Student Handbook - NW Services

NWS STUDENT HANDBOOKIMPORTANT TIPS ABOUT AMERICANS “Thank you” is a very important expression and used frequently. When aperson does even a small favor for you they should be thanked. Use “please,” “excuse me,” “no thank you,” and “you‟re welcome,” often andyou will receive a positive response. A common greeting is “How are you?” An apology can go a long way to dissolve hurt feelings, even if you are not toblame. Americans are quite informal in speech, dress and posture. Americans think conflicts are best solved by open discussions. In a typical conversation no one speaks for very long at once. It goes backand forth like a ping-pong game. Americans usually like to get right to the point in conversations. Be on time. Americans will feel offended if you are more than 10-15 minuteslate. If you must be late, try to let the person know. You must be on time toclass or you might be marked absent. It is particularly rude to accept an invitation to a person‟s home and then notappear. Treat females with the same respect as males. Treat clerks, waiters, secretaries, taxi drivers and other such peoplecourteously. Stand about an arm‟s length away when you are talking to someone. When walking, if you bump into someone say “excuse me.” Be honest; don‟t tell someone only what you think they want to hear.Revised December 200936