Episode 1 - Pleased to Meet You
In this episode you can learn how to make introductions in a business setting.
Waiter hands drink to Victor.
VICTOR: Thank you very muchSAM: Hello, I don’t think we’ve met. Sam Eriks.
VICTOR: Victor Tang. Pleased to meet you.
SAM: And what company are you from Mr Tang?
VICTOR: OceanWide. I’m the sales representative for this region.
SAM: Ah yes. I know your company. Your business is expanding very rapidly at the moment.
VICTOR: Yes, we’re doing quite well. And yourself? Who do you work for?
SAM: Actually I work for myself. I’m the C.E.O. of a small export and packaging company. We specialise in seafood.
VICTOR: It’s a growing market.
SAM: Yes, but a very competitive one Mr Tang.
VICTOR: Please call me Victor.
SAM: Sam. Victor, let me introduce you to someone. Lin – this is Victor Tang – he’s the regional rep. for OceanWide. This is Lin Chan, my sales manager.
LIN: How do you do Mr Tang?
VICTOR: I’m very well thankyou. Nice to meet you Ms Chan.
LIN: And you.
VICTOR: Can I get you another drink?
LIN: Thank you.
Let's look at introductions. First – how did Sam introduce himself to Victor – who he didn't know?
Hello, I dont think we've met.
Sam Eriks.Victor Tang.
Pleased to meet you.
Sam said hello. We can say hello in most situations. He also said I don't think we've met. This is a good phrase to use if you want to meet someone new. Practise saying Hello, I don't think we've met, and then say your name.
Hello. I don't think we've met…
(your name)
Victor Tang.
Pleased to meet you.
Victor replied by saying his name and pleased to meet you. Pleased to meet you is a good formal greeting for most situations. After Sam introduces himself, say your name, and 'pleased to meet you'.
Hello, I don't think we've met.
Sam Eriks.
(your name)
Pleased to meet you.
And the Western tradition is to shake hands when you meet someone. Usually, when we first meet someone in a business situation, we want to find out what they do - what their job, or position is. Let's see how Victor and Sam do this.
And what company are you from Mr Tang?OceanWide. I'm the sales representative for this region.
Ah yes. I know your company.
Your business is expanding very rapidly at the moment.Yes, we're doing quite well.
And yourself? Who do you work for?Actually I work for myself. I'm the C.E.O. of a small export and packaging company. We specialise in seafood.
Sam asks and what company are you from? There are a few different ways you could ask this question: Let's try some of them:
What company are you from?Which company do you represent?
What's your line of business?
Now you try answering Sam's question with your own answer, saying what company you are from...
And what company are you from?
I'm from ......
Ah yes, I know that company.
And you can be more specific by asking about someone's job. Practise these...
And what's your position there?And what do you do there?
Position means the same as job, but it's a more formal term. Listen to how both Sam and Victor describe their positions:
I'm the sales representative for this region.I'm the C.E.O. of a small export and packaging company.
We describe our job by saying I am or I'm and then naming the position. Notice that Sam says he is the C.E.O. or Chief Executive Officer of his company. When someone asks who you work for, it can be useful to also tell them what your job is. When meeting someone, it helps them if you offer information before they ask. This makes the conversation more relaxed. Now Sam is going to ask you who you work for and what your position is - answer his questions with your own answers:
And what company are you from?
I’m from ......
Ah yes, I know that company.
And what’s your position there?
I’m the ......
Oh really. That's interesting.
Now, the business of names. Should we use formal titles, such as Mr, Mrs or Ms, or should we use informal, more familiar names. Let's see how Victor solves this problem:
It's a growing market.Yes, but a very competitive one Mr Tang.
Please call me Victor.
Sam.
Sam uses Victor's formal title - Mr Tang. But Victor says Please call me Victor. Now that they have met, it's more comfortable for them to use each other's first names - at least in this less formal situation. Practise saying Please call me, and your first name after Sam's statement.
Yes, but a very competitive one Mr Tang.
Please call me ......
Sam introduces Victor to someone else. Let's watch how he does this.
Victor, let me introduce you to someone.Lin - this is Victor Tang - he's the regional rep. for OceanWide.
This is Lin Chan, my sales manager.
How do you do Mr Tang?
I'm very well thankyou.
Nice to meet you Ms Chan.
Sam says let me introduce you to someone. This is a very useful phrase. Practise saying it after Sam:
Let me introduce you to someone.
When Sam introduces Lin, he has four pieces of information. Listen carefully to what they are:
This is Victor Tang – he’s the regional rep. for OceanWide.This is Lin Chan, my sales manager.
Did you hear the four parts of Sam's introduction?First, he told Lin Victor's full name. Second, he told her what Victor's position was and his company name. Third, he introduced Lin using her full name, and finally he told Victor what Lin's job was. This way both Victor and Lin know enough about each other to start a conversation. When introducing people at a function, it's important to try to make them feel comfortable.
Finally, listen again to how Lin and Victor greet each other:
How do you do Mr Tang?I'm very well thankyou.
Nice to meet you Ms Chan.And you.
Lin uses the phrase how do you do. Practise this phrase:
How do you do?
I'm very well thankyou.
How do you do is another formal phrase for introductions. Victor replies with a formal phrase too I'm very well thankyou. Practise this after Lin's question.
How do you do Mr Tang?
I'm very well thankyou.
If someone says How do you do? or How are you? we usually say I'm very well thankyou. And we could ask them how they are, by saying How do you do? or How are you?Let's review some of the phrases we've learnt today, for introducing yourself and other people. Practise the phrases with our characters Sam, Victor and Lin.
Hello, I don't think we've met.And what company are you from?
Let me introduce you to someone.
This is Lin Chan, my sales manager.
Pleased to meet you.
Who do you work for?
Please call me Victor.
I'm very well thankyou.
How do you do Mr Tang?
Nice to meet you.
Remember, when meeting people, tell them something about yourself before being asked.When you ask people questions about themselves in English, use a falling tone - it sounds friendlier. Instead of Who do you work for? (upward inflection)
Who do you work for? (downward inflection)And when introducing a colleague, or someone you've met, use the full names of both people, and their positions.
And that's all for today on The Business of English. I'll see you next time.
story notes
When Sam introduces Lin, he has four pieces of information. Listen carefully to what they are:
Lin, this is Victor Tang – he’s the regional rep. for OceanWide.
This is Lin Chan, my sales manager.Did you hear the four parts of Sam’s introduction?
First, he told Lin Victor’s full name. Second, he told her what Victor’s position was and his company name. Third, he introduced Lin using her full name, and finally he told Victor what Lin’s job was.
This way both Victor and Lin know enough about each other to start a conversation. When introducing people at a function, it’s important to try to make them feel comfortable.
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Episode 2 - Why don't you join us?
In this episode you can learn how to make, accept and refuse invitations in a business setting.
VICTOR: Well, it's been good to meet you Sam, and very interesting to hear about your business.SAM: Look, we are having a small dinner for some of our clients and friends after this. Why don't you join us?
VICTOR: That's very kind of you. I'll just check with my associate whether they have other arrangements for us.
SAM: Your associate is most welcome to join us too.
VICTOR: Thank you - excuse me.
WALTER: This is Sam Eriks from Eriks imports. He has very kindly invited us to a dinner.
SAM: Yes, would you like to join us?
WALTER: Unfortunately I have another engagement, but thank you for the invitation.
SAM: Well, perhaps you could join us after that for a drink?
WALTER: Sounds great. I'd be happy to. Where shall we meet?
SAM: How about the lounge bar here. At about ten?
WALTER: I'll see you then. Excuse me.
SAM: Lin. Victor's joining us for dinner.
LIN: Oh wonderful.
VICTOR: I hope you don't mind.
LIN: Of course not, you're most welcome.
SAM: Well, shall we make a move?
LIN: Would you mind if I just say goodbye to a few people?
SAM: No problem - we'll see you outside in a few minutes.
LIN: Okay.
________________________________________Let's look at invitations. How do you go about inviting someone to something. How does Sam invite Victor to his dinner?
Look, we're having a small dinner for some of our clients and friends after this. Why don't you join us?
Spoken invitations in this kind of situation are semi-formal. It's more like a suggestion than a formal invitation. There are a few different phrases you can use. Practise them with Sam.
Why don't you join us?Perhaps you could join us?
It would be great if you could join us.
Would you like to join us?
Notice that even though 'It would be great if you could join us' is not in a question form – it is still being used as a question. Notice also how we use 'could' and 'would' in polite invitations, not 'can' or 'will'. How does Victor reply?
That’s very kind of you.
He says ‘ That’s very kind of you.’
When replying to an invitation, first thank the other person for the invitation, then give your answer. Here’s Victor with some different ways of doing this…
Thank you.That’s very kind of you.
That sounds good.
And you can put them all together, like this…
Thank you.
That’s very kind of you.
Sounds good.
After thanking the person who asked, you need to give an answer, either accept the invitation, or don’t accept the invitation, or give a reason why you can’t answer. What does Victor do?
That’s very kind of you. I’ll just check with my associate whether they have other arrangements for us.
Victor says he has to check with someone else. If there are other arrangements, Victor would make an excuse. When refusing an invitation, you should give a reason. Look at this…
Sam: Would you like to join us?Victor: No thanks.
Sam: Oh – right.
It’s rude just to say no without a reason, and the reason should be a good one. Look again.
Sam: Would you like to join us?Victor: No thanks, it doesn’t sound very interesting.
Sam: Oh.
Sam would rightly be offended by that reply.
So what are some ways of making a polite excuse? Listen to Walter.
Yes, would you like to join us?Unfortunately I have another engagement, but thank you for the invitation.
Walter doesn’t need to say what his other engagement, or appointment is – just that he has already made another commitment. Notice that he still thanks Sam for the invitation. Practise with Walter some other ways of making an excuse…
Unfortunately I have another engagement.I’m afraid I have another commitment.
I can’t I’m sorry. Perhaps another time?
By saying ‘Perhaps another time’, Walter is being polite and friendly, rather than just declining the invitation. Notice that he says ‘I can’t’. This implies that he has another commitment, without having to say what that commitment is. This is acceptable in business.
Sam and Walter make another arrangement. Watch how they do this.
Perhaps you can join us after that for a drink?That sounds great. I’d be happy to. Where shall we meet?
How about the lounge bar here. About ten?
I’ll see you then.
Sam says ‘Perhaps you could join us after that for a drink?’
By saying ‘perhaps’ he is leaving the invitation open. Walter is under no pressure to accept. Practise these phrases using ‘perhaps’ with Sam.
Perhaps you’d like to join us later?Perhaps you’d be interested in meeting us for breakfast?
Perhaps we could meet later in the week?
Notice that Sam says ‘you’d’. Perhaps ‘you’d like to join us later’
You’d is short for ‘you would’.Walter accepts and they make the arrangement. Notice the slightly less formal way Walter accepts.
That sounds great. I’d be happy to. Where shall we meet?
You can use these simple phrases to accept an invitation. Practise them.
That sounds great.Sounds good.
I’d love to.
I’d be happy to.
Walter says ‘Where shall we meet?’ You can use ‘shall’ or ‘will’, but ‘shall we’ is a common usage in questions, simply because it is easier to say than ‘will we’. ‘Shall’ is also used when asking for, or making suggestions. Let’s look at how Sam makes the arrangement…
How about the lounge bar here. At about ten?I’ll see you then.
By asking ‘Where shall we meet?’, Walter is leaving the details of the arrangement up to Sam. Sam gives a place and a time, but because this is an informal meeting, he doesn’t make it sound like an appointment.
He says ‘how about the lounge bar’?
‘How about’ invites the other person to say if it is not convenient.
And he says ‘At about ten?’ as a question. This also leaves room for the other person to suggest a different time. Practise these two phrases with Sam. Listen carefully to Sam’s voice, and whether he uses a rising or falling tone.
How about the lounge bar here.About ten?
Walter confirms the arrangement by saying ‘I’ll see you then.’ This is now a definite commitment, and an end to the arrangement. Notice how the stress is on the word ‘then’ – to confirm that the time is definite. Try saying this : ‘Ill see you then.’
Let’s have a look now at the end of the scene. There are some more useful phrases…
Lin. Mr. Tang is joining us for dinner.Oh, wonderful.
I hope you don’t mind.
Of course not, you’re most welcome.
Sam: Well, shall we make a move?
Would you mind if I just say goodbye to a few people?
No problem – we’ll see you outside in a few minutes. Okay…
Victor says ‘I hope you don’t mind’. It’s a polite way of asking for someone else’s approval – but Lin can’t really say no, since Victor is listening. But Lin politely confirms the arrangement. Practise how she does this…
Of course not.You’re most welcome.
What are the main points we’ve learned today.When inviting someone informally, make it sound like a suggestion. That way, if someone can’t accept, they don’t feel so bad. ‘Why don’t you join us?’ instead of ‘I invite you to join us.’
And if you need to make an excuse, don’t just refuse an invitation – give a reason, and apologise. ‘I’m sorry, I have another commitment.’ When confirming details, use an upward inflection. ‘About ten.’ – sounds like an order. But ‘about ten?’ is asking whether it’s convenient for the other person.
That’s all for today on the Business of English. See you next time.
________________________________________story notes
When refusing an invitation, you should give a reason. Look at this.
SAM: Would you like to join us?VICTOR: No thanks.
SAM: Oh – right.
It's rude just to say no without a reason, and the reason should be a good one. Look again.
SAM: Would you like to join us?
VICTOR: No thanks, it doesn't sound very interesting.
SAM: Oh.
Sam would rightly be offended by that reply. So what are some ways of making a polite excuse? Listen to Walter.
SAM: Yes, would you like to join us?
WALTER: Unfortunately I have another engagement, but thankyou for the invitation.
Walter doesn't need to say what his other engagement, or appointment is – just that he has already made another commitment. Notice that he still thanks Sam for the invitation.