Task 4. Complete the passage using words from the previous task in the correct form. Summarize the text in several sentences. Ask 7 question on the text.

 

In Great Britain and the United States corporate gift giving is not a very popular 1_____; people can spend their entire working lives without ever receiving a corporate gift. However, gift giving is something an integral part of the negotiation process when doing business 2______. It is important to learn about the 3______ of gift giving before sending or talking a gift to an international client or business partner, or you may find that your clock 5_____ bad luck or death. It is also interesting to note that the receiver never opens a gift in front of the giver as that would signify that the content was more important than the act of giving. 6______ to Chinese culture. In France, don’t give something with your company logo, as they find items like this impersonal and in bad taste. Giving knives in Italy, Russia or Argentina could lead to problems in establishing a deal as this signifies cutting off the relationship! Giving flowers is another possible 7_____. In England, Australia and Canada, some people see white lilies as a symbol of death while in Germany, yellow and white chrysanthemums could be seen this way.

 

Task 5. Read the text about social etiquette for business people and retell it in 4 sentences. Ask 7 questions on the text.

Tiptoeing through the minefield

Do

· show an interest in, and at least an elementary knowledge of the country you are visiting;

· learn a few words of the language – it will be seen as a complement;

· be sensitive to countries who have bigger and better known neighbors, and try not to confuse Canadians with Americans, New Zealanders with Australians, Belgians with French;

· Familiarize yourself with the basics of business and social etiquette. As a starting point, learning how to greet people is very important.

Don’t

· Assume you won’t meet any communication problems because you speak English. You may think you are paying somebody a compliment by telling them their business is going a bomb. Americans will infer you think it is falling. Appear too reserved. As Americans are generally more exuberant than their European colleagues, they may equate reserve with lack of enthusiasm.

 

Business English: Conflict

Task 1. How good are you at managing conflict? Answer the questions in the quiz below. Then count your score and compare it with a partner.

 

Quiz