I．Useful Expressions
1．—How are you doing？你好吗？
—Fine，thanks．How about you？／And you？很好，谢谢。你好吗？
2．—Excuse me，do you mind if Isit here？请问我坐在这儿你介意吗？
—Of course not．Sit down please．当然不介意。请坐。
3．—Excuse me，haven't we met somewhere before？对不起，我们是不是以前在什么地方见过
面？
—Maybe，but I don't remember where．可能是的，但我记不清在何处了。
4．—Why not change our subject？I'm not interested in talking about science．我们为何不换个话题？我对谈科学不感兴趣。
—Well，what about travel？嗯，谈旅行怎么样？
5．—How are things？你（情况）好吗？
—Everything is fine．一切都好。
6．—What's your surname（last name），please？请问，您贵姓？
—It's Wilson．我姓威尔逊。
7．—What's your first name（given name），please？请问，你叫什么名字？
—It's Bill．我叫比尔。
8．—Pardon？／Ibeg your pardon？／Beg your pardon？对不起，你说什么？
—I was just asking when you're leaving．我刚才是问你什么时候动身。
II．Cultural Information
When we meet a foreigner，we should know how to start a conversation and how to keep the conversation going，but at the same time，keep it short and simple，so the person you are talking to wouldn't feel bored．To start a conversation with a foreigner，for example，there is a right way and there is a wrong way．The wrong way is to walk up to a foreigner and say，“Hey，can Iteach you Chinese and you teach me English？”Ha！It happens too many times．You know，the rightway is to say to a foreigner，“Oh，good morning．Welcome to Beijing．”And then give a nice polite introduction．That person will think，“Oh，this is a nice person．”and will say，“Oh，good morning．Nice to meet you，too．”The next thing is to ask questions，such as“Where are you from？”In this way，the conversation goes along very well．And you can also talk about weather．
You shouldn't keep others too long from what they are going to do．You mustn't ask some private affairs（隐私的事情）of others．Don't ask a lady her age．Don't ask a person something about money，religion or politics．
