ENGLISH LECTURE 2

INTRODUCING AND MEETING PEOPLE

A. INTRODUCING PEOPLE

You can introduce yourself in different ways, for example you can say a few
sentences about yourself:
1. Hello, my name is Jana Novak. I come from Ravne. I am 19 years old. I am a student at
the college for civil engineering. I like my studies as I learn something new every day. I
have several hobbies, I like swimming, skiing and other outdoor sports.
2. Hi, I’m Jure Vesel. I’m an engineer and I work in a very successful company, Metal
Ravne. I have been employed for two years now. I really enjoy going to work in the
morning as my job is challenging and there is never a dull moment. In my free time I
like going out and socialising.

English people do not usually introduce themselves, except in impersonal

introductions. For examples:
1. I am Police Officer James, and I am arresting you for speeding along the motorway at
120 miles an hour.
2. I'm Bill Rightwing, your co-pilot on this flight to New York.
3. I'm Samantha, your tour guide on this exciting tour to Cappadocia.

When you meet foreigners it is common to shake hands and use some polite
phrases, such as:
1. How do you do? (This is very formal and used with certain nations: such as the British
or Japanese or when you are introduced to people who are much older or very high in
the company hierarchy)
2. It's a pleasure to meet you.
3. Nice to meet you.
4. I've been looking forward to meeting you.

We use formal introductions on formal occasions. For important business

situations, meeting important people or some weddings and funerals, formal
language is safest. For examples:
1. A: Mr Thimes, this is Professor Jackson.
B: Professor Jackson. I'm pleased to meet you.
2. A: Mr Thimes, may I present Professor Jackson.
B: How do you do?
3. A: Allow me to present Professor Jackson.
B: I'm delighted to meet you, Professor. My name is Bill Thimes.

General/Neutral introductions
1. Mr Thimes, do you know Professor Jackson? How are you, Professor?
2. Bill, this is Jessica Jordan. I'm pleased to meet you.
3. Bill Thimes, Jessica Jordan. It's nice to meet you.

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 Task 1
Look at this dialogue between Martin, a student of civil engineering from
Munich, Germany, who has come to Birmingham to do his work placement
there. He is introduced to Mr. Brown by David Lynch, his mentor at the
company. The dialogue is mixed up (except for the first line), try to put it in
the correct order.
David: Mr. Brown, this is Martin Schiller from Munich. Martin, this is Mr. Brown, head of
this department.
Mr. Brown: I’m glad you liked it. And I hope you enjoy your time with us, too. Have you been
shown around yet?
Martin: Yes, I did. It’s very lovely here.
Mr. Brown: Hello Martin. Nice to meet you. Welcome to Birmingham. When did you get
here?
Martin: No, not yet.
Mr. Brown: Good. And how was your journey?
Martin: It’s a pleasure to meet you. Thank you. I arrived at 8 o’clock last night.
Mr. Brown: Well, then, I suggest David gives you a tour first and then we can discuss what
you are going to do while you’re here.
Martin: Oh, very good, thank you for asking. I came by car so I managed to see a bit of
the country already.
Mr. Brown: I see. I hope you liked it.
Martin: Right. I’ll see you later, then.

B. MEETING PEOPLE
Nobody actually wants to cause offence but, as business becomes ever more international, it
is increasingly easy to get it wrong. There may be a single European market but it does not
mean that managers behave the same in Greece as they do in Denmark.
In many European countries handshaking is an automatic gesture. In France good
manners require that on arriving at a business meeting a manager shakes hands with
everyone present. This can be a demanding task and, in a crowded room, may require
gymnastic ability if the farthest hand is to be reached.
Handshaking is almost as popular in other countries – including Germany, Belgium and
Italy. But Northern Europeans, such as the British and the Scandinavians, are not quite as
fond of physical demonstrations of friendliness. But the situation is changing also in these
countries and handshaking has become a routine. It is also not true that people from these
countries are reserved and cold, but the fact is they are more and more open and extremely
friendly.
In Europe the most common challenge is not the content of the food, but the way you
behave as you eat. Some things are not just done. In France is a not good manner to raise
tricky questions of business over the main course. Business has its place: after the cheese
course. Unless you are prepared to eat in silence you have to talk about something –
something, that is, other than business deal which you are chewing over in your head.
Italians give similar importance to the whole process of business entertaining. In fact,
in Italy the biggest fear, as course after course appears, is that you entirely forget you are
there on business. If you have the energy, you can always do the polite thing when the meal
finally ends, and offer to pay. Then, after a lively discussion, you must remember the next
polite thing to do – let your host pick up the bill.
In Germany, as you walk sadly back to your hotel room, you may wonder why your
apparently friendly hosts have not invited you out for a meal. Don’t worry, it is probably
nothing personal. Germans do not entertain business people with quite the same
enthusiasm as some of their European counterparts.
The Germans are also notable for the amount of the formality they bring to business.
As an outsider, it is often difficult to know whether colleagues have been working together
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for 30 years or have just met in the lift. If you are used to calling people by their first names,
this can be a little strange. To the Germans, titles are important. Forgetting that someone
should be Herr Doktor or Frau Direktorin might cause serious offence. It is equally offensive
to call them by a title they do not possess.
In Italy the question of title is further confused by the fact that everyone with a
University degree can be called Dottore – and engineers, lawyers and architects may also be
called by their professional titles.
The cultural challenges exist side by side with the problems of doing business in a
foreign language. Language, of course, is full of difficulties – disaster may be only a syllable
away. But the more you know of the culture of the country you are dealing with, the less
likely you are to get into difficulties. It is worth the effort. It might be rather hard to explain
that the reason you lost the contract was not the product or the price, but the fact that you
offended your hosts in a light-hearted comment over an aperitif. Good manners are
admired: they can also make or break the deal.

Task 2
Decide whether these statements are true or false according to the story you
have just read:
1. In France you are expected to shake hands with everyone you meet.
2. People in Britain shake hands as much as people in Germany.
3. In France people prefer talking about business during meals.
4. It is not polite to insist on paying for meal if you are in Italy.
5. Visitors to Germany never get taken out for meals.
6. German business people don’t like to be called by their surnames.
7. Make sure you know what the titles of the German people you meet are.
8. Italian professionals are usually addressed by their titles.
9. A humorous remark always goes down well all over the world.
10. The more you know the culture of the country you are dealing with, the more likely
you are to get into difficulties.