Unit 1 Receiving visitorsSecretary English

ObjectivesTo grasp words and expressions about discussing receiving visitors.To get familiar with situations related with the topics above.To understand the definitions, the patterns and the formats of toasts and congratulatory speeches.To be able to write toasts, welcome speech and answering speech ,farewell speech and send-off speech according to the given information.

Contents. Lead-in. Language Points. Classroom Activities. Practical Writing. Exercises. Key to Exercises. Assignments

. Lead-in

Receiving visitors is the essential skill required on a secretary, as it is very important in daily office routine. After learning this unit, you are supposed to be able to grasp the basic skills of writing toasts and all kinds of congratulatory speeches.

. Language Points 1. receive [risi:v] v. He was received as an honored guest at the White House.

2. available [veilbl] a. This was the only room available. Further information is available on request.

. Language Points 3. occupied ['kjupaid] a. The most important thing is to keep yourself occupied. .Hes fully occupied looking after three small children.

4. suppose [spuz] v. Getting a visa isnt as simple as you might suppose. Prices will go up, I suppose.

. Language Points 5. confirm [knf:m] v. Please write to confirm your reservation. Rumors of job losses were later confirmed.

6. propose[prpuz] v. The government proposed changes to the voting system. It was proposed that the president be elected for a period of two years.

. Language Points7. mutual ['mju:tul] a. I dont like her, and I think the feeling is mutual.

8. regards [ri:dz] n. Give your brother my regards when you see him.

. Language Points9. places stress on ..I think the company places too much stress on cost and not enough on quality.

10. see..off We saw Mr. Smith off at the airport yesterday.

Additional Topic-related Sentences

1. Do you have an appointment?2. Is it possible for him to see me now3. Can I be of any assistance4. I'll tell Mr. Brown you are here.5. Mr. Brown will come down to see you in a minuteMr. Black.6. I was delayed by the traffic jam.

Additional Topic-related Sentences

7. Mr. Smith is expecting you.8. Would you please sign the visitor's book9. I'm happy to host this dinner party in honor of our friends. 10We are much honored to be invited to this magnificent dinner. 11I'm really a bit nervous now, for I know nothing of your table manners. 12No wonder people say the Chinese are hospitable.

Additional Topic-related Sentences13To your health and success in business. 14I wish to propose a toast to our friendship and cooperation. 15Thank you for your hospitality and your dinner. 16. Thank you for coming here tonight to see me off. 17. Its a pity that youre leaving so soon. 18. Hope well be able to get together again before long.

. Classroom ActivitiesWork with your partner and complete the following dialogue .

Peter: Have you been to San Francisco before?Janis: No, its my first visit.Peter: well, I hope you like it.Janis: Im sure I will.Peter: Ander, is the hotel all right?Janis: Yes, its very comfortable.Peter: Thats good. So, do you have much time here in the U.S.? Are you staying long?Janis: No, I have to go back tomorrow afternoon.Peter: Oh, what a pity. There is so much to see. Youll have to come back again!Janis: Yes, Id love to.Peter: So what times your flight tomorrow?Janis: In the evening, 6:35.Peter: Well, I can get you a taxi if you like, to get you there in good time.Janis: Thats very kind of you. Thank you.Peter: No problem at all. Was it a good flight today?Janis: No, it wasnt actually.Peter: Oh dear, Im sorry to hear that. What was the problem?Janis: It was raining --- quite hard. There was a lot of turbulence.Peter: Hmm. I hope you didnt feel too bad.

. Practical Writing

. Practical Writing 1. Toast

. Practical Writing Sample

Ladies and gentlemen, Id like to take great pleasure in welcoming you all to this special evening. Tonight we are celebrating the 10th Chinese Export Commodities Fair here. It is indeed a very exciting event. I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of Guangzhou Municipal Government and the people of Guangzhou, to express our highest consideration and warmest greetings to the guests that are coming from abroad and from China. We need this close cooperation so that we can use our various capacities to build a prosperous future for our city and peoples. I am confident that our business and economic links will strengthen. I wish all of you enjoying a wonderful evening here. Now I would like to propose a toast: To our successful cooperation, To our growing personal as well as commercial ties, To the health of all the guests present here. Cheers!

. Practical Writing2. Welcome Speech andAnswering Speech()

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. Practical WritingSample 1 Welcome Speech

Ladies and gentlemen, This evening we feel very much honored to hold a welcome party for Dr. Harris, who is already known to us all for his great achievements in linguistics research work. First of all, allow me on behalf of our university to extend our warm welcome and cordial greetings to our distinguished guest coming from afar. Dr. Harris has been long engaged in the study of TESL and related subject for many years. He has produced a number of important academic works in which are set forth valuable theories about the further development of English language teaching. We believe that his coming will be of great help to our teaching and research work. Dr. Harris will stay in our university for one week. He will give lectures to the undergraduates and the postgraduates as well. His lectures are primarily about teaching methodology, esp. teaching English in China. Finally, I would again express our welcome and hope that Dr. Harris will have a wonderful time here.

. Practical WritingSample 2: Answering Speech

Thank you for your nice welcome and reception. It has been a long cherished hope of ours to visit your college some day. We are fortunate to enjoy this rare chance today. We feel specially honored to be given this opportunity to meet with so many distinguished people. We are sure our stay here will be fruitful and enjoyable. We feel really overwhelmed by your kindness and hospitality you have given me. Allow me once again to express my sincere thanks to you all for everything you have done on my account. We shall treasure your friendship.

. Practical Writing3. Farewell Speech and Send-off Speech

(Send-off speech)Farewell speech

. Practical WritingSample 1 Send-off Speech

Ladies and gentlemen, How time flies! Just five weeks ago, we happily gathered here to give Prof. Harris a hearty welcome. It is with a special sense of cordiality and joy that we are now rallied here again with him after he has finished the Summer Training Program for College English Teachers in our province. He will leave for home tomorrow. Prof. Harris has been teaching for thirty years. He has rich experience in teaching. During the five weeks here, all of us were most favorably impressed by his notable qualities and great proficiency in teaching work. He was dutiful, painstaking and conscientious, working with all his energy. He has helped us with our pronunciation and intonation, and improved our abilities of listening, speaking, reading and writing. He has also given many lectures on Americas politics, economy, culture, history and habits and customs. He has done a good job of developing English teaching of our province. We, therefore, sincerely, hope that he will benefit us with some advice and valuable suggestions. And now at his parting, wed like to take this opportunity to express our profound respects and sincere thanks to him and wish him a pleasant trip. We hope he will come and join us again next year. Now lets invite Prof. Harris to speak to us.

. Practical Writing Sample 2 Farewell Speech

Dear Mr. Rorris,Ladies and gentlemen,Our visit to Changsha is drawing to a close and we will leave for America tomorrow.On the eve of our departure, it gives me a great deal of pleasure to say a few words here to express our appreciation for the hospitality you accorded us during our stay in Changsha. This visit was full of interesting things and memorable events. We know that this visit was quite fruitful and we are confident that it will be helpful to the further strengthening of our cooperation in the field of phone production.The Chinese people are hardworking, modest, brave, prudent and clever, which gave us very deep impression. My colleagues and I are looking forward to the pleasure of greeting you in America in the near future, so that we can push the relationship between us a step forward.Thank you again, we wish you good health and every success in the future.

. Exercises.Fill in the blanks with the words or expressions given below. Change the form where necessary.

1. If you want to __________ others, youd better find many things in common to talk about.2. The secretary will _________ the telephone message by letter.3. Silk is a _________ of Hangzhou city.4. Please _________ your parents.5. He is _________ with the repair of farm tools.6. Which do you _________, coffer or tea?7. Just feel at home and _________ some more fish.8. If I am not _________ when you phone, ask for my sister.9. The chairman said: Let me propose a _________ to the health of all the guests present here!10. We ______ Mr. Smith _________ at the airport.11. The dish looks really _________. I cant help watering.12. Miss Liu gave a warm reception to the visitor _________ the company..confirm make friends with help yourself to seeoffoccupy give my regards to on behalf of prefer toast available inviting specialty

. Exercises

II. Translate the following into Chinese or English.

1. 2.3. 4.5. 6. How time flies! Mr. Smith will leave home tomorrow. We are now here again to bid him farewell.7. Everything here has left a deep impression on me and Ill never forget my days in Shanghai.8. Please accept this little present as a token of my gratitude for all your help.9. No wonder people say the Chinese are hospitable.10. Anything is fine with me. Im not particular about food.

. ExercisesIII. Fill in the table below by giving the corresponding Chinese or English equivalents.

Visitor's Book table manners distinguished guests just a small helping the traffic jam

.Key to ExercisesI.1make friends with 2. confirm 3. specialty4. give my regards to 5. occupied 6. prefer7. help yourself to 8. available 9. toast10. sawoff 11. inviting 12. on behalf of

.Key to Exercises

II. 1. Do you have an appointment? 2. I'm happy to host this dinner party in honor of our friends. 3. Im afraid Mr. Liu is engaged at the moment. 4. I wish to propose a toast to our friendship and cooperation. 5. I hope you have a good trip home. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10

. Assignment

Write a toast on the party for the 10th anniversary ceremony of the company.