Saying Hello and Goodbye: Working in English
Saying Hello and Goodbye: Working in English
Saying Hello and Goodbye: Working in English
Working in English
Contents
Objective
Saying hello and goodbye in formal and
informal situations
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Your English training
Working in English
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Your English training
Working in English
1. There are lots of ways to say hello and goodbye in English. Choosing the right expression for the situation can be
important for good communication.
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Your English training
Working in English
John: I'm ___________, thank you. ___________ Sarah Miller, my new assistant. Sarah, this is Jane Baker.
Sarah: No, I'm Canadian. I'm from Toronto. And you, Mrs Baker? ___________________?
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1. Read the conversation. Choose a similar expression for the expressions in bold.
Harry: Yes, I'm a sales manager for Digiweb, an American company. I'm off to LA next week.
Mia: Well, enjoy it and have a nice trip.
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3. In my country
Do you know that in Spanish there are different ways to say 'welcome'? It depends on if you greet a man, a woman, men,
women or a mixed group of men and women.
Maybe you want to make some Japanese friends by showing them that you know greetings from their native language. Like
most languages, Japanese has a lot of different ways to greet someone. A common one is Konnichiwa (Kon-ee-chee-wa)
which can mean 'hello' or 'good afternoon'.
In India, ‘namaste’ is difficult to translate directly. It generally means: ‘What is holy in me greets what is holy in you’, or simply
‘Salutations’.
What are the typical ways of saying hello and goodbye in your country or region?
Do you know another country and its greetings and farewells?
How do you greet your colleagues, manager, and visitors at TotalEnergies?
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What are good manners? Well, it depends on the country, but in general it's acting in a way that is considered polite and
courteous. It's about respecting other people and yourself. When we are young, the rules are simple. We need to say
'please', 'thank you', and 'excuse me' when we want to get past someone. We offer to help, and ask nicely when we want
something.
As we get older, these golden rules stay the same, but our interactions with other people become more complex. Also, what is
considered acceptable in one country may be offensive in another.
Here are a few examples of what could be considered polite or rude in some countries:
- In the US, it's common to give someone a quick smile if you make eye contact, even with a stranger. Don't be surprised if
someone touches you lightly on the arm when they talk to you.
- In Mexico, people are polite and formal with people they don't know well, and will address you with 'señor' or 'señora'. It is
customary to shake hands when you meet a person for the first time.
- Italians are proud of their culture and cuisine, so don't hesitate to compliment the place and the food. Keep in mind that it's a
mistake to mention the mafia, even as a joke.
- When you're in the UK, be sure to wait your turn in the queue. But, if someone does push in, most British people won't say
anything, even if they're annoyed.
What about your country? What are some things that people consider to be polite or rude?
What are some examples of bad manners that you dislike?
Do you think people are more polite or less polite now than in the past?
What is something that isn’t considered rude but should be?
When someone is rude in a public place, do you say something or try to ignore the person?
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