English for socialising and networking

1- Opening a conversation
➢ introducing yourself and other people and starting a conversation
➢ talking about jobs, products and companies
➢ welcoming people
➢ checking and clarifying what people say

A- Here are some examples of opening conversations. Listen and complete each response.
a- Hello, I'm Mr Cheng from Shanghai.
b- Good morning, we've often__________________, but it's great to meet __________.
a- Yes, I feel we ______________pretty well already.

a- I don't believe we've _____________.

b- I'm Jill Anderson, Chief Buyer for Mayfleld Productions. And you are …?
a- Paola Cilento. from Gianni e Donna, Milan.
b- Sorry, ___________l your first name- Paola___________?
a- Yes, Paola, Paola Cilento.
b- Very pleased to meet you.

a- I'm so glad ____________We've heard so many good things about you.

b- It's a real pleasure to be here.

a- Good morning, Mr Nakita. I'm delighted you could come. ________________ Michael Evans.
b- How do you do ... and what's your role in the project?

a- I'm terribly sorry, I'm sure we 've met before, but _____________________________.
b- Kate Price from Watership Publishing. We met at last year's conference in Madrid.
a- Of course, nice to see you again.

B- Put these words into the correct order to make complete sentences.
1. Hello, / pleased to / Jill Davis / meet you. / my name 's / and I'm really
2. Guy Cartier, / This is / Paris office. / in our / who works
3. our / introduce / Jean Paul Lemond, / Sales Manager. / Let me
4. you represent? / do / How do / What company / you do?
5. can't quite / I'm sure / before, l place you. / we've met / but I
6. welcome / I'd / you / like to / here today.
7. what / I didn't / you said. / quite catch / Sorry..
8. you could / so pleased / I'm / come.
9. for me? / but / Sorry, / repeat that / could you
10. you. / so pleased / to have / I'm / finally met
2- keeping a conversation going
➢ showing interest and responding in a positive way to another person
➢ turn-taking: making sure each person has an equal share of the conversation
➢ talking about job roles, company plans and the business situation

A- Listen to the conversation and complete the missing phrases.

1. Can you _____________a bit more background to your company?
2. _________________for over 30 years now.
3. I see. So presumably that’s__________________.
4. Look into new possibilities all over Europe.
5. You’re par of a larger group. _______________________?
6. ______________________a big investment in new technology.
7. Oh really? In_______________________?
8. __________________ much more ready to respond…
9. ___________________positive…

B- Recardo continues the conversation by asking Werner’s opinion about the business
climate. Complete the conversation with appropriate word from the box, then listen and
check.

Last were suppose expected make sounds mirrors creeping look mind picking

Ricardo: 1 ________really positive….and how does the market 2__________to you at the moment?
Werner: Pretty good. Things 3_____________ a bit sluggish toward the end of last year, but I guess
that’s only to be 4________________given world events. Orders have been 5_____________steadily
since then, though, and overall, I 6__________ we’re cautiously optimistic. How about you?

Ricardo: Yes, that’s pretty well 7__________ our own experience.8________________. I don’t know
how long this upward trend’ll 9______________ , with EU interests rates 10____________ up.

Werner: That’s true! Well, let’s 11 ______________________the most of it while it lasts!

3- Building rapport
➢ building a conversation
➢ asking about family and interests
➢ talking about other personal topics
➢ dealing with misunderstandings

A- Listen to this conversation between Michelle and frank and underline the correct answer.
• Frank works/doesn’t work in New York
• Frank has worked / hasn’t worked for the company for so long.
• Frank new Graham Robson in New York/ London.
• Michelle was/ wasn’t Graham’s team leader.
• Michel has high/low opinion of Graham.
• Frank has known Graham for a long/ short time.

B- Listen to the rest of Michelle and Frank’s conversation. Answer the questions.
1. What questions does frank ask to find out more about Michelle?
2. What information does he discover about Michelle?
3. Which question is probably too personal?
4. How does Michelle respond to the question?
5. How does frank recover the conversation?
6. How does frank bring the conversation to an end?

C- Write the full sentence or question using the correct form of the words given.
Example: When/ you: join/ company / Franz? _____When did you join the company, Franz?

✓ Three years ago in July 1 .

1- How /you / usually / spend / weekend?

✓ I like to play a round of golf when I can.

2- Whereabouts/you/base/ Georges?
✓ I'm living and working in Munich at the moment.

3- I admire / your tie /Ricardo.

✓ Oh, do you like it? I thought I'd wear something bright today!

4- Do you know Milan, Sally?

✓ No / but / I really / like / go / there / some day.

5- you able / get away / holiday / this year / Andrea?

✓ Yes, we went to Barbados for a couple of weeks in the spring.

6- And are you still in New York, Michael?

✓ No / I / mean / I’ll be / there / last year / not this year.

7- How you / know/ Petra Jacobson?

✓ Oh, we worked together a couple of years back.
D- Make appropriate questions or statements for the following situations.
a. Ask a colleague when she joined your company.
__________________________________________________________
b. Ask the person how log has he been living in the present apartment.
__________________________________________________________
c. Ask a client if he enjoys sport and what sports he enjoys
_______________________________________________________________
d. Ask a colleague if he has any family
_______________________________________________________________
e. Ask a colleague how she normally spends her leisure time.
_______________________________________________________________
f. Ask a client what she did for her last holiday.
_______________________________________________________________
g. Compliment a colleague on his choice of tie.
_______________________________________________________________
h. Ask a client if there is anything she does or she doesn’t like eating.
________________________________________________________________

4- Entertaining
➢ Inviting
➢ Accepting and declining an invitation
➢ Recommending and making choices
➢ Asking for help or advice
➢ Expressing preferences
➢ Using humour

A- Listen to each of these four conversations. Make the number of the conversation next
to the correct topic. There may be more than one topic in each conversation.
• Inviting/suggesting/offering _______________________________
• Saying ‘yes’ to an invitation (accepting) _______________________________
• Saying ‘no’ to an invitation (declining) _______________________________
• Asking for help or advice _______________________________
• Expressing a preference _______________________________

B- Complete each sentence or question with a verb from the box.

have wonder care recommend decide suit have be

1- Would you ____________the fish?

2- I _______________if you'd like to go on to a club.

3- I'm sorry, but I ________________ not very keen on fish.

4- Yes, a quiet drink in a pub would _________________me very well, thanks.

5- Would you _______________ for another drink?

6- I'm not sure what to choose, what are you _____________________?

7- It's late, so I think I __________________ better get back to the hotel.

8- _______________ you __________________ what to drink?

C- Complete these sentences using would and a word from the box.
recommend suit care for care to sooner be rather like to

❖ ________ See a show while you are in New York?

➢ Great, that sounds and excellent idea!

❖ Shall we have sandwiches for launch?

➢ Yes, ______ me fine.

❖ Can I top you up?

➢ ______________ great. this wine’s excellent!

❖ ______________ the roast beef?

➢ Excellent choice. It’s always very good here.

❖ I was wondering if you _________________ go to a Japanese restaurant this evening?

➢ Oh, yes. I just love Japanese food.

❖ How about stopping for some lunch? there is a good Japanese restaurant just round the
corner.
➢ Well _________ carry on till we have finished this agenda. Maybe we could have some
sandwiches sent in?
❖ _______________ something else to drink?
➢ No, thanks. I’d better not. We’ve got a long meeting this afternoon!

❖ If you don’t mind, not go out this evening. It’s been a long day, and I’ve got a bit of a
headache.
➢ Of course. No problem. See you tomorrow morning.

5- Leave-taking
➢ saying you have to leave
➢ summarizing at the end of a meeting
➢ thanking and expressing appreciation
➢ making plans to follow up

A- Consider when you might have to leave an appointment or meeting. Which of the
following situations might be applicable for you? What would you normally say and
do, e.g. promise to call, shake hands, etc.?
• At a conference or trade fair ________ • over drinks at a bar _______________
 • over lunch or dinner ______________ • Hosting a client __________________
• At a club _______________________ • Going out with colleagues __________
• At a sporting event _______________ • Meeting to discuss business ________
• with clients or colleagues __________ • Meeting professional associates
• Visiting a client __________________

B- Look at these steps in ending a meeting. Put the steps in the order you think they
should happen. Then listen to Anna and Bruce’s conversation and check your order.
6• Anna thanks Bruce and expresses he appreciation.
• Bruce agrees to end the conversation and expresses his concern that Anna catches her plane.
• Bruce summarizes what he has agreed to do.
• Anna asks if there is any unfinished business.
• Anna summarizes what she has agreed to do.
1 • Anna says she has to leave.

C- Listen to the rest of the conversation and think about the following:
1. How does Anna express her thanks and appreciation?
2. How does Bruce respond?
3. How does Anna repeat her need to leave?
4. How do they agree to follow up the meeting?