Extended Tasks and Activities
1.Reception Etiquette
Read the following passage and try to get some knowledge about reception etiquette.
Table Manners
Most westerners—particularly most Americans—are not nearly as concerned about protocol in social matters as Chinese people are. But there are still a few western customs which are extremely important and you should try at all times to observe. They are as follows:
Keep your mouth closed while chewing, and make as little noise as possible. And don’t talk with food in your mouth. You’d better not leave the napkin on the table. Put it on your lap where it’s supposed to protect your clothes from spilled food or used to wipe your hands or mouth when necessary. Don’t put your own utensils (fork, knife, and spoon) into a serving bowl. Use the utensil in the bowl (a large spoon or fork) to put some of the food on your own plate, and then return the serving utensil to the bowl. Don’t spit food anywhere. If you have bones in your mouth, you should take them out with your fingers and place them on the edge of your plate, but never on the table or floor. Don’t drink soup out of a bowl. Use a spoon.And never lift your plate or bowl off the table while eating. Don’t reach across the table in front of another person. Ask someone to pass whatever you want. You can say “Please pass me the...” or “Could I trouble you for the...?” Never put nut shells, fruit peelings, etc. on the floor. Put them in a plate or ashtray, etc. And don’t sneeze or blow your nose anywhere except into a handkerchief or Kleenex. If you cough, cover your mouth with your hand.Generally speaking, when foreigners come to China, they are interested in eating Chinese food and the local specialties. They may like using chopsticks, but some may still prefer to use a knife and fork. The best way is to set the table with chopsticks as well as knives, forks and spoons. As far as dressing at a dinner is concerned, men normally wear a dark suit, and women can often wear a formal dress gown. Sometimes, foreigners, especially Americans,dress less formally. It should not be seen as rude, but as friendly and familiar.
2.Extended Reading
How to Use “Mr.” “Mrs.” “Miss” and“Ms.” to Address Americans
Almost everyone knows the meaning of Mr., Mrs. and Miss. Mr. is used before the names of men.Mrs. is for married women and Miss is for single women. But what is Ms.?
For some time businessmen in the United States have used Ms. before a woman’s name when they do not know whether the woman is married or not. Today, however, many women prefer to use Ms. rather than Mrs. or Miss. The word Mr. does not tell us whether or not a man is married. Many women think this is an advantage for men. They want to be equal to men in this way. These women feel that it is not important for people to know whether they are married or not.
There are some problems with Ms., however, not all women like it, some like the older ways of doing things. Some find it difficult to pronounce. Generally, young women like it better than older women do. It is difficult to know whether or not Ms. will be used by more Americans in the future.
(1) Which of the following sentence is true?
A. Businessmen in the United States always use Ms. before women’s names.
B. All women like the new word Ms.
C. Not all women like the new word Ms.
D. The woman who likes Ms. feels it important for people to know whether or not she is married.
(2) Who used the word Ms. first?
A. Married women.
B. Single women.
C. Businessmen.
D. The passage doesn’t mention it.
(3) Why do many women like the word Ms.? Because__________.
A. Ms. is easier to spell than Mrs. or Miss
B. Ms. is more pleasant to hear than Mrs. or Miss
C. They want to use the new word instead of Mrs. and Miss
D. They want to be equal to men
(4) In the author’s opinion, it is_______________if more American women will use Ms. in the future.
A. difficult to make a decision
B. necessary to make a decision
C. necessary to know
D. uneasy to make a decision
(5) The author of this passage mainly wants to tell_____________.
A. the word Ms. is an advantage for women
B. how the word Ms. has come into use
C. Ms. is different from Mr., Mrs. and Miss
D. businessmen use Ms. when they do not know if a woman is married
The Way Americans Extend Greetings
Americans often greet each other simply with “Hello” or “Hi”. They believe such an informal greeting often implies a close and friendly relationship. Similarly, Americans do not have a formal “farewell”. They will just wave “good-bye” to the whole group. Or perhaps, they will simply say “Bye” “So long” or “Speaking of time, I’ve got to run” and then leave. To Americans, a friendly and informal relationship is the most important thing.
A proper introduction will leave a good first impression upon others. However, American introductions are usually rather simple. In the United States, most people don’t like using Mr.,Mrs. or Miss in introductions. They find these terms too formal. They prefer first names to formal titles in most cases. For example, a gentleman may say, “Glad to meet you. I’m Miller.But call me Paul.” Sometimes a woman you meet for the first time may say, “Don’t call me Mrs. Smith. Just call me Sally.” So, when your American friends do not use your last name or titles, don’t feel that they have been impolite. They only want to show friendliness.
When you first get to know an American, he may ask you, “Where do you work?” “Are you married?” or “Do you have children?” Such questions may be too personal to Europeans.But Americans do sometimes ask such questions. They would like to get answers to these questions. In this way they can get better acquainted with you and have a topic for beginning a conversation with you.
(1) What does an informal greeting really mean to Americans?
(2) Why don’t most Americans like using titles in introductions?
(3) What do your American friends want to show when they address you with your first name?
(4) Why do Americans ask you some personal questions?
The Differences between Chinese and Western Eating Habits
The main difference on Chinese dinner table is chopsticks instead of knives and forks, but that’s only superficial. Besides, in decent restaurants, you can always ask for a pair of knife and fork, if you find the chopsticks not helpful enough.
The real difference is that in the West, you have your own plate of food, while in China the dishes are placed on the table and everyone shares. If you are being treated to a formal dinner and particularly if the host thinks you’re in the country for the first time, he will do the best to give you a taste of many different types of dishes.
The meal usually begins with a set of at least four cold dishes, to be followed by the main courses of hot meat and vegetable dishes. Soup then will be served (unless in Guangdong style restaurants) and followed by staple food ranging from rice, noodles to dumplings.
If you wish to have your rice to go with other dishes, you should say so in good time, for most of the Chinese choose to have the staple food at last or have none of them at all.
Perhaps one of the things that surprise a western visitor most is that some of the Chinese hosts like to put food into the plates of their guests. In formal dinners, there are always “public”chopsticks and spoons for this purpose, but some hosts may use their own chopsticks. This is a sign of genuine friendship and politeness. It is always polite to eat the food. If you do not eat it,just leave the food in the plate.
People in China tend to order more food than needed, for they will find it embarrassing if all the food is consumed. When you have had enough, just say so. Or you will always overeat!
(1) What is the main and superficial difference between Chinese and western eating habits?
(2) What is the real difference between Chinese and western eating habits?(https://www.daowen.com)
(3) What does a typical Chinese dinner include?
(4) Why do Chinese hosts like to put food into the plates of their guests?
(5) Why do people in China tend to order more food than needed?
3.Translation
A. Translate the following sentences from English into Chinese.
(1) Excuse me, are you Mr. Wilson from the United States of America?
(2) I hope you will enjoy your stay here.
(3) Where is the baggage-claim area?
(4) Since you have picked up your baggage, now let’s proceed through the customs.
(5) Do you have receipts for this gold watch and the necklace?
B. Translate the following sentences from Chinese into English.
（1）恐怕你得为这些贵重物品付相当一笔税金。
（2）您将入住的酒店位于市中心。
（3）明天早上八点半我到宾馆来接你，然后我们总经理九点钟在公司里会见你。
（4）请填写这张入住登记表。
（5）真正的中国烹调强调色、香、味、形、声。
4.Practical Training Project
Background:
You, on behalf of your General Manager Mr. Wang Bin, are attending a welcoming dinner held for your foreign guest, Bernard Osborne. You are required to entertain and mingle with the guest. Please finish the following tasks with your partner, taking the role of a business assistant and foreign guest.
Tasks:
Task 1: Writing
Write an invitation letter on behalf of your General Manager Mr. Wang Bin to your guest.A sample is provided for your reference.
Mr. and Mrs. Masterson Finsbury
Request the pleasure of
Mr. and Mrs. Edward Bloomfield’s company
at a dinner-dance
on Saturday, the seventh of February
at eight o’clock
Gideon Country Club
Formal Dress
R.S.V.P.
8657-8730
Task 2: Writing
Write a Thank-you letter to accept the invitation. A sample is provided for your reference.
Mr. and Mrs. Edward Bloomfield’s company
accepts with pleasure
the kind invitation of
Mr. and Mrs. Masterson Finsbury
Saturday, May 6th
at eight o’clock
Gideon Country Club