did you grow up?
How young were you when you moved to….?
Which part of….were you born in ?
Page 6 of 7
Business English
Socializing (Part I)
22. Daily Greetings : Sample Dialogue : Formal
Francesco: Good morning, Mr. Hamilton.
Mr. Hamilton: Morning, Francesco. I haven’t seen you for a while. I thought you
must have left.
Francesco: No, not yet. I’m not going home until the end of next month.
Mr. Hamilton: And how have you been getting on?
Francesco: Very well thank you. It’s been a very useful few months and I’ve enjoyed
being here.
23. Daily Greetings : Sample Dialogue : Informal
David: Hi, Jane. How’s life?
Jane: Pretty good. Just got back from Italy.
David: Oh, yeah, I forgot. Did you have a good holiday?
Jane: Wonderful! Just what I needed. Great food. Friendly people…
David: Sounds great!
Jane: How have things been here?
David: Pretty quiet. You know about the departmental meeting this afternoon, right?
24. Language focus : Daily greetings
Greeting
Hello.
Hi.
(Good) morning.
(Good) afternoon.
Hey there.
Follow-up enquiry
How are you?
How are you doing?
How are things?
How have things been?
How was it?
Is everything okay/ all
right.
How’s it going?
How’s life?
Reply
Very well, thanks.
Not too bad.
Not too well, actually.
Fine/thank you.
Great
All right.
Page 7 of 7