Lesson 2

Introductions & Greeting

BUSINESS ENGLISH CONVERSATION & LISTENING
INSTRUCTOR: HSIN-HSIN CINDY LEE, PHD

Contents
Basic Rules and Concepts
Conversation and Listening
Practices - Check Answers and Further Practice
Writing Practice
Checkpoint

Basic Rules of Greeting

INTRODUCTION

Basic Rules of Greeting

Having good ability of business English conversation is

important because it helps people to establish a sound

relationship with workmates.
All the relationships begin with greetings.
If you meet people for the first time, your fluent selfintroduction and friendly greeting will make the positive first
impression on them and vice versa.
Remember, the first impression can never be re-made
because it is formed when you first meet.
Your self-introduction and greeting in the first meeting may
decide whether the other person will like or trust you or not in
the future!

Basic Rules of Greeting

Once you get to know a new workmate, greetings remain

important.
Whenever you greet, you are advised to be polite and
thoughtful.
People tend to assume that those who greet are nice to work
with.
Without greeting, the atmosphere in the office will seem stiff,
unfriendly and indifferent.
Greetings work like motor oil which makes all parts of the
machine operate smoothly.
Try to leave a good impression on others as well as make busy
life more pleasant to deal with!

Conversation & Listening

FAMILIARIZE WITH THE COMMON

SITUATIONS
STUDY THE MODEL CONVERSATIONS

Common Business Situations

There are various business situations in which you

may meet people for the first time.

You get to know a stranger on an occasion.

E.g. You have exchanged several emails with a business partner

before a face-to-face meeting.
E.g. You get to know a stranger who attends the same
meeting/seminar/conference with you.

You are introduced to an unknown senior.

E.g. You are a new entrant in a company and being introduced

to the executives.
E.g. You visit your business partners company and are
introduced to that companys executives.

Common Business Situations

You are introduced to an unknown peer.

E.g. You are a new entrant in a company and being introduced

to other colleagues.
E.g. You are introduced to other people who have the same
social status.

All kinds of introductions should go with courteous

greetings.
Show your professional image, business manners
and leave a good impression on others in the first
meeting!

Listening to Conversation 2-A

Topic:

Introducing yourself and greeting in the first meeting

Situation:
Lisa is attending an international training program provided
by her multinational company at Tokyo. The program offers
two classes for 35 middle and senior executives of 7 different
nationalities .
Task:
Listen to the following conversation and fill in the blanks.
Tip:
Always greet as soon as you hear the other persons name.

Listening and Filling in the Blanks

Lisa: Hello, I dont suppose weve met before. I am
Lisa _____ from Canada.
Joyce: ___ ___ ___ ____! My _____ is Joyce
Wang. Please call me Joyce. Im from _____.
Lisa: ____ ____ ____ _____, too! Joyce.

Listening to Conversation 2-B

Topic:

Introducing a peer to a senior

Situation:
Joyce, an assistant manager of marketing from Taiwan,
introduces her new friend, Paul Johnson, whom she just
met in her class, to her supervisor at a coffee break.
Task:
Listen to the following conversation and fill in the blanks.
Tip:
While introducing a peer to a senior, paying respect to
the senior before the introduction.

Listening and Filling in the Blanks

Joyce: Sir, ____ ____ ____ an American HR
associate in my class to you?
Wu: Sure, my _____.
Joyce: Mr. Wu, this is Paul Johnson, HR Officer from
the______.
Joyce: Paul, this is my _____, Mr. David Wu,
Marketing Director of Taiwan ______.
Wu: ______ to meet you, Mr. Johnson.
Paul: Please call me Paul, sir. Its my ______ to
______ you.

Listening to Conversation 2-C

Topic:

Introducing two peers to each other

Situation:
Joyce introduces Lisa and Paul to each other.
Task:
Listen to the following conversation and fill in the blanks.
Tips:
While introducing two people to each other, make sure you
know how to pronounce their names.
Check if the two people have ever met before the
introduction.

Listening & Filling in the Blanks

Joyce: ____ you two ____?
Paul: I ____ had the pleasure.
Lisa: We _____ been properly introduced.
Joyce: Then, ____ me introduce you.
Joyce: Lisa, this is Paul Johnson from the _____.
Joyce: Paul, this is Lisa Black from Canada.
Lisa and Paul: ____ ____ ____ ____!

Practices
CHECK YOUR ANSWERS
FIND A PARTNER AND READ ALOUD THE

DIALOGUES
ADD THE BODY LANGUAGE

Handshaking
Exchanging business cards

Conversation 2-A
Lisa: Hello, I dont suppose weve met before. I am
Lisa Black from Canada.
Joyce: Nice to meet you! My name is Joyce Wang.
Please call me Joyce. Im from Taiwan.
Lisa: Nice to meet you, too! Joyce.

Conversation 2-B
Joyce: Sir, may I introduce an American HR associate in
my class to you?
Wu: Sure, my pleasure.
Joyce: Mr. Wu, this is Paul Johnson, HR Associate from
the headquarter.
Joyce: Paul, this is my supervisor, Mr. David Wu, the
Marketing Director of Taiwan branch.
Wu: Pleased to meet you, Mr. Johnson.
Paul: Please call me Paul, sir. Its my pleasure to meet you.

Conversation 2-C

Joyce: Have you two met?

Paul: I havent had the pleasure.
Lisa: We havent been properly introduced.
Joyce: Then, let me introduce you.
Joyce: Lisa, this is Paul Johnson from the headquarter.
Joyce: Paul, this is Lisa Black from Canada.
Lisa and Paul: Nice to meet you!

Further Practice
Replace you and your partners names with the ones

provided in the script.

Read the script again by using your own names.
Practice the different situations for introducing and
greeting with your own names without reading the
script.

Writing Practice
WRITE DOWN YOUR WON SENTENCES.

Write alternative expressions to the following statements.

Write down your own sentences.
1) I am Lisa Black.

e.g. My name is Lisa Black.

2) Nice to meet you!
______________________________________
3) Have you two met yet?
______________________________________
4) He is a human resources (HR) associate.
______________________________________
5) May I introduce you to Ms Lee?
______________________________________

You can also say this

Study the following alternative expressions.
1) I am Lisa Black.
e.g. My name is Lisa Black.
2) Nice to meet you!
(Im) Pleased to meet you.
(Im) Glad to meet you.
Its a pleasure to meet you.
Its my honor to meet you.
3) Have you two met?
Do you two know each
other?
May I introduce you to him?

4) He is a HR associate.
He reports to HR Manager.
He is (in charge of training
and recruiting) in HR
department.
5) May I introduce you to
Ms. Lee?
Please allow me to introduce
you to Ms. Lee.
Please let me introduce you
to Ms. Lee.

Checkpoint
1. Why is the first impression important?
2. When do you need to introduce yourself to others?

Provide three examples.

3. How do you introduce a peer to a senior?
4. How do you introduce two peers to each other?
5. Ho do you greet a new acquaintance?

End
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?