Getting to know your colleagues
In small group, introduce yourself to your colleagues, and then discuss the following questions.
What would you say in the following situations?
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You don’t hear someone’s name when you are introduced to them.
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Someone you don’t remember comes up to you at a meeting and says, “How nice to see you again”.
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You want to start a conversation with someone whom you have never met.
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You have to introduce two people to each other at work.
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You want to end a conversation in a diplomatic way.
Compare the following answers with your own, decide in what situations they are appropriate, discuss it with you partner.
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Would you please say your name?
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I didn’t catch your name.
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Your name is on the tip of my tongue.
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Could you remind me your name?
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Let me introduce myself.
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I don’t think we’ve met yet.
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It’s been nice talking to you.
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I’ve enjoyed talking to you.
In what situations would you use the words and expressions below?
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Cheers!
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I don’t mind.
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Make yourself at home.
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Help yourself.
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That sounds good.
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It’s on me.
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Excuse me.
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Let’s go Dutch.
Small talk topics
What can you talk about when you meet people for the first time? Check the topics that you think would be appropriate. Which ones might be taboo?
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Cars |
Job |
Family |
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Weather |
Sports |
Business topics |
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Religion |
Hobbies |
Fashion |
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Recent news |
Your city |
Your country |
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Politics |
Recent scandals |
TV programs |
What other topics might be appropriate
What advice would you give a non-native speaker who wants to be a good communicator? Check all the good advice and correct the bad.
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Speak quickly so that native speakers do not get impatient with you.
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Say all the consonants clearly even that you have to slow down.
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Pay attention to syllable stress and say all of the syllables in every word.
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Maintain eye contact with your listener.
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Never correct a grammar mistake; it just emphasizes the error.
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Pause after key ideas.
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Stress the beginning of the sentence; then drop your voice.
EXAMINING THE PRODUCT
Read the information and look at the photographs below in order to become familiar with Ben & Jerry's Homemade and some of its products. Then answer the questions.
Ben & Jerry's Homemade, inc.
• is located at Route 100, P.O. Box 240 Waterbury, Vermont 05676.
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Was founded in 1978.
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Has annual earnings of $50 million.
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Employs 350 people.
Ben & Jerry’s Homemade is well known for superpremium ice cream and “caring capitalism,” a socially responsible approach to business. Its founders believe that business must be actively involved in local and global issues.
These are a few of Ben 8c Jerry's more than thirty ice cream flavors:
CHERRY GARCIA: French vanilla ice cream with big cherries and chunks of dark chocolate
CHOCOLATE FUDGE BROWNIE: chocolate ice cream with chunks of dense chocolate cakelike cookie
CHUNKY MONKEY: banana ice cream made from fresh bananas, walnuts, and chunks of chocolate
HEATH BAR CRUNCH: vanilla ice cream with chunks of butter candy
NEW YORK SUPER FUDGE CHUNK: chocolate ice cream with pecans, walnuts, almonds, and chunks of white and dark chocolate
STRAWBERRY: strawberry ice cream with fresh strawberries and a hint of lemon
Discuss the following questions in groups
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What does Ben & Jerry’s Homemade want you to think about its products? Consider product name and packaging.
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Ben & Jerry’s ice cream is a superpremium, or rich and expensive, brand. The company produces many Euphoric Flavors to make its customers happy. Which of Ben & Jerry's ice cream flavors would you like to try? Compare these flavors with the ice cream flavors you already know.
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What are some of the differences between high-quality and low-quality ice cream?
READING
Work in groups of three. Look at the outline of Ben & Jerry’s Projects. Each person should scan one of the three articles and take notes in the appropriate section of the outline. Then, share the information so that everyone in your group has the same data and can fill in the outline of Ben & Jerry’s Projects completely.
Article #1