074_Welcoming a Visitor

074_Welcoming a Visitor

Greeting and welcoming a visitor to your company is something we often have to do. This episode will look at the standard patterns and phrases used in English to help start a successful visit to your company.

Kevin:

Hello and welcome to Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin Podcasting episode 74. A great place to review English words and phrases. My name is Kevin Jones. In this business edition of the podcast we will look at how to greet a visitor to your company and how to make light conversation or small talk, before the meeting. In podcast 73 the visitor passed through a reception area. In this episode, a visitor is meeting the person he has a meeting with. When you meet someone for a business meeting it is standard to make casual conversation before getting down to the business talk. This casual conversation is called small talk.
First, listen to this conversation and notice some of the questions used for small talk.

Executive:

Welcome to Nintendo.

Visitor:

Thanks very much. It’s nice to be here.

Executive:

s this your first time to Kyoto?

Visitor:

Yes, it is.

Executive:

Did you have a good trip?

Visitor:

Yes, thanks. It was fine.

Executive:

What time did you arrive last night?

Visitor:

Oh, my Shinkansen arrived at about seven o’clock.

Executive:

That’s good. Not too late, then. And did you find your way here all right?

Visitor:

It was no problem at all. Your staff sent me very detailed instructions.

Executive:

That’s good. How did you get here — by taxi?

Visitor:

Actually it was such a nice morning I walked from my hotel.

Executive:

Really. That’s nice. Where are you staying?

Visitor:

At the Hyatt Regency Kyoto.

Executive: And how is it? Is it comfortable?

Visitor:

Yes, thank you. It’s very comfortable.

Executive:

I’m pleased to hear that. So how long are you here for?

Visitor:

Just two days.

Executive:

And will you have time to look around Kyoto while you’re here?

Visitor:

Yes, I hope to.

Executive:

Well, I’m sure we can help arrange something if you like. Can I get you something to drink before we start?

Visitor:

Yes, please. green tea would be nice.

Executive:

Oh, you like green tea?

Visitor:

My wife says it’s healthy.

Executive:

I think she’s right. OK, I’ll get that for you. Now, did you receive the meeting agenda I sent you?

Visitor:

Yes, I did, thanks.

Executive: And would you like to make any changes?

Visitor:

No, everything seems fine.

Executive:

Oh, good, so perhaps we can get started.

Kevin:

Did you notice all the small talk questions used by the executive? They showed interest in the guest and created a good atmosphere before the meeting. Let’s practice some of these basic questions. The first one is very standard.

Executive:

Is this your first time to Kyoto? Is this your first time to Kyoto?

Kevin:

Now you try. This time say Tokyo.
Is this your first time to Tokyo?

Next he asks about the visitors trip and arrival.

Executive:

Did you have a good trip?

Visitor:

Yes, thanks. It was fine.

Executive:

What time did you arrive last night?

Kevin:

Did you have a good trip? What time did you arrive last night? Next the executive asks the visitor if it was difficult to find the office.

Executive:

And did you find your way here all right? How did you get here — by taxi?

Kevin:

And did you find your way here all right? To find you way, means to find a place you are trying to get to. Did you find your way here all right? Next the executive ask about the hotel.

Executive:

Where are you staying?

Visitor:

At the Hyatt Regency Kyoto.

Executive:

And how is it? Is it comfortable?

Visitor:

Yes, thank you. It’s very comfortable.

Kevin:

Where are you staying? How is it? Is it comfortable? The executive then ask about the visitors plans.

Executive:

I’m pleased to hear that. So how long are you here for?

Visitor:

Just two days.

Executive:

And will you have time to look around Kyoto while you’re here?

Visitor:

Yes, I hope to.

Kevin:

The executive then offers a drink to the visitor and begins the meeting.
Always remember to start a meeting a little slowly, make small talk to show interest in your guest and make them feel comfortable. Go back and listen to this conversation again and practice asking the small talk questions.
That’s all the time we have for this podcast. You can find a transcript for this podcast and listen to past episodes at www.nichibei.ac.jp . And be sure to check out the classes for the next term at Nichibei. We have classes in business, conversation, TOEIC, art and history and others. Find out why Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin is a great place to build you future. Join us again for podcast 75 when we will take a visitor on a company tour.
This podcast is a production of Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin.