英語でのビジネス場面で良い印象を与えることについて - Making a Good First Impression

ビジネス場面で初めて人に会う時、どういうマナーが必要になるのか。
日本人同士、初めて会う時に決っている流れがあるので、それを覚えればスムーズに行く可能性が上がる。英語でビジネスを行う時も決っている流れがある。
例えば、紹介する時や紹介される時に、どういう点に気を付けたほうが良いのか。
英語が母国語の人、特に「北米の人」に初めて会う時は、四つの点に注意が必要だ。

4 Points for Making a Good Impression
良い印象を与えるための四つのポイント

• Smile!
  笑顔
  
• Make Eye Contact
  目を見る
  
• Have Good Posture
  正しい姿勢
  
• Give a firm handshake
  正しい握手
  

When meeting someone for the first time showing a sincere smile and making eye contact shows that you are both friendly and trustworthy. In North American culture, a warm smile can really help to give a good first impression.

It says that you are truly happy to meet them, whereas a serious expression can give an impression of unfriendliness.
People who do not look you in the eye show that they either lack self-confidence or are not trustworthy.
Having good posture is also important.
Standing up straight shows both confidence and respect to the person you are meeting.

ビジネス場面で北米の人と初めて会う時に
米国文化では暖かい微笑みを見せることによって、良い印象を与えることが出来る。
本当に「会えて嬉しい」という気持ちを表情で表し、逆に真剣な顔は冷たい印象を与えてしまう。
目を合わせてくれない人は、自信不足かそれとも信頼できない人に思われる。
正しい姿勢も大切だ。
真っ直ぐな姿勢で立つことは、自信を持っているということと、相手に関心を持っているということを表す。

Your handshake also affects other's impression of you.
For example, if your handshake is weak, they might think that you have a weak character.
If your handshake is strong, they will think you are confident.
If your handshake is too strong, they will think you are overbearing or too aggressive.
Therefore your handshake should be not too weak, not too strong, but firm.

握手の仕方も印象に影響する。
握手が弱かったら、意思が弱い人に思われるかもしれない。
ちょうど良い強さであれば、自信がある人に思われる。
強すぎたら、もしかして強引な人と思われるかもしれない。

The Proper Handshake
正しい握手の仕方

1. Extend your hand so that the "V" or web between the thumb and index fingers meet
   お互いの、親指と人差し指の間の『v字』になっているところをあわせる
   
2. Wrap your fingers around the other person's fingers while keeping your own together
   相手の人差し指から小指までの４本の指を、自分の手で包むように握る
   
3. When you grip, squeeze firmly and hold while...
   握った瞬間に少しだけギュッと力をこめてそのまま．．．
   
4. Shaking up and down two to three times then squeeze a little more to signal the end of the shake
   ２，３回上下に小さく振り、そして最後に小さくギュッと握れば終わりの合図となる
   
   
   Hint: If you have sweaty hands, wipe it before shaking
   ヒント：もしも手のひらが汗でぬれていたらさっと水気を拭いておく

This is also published on the Business English Channel on iKnow!

Introduction to Extensive Reading:
Reading for Pleasure!

Do you enjoy reading in your native language?
日本語の読書は好きですか。

Do you wish you could read more in English?
もっと英語で読めるようになりたい？

Have you ever bought an English book and started reading, but had to give up because it was too difficult?
英語の本を買って読もうとしたら難しくて諦めたことありますか？

If you answered yes to any of these questions then Extensive Reading is for you!
「はい」と答えたら、あなたには「多読」が必要です！

What is Extensive Reading?
多読とは何ですか


Extensive Reading, often called "Graded Reading", is reading for pleasure in a second language.
We have to learn basic vocabulary and grammar before we can understand a written or spoken language.
Once we have learned the basic vocabulary and grammar, we need to read and listen to the language used in different contexts to learn it deeply.

The easiest way to do this is to read and listen to simple stories.
Graded Readers are a great way to do this.
They are called “graded” because they are written for levels or “grades”.
These levels are defined by the number of “headwords” and by the level of the grammar.

Very simply, “headwords” are simply individual vocabulary words.
For example, in the basic level of most graded reader series, there are about 250 headwords.
The books or stories in that level are mostly written using only the vocabulary from that group of words.
The grammar at each level is also limited.

SEG (Scientific Education Group) or SSS英語学習法研究会 in Japanese, publishes a series of books about Extensive Reading.
They call it めざせ100万語! "Toward One Million Words!".
The goal is to read a million words in English in a year.
To do this they have three guidelines or 「多読３原則」:

1. 辞書は引かない => Don't use a dictionary
2. 分からないところは飛ばす =>　Skip over parts you don't understand
3. つまらなくなったら止める　=> If it's boring, stop reading it

You won't need a dictionary if you are reading a book at your level.
If you do come to a part you don't understand, skip over it and keep reading.
Remember, Extensive Reading is reading for pleasure so if it's boring or too difficult, stop reading it!
There are many interesting graded readers for you to choose from!

Question of the Week:
What are your experiences with reading in English?
What kind of books do you like to read?

I'm looking forward to reading your comments!

I recommend the following books and links:

100万語多読入門 by 古川 昭夫 (Akira Furukawa)
This book is a great introduction to Extensive Reading.
It has samples of graded readers from different levels and publishers to help you find your level and get started reading.

めざせ100万語! 読書記録手帳 by SSS英語学習法研究会
I recommend this notebook to all my students and often include it in class materials.
This book helps you to set reading goals, keep track of the books you read, and even includes almost all the data for the graded reader series including "yomiyasui level", headwords, and total words for every individual book.

英語多読完全ブックガイド [改訂第2版] By 古川 昭夫/神田 みなみ (Akira Furukawa & Minami Kanda)
This is a great resource with lists of most graded readers, their levels, total number of words, and ratings.
It also includes a lot of children and teen literature as well as well known books like the Harry Potter Series.

I have created a Graded Reader Store to make it easier for students to find and purchase books through Amazon.co.jp.

However, these books are also available at most Maruzen or Kinokuniya bookstores in Tokyo!

Enjoy reading in English!

Matthew