GB4800 German Language and Culture Tools - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Title: GB4800 German Language and Culture Tools
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GB4800 GermanLanguage and Culture
ToolsBusiness Communication
- Jutta Ulrich
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Business Communication
- I. Social Conventions
- II. Meetings
- III. Speaking / Discussion Styles
- IV. Oral and Written Presentations
- V. Written Correspondence
- VI. Telephone Interaction
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I. Social Conventions
- 1. Appointments
- 2. Introductions
- 3. Dress Code, Posture
- 4. Offices and Space
- 5. Refreshments
- 6. Gifts
- 7. Making Conversation
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1. Appointments (1)
- The Calendar
- 2. April 2002
- Tuesday Week 14
- Office / Visiting times
- Monday Friday 8-5 (8 17 Uhr)
- Lunch 1213 Uhr or 13-14 Uhr
- Making Appointments
- In advance confirmation not necessary
- Specify agenda
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1. Appointments (2)
- Vacation Times
- Winter 24 Dec.-3 Jan.
- Summer June / July / August
6 weeks staggered - Holidays
- Easter Monday, Pentecost Monday, 1st and 2nd
Christmas day, New Years 1 January - 1 May (Labor), 3 October (German Unity)
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2. Introductions (1)
- Names, Titles
- Mr./Mrs. academic title family name
- Frau Krause Frau Doktor Müller
Herr Schmitt Herr Professor Lange - Formal forms of you and verb
- Haben Sie Zeit? Wie geht es Ihnen?
- Informal address for children, friends, family,
animals, God. Other uses are insulting. Hast du
Zeit? Wie geht es dir?
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2. Introductions (2)
- Introducing oneself
- Family name, handshake
- Business card often later
- Personal Space
- Northern European, North America close enough
for handshake, but not closer - No touching of body other than hand
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3. Dress Code, Posture
- Dress Code
- Neat, modern, business casual
- Colorful and varied, esp. for women
- Industry specific
- Posture
- Conservative, closed legs crossed at knee (not
at ankle), arms below shoulders - Standing / sitting straight
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4. Offices and Space
- Offices
- Open, with or without dividing walls
- Doors closed, locked at night
- Receptionist / guard at entrance but often no
receptionist in departments or on different
floors knock / walk in - Space
- Visitors should not adjust chairs or other
furniture (even if awkward) - Decorative items can be admired.
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5. Refreshments (1)
- Snacks
- Coffee, water, juice no water fountains
- Vending machines, cafeteria
- Alcohol
- With meals (beer, wine)
- Sparkling wine (Sekt) to celebrate
- Smoking
- Widespread observe no smoking signs
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5. Refreshments (2)
- Lunch
- Company cafeteria (Kantine)
- Local restaurant (short lunch)
- Restaurant
- Regional specialty
- Small talk, cultural topics
- Private Invitation
- Rare informal or formal
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6. Gifts (1)
- Business Meeting
- Small company memento (pen)
- Book, cultural/regional item (more established
relationship) - Private Invitation
- Cut flowers
- Wine specialty from home
- Customers
- Company memento (calendar, pen) or memorable
item meals
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6. Gifts (2)
- Media, press
- Gift / memento
- Employees
- Formal arrangements / contractual a year end or
Christmas bonus 13th salary - Company wide gift / memento
- Personal choice for boss, secretary
- Personal choice for co-workers
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7. Conversations (1)
- Small Talk
- Limited in the business environment no German
word - Greetings, perfunctory check on journey, hotel,
arrival - At meals little conversation about business
- Company information
- History, location
- Size, products
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7. Conversations (2)
- Topics
- Local and regional culture and history
- Events, customs, holidays
- Foods, weather
- Traveling, destinations
- Museums, exhibitions
- Local sights
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II. Meetings
- 1. Location
- 2. Length
- 3. Seating
- 4. Agenda
- 5. Moderator
- 6. Interaction
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Meetings (2)
- 1. Location
- Office, conference room
- Tour of the premises
- Restaurant
- 2. Length
- Predetermined
- Structured
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Meetings (3)
- 3. Seating
- Side by side cooperative
- 90 degree angle/corner conversational
appropriate for problem-solving - Opposite sides of table competitive, inhibits
problem-solving - 4. Agenda
- Predetermined
- Structured
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Meetings (4)
- 5. Moderator
- Participates in discussion
- Calls on speakers if necessary
- Responsible for agenda and timing
- 6. Interaction
- Lively, can get loud and seemingly heated
- All can speak, speaker can address anyone
- Issue focused, questions, criticism
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III. Speaking Styles
- 1. Polite language formal address, family name,
subjunctive verb forms - 2. Frequent use of please (bitte), thank you
(danke), excuse me (Entschuldigen Sie) - 3. Lively, can get loud and seemingly heated
- 4. All can speak, speaker can address anyone
- 5. Issue focused, questions, criticism
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IV. Presentations
- 1. Oral presentations
- Media
- Style formal, serious,
- Content details, history,
- Audience Interaction
- 2. Written Documents
