Business and Social Contacts

Distance is no obstacle today and personal contracts h ave become the most efficient means of promoting a better understanding in all spheres of human activity. Foreign trade is no exception. Normally, businessmen keep in touch through correspondence or telephone calls, but there's no denying the fact that major problems can be solved more effectively through a personal meeting. Both parties have equal opportunities to hear out their counterpart's arguments and come to an agreement on the business in hand. Since a business trip is always limited in time, a businessman makes arrangements before to his departure or immediately on arrival. Among other things he can make an appointment by telephone or by cable. In the counterpart's country a businessman can make an appointment in person. It is customary for businessmen to draw up a tentative programme of points they would like to take up during the forthcoming meeting.

The programmes of the delegation's stay include a series of business talks and social meetings like a sightseeing tours, entertainment, visits to their counterpart's homes, etc. Visitors may have to attend a business lunch or a reception given in honour of the delegation.

It is essential to be punctual in business. If you cannot keep the appointment you should notify your counterpart in advance and fix a new date.

On a formal occasion (talks, a working lunch, a reception) a business is expected to wear a suit and tie. Informal occasions (a sightseeing tour, an outing, a visit to a private home) do not call for formal clothes; one should be dressed casually.

Remember that it is always best to behave naturally. Jokes and humour are appreciated just as much as they are elsewhere.

Active vocabulary

business and social contacts – деловые и социальные контакты;

talks – переговоры

obstacle – препятствие

exception – исключение

to deny – отрицать

to solve – решать

equal opportunities – равные возможности

agreement – соглашение

arrangement – организация

it is customary – традиционно

to draw up – составлять

tentative – предварительный, предполагаемый

to include – включать

appreciate – оценивать, высоко ценить, принимать во внимание

promote – способствовать;

keep in touch through the correspondence – поддерживать связь при помощи переписки;

counterpart – коллега, должностное лицо, занимающее аналогичный пост (в другом учреждении, в другой стране)

make an appointment by phone or by cable – договориться о встрече по телефону или телеграммой;

take up – зд. рассматривать, обсуждать;

notify in advance – информировать, сообщать заранее;

fix – назначать;

outing – прогулка за город, экскурсия;

be dressed casually – носить повседневную одежду;

elsewhere – (где-нибудь) в другом месте.

Speech practice:

1. Match the phrases in English and Russian and make up your own

sentences:

have equal opportunities - боюсь, что я не знаю

notify your counterpart in advance - записывать что-то

major problems - удостовериться, убедиться

given in honour of the delegation - иметь равные возможности

a personal meeting - что ты думаешь по поводу…?

to make a note (notes) of smth. - договориться с коллегой заранее

to make sure - главные проблемы

what do you feel about…? - я без труда говорю по-английски

I’m afraid, I don’t know – данная в честь делегации

I’ve no problem (speaking English) – личная встреча