Politeness:
To put it politely…
Sie können etwas direkt und vehement fordern. Oder Sie bringen Ihre Bitte höflich vor und kommen damit ebenso gut, wenn nicht sogar schneller und besser ans Ziel. Testen Sie mit diesen
Übungen, wie Sie sich mit den unterschiedlichen Facetten der Höflichkeit auskennen.
1. I’m sorry (6 points)
In one module of the workshop, participants learn different words and phrases relating to the act of apologizing. Fill in each gap with the right word from the list below.
apologize excuse mean regret sorry unfortunately
2. Asking a favour (6 points)
A key aspect of politeness is learning how to ask someone for something. Choose the better option from the words or phrases in bold.
A. I’m afraid I can’t understand what you’re saying. Would/Don’t you mind speaking up a bit?
B. I’m dazzled by the sun, which is shining directly on to the screen. Are you able to / Could you lower the blinds?
C. This new multimedia device is really amazing, but I’ve never used one like it before. Who can/ does help me to get it set up?
D. May/Could you do me a favour, please? I left the extension cable in the meeting room on the first floor. It would be great if you could get it for me.
E. I don’t really understand what you mean.
Could/Can’t you give me another example?
F. You’ll find snacks and coffee in the hall. However, there’s a workshop going on in the next room. So, please, will/could you help yourself at the buffet and then go to the lounge?
3. Good manners (6 points)
Another module in the course deals with good manners. What would you say in each of the following situations? Unscramble the sentences. In each sentence, one of the words does not belong.
A. All the chairs are taken in the room where the presentation is being held. A colleague with a broken leg enters the room. You say: offer / my / you / would / may / I / seat
?
B. An employee of the parcel service is about to enter the office building with lots of parcels on a trolley. You say: the / just / me / let / door / have / for / you / open
.
C. You see a colleague on her way to the meeting room. She is carrying a bag full of printed materials in one hand and a laptop in the other hand. You say: carry / bag / can / your / I / you
?
D. A colleague is very busy. He has to finish a report by 3 p.m. and doesn’t have time to go for lunch. You say: you / the / anything / canteen / get / I / can / from / want
?
E. You have spilled coffee over a colleague’s desk. You wipe it up with a tissue and apologize. You say: what / make / up / do / because / can / I / to / for / my / carelessness
?
F. A colleague is struggling with the new espresso machine in the canteen. You know how to operate it. You say: show / you / may / how / it / I’ll / works
.
4. That’s very kind of you (8 points)
Tom Martins, the coach of one of the modules, meets Janet Baker, an assistant, in the institute’s hall. In the dialogue, the sentences in bold are not where they should be. Put them in the right place.
Coach: Excuse me. Could you tell me where module D is being held?
Assistant: Yes, of course. It’s in room 205 on the second floor. (A) May I ask you a question?
Coach: Thanks. Assistant: (B) I’ll show you how to get there.
Aren’t you Mr Martins, the coach of this module?
Coach: Yes, I am. And you’re Janet Baker, aren’t you? I remember your photo on the institute’s website.
Assistant: Yes, I’m Ms Winter’s assistant. If you need any help, just ask me.
Coach: (C) I’ll get it for you from my office.
It’s the first time I’ve been here and I’m not familiar with the equipment…
Assistant: No problem. (D) You’re welcome.
Coach: …and how everything works!
Assistant: (E) Oh, let me check this with the caterer.
Coach: By the way, do you have a list of participants? Ms Winter promised to send it to me by email, but I haven’t received it yet.
Assistant: The list should be in room 205. If not, (F) I’d be glad to show you where everything is.
Coach: And what about coffee and lunch breaks?
Assistant: (G) That’s very kind of you.
Coach: Thanks a lot, Janet. Assistant: (H) Well, don’t hesitate to ask me.
5. That’s really quite difficult! (6 points)
6. A self-assessment questionnaire (12 points)
7. Say it in style (6 points)
Barbara Jäger, from a German company, sends a letter to Janet Baker confirming the participation of her company’s employees. Translate these standard German phrases (in brackets) into their English equivalents.
Dear Ms Baker
Thank you very much for sending us the registration forms. (A) ( Ich freue mich, Ihnen mitzuteilen)
that all our sales reps (12 people) who took part in the workshop in September will also participate in your workshop in December.
As you said, there will be a maximum of 12 people in a group and if there are more people interested in the workshop, they will be divided into several groups.
(B) ( Unsere Mitarbeiter(innen) würden es schätzen)
if you could perhaps assign them to Mr Martins’s group, as they already know him from the first workshop.
(C) ( Ich wäre Ihnen dankbar)
if you could send us a detailed agenda as
soon as possible.
(D) ( Darf ich Sie ebenfalls bitten) to send your invoice to our head office in Frankfurt (P.O. Box 100303, D-60583 Frankfurt), to the attention of Wolfgang Schmidt, our head of accounting?
(E) ( Rufen Sie mich einfach kurz an oder schicken Sie mir eine E-Mail)
if you need any further information from us.
(F) ( Ich hoffe, bald von Ihnen zu hören.)
Kind regards
Barbara Jäger, head of human resources