Unit Six Invitation Part I Culture Background Part II Functional Language Part III Sample Dialogues Dialogue 1 Dialogue 2 Part IV Reproduction Part V Words, phrases and Sentences Part VI Listening Activities Activity 1 Activity 2 Part VII Speaking Practice Making a Dialogue Speaking English Through Picture Related Words and Phrases Translation

Part I Culture Background When you invite a westerner to dinner, it is necessary to extend the invitation a week or two in advance as he may have other plans. It would be considered inappropriate to give a last minute call to invite somebody over to dinner. The invitation may be given directly or over the telephone. For formal invitation a letter or an invitation card is sent. In this case the receiver should reply to confirm whether he comes or not. In the U.S., it is polite to accept or refuse an invitation the first time it is offered. And Americans usually give a reason when they have to say no to an invitation. It’s also common for them to bring a small gift to someone’s house for dinner to show appreciation. A bottle of wine, some flowers, or a box of candy are the most common gifts.

Part II Functional Language Invitations Are you free next Sunday? I hope you can join us to a birthday party. Is there anything I can bring? If you’re not doing anything tonight, how about having dinner tonight? May I invite you to my new room? When is convenient for you? Would you like to have lunch with me next weekend?

Responses I’m sorry, next Sunday is booked up. I will be glad to come. Just bring yourself. Fine with me. Nothing would please me more. How about next Saturday? Yes, I would.

Part III Sample Dialogues Dialogue 1 (Preston was on his way to his apartment. He just finished the conference held in International Exhibition Center. When he stopped to look at the watch, Ben saw him.) Ben: Preston! How are you? Preston: Fine, thanks. And you? Ben: Oh, not bad. Preston, I want to invite you to my party in my new firm. Preston: Ben, Your new firm? Ben: Yes. I’ve just opened. That’s why I am giving the party. I know you are busy but I’d like you to come. Preston: Oh, I’d be delighted to accept your invitation. When is it? Ben: This Saturday afternoon.

Preston: Well …. I’ll travel across Beijing with two friends from America on Sunday. Will the party go on very late? Ben: Until one in the morning. But you don’t have to stay that long. What about it? Preston: All right. I’ll come. When does the party start? Ben: Come any time after three. Preston: Good. I’m looking forward to seeing you again. It’s been a long time. Ben: Yes, it has. Here is my new address. May I show you my brochure? Preston: Oh, thank you. Ben: Ok, See you Saturday! Preston: See you.

Dialogue 2 (Preston, Sarah really had a good time in Ben’s party to celebrate his new company, and they met at the entrance of the office building the second day.) Preston: Hi. Ben. It's Preston. Thanks again for yesterday. We really enjoyed visiting your firm and learning more about your firm. Ben: Oh, you're welcome. Everybody in our firm enjoyed meeting you and your friends. Listen, are you free this evening? Preston: Yes. Ben: Well, how about coming over to our apartment for dinner? My wife is going to make dumplings tonight. I’d be delighted if you could come.

Preston: That sounds great. I'd really like to come. Can you tell me how I can get to your apartment? Ben: You can take the No. 101 bus and get off at Changan Nanlu. You can easily see our building. And please invite Sarah, too. Preston: That's very kind of you, Ben. Ben: Come around at 6:00. We're going to have an early dinner. Preston: Great. I'm looking forward to it. See you then.

Part IV Reproductions Try to reproduce the sample dialogues. Now you know the sample dialogues quite well. Why don't you try to make something like them. 1. Act out the dialogue in pairs. Don't look at the book and read. Put the book away and speak from memory. It doesn't matter if you make a few mistakes. When you forget a point, say something else that means almost the same thing. Or just leave the point alone and go on. 2. The following is an example of how you can talk about what happen between A and B in the street.

One day Ben invited Preston to his party in his new firm. Preston was surprised to hear that. Ben said the firm was newly opened and thus he had the party to celebrate, he really wished Preston to come and enjoy. Preston was very delighted to receive Ben’s invitation. When he knew that the party would be held on Saturday afternoon, he was a bit worried about the lateness of party because he had to travel across Beijing with his two American friends on Sunday. Ben comforted him that the party would last to 1 o’clock in the morning. But Preston didn’t have to stay so late. Preston thought that would be more convenient and asked the starting time. Before departing with each other, Ben gave Preston his new address and showed his expectation to Preston’s coming.

Activity 1 Directions: Listen to the five conversations, and choose the best answer for each of the questions you hear. It will be read twice. 1. What is the man going to do Saturday night? A: to have a party B: to give a dinner C: to go to the concert 2. What’s the time the woman suggests for their appointment? A: tomorrow morning B: tomorrow afternoon C: tomorrow evening

3. Why couldn ’ t the speaker see Dr. Cooper Monday afternoon? A: Dr. Cooper has a meeting Monday afternoon B: the speaker is busy Monday afternoon C: Dr. Cooper ’ s fully engaged Monday afternoon 4. What will the speaker do sometime this week? A: visit Mr. Keller B: telephone Mr Keller C: invite Mr Keller to dinner 5. What ’ s the relationship between the two speakers? A: employee and employer B: teacher and student C: doctor and patient

Activity 2 Directions: Listen to the following short passage and fill in the blanks with what you get from the tape. It will be read twice. The scheduling of appointments is very important in Western ______1_____. If you want to visit somebody or ____2_______somebody to do something, the best way is to make an ____3_______with him in advance, because most Westerners often keep a strict personal schedule. They don’t welcome _____4______visitors. Usually for a Westerner three schedules are kept: one for daily _____5______, one for weekly planning, and one for long term planning. You have to show ____6_______for their cultural custom. Often appointments are made on the phone by talking with him directly or with his secretary to ______7_____ the appointment. Remember to tell him or her directly why you want to meet him.

Before making an appointment, you must know the full name and title of the person you want to meet. If necessary, you can check with his secretary. All the appointments should be ____8_______. The time, address, names of the persons you are meeting, and spelling of the names should be taken down correctly. Don’t be late for the appointment. You have to get to the meeting place on time. If something urgent happens which prevents you from keeping the appointment, you can ___9________or cancel the appointment immediately. It is very impolite for you to ___10________an appointment.

Making a Dialogue You and your classmates are supposed to make up a dialogue according to the following information. You’ll celebrate your 18th birthday this Sunday. You want to invite your classmates to your party. So now, you are phoning them and informing them of the exact time and the place of the party.

Related Words and Phrases Invitations Responses Are you free this weekend? Nothing special, why?/ what did doing anything you have in mind? / I’m sorry, busy but I have an engagement Will you have free time this weekend? be occupied I should be delighted if you were able to come. very pleased I will be glad (delighted) to come. / I very happy will come with pleasure. / I will surely come.

I’d like you to come. I’d love to, but I have to work. / be my guest sorry, I can’t, but thanks anyway. join us / thank you for your invitation, but I have other plans. What is the best time for you? Any time after six will be fine. a good time

Translation 1) 我不知您周六能否与我们一起去游泳。 2) 如果您明来我家，我们将很高兴。 3 ）我非常高兴接受您的邀请。 4) 我倒是希望来，但我那天还有个会。 5 ）我们荣幸之至能参加这个会议。