Program Outline

Posted on June 23, 2005

Language (90 minutes)

• Self-introduction
"Hajimemashite.
IBM no _________desu/tomoushimasu.
Douzo yoroshiku onegaishimasu."

Translation:
"How do you do?
I am _________ from IBM.
Glad to meet you."

The participants practice each line and the instructor asks participants to introduce themselves.

• Greetings
Practice general greetings such as “Good morning,” “Hello,” “Thank you,” “Excuse me,” and “Good-bye.”

• Useful expressions
Practice useful and frequently-used expressions both in business settings and also for everyday conversation.
Q&A

• Introduce resources and online references using Kazuko Suzuki blog website: http://ksuzuki.blog.uvm.edu/ibm/

Culture (150 minutes)
Introduce, discuss, and/or practice about:

“Customs and Manners” (video-29 minutes)
1) Bowing
2) Hanko
3) Business Meetings
4) Footwear
5) Mealtime/Taboo
6) Gifts
7) Awareness of others
8) Socializing

Japanese mentality
• Inside and outside
• Group harmony
• Real intentions and stated principles
• Ambiguity
• Modesty
• Moral obligation
• Proverbs

“Japanese family; the lifestyle of the businessman” (video-13 minutes)
• Generational gap
• Education
• Life of businessman

Japanese at Business Environment
• Working style
• Business etiquette
• Japanese in US – Mr. Saitoh, a Japanese IBM employee and his wife will speak for 10-15 minutes about their experiences at IBM and experiences of living in Japan for 20 years.

Alternatives – time permitting: review language section