Learning Objectives
Theme/Function
People and personalities
Introducing people
Describing people
Grammar
Adjectives
Describe people with be vs. have
Information questions
Vocabulary
Describing people: responsible , skilled , neat...
Speaking
Practice introducing colleagues at the office
Use expressions to introduce people
Use expressions to reply to an introduction
Practice describing people
Reading
Read an article introducing colleagues by email
Practice understanding descriptive vocabulary from the context
Writing
Write a memo to introduce a new colleague
Video Listening
1. Work in pairs . Think about the dialogue from the video.What can you remember? Work with your partner to fill in the blanks and create a new conversation.
Watch the video
Michael: Hi,Dave.Are you busy?
Dave: Yes,absolutely.The software development project is__________.
Michael: Hmm,I think you need__________.Hey,Silvia,please come over.
Michael: Dave,this is Silvia.She is the new__________of the Quantum Leap Project.She joined us last month.
Dave: Oh,you just joined us? __________,Silvia.
Silvia: Nice to meet you,too.
Michael: Silvia is very talented and experienced__________enterprise solutions.You can__________for the project.
Dave: Glad to know thay!
Michael: Silvia graduated from Hong Kong University.She has a lot of experience working in the high-tech companies.I'm sure you'll get great idea from her.
Silvia: __________!Well,I hope I can contribute something useful!
Dave: I'm looking forward to working with you.
Silvia: __________.
...
2. Role play . Imagine you have a new colleague at work.Introduce him/her to your partner.Use the dialogue above as a model.
Speak Like a Native
(1) You need extra hands.
When you need "extra hands",you actually need help.The expression means that you need people ("hands") working on something.
(2) Oh,just joined us?
In this case,the discourse marker used by Dave is a question.Note that Dave chooses the most relevant information from Michael's introduction,the fact that Stephen is new,to greet him.
(3) Same here
This discourse marker is used to avoid repeating the same sentence.Silvia actually means"I am looking forward to working with you,too."
Vocabulary
Work in groups . Look at the table.There are five job titles related to different business areas.What other job titles do you know? Work together to complete the table.
Expressions
Work in groups . How to introduce a new colleague? When introducing someone,don't forget to use an intro sentence.For example,"I'd like to introduce you to…"Also,don't give names and then walk away!Before you leave,use a conversation starter (for example:"He is our new programmer") to help start a conversation.
Work together and brainstorm expressions to introduce new people at the workplace.
Culture Matters: Introductions
Introduce the lower ranking to the higher ranking;
Introduce the younger to the older;
Introduce the man to the woman;
Introduce the employee to a customer;
In business setting,position rank is over gender and age.
Work in pairs . First,imagine that you are explaining introductions in China to a foreigner.Work with your partner and write a short paragraph in English to describe formal and informal contexts.
Now,with your partner,fill in the table below with phrases and expressions we use in English.
Discuss with your partner:Which are the main differences between China and English-speaking countries?
Game: Snowball Fight
Whole class . Write down on a piece of paper your name and five things about yourself,e.g.name,hobbies,etc.When finished,stand in two teams facing each other.Crumple your paper into a snowball.When the teacher says"GO,"start the fight and throw the paper balls to the other team.When the teacher says"STOP,"anyone holding a snowball must open up the paper and introduce this person to the whole class using the information written inside.
Example:
His name is Jeff.
He is 18 years old.
He loves watching action movies.
…
Reading
1.Read the passage How to Introduce Colleagues by Email.
How to Introduce Colleagues by Email
Many offices communicate via email,which is a quick and easy way to send messages to large groups of people.As a result,an email message becomes an effective way to introduce new team members both to colleagues within a company and to business partners.An introductory email can include a brief biography of the colleague or colleagues whom you are introducing and their contact information.
Determine which colleagues you will introduce and confirm the spelling of their names,email addresses,phone and fax numbers and mailing addresses.Ask if they have nicknames they would prefer to use,such as"Liz"or"Beth"for Elizabeth.Also,ask about their information you can share.Some may want to include only business contact information while others may allow you to give their most recent employment,marital status,hobbies,etc.
Obtain the email addresses to whom you will send the email.Place those addresses in the"To"line of your email.In the"CC"line below,put the email address of the colleague whom you are introducing.
Type the name of the colleague you are introducing in the subject line or write"Introducing New Colleagues"if several individuals are introduced in the email.
Start the email by indicating that you are writing to introduce a new colleague or several new colleagues.Include the colleague's name and a brief summary of his or her most recent work history.You should endeavor to highlight work experience that is most relevant to the new position.Include a few personal details if they are willing to share.
List the colleague's contact information and then end the email with a compliment about the new colleague.Sign with your name or electronic signature and send the email.
2. Work in groups . Work together to complete the following email template using content from the passage above.
Writing
You are Sara Bell from Human Resources.Your company has just recruited a new employee named Nicole.She is the new Accounts Assistant in the Trading Department.Your company will hold a welcome party for the new employee in office 401 on Friday afternoon.Please briefly introduce Nicole to all your colleagues including her name,position,relevant work experience,etc.She worked in a similar role at Harvest Topworth and was involved in handling clients'accounts with trading information.Please invite everyone to join her at the welcome party.
Sample:
Dear Colleagues:
I would like to introduce our new colleague Nicole from the Trading Department.She has been hired as an Accounts Assistant and will be joining the team soon.
Before she joined us,Nicole worked in a similar role at Harvest Topworth,an experience that has prepared her to excel in the accounting area.She will be handling client accounts by providing trading information.
Her extension is 2854 if anyone wants to reach her.We're going to hold a welcome party in office 401 on Friday afternoon and will officially introduce her to everyone then.
Thank you.
Best Regards
Sara Bell
HR Department