Business English N°: 49 Topic: Receiving Visitors Level: Intermediate Grammar: present perfect

Introduction Businesses, particularly large companies, will often receive visitors. Visitors may be, amongst others, prospective customers or buyers, inspectors, auditors, or managers from other subsidiaries. Some companies have specific procedures for receiving visitors. The way a visitor is received will naturally depend on the company culture. There would be a big difference, for example, between Google and a large bank.

Businesses, particularly large companies, will often receive visitors.

Visitors may be, amongst others, prospective customers or buyers, inspectors, auditors, or managers from other subsidiaries.

Some companies have specific procedures for receiving visitors.

The way a visitor is received will naturally depend on the company culture. There would be a big difference, for example, between Google and a large bank.

Vocabulary(1) Slide show presentation (séance de projéction) Meeting room “ Thank you for sparing the time.“ Itinerary to be worth while (valoir la peine/le coup) Discuss with teacher

Slide show presentation

(séance de projéction)

Meeting room

“ Thank you for sparing the time.“

Itinerary

to be worth while

(valoir la peine/le coup)

Vocabulary(1) Agenda (ordre du jour) Conference Reception Refreshments Representative Company tour

Agenda

(ordre du jour)

Conference

Reception

Refreshments

Representative

Company tour

Vocabulary(1) Hospitality to make/give a good impression Overseas subsidiary/branch Chairman (heads a board of directors; UK) Chief Executive Officer { CEO } (manages the affairs of a corporation)

Hospitality

to make/give a good impression

Overseas subsidiary/branch

Chairman (heads a board of directors; UK)

Chief Executive Officer { CEO } (manages the affairs of a corporation)

Exercise Now go back through the vocabulary list and try and put each word into a sentence. Your teacher will help you if you have any difficulties.

Now go back through the vocabulary list and try and put each word into a sentence. Your teacher will help you if you have any difficulties.

Grammar(1) Present Perfect You probably already know that you can use the present perfect to talk about actions that have occurred very recently (this is often indicated by words like ‘already’ and ‘just’) and still have a connection with the present. It is also used to talk about a period of time (even if it is very long) that continues up to the present.

Grammar(1) E.g. I’ve (I have) travelled a lot. The person will still likely travel in the future so the action is not entirely finished yet. The words ‘ever’, ‘never’, ‘so far’ and ‘since’ (amongst others) often indicate the use of the present perfect.

E.g. I’ve (I have) travelled a lot.

The person will still likely travel in the future so the action is not entirely finished yet.

The words ‘ever’, ‘never’, ‘so far’ and ‘since’ (amongst others) often indicate the use of the present perfect.

Grammar(1) Examples: Have you ever eaten lobster? I’ve never driven been on a company tour. Have you met the chairman? Has he eaten since breakfast? Have they been on holiday this year? So far London is the only city I have visited in England.

Examples:

Have you ever eaten lobster?

I’ve never driven been on a company tour.

Have you met the chairman?

Has he eaten since breakfast?

Have they been on holiday this year?

So far London is the only city I have visited in England.

Grammar(1) Exercises – make a question with the following groups of words and then also provide the answer (drive/car) (Have you ever driven a car? No, I have never driven a car.) (be/our subsidiary in Africa) (meet/the CEO) (see/the new display) (read/the company report) (go/skiing)

Exercises – make a question with the following groups of words and then also provide the answer

(drive/car) (Have you ever driven a car? No, I have never driven a car.)

(be/our subsidiary in Africa)

(meet/the CEO)

(see/the new display)

(read/the company report)

(go/skiing)

Video Describe Kate‘s behaviour. Why is she acting like that? What does Kate say she is worried about? What does the visitor thank Mr Harris for? What is the problem with the posters? What are some of the things that Mr Harris says about the company? What does Mr Harris suggest they do during the day? http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v =qeGJ0R5H5EM

Describe Kate‘s behaviour. Why is she acting like that?

What does Kate say she is worried about?

What does the visitor thank Mr Harris for?

What is the problem with the posters?

What are some of the things that Mr Harris says about the company?

What does Mr Harris suggest they do during the day?

Questions and Simulations What does it mean to be hospitable ? How is receiving guests in a company different from receiving guests at home? Pretend that the teacher is a visiting manager and you are the employee who has been asked to welcome him/her and show him/her around. You are in charge of a group that is visiting the company for a whole day. Welcome them and explain the agenda for the day.

What does it mean to be hospitable ?

How is receiving guests in a company different from receiving guests at home?

Pretend that the teacher is a visiting manager and you are the employee who has been asked to welcome him/her and show him/her around.

You are in charge of a group that is visiting the company for a whole day. Welcome them and explain the agenda for the day.