Before you listen to an interview about culture in the business world, match
the following words. Follow the example.
To take
To switch off
To raise
To come
To hand over
To give
To develop
Now choose the best answer, a), b) or c)
1. If a person
bows, they
a) disagree politely with someone.
b) smile when they are introduced.
c) show respect by lowering their head.
2. When you try to fit in too many
things at a meeting, you
a) are wearing too many clothes.
b) are trying to do too much in a short space of time.
c) are not listening to the other people at the meeting.
3. People who rush
a) are not being polite/considerate.
b) are moving/doing things too quickly.
c) are being sensitive to the needs/wishes of their business partners.
4.To cheat in Spanish is
a) engañar.
b) cerrar un trato.
c) comprar a buen precio.
5. A fast buck means
a) making money quickly.
b) an expensive sports car.
c) a clever lawyer.
Many of us are involved with
business at a global level these days, but our interaction still needs to
be local, especially for the business traveller who has to deal
face-to-face with colleagues, partners and competitors abroad.
What works in business at home does not always work overseas. Listen to an
interview with Penny Worth who talks about the way cultural can affect
business behaviour.
Listen and decide which of the following Penny talks about?
Listen again and answer the following True or False
questions.
1. Because of
globalisation, more and more people are coming into contact with
different cultures.
2. Culture is like an
iceberg because both can be dangerous.
3. When meeting someone
from a Chinese culture, you should give a business card with your
left hand.
4. Many people have
business cards printed in English to avoid translation mistakes.
5. If you answer your
mobile phone during a meeting, people will think you are popular and
successful.
6. Mobile phones with
cameras can be considered a security risk in some companies.
7. In the U.S., more
emphasis is placed on contracts than trust.
8. People from Scandinavia
and China prefer to do business with friends and family.