Unit 11. Entertaining your business clients

Task1. Answer the questions

1. Who was the last business visitor you had?

2. How did you socialize with them (him/ her)?

3. What did you talk about?

4. What did you not talk about? (family, politics, religion…)

5. Was it easy or difficult to look after the visitor(s)?

Task 2. Hosts often invite their guests to join in social activities. Read the four invitations and complete the chart.

Conversation l

A I was wondering if you would like to join us for dinner tonight?

B That sounds really nice. Thanks very much.

Conversation 2

A How about meeting for a coffee next week?

B I'd love to, but I'm actually away at a trade fair all next week.

How about the week after that?

Conversation 3

A have an extra ticket for the opera tonight. Would you like to come?

B That's very kind of you, but I'm meeting a friend for dinner this evening.

Maybe you can let me know next time you're going?

Conversation 4

A My partner and I are having a party next Saturday.

We were hoping you could come.

B Thanks, I'd like that very much.

	Conversation 1	Conversation 2	Conversation 3	Conversation 4
a) What invitation does the host make?
b) Does the guest accept or turndown the invitation?
c) What excuse does the guest give (if any)
d) What alternative does the guest suggest? (if any)

Task 3. Which of the places below would you take the following guests to for dinner ? Why?

1. a group of British engineers

2. an important Indian customer

3. colleagues from your American subsidiary

4. an international group of young people (doing work experience at your country)

5. a group of high-ranking government officials from Estonia

Task 4. Bruno & Anna are entertaining a guest at a local restaurant.

Read the conversation and answer the questions.

1. Have the hosts been to the restaurant before?

2. Why is Anna hungry?

3. What do we discover about Bruno’s wife?

4. Who is driving?

5. What do they plan to do later?

Anna This looks a really nice place.

Bruno I hope you like it, Anna. We come here quite often with visitors.

It's very typical. Are you hungry?

Anna Well, I got up early this morning and I only had a tiny sandwich on the plane.

Bruno So?

Anna I'm absolutely starving.

Bruno I'm afraid they don't have menus in English here, but just say if you need help with anything.

Anna OK. How many courses are we having, Carlo?

Carlo A starter and a main course then we can decide later about dessert.

Anna That's fine with me. Where are the starters?

Carlo They're here, then these are fish dishes, and the meat ones are on the next page.

Anna What do you recommend?

Bruno Everything is good.

Anna What's this?

Bruno That's mushrooms in a cream sauce.

Carlo I'm having that. Followed by the tuna. It comes with asparagus and small potatoes roasted in the oven.

Anna That sounds great. I'll have the same. With a salad instead of the potatoes. What about you Bruno?

Bruno I'll have the soup followed by the pasta. I don't eat much meat these days.

Anna Is that for health reasons?

Bruno Yes, my wife thinks I should lose a little weight. She's probably right. What would you like to drink?

Anna White wine? And maybe some water?

Carlo Just the water for me, Bruno. I'm driving. I thought I could show you the old town and the cathedral later.

Anna That would be lovely.

Bruno Well, I'm not driving, so I'll share a bottle of white with Anna. You can choose the water, Carlo.

Carlo OK, Sparkling in that case. Right. Let's see if we can catch the waiter's attention.

Task 5. Anna, Bruno and Carlo are finishing their meal. What topics did they talk about ?