- •Предисловие
- •Unit 8. National stereotypes
- •8.1. Listening Development
- •8.2. Vocabulary Enrichment
- •8.3. Reading Improvement
- •The English and the French
- •The English through English Eyes
- •The English through French Eyes
- •The Americans and the Japanese
- •Americans through American Eyes
- •Americans through Japanese Eyes
- •8.4. Writing Enhancement
- •8.5. Speaking Reinforcement
- •Active vocabulary Unit 8. National Stereotypes
- •Unit 9. Countries and capitals
- •9.1. Listening Development
- •9.2. Vocabulary Enrichment
- •9.3. Reading Improvement
- •8 Wonders of belarus
- •Isle of tears
- •9.4. Writing Enhancement
- •9.5. Speaking Reinforcement
- •London versus Minsk
- •Unit 9 active vocabulary
- •Unit 10. Business trips. Travelling
- •10.1. Listening Development
- •10.2. Vocabulary Enrichment
- •If you want a good room, you should ……… .
- •I’d like ……… .
- •10.3. Reading Improvement
- •Passengers panic over false crash alarm
- •All aboard the flight from fear
- •10.4. Writing Enhancement
- •How to make a complaint
- •What to say in your complaint
- •Template letter
- •10.5. Speaking Reinforcement
- •Interviewing business travellers
- •Active vocabulary Unit 10. Business trips. Travelling
- •Idiomatic expressions
- •Unit 11. Holidays
- •11.1. Listening Development
- •11.2. Vocabulary Enrichment
- •11.3. Reading Improvement
- •11.4. Writing Enhancement
- •Inquiry letter brecon boating holidays
- •11.5. Speaking Reinforcement
- •Active vocabulary unit 11. Holidays
- •Hotels and Accommodation
- •Idiomatic expressions
- •Unit 12. The theatre and cinema
- •12.1. Listening Development
- •12.2. Vocabulary Enrichment
- •Anthony and Cleopatra at the National Theatre 1998
- •12.3. Reading Improvement
- •Jobs in cartoon animation
- •12.4. Writing Enhancement
- •Outline for a review
- •Introduction
- •Paragraph 2
- •Paragraph 3
- •Is the film recommended?
- •12.5. Speaking Reinforcement
- •Active vocabulary Unit 12. The Theatre and Cinema
- •Unit13on the phone
- •13.1. Listening Development
- •1) Imagine you are calling a company and want to speak to someone who works there. Can you think of any phrases you might use, or that you might hear? Put down these phrases.
- •13.2. Vocabulary Enrichment
- •Telephoning
- •Note: Giving numbers
- •13.3. Reading Improvement
- •Unfortunately there's a problem...
- •Telephoning across cultures
- •13.4. Writing Enhancement
- •13.5. Speaking Reinforcement
- •Active vocabulary Unit 13. Telephoning
- •Unit 14. Business correspondence
- •14.1. Listening Development
- •14.2. Vocabulary Enrichment
- •14.3. Reading Improvement
- •Job search email etiquette
- •14.4. Writing Enhancement
- •14.5. Speaking Reinforcement
- •Active vocabulary Unit 14. Business Correspondence
- •Unit 15. Meetings and negotiations
- •15.1. Listening Development
- •15.2. Vocabulary Enrichment
- •15.3. Reading Improvement
- •15.4. Writing Enhancement
- •15.5. Speaking Reinforcement
- •Meeting - agenda setting quiz
- •Active vocabulary Unit 15. Meetings and Negotiations
- •Useful English Phrases for Participating in a Business Meeting
- •Introducing the Agenda
- •Unit 16. Presentations
- •16.1. Listening Development
- •16.2. Vocabulary Enrichment
- •16.3. Reading Improvement
- •One size fits all?
- •16.4. Writing Enhancement
- •Presentation Scheme
- •16.5. Speaking Reinforcement
- •Active vocabulary Unit 16. Presentations
- •Introduce another speaker
- •Verbs to describe movements and trends
- •References
- •Contents
Telephoning across cultures
Many people are not very confident about using the telephone in English. However, good preparation can make telephoning much easier and more effective. Then, once the call begins, speak slowly and clearly and use simple language.
Check that you understand what has been said. Repeat the most important information, look for confirmation. Ask for repetition if you think it is necessary.
Remember too that different cultures have different ways of using language. Some speak in a very literal way so it is always quite clear what they mean. Others are more indirect, using hints, suggestions and understatement (for example 'not very good results' = 'absolutely disastrous') to put over their message. North America, Scandinavia, Germany and France are 'explicit' countries, while the British have a reputation for not making clear exactly what they mean. One reason for this seems to be that the British use language in a more abstract way than most Americans and continental Europeans. In Britain there are also conventions of politeness and a tendency to avoid showing one's true feelings. For example if a Dutchman says an idea is 'interesting' he means that it is interesting. If an Englishman says that an idea is 'interesting' you have to deduce from the way he says it whether he means it is a good idea or a bad idea.
Meanwhile, for similar reasons Japanese, Russians and Arabs – 'subtle' countries – sometimes seem vague and devious to the British. If they say an idea is interesting it may be out of politeness.
The opposite of this is that plain speakers can seem rude and dominating to subtle speakers, as Americans can sound to the British – or the British to the Japanese. The British have a tendency to engage in small talk at the beginning and end of a telephone conversation. Questions about the weather, health, business in general and what one has been doing recently are all part of telephoning, laying a foundation for the true purpose of the call. At the end of the call there may well be various pleasantries, Nice talking to you, Say hello to the family (if you have met them) and Looking forward to seeing you again soon. A sharp, brief style of talking on the phone may appear unfriendly to a British partner. Not all nationalities are as keen on small talk as the British! Being aware of these differences can help in understanding people with different cultural traditions. The difficulty on the telephone is that you cannot see the body language to help you.
(Adapted from Faxes, phones and foreigners by kind permission of British Telecommunications plc.)
g) Choose the closest definition of the following words from the text.
1 literal |
|
|
a) direct and clear |
b) full of literary style |
c) abstract and complicated |
2 understatement |
|
|
a) kind words |
b) less strong way of talking |
c) clever speech |
3 deduce |
|
|
a) reduce |
b) work out |
c) disagree |
4 vague |
|
|
a) unclear |
b) unfriendly |
c) insincere |
5 devious |
|
|
a) rude |
b) dishonest |
c) clever |
6 pleasantries |
|
|
a) questions |
b) requests |
c) polite remarks |
h) Which of the tips discussed in the article do you find the most important? Write them out in order of priority.
1. ___________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________
3. ___________________________________________________
4. ___________________________________________________