Lesson 12B2 Advanced
Cultura y Etiqueta
Intercultural etiquette
Lesson 12 · B2 Advanced · 60 min · English → Español
Today's plan
- Punctuality and schedules~10 min
- Greetings and physical contact~15 min
- Business lunches~15 min
- Directness and tone~10 min
- Review quiz~10 min
Punctuality and schedules
| Concept | Spain | LATAM (general) |
|---|---|---|
Puntualidad | Expected for meetings, but 5 mins late is acceptable. | More flexible, but depends on the country/company. |
Horario laboral | Often split (jornada partida) ending later (6-7 PM). | Often continuous (9-5 or 9-6). |
Agosto | Business slows down significantly. | Normal month (summer is Dec/Jan in South America). |
Greetings and physical contact
El apretón de manos
Handshake (standard in formal settings).
Dos besos
Two kisses (Spain: very common even in business, man-woman or woman-woman).
Un beso
One kiss (LATAM: common, often cheek-to-cheek).
El tuteo temprano
Early use of "tú" (very common in Spain now).
Business lunches
| Español | English |
|---|---|
La sobremesa | Time spent chatting after the meal (crucial for relationship building). |
Invitar (pagar la cuenta) | The person who invited usually pays the bill. |
Temas de conversación | Personal life, football, food (avoid politics initially). |
Directness and tone
| Concept | Spain | LATAM (general) |
|---|---|---|
Decir "No" | Can be direct and blunt. | Often indirect to save face (e.g., "lo vemos", "tal vez"). |
Tono | Louder, more interruptions, less "por favor". | Softer, more polite forms (diminutives, "mande"). |
Review Quiz
What is the "sobremesa"?
Notes