English for Business Communication

English for Business Communication(June 15 19, 2015)Visitor

SocialisingSkills Checklist

Before meeting business partners and fellow professionals from other countries, you could find out about their country:the cultural political situationcultural and regional differencesreligion (s)the role of women in business and in society as a wholetransport and telecommunications systemsthe economythe main companiesthe main exports and importsthe market for the industrial sector which interests youcompetitorsYou might also want to find out:which topics are safe for small talkwhich topics are best avoided.

If you are going to visit another country, find out about:the conventions regarding socializingattitudes towards foreignersattitudes towards giftsthe extent to which public, business and private lives are mixed or are kept separate.conventions regarding food and drink.

You might also like to find out about:the weather at the relevant time of the yearpublic holidaysthe conventions regarding working hoursleisure intereststourismdressbody languagelanguageCan, could, may(Asking Permission) Can is used for permission, but it is less formal.Could in a question to ask somebody to do something .The use of could in this way is fairly polite (formal)May is used as formal permissionPrepositions (place)aboveunderovernext tooninbetweenGiving Directionsoppositeturn leftturn righton the corner ofas far ason the lefton the righttake the second turning on the left take the first turning on the righthalf way downstraight aheadat the beginning ofat the end of

Asking for and Giving Directions(Useful Phrases)How do I get to ?Whats the best way to ?Where is ?Go straight on (until you come to ).Turn back/ go backTurn left/ right (intostreet)Go along

Cross Take the first/ second road on the left/ rightIts on the left/ rightstraight onnext tobetweenat the end (of)on/ at the cornerbehindin front of(just) around the cornertraffic lightscrossroads, junctionsignpostoppositenearFirstSecondThenLast