Unit 1 Invitation Etiquette
Unit Goals
What you should learn to do
Make an oral invitation to：
Invite people to join daily activities
Invite people to formal occasions
Make a written invitation
（write an invitation card or a letter) for：
Personal invitation
Official occasions
Give a reply to：
An oral invitation
A written invitation
What you should know about
Invitation culture： western and Chinese
Word order in a subordinate clause
Requirements:
After learning this unit, students should grasp：
1. Read and understand the meaning of invitation cards and letters
2. How to write invitation cards and letters and remember the patterns of invitation
cards and letters
3. How to invite people to party or dinner， and how to accept and decline invitations
4. The customs of inviting people in different countries
5. Important words， phrases and language points in the passage
In our daily life， we need to invite others to dinner or take part in all kinds of parties,
so we should know about western custom about invitation.
Foreign custom is much stricter than Chinese custom in the matter of replying to invitations。 When you receive an invitation you should answer is immediately，
saying definitely whether you are able to accept it or not.
If the invitation is given by word of mouth, in conversation or at a chance meeting，
you should answer at once whether you can come or not. If you cannot give an answer
at that time, you may say “May I let you know this evening” or some such words。
By studying this unit, we will know about how to invite the others， how to accept or
decline the invitation， and how to write invitation cards/letters。
Section I Talking Face to Face
1. Imitating Mini—Talks
2. Acting out the Tasks
3. Studying Email Information on the Internet
4. Following Sample Dialogues
5. Putting Language to Use
Section II Being All Ears
1. Learning Sentences for Workplace Communication
2. Handling a Dialogue
3. Understanding a Short Speech / Talk
Section III Trying your Hand
1. Practicing Applied Writing
2. Writing Sentences and Reviewing Grammar
Section IV Maintaining a Sharp Eye
Passage 1 ：
Information Related to the Reading Passage
Whether it is to a wedding, a dinner party， shower or gala event， an invitation
comes with some important obligations。 Here’s a quick guide to keep you on the
guest list.
1。 R。S.V.P
From the French “Répondez， s’il vous plait”, it means “Please reply.” This little code has been around for a long time and it’s definitely telling you that your
hosts want to know if you are attending。 Reply promptly, within a day or two of
receiving an invitation.
2。 How do I respond？ Reply in the manner indicated on the invitation。
R.S。V.P and no response card: a handwritten response to the host at the return
address on the envelope.
Response Card： fill in and reply by the date indicated and return in the enclosed
envelope.
R.S。V。P with phone number： telephone and make sure to speak in person —
answering machines can be unreliable。
R。S.V。P with e—mail： you may accept or decline electronically.
Regrets only： reply only if you cannot attend。 If your host doesn’t hear from
you, he is expecting you！
No reply requested？ Unusual， but it is always polite to let someone know your
intentions. A phone call would be sufficient。
3. Is that your final answer?
Changing a “yes” to a “no” is only acceptable on account of： illness or injury,
a death in the family or an unavoidable professional or business conflict. Call your
hosts immediately.
Canceling because you have a “better" offer is a surefire way to get dropped from
ALL the guest lists.
Being a “no show” is unacceptable。
Changing a “no” to a “yes” is OK only if it will not
upset the hosts’ arrangements.
4. “May I bring …?”
Don't even ask! An invitation is extended to the people the hosts want to invite —
and no one else.
… a date. Some invitations indicate that you may invite a guest or date (Mr。 John Evans and Guest） and when you reply， you should indicate whether you are
bringing someone, and convey their name.
… my children。 If they were invited, the invitation would have said so。
… my houseguest。 It’s best to decline the invitation， stating the reason。 This
gives your host the option to extend the invitation to your guests, or not。
5. Say “Thank You。”
Make sure to thank your hosts before you leave, and then again by phone
or note the next day。
Text Business Invitation
A case of mistaken identity!
Don’t worry， we’ve been assured that this mystery will be
solved in time for our
Holiday Office Party
We’re leaving the investigation to those who do it best。
Let’s get away from all those computers, papers and mess and come
to our office party in your best suit or dress。
Come join us and Toast the Season
Thursday, December 9th 2010 5:00 P.M。
The Columbia House – Penthouse Floor 485 Jefferson Plaza
Leonard， Barley, Travis, Bailey and Smith
Regrets only to Dianne 248-8522
It would be a crime to miss our party or not be on time
485 Jefferson Plaza
Business invitations can be informal or formal. Although invitations are usually
sent through the mail， informal invitations such as e-mail and phone invitations are
becoming more acceptable.
Invitation Timing
For most formal occasions， it’s best to invite guests three or four weeks in