Everyday business dealings

Lesson 12

Making Small-Talk with Colleagues

1. DIALOGUE Ω disk 2-10

Listen to the dialogue and note the numbered expressions.

(talking to a colleague in the office)

Employee A: Hey, how's it going?¹⁰⁶

Employee B: OK, how about with you?

Employee A: Busy, but I'm taking a break.¹⁰⁷ Do you want to join me?

Employee B: Sure. I could use a break, also.

Employee A: Listen,¹⁰⁸ I heard that you play tennis... .

Employee B: Yeah, ¹⁰⁹ I've been playing since high school. What about you? Do you play any sports?

Employee A: Well, I used to play soccer, but I don't get a chance to play so often anymore.

Employee B: Actually, my son plays soccer.

Employee A: How old is your son?¹¹⁰

Employee B: He'll be ten this year. Do you want to see a photo?

Employee A: Sure. ...Wow, he looks like you.

Employee B: Yeah? Most people think he looks like his mother. Say,¹¹¹ you'll have to stop by the house sometime and kick around some balls with him¹¹². He'd love that.

Employee A: Thanks. I'd love to...well, I had better get back to work. Talk to you later.

Employee B: Yeah, catch you later¹¹³.

¹⁰⁶ Hey, how's it going? = Hello, how are you? The "it" in this greeting refers to everything in the other person's life: work, family, hobbies, etc. Colleagues within the same office tend to be informal with each other in the work place and speak much more colloquially than when speaking to customers.

¹⁰⁷ Many American offices allow employees to regulate their own work-time; this is called "flex" time (meaning that the employee can come to work an hour or so later than normal, and then stay later in the day, or come in earlier and leave earlier). Employees usually take breaks when there is a natural pause in the work they are doing.

¹⁰⁸ Listen = this is a "topic changer" that is used when the speaker wants to either change the subject or introduce a new topic into the conversation, [e.g. Listen, i have some tickets to the opera. Do you want to go with me?]

¹⁰⁹ yeah = yes. Americans usually use a colloquial version of "yes and no" when talking to friends or colleagues. In addition, people say "yep." the equivalent phrases for "no" are "nah" and "nope."

¹¹⁰ This question is perfectly acceptable because the person he was talking to offered new information about his son, allowing the other person to comment upon it.

¹¹¹ Say = this word is used as a "topic changer" to change the subject or to introduce a new topic, [e.g. Say, are you going on vacation this year?]

¹¹² Americans will often invite people to their homes on the weekend and on days off. A word of caution, however, is needed here. Sometimes these open-ended comments act as "fillers" in a dialogue rather than as actual "invitations;" these are a form of politeness, meaning that if no specific date is offered, it is likely said as more of a platitude than as a real invitation.

¹¹³ Catch you later. = Goodbye. there are a number of phrases that Americans use when departing. Some of these include: "See you later."; "See you soon."; "See you again."; or just "Later."

2. COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

Answer the following questions with short answers from the dialogue.

1. Which employee invited the other to take a break?

2. When did Employee B start playing tennis?

3. Why did Employee A stop playing soccer?

4. How old is Employee B's son?

5. Who do most people think Employee B's son looks like?

3. MATCHING

Match the best combination of sentences from Column A and B.

COLUMN A	COLUMN B
• Did you break your promise? • Did it break in half? • Do you want to take a break?	- Yeah, I could use a break.
- How's it going?	• I'm not going now. • Great, thanks. • Tomorrow, I think.
• Stop by the house sometime. • I'm busy so don't stop by, OK? • What will you do tomorrow?	- OK, I'll do that.
- Catch you later!	• Yeah, see you later. • Don't catch a cold. • No, I don't play catch.

4. MINI-DIALOGUES Ω disk 2-11

Listen and fill in the blanks and then role-play the dialogues with a partner.

A: ( ), how’s it ( )? B: Great, thanks. Where are you ( ) now? A: Oh, I’m on my ( ) to meet my wife. B: I didn’t know you were ( ) … A: Yeah… for about three hours now. Say, do you want to ( ) us? We’re just having ( )… B: Uhh, are you ( ) you don’t ( ) ? A: Not at all. It’ll be ( ). Come on! B: All ( ). Let’s go.

A: Who's that in the ( ) on your desk? B: Oh, that's my ( ). He lives in Texas. A: Texas! I've always wanted to ( ) Texas... . B: ( ), you should. It's a ( ) place. Say, do you have any brothers and ( )? A: Yeah, I have one brother and two sisters. B: Do they live ( ) your parents? A: Yes and no. My older brother ( )near my folks, but my sisters live in Tokyo which is pretty far from my ( ).

A: I ( ) you like jazz music. B: Yeah, I do. ( ) did you hear that? A: Oh, ( ) of us were out and I mentioned I'd like to find a nice jazz bar to go to and ( ) said you were the person to ( ) to about it. B: Oh, yeah, I know some ( ) places. Do you want to go to one this Friday? A: ( ) ...I'd love to. B: OK, let's ( ) here at 7:00, on Friday night, to go ( ).

5. PAIRWORK-PRACTICE

Rearrange the sentences to make a conversation, then practice the conversation with a partner.

Conversation A

– Great. How about with you? – Sure. That sounds great. When is it? – Hey, how's it going? – Next Saturday. – I can't complain. Listen, do you like sports? – Well, I have an extra ticket to a baseball game and wondered if you might want to go... – Uhh, yeah...why?

Conversation B

– She's older. She works in Osaka. – Is she older or younger? – Say, who are all of those people in that photo over there? – Oh, that's my family. – Yeah, I have 10 brothers and sisters.... How about you? – Oh, I just have one sister. – Wow! You have a big family...

6. READING. AMERICAN BUSINESS CULTURE

Appropriate Subjects and Taboo Topics Ω disk 2-12

Making small-talk with colleagues is an important part of doing business in America. American offices tend to have very friendly atmospheres where employees regularly chat and visit each other's work spaces. It is necessary, however, to stick to subjects that are broad in scope and not too personal. What might be an appropriate question or comment in Japan may be inappropriate or even offensive tc people in the United States.

It is best not to ask questions regarding a person's age in the United States. Although it is perfectly acceptable in Japan to do so in order to establish a hierarchy amongst colleagues, ageism is a very sensitive issue in America. If people want you to know their age, they will tell you.

It's best to avoid asking personal types of questions regarding a person's salary, weight or marital status. Many Americans are very sensitive to the roles of men and women in society and look down upon sexual stereotyping: Why aren't you married? Why don't you have children? These types of questions are not appropriate. There are many possible reasons why a person may not be married or is childless. Simply, it's none of your business.

Salaries vary widely even within the same office; Americans tend not to discuss the specifics of how much money they make with acquaintances or colleagues. Commenting upon a person's body shape or weight is also taboo. Never tell someone who is heavy-set that they look like they have gained weight. It will not be taken as a compliment.

If you happen to be visiting a colleague's office, and you notice a photograph displayed, you may comment upon it and ask who the people are in the photo. One's eyes do not trespass, so anything that is prominently displayed for the public to see is fair-game for conversation. If a colleague who has been dieting has lost weight, it is OK to comment on how great the person looks. Occasionally, Americans will also comment positively on someone's clothes or new hairstyle.

It is best to keep the conversation simple, choosing topics that are general in scope and non-threatening-work, hobbies, music, sports, etc. Avoid commenting on aspects of a person's physical appearance like height, weight, nose size, foot size, or any other peculiarity the person may have.

Answer the following questions using information found in the essay.

1. What are some topics that should be avoided in conversations?

2. What subjects are acceptable to discuss with colleagues at work?

3. What does "one's eyes do not trespass" mean?

UNIT 5