47 topics (including MP3)

Author: Wu Zhongcheng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-01-01
Features: Do you want to communicate freely in English with foreigners? Do you want to understand the social etiquette of English-speaking countries? Do you want to become a successful socialite? I believe the answer is definitely yes. However, in daily communication, we often find that sentences organized with standard grammatical structures are frequently misunderstood or unclear to foreigners, leading to jokes or unnecessary misunderstandings. In fact, this problem arises because the sentences we construct according to the rigid rules taught in class and our inherent Chinese thinking patterns are not the common spoken expressions used in daily communication in English-speaking countries. Over the centuries, spoken English has developed its own patterns and rules. Only by continuously learning and exploring, following the customs and language habits of English-speaking countries, can we speak authentic, "genuine" English. This is precisely why we advocate "situational teaching." The purpose of writing this book is to enable learners to speak fluent English spontaneously at the right time, in the right place, and in any situation with native speakers.
The book is divided into four parts. Part 1 is Interpersonal Communication. It includes 14 aspects such as greetings, introductions, invitations, dates, farewells, small talk, seeking help, and asking for directions. Part 2 is Scene-Based Communication and Etiquette. It includes 11 aspects such as job interviews, medical visits, parties, newborns, visiting the sick, mourning etiquette, birthday parties, wedding etiquette, and shopping interactions. Part 3 is Phone Communication. It includes 10 aspects such as answering the phone, leaving voicemail, making reservations, booking calls, and phone shopping. Part 4 is Emotional Expression. It includes 12 aspects such as likes and dislikes, happiness and unhappiness, certainty and uncertainty, agreement and disagreement, and belief and disbelief.
During the editing process, this book received meticulous review from the American scholar Vickie Wen, whose valuable suggestions were greatly appreciated. We also thank her and Stephen Lo for the recordings they made for this book, which have made the language more authentic and the scenarios more realistic. This book comes with a free MP3 disc, making it an excellent companion for self-study.