A A BUSINESS ISSUES

Cultural know-how
Lesson code: 1CAC-56JB-J6BF Upper-intermediate (B2-C1)

1 Idioms
Study the following sentences and match each underlined idiom to its correct definition below.

1. At the end of the meal, we decided to go Dutch.

2. If you want to win the argument, you should stick to your guns.
3. Thank you for all your help. I hope someday we can return the compliment.
4. The politician managed to save face by escaping blame for the mistake.
5. Everyone at the party was wearing special costumes, and we had to follow suit.
6. During the negotiation, they decided to give ground in order to reach an agreement.
7. We were wined and dined all over the city.
8. I was trying to be polite, but he got the wrong idea.

a. change your position in order to make it easier to reach an agreement

b. do something for someone because they have done something for you
c. do what other people are doing
d. keep your position even if people try to criticize you
e. misunderstood
f. pay 50% of the bill each
g. protect your reputation
h. taken out for expensive meals

2 Cultural etiquette
Decide whether the statements are true or false and then check your answers by reading the article.

1. In Singapore, the word ‘no’ is considered impolite.

2. In Greece, you should nod your head upwards to say ‘yes’.
3. In Italy, it is a bad idea to turn up late for a meeting.
4. In the Netherlands, it is a bad idea to turn up late for a meeting.
5. In Japan, the business card is very important and should be treated with respect.
6. In Russia, you should not argue during business deals.
7. In Turkey, you should not insist on sharing the restaurant bill with your host.
8. In Mexico, you should be careful about proposing dinner arrangements with your client.

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A A A A BUSINESS ISSUES

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 Cultural know-how
A A A A BUSINESS ISSUES

Cultural know-how
Learning about a country’s culture can help you secure good working relations on
your travels.

1 Do you arrive 10 minutes early for an important exchanging business cards in Japan. "The
business meeting in Rio or 10 minutes late in business card is seen as representing the
Amsterdam? In Moscow, is it a good idea to give individual, so the whole affair has to be treated
ground at an early stage of the negotiations? And with respect. You must accept your client’s card
in Istanbul, should you offer to go Dutch with the with both hands, perhaps admiring it, and then
host on the restaurant bill? place it carefully in your cardholder."
2 Mastering the local etiquette can be more valuable 6 The social side of Japanese commerce can also
than learning the language, because so much of unnerve the western visitor, who might have to go
the world does business in English. Or a form of to a karaoke bar and sing. "Many Japanese
English. "Beware that an English word or phrase businessmen like to conclude business by
doesn’t always mean the same thing abroad," performing their favourite song in a karaoke bar,"
warns Michael Bennett, who sells security says management trainer Nicole Wehden. "You’re
systems in South East Asia. "In Japan and expected to follow suit."
Singapore, people feel that ‘no’ is an impolite
word, and will sometimes say ‘yes’ to avoid 7 In Russia, the ritual of the business meeting is
causing offence. What they really mean is ‘I more theatrical skill. " I’ve seen temper tantrums,
understand what you’re saying’, not ‘I agree’. I’m sudden walkouts, table-thumping and so on, but
told that in Indonesia there are 12 words for ‘yes’ it’s all part of the fun," says Michael Bennett. "And
that mean precisely the opposite." they admire you more if you stick to your guns.
Seeking a compromise early is seen as a sign of
3 Even the movement of your head can be open to
weakness."
misinterpretation. Publisher Robin Touquet has
had difficulties in Athens: "The Greeks traditionally 8 In almost every business community around the
use an upward nod of the head to say ‘no’, and a world, the host pays for the meal. Malcolm
tilt of the head from side to side to mean ‘yes’. I Thorburn was wined and dined in Istanbul, and all
was ready for that, but didn’t realise the younger went well until he insisted on paying his share: "It
generation have learnt to do it our way. Confusion caused real embarrassment, " he recalls. "In
all round. If in doubt, keep still." Turkey, the idea of sharing a bill is quite alien. The
4 The issue of punctuality is almost as complicated. best policy is to thank your host and return the
Oil company executive Malcolm Thorburn compliment at the first opportunity."
deliberately turns up a few minutes late for
meetings in Brazil "because Brazilians believe 9 Insurance underwriter Toni Morrison caused
latecomers are more likely to be commercially supper-time embarrassment in Mexico five years
successful than people who arrive early. They’re ago. "I was working late with a client, and midway
impressed by people who are relaxed enough not through the evening I felt so hungry I suggested
to worry about the clock. The Italians take a we carry on working at a nearby restaurant. The
similar attitude. They believe that arriving late client thought this was a sign I had a romantic
shows who is the boss." However, don’t risk that interest in him. When I realised he’d got the wrong
in the Netherlands. "The Dutch frown upon idea I started to laugh, which made things even
lateness," warns film finance agent James Hindle: worse. The only way of getting out of it was to
"They believe that people who can’t use their time enable him to save face, so I accepted all the
wisely cannot be trusted." blame for the misunderstanding."

5 Hindle has also experienced the ceremony of Adapted from The Independent, 18 June 2007

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A A A A BUSINESS ISSUES

3 Find the words

Find a word or phrase in the article which means...

1. offending people (phrase, P2)

2. understood incorrectly (phrase, P3)
3. an upward or downward movement of the head (noun, P3)
4. do not move (phrase, P3)
5. people who arrive late (noun, P4)
6. disapprove of (phrasal verb, P4)
7. make someone feel nervous or uncomfortable (verb, P6)
8. sudden periods of uncontrolled childish anger (plural noun, P7)

4 Grammar - Modal verbs for advice, possibility and necessity

Look at the following sentences from the text and answer the questions below.

Should you offer to go Dutch with the host on the restaurant bill?
The social side of Japanese commerce can also unnerve the western visitor, who might have to go to
a karaoke bar and sing.
...the whole affair has to be treated with respect.
You must accept your client’s card with both hands.

1. Which modal verb means that something is generally possible?

2. Which modal verb means that something is possible, although not very likely?
3. Which modal verb means ‘it is a good idea’?
4. Which two modal verbs express an obligation?
5. What is the negative form of each modal verb?
6. What are the positive and negative past forms of might and should?
7. What are the positive and negative past forms of have to and must (used for obligation)?
8. What other modal verb expresses obligation? what are the negative and past forms?
9. What is the difference between these two sentences?
I must get some sleep.
I have to get some sleep.
10. What is the difference between these two sentences?
I don’t have to get up early tomorrow.
I mustn’t get up late tomorrow.
11. What other modal verbs express possibility and speculation? What are the past forms?

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 Cultural know-how
A A A A BUSINESS ISSUES

5 Grammar practice - Modals (present forms)

Rewrite the sentences below using a suitable modal verb:

Example: It is a good idea to arrive on time for meetings in the Netherlands.

You should arrive on time for meetings in the Netherlands.

1. Calling your new boss by his first name is not a good idea in this country.
2. Parking your car in the manager’s parking space is not allowed.
3. The company dress code is very relaxed, so it is not necessary to wear a suit and tie for the meeting.
4. If you don’t learn about the country’s culture, there is a slight chance that you will cause someone
offence on your business trip.
5. There is a general possibility of offending someone if you ignore cultural etiquette.
6. I’m feeling rather tired. It is necessary for me to go to bed now.
7. It is necessary for me to get up early tomorrow because I start work at 8 o’clock.
8. If you want to do successful business in Russia, it is a good idea to stick to your guns during
negotiations.
9. If Sam keeps arriving late for work, there is a possibility that he will get the sack.
10. Karina has been very stressed lately. It is necessary for her to take a holiday.

6 Grammar practice - Modals (Past forms, speculating)

Complete the following sentences with a suitable past form of should, may, might, could, couldn’t,
can’t, must + the verb in brackets

Example: Duncan looked rather upset. He must have misunderstood (misunderstand) me.

1. Michael’s meeting in the Netherlands didn’t go so well. He (arrive) so late for the
meeting.
2. Margaret failed her exam again. She (study) harder.
3. We didn’t receive your last invoice. You (send) it to the wrong address.
4. Emilio (move) abroad. I saw him just yesterday!
5. The new deal we signed wasn’t particularly cost-effective. With more careful preparation, we
(negotiate) a much better price.
6. ABC’s advertising campaign looks very similar to ours. They (copy) our campaign.
7. Angelo is having problems with his English. He (join) the company English course last
year.
8. I didn’t hear the phone ring. I (be) asleep.
9. ‘I can’t find my car keys.’ ‘You (leave) them in the office.’
10. You (attend) the business development conference last month. It was probably the
most interesting and useful conference I’ve been to all year.

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 Cultural know-how
A A A A BUSINESS ISSUES

7 Grammar practice - Modals past and present

Work in pairs. For each of the situations below, use past and present modal verbs to speculate on what
went wrong, how the situation should have been dealt with correctly, and on the possible consequence
of the mistake.

Example: During negotiations with a potential customer from Singapore, Carl said ‘no’ to several important
propositions. It has been a week now and he hasn’t heard anything. He is worried that the potential
customer has decided to make a deal with one of his competitors.
Answer: Carl might lose the deal. The potential customer may have been offended. In Singapore, ‘no’ is
considered an impolite word. Carl should have learnt something about the culture in order to be better
prepared for the meeting.
1. Simon, the representative of an American manufacturing company, had arranged an important
meeting in Rio with a group of Brazilian businessmen to discuss their possible investment in his
company’s new business plan. When the Brazilians arrived at the conference room, Simon was
already there waiting for them. He had turned up 20 minutes early.
2. James, an architect from Britain, turned up 10 minutes late for an important meeting with a potential
client in Amsterdam. James’ firm is well-established in the market and offered a better price than his
competitors. However, now the Dutch client isn’t replying to his follow-up emails.
3. Paolo, an electronics distributor in Italy, is in the middle of an important meeting with the
representative of a potential Japanese supplier in Tokyo. During the exchange of business cards at the
beginning of the meeting, Paolo took the representative’s card, folded it in two and slipped it into his
back pocket. The Japanese negotiator seemed less friendly after that.
4. During a business dinner in Turkey, Peter tried to insist on paying his share of the bill. His host went
quiet and appeared a little red in the face.

8 Talking point
What etiquette advice would you give to a foreign visitor seeking to do business in your country? Try
to use some vocabulary from this lesson.
Have you or a visitor ever had any difficulties during a meeting or trip abroad? How could you or your
visitor have been better prepared?

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