Dining etiquette

Knowing proper dining etiquette and using table manners simply gives you more confidence in embracing new dining experiences, especially important in business situations. Dining graciously, whether it’s a job interview over a meal, dining at the White House, or dinner at your boss’s home - not only makes you more comfortable, but it also makes a positive lasting impression. During business meals, you often see memos and papers on the table. But resist the temptation to use cell phones or laptops at the table; the restaurant isn’t your office. If you have to use all sorts of electronic devices to conduct the meeting, have the meal catered in a conference room or a private room in the restaurant. Don’t forget that other people in the restaurant are dining. They don’t want your business interfering with their meal. Keep your voice low and pleasant. Don’t load up the table with your sunglasses, keys, and electronic gadgets. Put these things in a briefcase or handbag, and put them under the table or on an empty chair. As soon as you’re seated, informal conversation is in order. Avoid discussing your personal life, sex, politics, or religion, and avoid telling jokes. You want cordial conversation, not controversy. On the average, allow about two hours for a business meal. Be prepared to spend as much time as necessary at the meal. While sitting at the tables you should use the basic utensils and dishes correctly. At every meal, you have a plate, a napkin and several utensils usually consisting of a knife, fork, and soup spoon - and at least one glass.

4.10. Say if the statements are true or false or not mentioned in the text. Correct the false variant.

1. Knowing proper dining etiquette and using table manners simply gives you more confidence in embracing new dining experiences.

2. During business meals it is advisable to use cell phones or laptops.

3. If you have dinner at a restaurant it is necessary to use all sorts of electronic devices to conduct the meeting.

4. People do not care if you interfere with their meal at a restaurant.

5. You should not load up the table with your sunglasses, keys, and electronic gadgets.

6. As soon as you’re seated, formal conversation is in order to discuss personal life, sex, politics, or religion.

7. On the average, allow about two hours for a business meal.

8. While sitting at the tables you should use the basic utensils and dishes correctly.

4.11. Give the English equivalents to the following words and phrases from the text. Choose five of them and make up sentences of your own. Read your sentences aloud for other students to translate.

Быть знакомым с правилами поведения за столом; научиться использовать правила поведения за столом; производить положительное впечатление; устоять перед соблазном; проводить встречу; пообедать в конференц-зале; вмешиваться; говорить тихо; не загружать стол посторонними предметами; неформальная беседа; пользоваться сотовым телефоном.

4.12. Give either Russian (A) or English (B) equivalents to the following words or word-combinations.

A B

сотовый телефон	to intervene
умно, разумно	international conflict
по порядку	to escape
в среднем	sensibly
служебная записка	to embrace
проводить собрание	to avoid
загружать стол чем-либо	experience
устоять перед соблазном	to interfere
рассказывать анекдоты	graciously
столовые приборы	at least

Text 4C

4.13. Active word list. Read the words and word combinations and memorize them.

mishap-	неудача, неприятный случай
to occur-	иметь место, случаться, происходить
to beckon-	подзывать кивком головы, делать знак
to be aware (of)-	знать, сознавать, отдавать себе полный отчёт
discreetly- discreet-	отдельно, осторожно, тактично тактичный
to motion-	показать жестом, кивать
morsel -	маленький кусочек (пищи)
upbeat- to steer oneself out of-	радостный, оптимистичный выбираться из чего-либо

4.14. Read text 4C to learn how to manage dining mishaps.

MANAGING DINING MISHAPS

Eating in any social setting may result in mishaps. The following tips may help you steer yourself out of common mishaps that can occur:

• You drop a utensil on the floor. Never lean over and pick up the utensil.

• Beckon a waiter, and politely ask for a new one.

• You’re served a piece of food that is not cooked properly. Do you send it back or live with it? Depending on the time allocated and the type of meal you are attending, business lunch or dinner, it may be best to say nothing and just eat it. If you choose to send it back, be aware of the delays you may cause to the overall meal. Let the waiter know by discreetly explaining the situation, and remember to keep your voice low. Trust the waiter to reappear with a different plate of food for you.

• You find a foreign object in your food. Again, tell the waiter about the problem in a very discreet manner. Rest assured that your meal will be replaced quickly.

• You dislike the food that is being served, or you are allergic to it. The polite thing to do is try a little of everything, but if you are allergic to a food, just smile and say, “No, thank you.” It’s not necessary to say anything critical.

• You have a piece of bone, gristle, or some other unwanted food item in your mouth. Discreetly place the item on the tines of your fork and lay it on your plate, hiding it under something if possible.

• You notice that your dining partner has spinach in her teeth or a crumb in his beard. Catch your dining partner’s attention, and discreetly motion to that part of your face where the offending morsel is lodged on his or her face. If you have a mishap, always be discreet and apologetic - use a little light humor to keep the mood upbeat.

4.15. Give the English equivalents to the following words and phrases from the text. Choose five of them and make up sentences of your own. Read your sentences aloud for other students to translate.

Питаться в общественном месте; приводить к неприятностям; выбираться из неприятностей; тактично объяснить ситуацию; подзывать официанта; находить посторонний предмет в еде; иметь аллергию к чему-либо; привлекать внимание партнера; маленький кусочек (пищи); тактично показать жестом; поднимать настроение.

4.16. Fill in the blanks with proper words given below.

result in	dislike	lean over
discreetly	apologetic	be aware

1. You … the food that is being served.

2. Let the waiter know by … explaining the situation.

3. Eating in any social setting may … mishaps.

4. Never … and pick up the utensil.

5. If you choose to send it back, … of the delays you may cause to the overall meal.

6. If you have a mishap, always be discreet and … - use a little light humor to keep the mood upbeat.

4.17. Render the following text in English using active vocabulary.

Деловые приемы хотя и имеют более свободную, раскованную атмосферу, нежели деловая встреча или деловые переговоры, однако преследуют ту же самую цель: заключение взаимовыгодных сделок. Полуофициальная обстановка приемов позволяет присутствующим завязать полезные знакомства, обсудить в целом будущие выгодные для участвующих партнеров контракты, расширить и углубить уже имеющиеся контакты, обменяться взглядами и мнениями, позволяющими лучше узнать экономические, финансовые и прочие позиции и притязания будущих партнеров, их особенности в организации дела. Кроме того, для опытного бизнесмена наблюдение за поведением, поступками гостей на приеме может быть источником информации. Очевидная польза от организации приема состоит еще и в следующем: иногда переговоры между двумя фирмами затягиваются, возникает ситуация, когда ни одна из сторон не хочет (или не может) уступить, пойти на компромисс и в то же время не желает прекратить переговоры, поскольку есть вполне реальная возможность получения выгоды. Многоразовые встречи и обсуждения не приводят к ликвидации тупиковой ситуации, безрезультатная дискуссия продолжается. В таком случае часто организация приема помогает создать непринужденную атмосферу, ближе узнать партнеров, облегчает проведение переговоров и способствует заключению контрактов.

Unit 5

GUIDELINES FOR DOING BUSINESS IN CHINA

PRE-READING

1. What is the capital of China and its official language?

2. What do you know about Confucianism?

3. Do you know what chopsticks are? Do you know how to use them?

5.1. Guess the meaning of international words.

Infrastructure; policy; ethics; contact; formal; sense of humour; sandals; to demonstrate; materials; history; literature; bureaucracy; telephonic communication; business discussion; negatively; mobile phone; colleague; extremely; technical; chance.

5.2. Translate the sentences paying attention to the words and phrases in bold type. Consult a dictionary.

1. Since the introduction of market-based economic reforms in 1978, China has become the world's fastest-growing major economy.

2. The success of Chine has been primarily due to manufacturing as a low-cost producer.

3. Therefore, most Chinese maintain an impassive expression when speaking.

4. As for greetings they are formal and the oldest person is always greeted first.

5. As to gifts, they are given at Chinese New Year, weddings, births and more recently (because of marketing), birthdays.

6. Gifts may be refused three times before they are accepted.

7. The Chinese often use intermediaries to ask questions that they would prefer not to make directly.

8. Examine a business card before putting it on the table next to you or in a business card case.

9. You should arrive at meetings on time or slightly early.

Text 5А

5.3. Active word list. Read the words and word combinations and memorize them.

to stress- подчёркивать, делать акцент

GDP( gross domestic product)-	валовый внутренний продукт
purchasing power parity-	паритет покупательной силы
tenet-	основной принцип, главное правило
sincerity-	искренность, откровенность
loyalty-	верность, преданность
to strive (for)-	стараться, пытаться, стремиться
to rely (on)-	полагаться на кого-либо
to frown-	смотреть неодобрительно, хмурить брови
to maintain-	поддерживать, сохранять, содержать
impassive-	невозмутимый, спокойный
disrespectful-	непочтительный, невежливый
foreigner-	иностранец
the severing-	прерывание (отношений)
to attribute-	приписывать, относить к чему-либо