Meeting people

Pre-reading task:

Do you know how the people in different countries greet each other?

There are many different greetings customs around the world. Here are some.

CHILE

People usually shake hands when they meet for the first time. When two women first meet, they sometimes give one kiss on the cheek. (They actually “kiss the air”). Women also greet both male and female friends with a kiss. Chilean men give their friends warm abrazos (hugs) or sometimes kiss women on the cheek.

FINLAND

Finns greet each other with a firm handshake. Hugs and kisses are only for close friends and family.

THE PHILIPPINES

The everyday greeting for friends is a handshakes for both men and women. Men sometimes pat each other on the back.

KOREA

Men bow slightly and shake hands to greet each other. Women do not usually shake hands. To address someone with his or her full name, the family name comes first, then the first name.

THE UNITED STATES

People shake hands when they are first introduced. Friends and family members often hug or kiss on the cheek when they see each other. In these situations, men often kiss women but not other men.

Note: When two business people meet especially when formally introduced, they usually shake hands. Otherwise British people do not shake hands as a rule. Instead they smile and say a greeting, e.g. “Good morning”.

If you want to address somebody whose name you don’t remember, you must say just, “Excuse me” ( which is the best way of attracting attention ) or “What was your name, please?” or “Could you kindly repeat your name?”

Ex.1. According to the article, in which country or countries are following true?

Chile Finland the Philippines Korea the U.S.

1. People shake hands every time they meet.

2. Women do not shake hands.

3. Women kiss at the first meeting.

4. Men hug or pat each other.

5. Women kiss male friends.

6. The family name comes first.

7. Men bow slightly and shake hands.

Ex.2 a) Work in pairs and decide how these people greet each other in your country. Which greetings are typical in your country?

1. two male friends

2. a male and female friend

3. two strangers

4. two female friends

b) Can you name a country for each greeting?

-a handshake

-a bow

-a kiss on the cheek

-a hug

-a pat on the back

Ex.3 Read the conversations and practice them with your partner, using your names.

1. A: Hello, I’m Elisabeth Smith.

B: Hi! My name is Alexander Petrov. But please call me Sasha.

A: Nice to meet you, Sasha. You can call me Liz.

B: OK. And what’s your last name again?

A: Smith.

2. A: Hi! I’m Joseph Block. Please call me Joe.

B: OK, Joe. And what’s your last name again?

A: It’s Block.

Grammar Focus. The verb “to be”.

	Present Simple	Past Simple	Future Simple
Positive	I am (I’m) He/she/it is (he’s, she’s, it’s) We/you/they are (we’re/you’re/they’re)	I/he/she/it was We/they/you were	I/he/she/it/we/they/you will be
Negative	I am not (I’m not) He/she/it is not (he’s not=he isn’t/she’s not=she isn’t/it’s not=it isn’t) We/you/they are not(we’re not=we aren’t/you’re not=you aren’t/they’re not=they aren’t)	I/he/she/it was not (wasn’t) We/they/you were not (weren’t)	I/he/she/it/we/they/you will not be (won’t be)
Question	Am I? Is he/she/it? Are we/you/they?	Was I/he/she/it? Were we/you they?	Will I/he/she/it/we/ they/you be?

Ex.1 Complete the dialogue with the correct form of the verb to be.

A. Hello. Are you from here?

B. No, I….not. I…..from Italy. My name…..Daniela.

A. We … Tom and Helen.

B. Where … you from?

A. We … from Great Britain.

B. ... you from London?

A. No, we … . We … from the north of Scotland.

B. … you here on holiday?

A. No, we….. . It……a study trip. This…..a beautiful place.

B. Yes, it…. . …..the trip fun?

1. Some of it. The museums…..boring. ……you here for a holiday?

2. Yes, I…..with my parents but I want to be with my friends. It….much fun.

Ex.2 Put this conversation into the correct order.

Elain: Please call me Elain.

Paul: Morning Jenny. How are you?

Jenny: Yes, it is. Let me introduce you….Excuse me, Mrs. Redford. May I introduce you to Paul Carrol?

Jenny: Good morning , Paul.

Jenny: Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Redford.

Jenny: Fine thanks, and you?

Paul: And please call me Paul.

Elaine: How do you do?

Paul: Fine. Is that Mrs. Redford over there?

Ex. 3 Wh-questions+to be. Complete these questions. Then practice with a partner.

Model: A. Who is that?

B. That’s Rich.

1. A: …..he from?

B: He is from Los Angeles.

2. A: ……his last name?

B: It’s Brown.

3. A: …..the two students over there?

B: Their names are Lisa and Kate.

4. A: ……they from?

B: They are from Canada.

Ex.4 Here are some answers, but what are the questions?

1. How do you do? 6. IBM.

2. Jose Perez. 7. They produce and sell computers.

3. J-O-S-E 8. The financial department.

4. I’m Spanish. 9. I’m an auditor.

5. No, I’m single. 10. English, Spanish, and Italian.

Remember: I’m a financial controller (a/an+job)

an engineer

I work for ATT (for+employer)

I’m in marketing (in+type of work)

chemical business

Ex.5 Complete the sentences using the phrases in italics.

for Lego in computers a doctor an accountant for Canon an estate agent in construction a solicitor

1. I’m … I buy and sell houses.

2. I’m … I work for IBM.

3. I’m … I specialize in corporal law.

4. I work … . We produce photocopiers, faxes, and other business machines.

5. I’m … I work at Guy’s Hospital in London.

6. I work … the Danish toy manufacturer.

7. I’m … I work in the financial services section.

8. I’m … I work on building projects in the Middle East.

Ex.6 Write down phrases the replies to which are given.

1. Goodbye, happy to have met you.

2. Thanks. I’d like to.

3. Bye-bye, lots of luck to you.

4. No objections.

5. Goodbye, my best regards to your family.

6. Yes, thank you. I’d be delighted.

7. Sorry, I’m engaged.

8. Agreed.

9. The pleasure was all mine.

10. From my point of view it’s too early to say anything.

Ex.7 Look at this list of things you can do or never do when you meet someone for the first time. Make sentences using the adjectives given below to describe typical or appropriate behavior.

Model: It is customary to shake hands.

Boring acceptable appropriate customary important polite usual impolite

1. shake hands

2. use his or her first name

3. ask how much he/she earns

4. look at him/her directly

5. smile and laugh a lot

6. find out what his/her interests are

7. give him/her your business card

8. touch him/her on the arm

9. hug him/her when you say goodbye

10. put your hands in the pockets or lean against the wall

Ex.8 a) How true are these statements for you? Agree or disagree.

1. I avoid showing others what I’m feeling.

2. I can’t stand waiting for somebody.

3. I love finding solutions to problems.

4. I enjoy spending hours on the phone.

5. I don’t mind listening to people’s problems.

6. I’m interested in visiting unusual places.

7. I dislike getting up early.

8. I hate meddling with other people affairs.

9. I’m keen on playing computer games.

10. I'm crazy about watching football games.

b) How do you feel about these things?

Model: talk on the phone

I love talking on the phone.

1. go to big parties

2. learn about computers

3. spend a lot of time by myself

4. watch movies alone

5. talk about my private life with my friends

6. listen to rock music

7. walk in a rainy weather

8. have parties

9. write letters

10. chat on the phone

c) Make an ABC… list of your likes and dislikes.

Ex. 9 Explain these personality traits.

Model: A romantic person is the kind of person who enjoys walking on the beach of sunset and dreaming about the future.

Adventurous impatient ambitious organized practical reserved romantic sympathetic talkative sociable

a) to enjoy walking on the beach at sunset;

b) to avoid shoving others what somebody is feeling;

c) cannot stand waiting for people;

d) to like making a daily schedule;

e) to love finding solutions to problems;

f) to enjoy spending hours on the phone;

g) not to mind listening to people's problems;

h) to like to have lots of friends;

i) to love to accomplish goals;

j) to be interested in visiting unusual places

Ex. 10 Name some traits of character your group mate possesses and guess who is he or she.

Ex. 11 Write six or more sentences about yourself.

Model: I enjoy staying home on week days. It’s the only time I can relax.

I avoid speaking in front of large groups. It makes me nervous.

Ex. 12 Read the personality profile. Which person would you most like to meet? Which person is most like you?

Student : talkative and fun, pet lover, hates to cook, goes to big parties

Musician: ambitious artist, dedicated stamp collector, enjoys playing rugby

Lawyer : very organized, fan of old movies, loves to travel

Computer programmer : incurable romantic, nature lover, interested in learning a new language.

Ex. 13 Make short dialogues. Try to find personality traits you have or don’t have in common. Use phrases of agreement or disagreement.

So am I (I am too)

I’m exactly the same way.

So do I. (I do too)

Neither can I. (I can’t either)

That’s true for me.

I’m not at all like that.

Really? I don’t.

Model: A: I like chatting with friends. They say that I’m sociable.

B: So am I. I like good companies and am always willing to make friends.

Ex. 14 Look at the adjectives for discussing people and match them to the definitions.

1. hard working 6. loyal

2. generous 7. open-minded

3. stubborn 8. naughty

4. self-confident 9. sensitive

5. reliable 10. ambitious

a) willing to give money, help and kindness

b) having a strong desire to be successful, powerful, or rich

c) willing to consider new ideas and new opinions

d) unwilling to change one's attitude or position on something

e) dedicating a lot of time and energy to work

g) 1. that may be trusted, dependable

2. that you may trust to perform well at all times

h) behaving badly, or not obeying a parent, teacher or set of rules

i) having a belief in one’s own value and abilities

j) faithful to people, places or things

k) easily offended and upset

Ex. 15 a) Match these words with their opposites.

To make an opposite adjective we can use prefixes:

anti- (=against) anti-war, anti-social

in- (=opposite) inconvenient, intolerant

il- (=opposite) illegal, illiterate

ir- (=opposite) irrelevant

un- (=opposite) untidy

Also, there are some other adjectives which are the opposites to the given ones.

1. clever a) introverted

2. extroverted b) tight-fisted

3. rude c) polite

4. generous d) sociable

5. unsociable e) heavy-minded

b) Give your own examples of opposite adjectives.

Ex. 16 Choose one adjective from ex. 15 to describe each of the following people.

Model: Once Hans decided to do something, it’s impossible to make him change his mind.—He is stubborn.

1. Emily doesn't like to chat with people.

2. Anna is a winner of all the school contests. She reads a lot and is very informed.

3. Anita is very slow at thinking. Her boss has to tell her several times what to do.

4. Paul is the sort of person who is ready to discuss his personal problems with everybody.

5. Maria is a well-mannered girl. She is very delicate.

6. Helen finds it difficult to speak with other people

7. When you go out for a meal with Pierre, he always insists on paying.

8. Tom never buys his girl a drink at a bar.

9. Ivy likes to meet different people and chat with them.

10. Mike can always find somebody to quarrel with. He uses bad words while communicating with people.

Ex. 17 Write a personality profile for yourself. Do not write your name. Your teacher will mix up the profiles and distribute them among the students who will need to guess whose profile they have. Go round the class and ask each student questions to match the profile you have with its writer.

Model: Do you enjoy listening classical music?

Ex. 18 Write a paragraph about your positive and/or negative qualities.

Model 1: I think my most positive quality is that I am very practical. I’m the kind of person who enjoys solving difficult problems, and I love discovering solutions to things. People always come to me when they don’t know how to fix something. For example, two days ago my father’s computer suddenly stopped working, and he asked me to find the problem. His computer is a powerful one. It took me only 15 minutes. I loved every minute of it.

Model 2: My most negative quality is that I’m an extremely disorganized person. My apartment is always a mess, and I can never find anything. My sister is very neat. Last week I finished my homework assignment and then misplaced it. I could not find it, so I had to redo it. My disorganization gets to be a big problem in my life. I’d love to change, but I don’t really know where to begin.

Ex. 19 a) Choose one member of your group and describe him or her using the words below.

height age looks hair

short young handsome straight black

fairly short middle aged good-looking curly red

medium) height elderly pretty short blond

pretty tall bald

tall long

a mustache and a beard

b) Describe any member of your family using the words above.

Ex. 20 Read the phrases and complete the sentences with your own information.

Model: I like people who are sociable

someone who is funny

when people are reliable

when someone is easygoing

when a person is punctual

I don’t like people who leave things all over the place

I can’t stand it when people blow smoke into my face

1. I like when someone….

2. I don’t like a person who is……

3. I like people who……

4. I can’t stand it when …..

5. It bothers me when someone…

6. My best friend is someone who…..

Ex. 21 Write answers to these questions.

1. When did you first start studying English?

I first started studying English … .

2. What sports did you play when you were a teenager?

I … when I was a teenager.

3. What was your best subject when you were at school?

When I was at school … .

4. Who was your best friend when you were at school or college ?

When I was at school/college, my best friend … .

5. Who is your best friend now ? How did you meet ?

… is my best friend. We first met … .

Ex. 22 These are answers. What are the questions?

1. Yes, I played a lot of sports when I was at school.

2. Yes, I worked hard and passed all my state exams successfully when I was at school.

3. No, I didn’t like all the subjects when I was at school, I liked history most of all.

4. Yes, sometimes I went to the movies and exhibitions with my friends when I was at school.

5. Yes, I often met with my friends when I was at school.

6. No, I didn’t have much time for entertainment when I was at school.