UNIIT 5 Entertaining Visitors

Warming Up

The following questions may help you understand what you are going to learn in this unit. Work in pairs or groups and try to answer the following questions：

1. Have you ever invited any foreigners to do something? What would you say if you want to make an invitation？

2. What's your favorite food？

3. Do you know how to cook？

4. If you invite a foreigner to dinner and he/she wants to try something really Chinese, what would you recommend？

Part 1 Extending a dinner invitation

Afterhelping Mr.Riberychecking in, Lindais going back to her company.Before leaving, she extends an invitation to Mr.Ribery for dinner.

Linda: Well, Mr. Ribery, Do you have any other plans this evening？

Mr. Ribery: Not yet for the moment.

Linda: Our Sales Manager, Mr. Lee would like to host a reception dinner in your honor. Can we make it this evening？

Mr. Ribery: Thank you very much. It's very kind of you. This evening would be ok to me.

Linda: Would you like to try some typical Hubei food？

Mr. Ribery: Yes, I'm glad to.

Linda: There is a very good restaurant just across the street. We can have dinner there. Er, would half past six be convenient for you？

Mr. Ribery: Yes, that would be fine.

Linda: OK.Then we'll come here to pick you up at 6:00.

Mr.Ribery: OK.Thank you very much.

Linda: See you this evening.

Mr. Ribery: See you then.

Target Vocabulary

invitation 邀請

host 款待，招待；主辦（宴會、招待會等）

reception dinner 歡迎晚宴

honor 榮譽

typical 典型的；有特色的

Notes

1. Before leaving, she extends an invitation to Mr. Ribery for dinner.

離開之前，她邀請列貝利先生參加晚宴。

"extend" means "offer or give sth（提供或給予某事）”，例如：

On behalf of our company, I'd like to extend warm welcome to all of our friends from France．我謹代表我們公司向來自法國的所有朋友表示熱烈的歡迎。

"extend an invitation" 意思是“發出邀請”，還可以用 "make an invitation"。

如果接受邀請，用 "accept the invitation"，如果拒絕，可以說 "refuse/decline the invitation"，不過用 "decline the invitation" 禮貌委婉一些。

2. Our Sales Manager, Mr. Lee would like to host a reception dinner in your honor.

我們的銷售經理李先生想為你舉辦一個歡迎晚宴。

"host a reception dinner" 也可以說 "hold a reception dinner"。

"in one's honor.”意思是“為了某人的榮耀”或“為了表示對某人的尊敬”，可以直接譯成“為了”。例如：

We are planning a big Christmas party in your honor.

我們正籌備為你舉行一次盛大的圣誕晚會。

A toast has been proposed in your honor．人們提議向你敬酒。

發出邀請也可以這么說：Mr. Lee would like to invite you to dinner．類似的表示邀請的句子還有：

I would like to invite you to a reception next Sunday at my home.

I would like to invite you to dinner at the new Chinese restaurant.

Would you like/care to join us for a cup of coffee？

I was wondering if you'd like to come to dinner on Tuesday evening.

Would you like to have dinner with me tonight？

We're having a barbecue at my place on Wednesday.Would you like to come？

Well, how about a harbour cruise on Saturday？

如果被邀請者愿意接受邀請，可以用以下表達法：

That sounds great. I'd love to.

That would be great. I'd love that.

Thanks for your invitation. I'd be delighted to./I'd love to.

Sure. That would be fun/Wonderful/Great.

如果被邀請者想要拒絕邀請，可以用以下表達法；

Thank you, but I'm afraid I have other plans for that night.

Thank you, but I'm afraid I have another appointment that day.

I'm sorry.I can't go to the movie with you.I…（excuse）

I wish I could, but I'm busy. Maybe another time, though.

I hate to turn you down, but I must…

I would love to any other time, because I've already made plans.

Thank you for inviting me, but…

I appreciate the invitation, but I'm afraid I can't.

I'm afraid I can't, but thanks, anyway.

Comprehension Questions

1.What does Linda invite Mr.Ribery to do？

2.Does Mr.Ribery accept the invitation？

Part 2 At the dinner party

Inthe evening Lindapicks up Mr.Riberyand thenthey go to the restaurantwhere Mr.Lee, MrWong and Mr.Yang are waiting for them.

Linda: Mr. Ribery, this is our Sales Manager, Mr Lee. Mr Lee, this is Mr. Ribery.

Mr. Lee: Mr. Ribery, nice to meet you.

Mr. Ribery: Nice to meet you, too, Mr. Lee.

Mr. Lee: Mr. Ribery, I was tied up this morning. So I wasn't able to meet you at the airport personaly. I feel so sorry.

Mr. Ribery: It doesn't matter.

Mr. Lee: Please allow me to introduce our General Manager, Mr. Wong and our Deputy Manager, Mr. Yang to you.

Mr Wong & Mr. Yang: How do you do? Nice to meet you, Mr. Ribery.

Mr. Ribery: How do you do? Nice to meet you, too.

Mr. Lee: Mr. Ribery, please have a seat here.

Mr. Ribery: Thanks.

Mr. Lee: I'm very happy to host this dinner in honor of you.

Mr. Ribery: Thank you very much. I'm honored to be invited to this dinner party.

Mr. Lee: Our pleasure. Mr. Ribery, have you ever tried any Chinese dishes？

Mr. Ribery: Yes, I had some Chinese food when I was in Shanghai and Beijing several years ago. I like Chinese food very much.

Mr. Lee: Oh, this restaurant offers some typical Hubei dishes which are quite different from the food in Beijing and Shanghai. I'm wondering whether you like them.

Mr. Ribery: I think I will.

Mr. Lee: What kind of dishes do you like？

Mr. Ribery: Well, I'm not familiar with the local dishes. I'm at your disposal.

Mr. Lee: OK. Let me make the order for you. The specialty of this restaurant is Braised Wuchang Fish in Brown Sauce. And Kung Pao Chicken, Steamed Bass…. well, Mr. Ribery, What would you like to have for drink? Would you like to taste Maotai, a very famous spirit in China？

Mr. Ribery: Oh, thank you. But I'd like some beer.

Mr. Lee: OK.

Mr.Wong:（After a while, the dishes are served）

Well. First, I'd like to propose a toast to our guest. To your health, Mr Ribery.

Mr. Ribery: Thank you very much, and to yours. Cheers.

Mr. Lee: And to our friendship and cooperation. Cheers.

Linda, Mr. Wong and Mr. Yang: Cheers.

Mr. Wong: Mr. Ribery, please help yourself with the dishes. I hope they will be to your liking.

Mr. Ribery: Thank you. They look so appealing.

Target Vocabulary

dish 一道菜

specialty 招牌菜，特色菜

Braised Wuchang Fish in Brown Sauce 紅燒武昌魚

Kung Pao Chicken 宮保雞丁

Steamed Bass 清蒸鱸魚

propose a toast 祝酒

Notes

1.Mr.Ribery, this is our Sales Manager, Mr.Lee．為別人做介紹時可以說：

Allow me to introduce…to you.

Let me introduce…to you.

I'd like to introduce…to you. etc.

2. I was tied up this morning．我今天上午很忙。

"tie sb. up" 常用于被動語態（be tied up），意思是 "occupy sb. so that he has no time for other things（纏住某人是指無暇顧及它事）”，例如：

I was tied up in a meeting until 3 pm yesterday.

3. Please allow me to introduce our General Manager, Mr. Wong and our Deputy Manager, Mr Yang to you.

請允許我向你介紹一下我們的總經理王先生和副總經理楊先生。

4. I'm very happy to host this dinner in honor of you.

我很高興為你舉辦這個晚宴。

"in honor of you" 與 "in your honor" 意思相同，表示“為紀念……；為慶祝……；向……表示敬意”

5. I'm honored to be invited to this dinner party．我很榮幸被邀請參加這個宴會。

6. Have you ever tried any Chinese dishes？您以前吃過中國菜嗎？

7. I'm not familiar with the local dishes. I'm at your disposal.

我對這些當地菜不熟悉，所以聽從你的安排。

"at one's disposal" 意思是“由某人支配，聽從某人安排；由某人做主”，例如：

During your stay in this city, Mr. Zhang and I will be at your disposal.

當你們在這個城市逗留期間，張先生和我將竭誠為你們服務。

8. Well. First, I'd like to propose a toast to our guest. To you health, Mr Ribery.

首先，我提議為我們的客人干杯。列貝利先生，祝您身體健康。

"propose a toast" 意思是“提議干杯”，例如：

Finally, I'd like to take this opportunity to propose a toast to the success of our cooperation.

9.Please help yourself with the dishes.I hope they will be to your liking.

請吃菜。希望這些菜合你的胃口。

"to one's liking" 意思是“合某人的胃口；某人喜歡的”，例如：

You can format the document to your liking．您可以將文檔設置成自己喜歡的格式。

Comprehension Questions

1.What's the specialty of the restaurant where they are having dinner？

2.What would Mr.Ribery like to have for drink？

Oral Practice

Individual Work

1. Substitution Exercises

Drill 1 I would like to invite you to….

Complete the above sentence by using the following：

—a reception next Sunday

—dinner at the new Chinese restaurant

—my birthday party this weekend

Drill 2 Thank you, but I'm afraid ….

Complete the above sentence by using the following：

—I have other plans for that night

—I have previous appointment that time

—I have to be on a business trip next week

Drill 3 …in your honor.

Complete the above sentence by using the following：

—A toast has been proposed

—The reception is

—We are planning a big Christmas party

Drill 4 How about…？

Complete the above sentence by using the following：

—having a drink to celebrate our success

—a boating on the East Lake this afternoon

—an outing this weekend

Drill 5 I'd like to propose a toast…

Complete the above sentence by using the following：

—to your health

—to our friendship

—to our cooperation

2. Practice Sentences

1）I wonder if you are free this evening.

2）I'd like to take you out for a typical Chinese dinner.

3）Would you like to have dinner with me？

4）May I invite you to dinner at Hubei Restaurant？

5）Would you like something to drink before dinner？

6）Thank you very much.I'd love to.But I've already had an appointment with others.

7）What's the specialty of this restaurant？

8）I'd also like to propose a toast. I wish a success for our cooperation.

9）Would you like Chinese food or western-styled food？

10）Let me pour you some more wine.

11）Would you like to have some more, please？

12）No, thank you. It's really delicious, but I really can't eat any more.

13）Thank you for your hospitality.

14）Thank you very much for the excellent Chinese dishes. I really enjoy them.

1 5）Thank you very much for the wonderful dinner.

3. Oral Translation Exercises

1）我們的總裁會在今晚7點設宴為您洗塵，請您和您的家人賞光。

2）不知道你今天晚上有沒有特殊的安排？

3）我打電話是想問問明天您能否跟我和王女士一起吃晚飯？

4）非常感謝你的熱情邀請。

5）很抱歉，我不能來。我已經另外有約了。不過還是很感謝。

6）您想喝點什么，啤酒、葡萄酒還是茅臺？

7）我建議為我們的合作和友誼干杯。

8）清蒸武昌魚來了，布朗先生，請隨便吃，不要客氣。

9）謝謝你特意為我準備如此豐富的晚餐。

10）我們由衷地感謝和你的合作。讓我們舉杯為我們的朋友們干杯。

Pair Work

Work in pairs.Construct dialogues based on the following situations.

Task 1

Student A: You would like to host a dinner this weekend.You would like to invite Rosa, who is your colleague, to the dinner.Now you are making a phone call to Rosa to make the invitation.

Student B: You are Rosa.Now you get a call from your colleague, who is inviting you to dinner this weekend.You may accept or decline it.

Task 2

Student A: You are having dinner with one of your clients, who is from the USA.First you extend your welcome, then ask him or her what he or she would like to have, next you order the dish and drinks.After that, you propose a toast to your guest, and then introduce some dishes to the guest.

Student B: You, an American, are invited by your Chinese business partner to dinner. Now you come to the restaurant.After greeting, you thank your partner for the invitation.During the dinner, you talk about Chinese food with him or her.At the end, you tell him or her that you enjoy the dishes and thank the host.

Group Work

Students will work in groups of 5-6 and have a discussion on the following questions：

1. How many names of Chinese food do you know? How do you translate them into English？

2. Can you introduce some typical Chinese food to the foreigners？

3. Talk about table manners.

Cultural References

● Tips on entertaining clients

The ability to entertain clients is one of the best skills to have in any corporate setting.If you impress your clients, it means repeat business and other perks down the road.The trick to entertaining clients is to find out what they enjoy doing and make sure that they have a good time while in your company.With some preparation, you can have a lot of fun entertaining clients.

1. Feed them. Taking clients out to a nice dinner is a basic and expected part of entertaining. A nice meal sets the stage for great conversations and potential business deals. Find out if they have any dietary restrictions before making reservations, to ensure that they will have a good time.

2. Take them to a sporting event. Depending on where you live, you could entertain your clients with a round or two of golf, or by getting them courtside seats at an NBA basketball game.

3. Show them around your city. It's disappointing when you take a business trip to another city and don't have a chance to take in some of the local flavor. So entertain your clients by taking them to the best local restaurant or even to the lake for a casual dinner under the stars.

4. Think outside the box. If you take the time to get to know your clients, you may be able to come up with some creative ways to entertain them. They may love to go skydiving, go snorkeling or attend a rock concert if they're the adventurous types.

● Tips on hosting a reception dinner

1. If the party is given at a hotel or at any other public place, the hosts should be there before the guests arrive. The hosts must be there to receive the guests and introduce them to each other if they have not met before. In China, tea or some other light refreshments would be served in the lounge, while the guests and the hosts sit chatting and waiting for the dinner to begin.

2. At a Chinese dinner, the guests and hosts sit alternately at a round table, on most occasions. It's for the main host (at a table) to point out to each guest where he or she is to sit.

3. We in China eat with chopsticks, while most of the foreigners eat with knives and forks. Some foreign guests may be quite good at using chopsticks, but most of them are not. Therefore, it's always advisable to place knives and forks alongside the chopsticks.

4. Maotai and red wine and beer are the three popular drinks at a Chinese dinner. The main host is invariably the first to propose a toast. He usually proposes to drink to friendship or partnership between the two companies or two countries, as appropriate, to the future business possibilities.

5. At a formal dinner or a banquet, courses of either cold or hot dishes are served in general. It is useful for the host to give some appropriate explanation to the dishes, including the ingredients and the way they are cooked, if it is possible, and encourage the guests to have a try on different dishes. Some foreign guests may have already known some popular Chinese dishes like "Beijing Roast Duck" , "Mapo Tofu" , "Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs" , etc.

6. At dinner each of the hosts should take care of his or her nearest guest. The hosts should help the guests to the dishes, or ask them to help themselves. Westerners are used to reaching for things over the table.