A Formal Introduction of Yourself
1) Watch the video and note the ways to introduce yourself to your new colleagues. Write short dialogues in which you introduce yourself as an employee of different companies.
A Formal Introduction of Another Person
2) Watch the video in which the people introduce each other formally. Practise the dialogue with your partner. Make a similar dialogue about yourself and your imaginary business partner.
Margaret: Mr. Wilson, I’d like you to meet Dr. Edward Smith.
Dr. Smith: Pleasure to meet you, too.
Margaret: Dr. Smith is an economist. He just finished writing a book on international trade.
Mr. Wilson: Oh? That’s my field, too. I work for the United Nations.
Dr. Smith: In the Development Program, by any chance?
Mr. Wilson: Yes. How did you guess?
Dr. Smith: I’ve read your articles on technical assistance. They’re excellent.
A Formal Telephone Conversation
3) Watch the video and write down a telephone conversation with a secretary.Practise the dialogue with your partner. Make a similar dialogue about yourself and the secreatary about a colleague who is on a business trip at the moment.
4) Read the two dialogues on the phone, an informal and a formal one. Find formal equivalent for informal utterances. Practice saying the formal dialogue with a partner.
Informal Call:
A: Hello.
B: Hey is Sasha there?
A: Uh, yeah. Who’s this?
B: It’s Pip.
A: Hang on just a second (wait a minute), Pip… Sasha, phone’s for you.
C: Who is it?
A: It’s Pip.
C: Hey, what’s up (slang way to say “What are you doing?”)
B: Nothing. Just chillin‘ (relaxing) at home. How bout you?
C: Just hanging out.
B: You wanna grab a bite (go out for food)?
C: Sure, what were you thinking?
B: Let’s just go out and find something. I’m down for whatever (I’ll eat anything).
C: Sounds good… I’m starving (really hungry).
B: Meet ya down there in ten (minutes)?
C: Cool see ya then .
B: Later.
Formal Call:
A: Good afternoon, this is Rachel. How may I help you?
B: Hello. Is Mr. Savinov available?
A: May I ask who’s calling?
B: My name is Mr. Wilson. I’m calling in regards to our meeting this week.
A: Would you mind holding for a minute, Mr. Wilson?
B: Not at all.
A: Thanks so much.
C: Hello.
A: Mr. Savinov, you have a phone call from a Mr. Wilson about a meeting this week.
C: Great. Put him through (transfer the call to me). Hello, Mr. Wilson. What can I do for you?
B: Hi, Mr. Savinov. I was just calling to confirm the details of our meeting. What’s a good time for you?
A: Well I’m pretty swamped (very busy) tomorrow. How about 10 o’clock on Friday?
B: I may not be able to make it at ten. Would 10:30 be OK?
A: Sure that works for me. I’ll pencil you in (put you on my schedule) for 10:30 on Friday.
B: Great. I’m looking forward to it. See you soon.
A: Sure… thanks for calling. Take care (have a nice day).
5) Watch the videos and write out all the formal equivalents of informal words. Make two dialoues, a formal and an informal one, using all the given phrases for each type of the dialogue.
