Extended Tasks and Activities
1.Reception Etiquette
Read the following passage and try to get some knowledge about reception etiquette.
How to Receive Foreign Guests?
Usually you should let the guest walk on the right. It is polite for you to open the door for him or her and let them go through the door first. It is offensive to call a young lady“Madam”, and you should not ask her about her age, salary, and other private matters. You can’t smoke unless you are permitted. Make sure that you’re clean and tidy.
On a formal occasion, it is best to dress in black or blue. Don’t be humble or pushy, but show respect for them and their customs. You must be punctual and keep your promise.When shaking hands, you can use a little strength, but not too much. You should always use“please” “thanks” in your talks. Get ready to help your guest whenever they are in trouble.
The following elements should be considered when hosting a foreign delegation:
(1) Be aware of your visitors’ background and prepare to meet them as soon as they arrive.
(2) Make sure you understand your visitors’ objectives and their desired itinerary.
(3) Contact the departments to be visited.
(4) Make suggestions to enable your visitors to use their time to the best.
(5) Draft a reception proposal which covers the following:
− meeting the visitors at the airport or station;
− interviews/meetings/field visits;
− reception/dinner/ceremony;
− hotel/transportation/security/communication.
2.Extended Reading
Different Attitudes towards Gift Giving
People’s attitudes towards gift giving may vary from country to country, even though the desire to convey a feeling of friendship is often universal. Here is an example to illustrate the differences. According to the typical Japanese gift giving style, the gifts tend to be substantial and expensive. However, it is not required to attach a thank-you note or card to the gift.Japanese people may express their gratitude and friendship directly through the gift they have carefully chosen and given to the very person they love and respect.
In contrast, you are likely to get more cards than gifts in the United States. A card may come with a small gift or no gift at all. In general, American people don’t care very much whether the gift is expensive or not. As a matter of fact, your gift to them would be appreciated all the more if you make it yourself instead of buying it from a store. And the words on the card seem to be the most important thing. When someone does not have a card at hand, he or she would write a thank-you note on a piece of paper, give it to you in person or put it into your pigeon hole.
Answer the following questions according to the passage.
(1) What kind of gifts is usually given in Japan to a person who is leaving or has been helpful?
(2) What kind of gifts do American people prefer to receive?
(3) What is the difference between Americans and Japanese in the attitudes towards gift giving?Japanese people care more about the value of the gifts while Americans care more about
(4) What might Americans do if they do not have a thank-you card at hand?
They would write_____________________ on a piece of paper.
(5) What does the author try to illustrate through these examples?
People’s attitudes towards gift giving may_______________.
How to Greet a Foreign Friend
When you are introduced to foreign friends, you should greet them with “How do you do?” while shaking hands with them for a few seconds. The next thing is, perhaps, the presenting of a business card, which is also called a name card. You should accept the card with a smile and a quick browse, and at the same time, offer yours.
Nowadays, business cards have become more and more popular in an introduction. They contain not only the bearer’s name, profession and title, but also the address, telephone number,postal code, e-mail address and some other useful information and personal data. To a foreign friend, we should remember to present a card either with an English version or written in English, because most English speakers don’t have competence in reading Chinese. In most cases, a Chinese name is hard to pronounce for foreign friends. So, you should make it as simple as possible in the introduction. Probably, you may give them your family name only.They will feel very pleased to pronounce your name correctly. After this short greeting, most foreigners expect to move on quickly to the business. So you can shift to the business topic naturally.
(1) When you meet a foreign friend for the first time, what should you do?
A. Greet people with a polite nod.
B. Say “How do you do?”
C. Smile.
D. Present your business card immediately.
(2) If a foreign friend presents his/her business card, what should you do?
A. Accept it and read it carefully.
B. Read it carefully and then put it into your pocket.
C. Accept it with smile.
D. Accept it with smile, browse it and then offer yours.
(3) The business card presented to a foreign friend is the same as to a Chinese friend, isn’t it?
A. Yes, it is.
B. Yes, it isn’t.
C. No, it isn’t.
D. No, it is.
(4) Why should you make your name as simple as possible in the introduction?
A. Because foreign friends feel difficult to remember your name.
B. Because a Chinese name is hard to pronounce for foreign friends.
C. Because foreign friends are stupid.
D. Because foreign friends don’t like to read Chinese.(https://www.daowen.com)
(5) When can you shift to the business topic?
A. After a short greeting.
B. Immediately after you meet him or her.
C. When you exchange your business cards.
D. You can do it as you like.
Punctuality and Keeping Promise in Reception
In social activities it is always emphasized to be punctual and to have a strong conception of time. If you fail to keep your promise or do not come on time and thus keep your host waiting, it is very impolite. It’s hard to imagine what will happen if there is such an activity as a banquet, interview, or meeting, yet all people concerned do not come on time. If you are asked to meet a foreign guest at the airport or at the railway station and you arrive so late that the guest has come before your arrival, how anxious and embarrassed he will be when he, as a stranger to the place, sees no person meeting him! The same is true with the activity of seeing off a foreign guest. If you arrive so late at the airport or railway station to find the guest has gone already, what’s the use of your going there?
So, as a host, whenever there is an activity, you should come to the place ahead of schedule so as to wait for the guests to come. Don’t let the guests wait for you. It’s very impolite. Those who are to help entertain the guests should also come earlier than the guests.But for a guest, at what time is it proper to come? He/she should be punctual. That is, neither too early, nor too late. If it is too early, the host may not get the things ready. If it is too late, the guest may keep the host waiting. Anyone, guest or host, who is really late for a social activity,should apologize to those who are already there.
After making an appointment, generally, don’t change it as that is impolite. If you do have to change, you should inform the person by telephone or with a written note as soon as possible,so that he or she can make a rearrangement. Sometimes, an appointment has been already made.But something unexpected happens and you find no time to inform the person concerned. In this case, you should make an apology to the person afterwards.
(1) What is emphasized in social activities?
(2) How will a foreign guest feel if you are late in getting to the airport to meet him?
He will feel_______________________________________________________.
(3) When should the guests come to a social activity?
(4) If you are late for a social activity, what should you do?
You should apologize to____________________________________________.
(5) What should you do if you cannot inform the person concerned of the change of an appointment?
3.Translation
A. Translate the following sentences from English into Chinese.
(1) I’d like to book a room for Mr. Wilson of the International Trading Corp.
(2) Would you like us to write a letter confirming the booking?
(3) Could you send us a deposit of $200 to cover the room plus other expenses?
(4) If you want to make your gifts special, you can bring some typical Chinese goods,such as Chinese tea and Chinese book markers.
(5) When they ask you whether the gift is homemade, in fact they are flattering you.
B. Translate the following sentences from Chinese into English.
（1）像中国人一样，西方人在许多场合下也赠送礼物，比如，好朋友的生日、结婚庆典、圣诞节以及一些其他节日。
（2）即使你们是好朋友，如果你送的礼物太多，他们也会感到不自在的，因为他们不知道如何回礼才好。
（3）如果你想带礼物，通常应该是带一些简单便宜的小礼物。
（4）我想为威尔逊先生预订一个6 月5 日和6 日带浴室的单人房间。
（5）该公司愿意支付一切费用吗？
4.Practical Training Project
Background:
You are a salesperson working in a shoe making company in Guangzhou and you will be in charge of receiving some clients from the US next month who will be staying in China for 10 days. They will attend a trade fair and visit your company as well. If time permits, they will take a city tour. Please finish the following tasks with your partner, taking the roles of a salesperson and clients.
Tasks:
Task 1: Pair work
Simulate a phone dialogue between the salesperson and a client about clients’ schedule and requirements about room reservation.
Task 2: Writing
Draft a reception proposal about how to receive foreign guests, which involves:
(1) room reservations;
(2) initial meetings arrangement after inquiry with guests;
(3) gifts selecting for guests.