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Topic 1: Greetings
1. History or Origins
Greetings have existed for thousands of years and have evolved with culture, technology, and human needs. They began
as practical gestures and later became symbols of politeness and respect.
• Ancient Civilizations: In ancient Greece, the handshake was a peaceful gesture to show that one carried no
weapons. Similarly, bowing in ancient Asia symbolized submission and humility.
• Medieval Times: Knights lifted their visors to reveal their faces as a sign of trust — a gesture that later became
the military salute.
• Verbal Greetings:
o Hello comes from Old English “hǽl”, meaning “health” or “good wishes.”
o Hi and Hey are more modern, informal greetings that became popular in American English in the 19th
and 20th centuries.
• Technological Evolution: With the rise of text messaging and the internet, new greeting forms like "GM" (Good
Morning), emojis , or GIFs have emerged.

2. Definition
A greeting is a word, phrase, gesture, or digital expression used to acknowledge another person. Greetings help initiate
conversations, express kindness, and build human connection. Depending on the context, greetings can be:
• Verbal – Spoken (e.g., “Hello!”, “Good morning.”)
• Non-verbal – Gestures (e.g., wave, bow, smile)
• Digital – Messages, emojis, video calls
Greeting someone is often the first step to building respect and trust in both social and professional interactions.

3- Types of Greetings and Utilities practical examples.

A. Verbal Greetings
1- Formal greetings: is a polite and respectful way of saying hello, typically used in professional, academic, or
unfamiliar social settings. These greetings show courtesy and are often used with people you don’t know well, in
job interviews, with teachers, supervisors, or in business meetings.
Vocabulary of formal greeting
Good morning Welcome
I hope you are well Good evening
How do you do? How are you today?
It’s a pleasure Charming
Good afternoon Nice to meet you
Examples
1. Good morning, Mr. Thompson. I hope you are doing well.
2. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Dr. Rivera.
3. How do you do? My name is Susan Clark.
4. Good evening, everyone. Thank you for joining the meeting.
5. Nice to meet you, Professor Lee. Welcome to our university.
2- Informal Greetings: An informal greeting is a casual and friendly way to say hello. It is used with people you
know well, such as friends, classmates, family members, or people of the same age or status.
Informal Greetings vocabulary
How’s it going? What’s up?
How di Yo!
What’s new? Hi
Long time no see Hey
How are you? Hiya!
Examples
1. Hey! What’s up? I haven’t seen you in days.
2. Hi, Sarah! How’s it going?
3. Yo! Are you ready for the game tonight?
This material was created and edited by teacher: Roberto Carlos Castillo
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4. How di! Martha Long time no see you.

5. Hiya! Charles What’s new with you?
3- Special occasions greetings: are expressions used to celebrate or acknowledge important dates, events, or
personal milestones. These greetings are meant to show joy, kindness, and connection during holidays, birthdays,
and other special moments.
Special occasions greetings vocabulary
Happy birthday Happy New Year
Merry Christmas Happy holidays
Congratulations Good luck
Happy anniversary Best wishes
Welcome back Have a great day
Examples:
1. Happy birthday! I hope you have an amazing year ahead.
2. Merry Christmas! Wishing you joy and peace this season.
3. Congratulations on your graduation! You did it!
4. Happy New Year! May 2025 bring you happiness and success.
5. Welcome back! We missed you while you were away.
4- Follow-up Phrases: Are expressions that are commonly used after a greeting to continue a conversation, show
interest, or ask about the other person. These phrases help keep the interaction going in a natural and polite way.
Follow-up Phrases vocabulary
How’s your day? How was your weekend?
How are you? How’s everything?
How have you been? It’s been a while
Nice to see you What’s going on?
What’s new? How’s life?
Examples:
1. Hi, Mark! How are you?
2. Hello! Nice to see you again. How have you been?
3. Hey! What’s going on with you lately?
4. Good morning! How was your weekend?
5. Hi! It’s been a while. How’s everything?
5- Greetings in Other Languages: Are ways of saying hello or showing respect in cultures and languages different
from English. Learning these greetings helps promote cultural awareness, inclusion, and communication across
borders.
Greetings in Other Languages:
• Hola – Spanish (Hello) • Konnichiwa – Japanese
• Bonjour – French (Hello) • Nǐ hǎo – Chinese (Hello)
• Hallo – German (Hello) • Olá – Portuguese (Hello)
• Ciao – Italian (Hi) • Salam – Arabic (Hello)
Examples
1. When I travel to Mexico, I always say “Hola” to greet people.
2. In France, people commonly say “Bonjour” in the morning.
3. My Japanese friend greeted me with “Konnichiwa” and a small bow.
4. During our virtual meeting with German students, we started by saying “Hallo!”
5. We learned to say “Nǐ hǎo” in Chinese class today.
B. Non-Verbal Greetings: Non-verbal greetings are physical actions, gestures, or facial expressions used to say hello or
show respect without speaking. They are often influenced by cultural traditions and can be just as meaningful as verbal
greetings. These types of greetings are especially important when there is a language barrier or in formal situations.
Non-Verbal Greetings:
• Handshake: Common in professional settings.
• Bowing: Traditional in Japan, Korea, and other Asian countries.
• Waving: Universal, used from a distance.

This material was created and edited by teacher: Roberto Carlos Castillo
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• Hug/Kiss on the cheek or mouth: Common in Latin America and Europe.

• Fist bump / High five: Informal, friendly.
Examples
1. In business meetings, people often greet each other with a firm handshake.
2. In Japan, a respectful bow is a traditional way to greet someone.
3. When I saw my friend across the street, I waved and smiled.
4. My cousin greeted me with a big hug and a kiss on the cheek.
5. After winning the match, the teammates gave each other high fives and fist bumps.
Cultural note: In some cultures (e.g., Japan, Saudi Arabia), physical contact is limited, and eye contact or distance
matters.
C. Digital Greetings: are expressions used to greet others through electronic communication, such as texting, email,
social media, or video calls. These greetings have become more common with the rise of technology and remote
interaction. They help maintain connection when people are not physically together.
• Text/Chat:
o Hi / Hey!
o GM (Good Morning) , GE (Good Evening) (Good Night)
o Emojis:
o lol: laughing out loud. /omg: oh my god. / btw: by the way. / b4n: bye for now.

• Video Calls/Meetings:
o “Hi everyone!” / “Can you hear me?”
o “Hope you're doing well.”

Why Are Greetings Important?

• Start conversations and social interactions.
• Show politeness and respect.
• Avoid misunderstandings in multicultural environments.
• Create a welcoming, warm atmosphere.
• Build trust in business and teamwork.

Modern Considerations
• COVID-19 Impact:
o Replaced handshakes with elbow bumps or simple waves.
o Increased the use of non-contact greetings.
• Respect and Inclusivity:
o Ask before using physical greetings: “Do you prefer a handshake or a wave?”
o Use greetings that make people feel safe and included.

This material was created and edited by teacher: Roberto Carlos Castillo
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• Opiniones de la clase:
1- ¿Te gustó el tema de la clase? ¿Por qué sí o por qué no?
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2- ¿Qué fue lo que más te gustó de la clase?
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3- ¿Qué fue lo que menos te gustó o se te hizo difícil?

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4- ¿Te gustó trabajar en grupo o con ayuda del docente?

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5- ¿Qué parte de la clase te ayudó más a aprender: las imágenes, la lectura, el shadowing, ¿el worksheet u otra
actividad?
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6- ¿Crees que aprendiste algo nuevo hoy? ¿Qué fue?

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7- ¿Qué sugerencias tienes para mejorar las próximas clases?

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8- ¿Te gustaría seguir aprendiendo sobre temas similares? ¿Cuál te gustaría que fuera el próximo tema?
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9- ¿Cómo te sentiste durante la clase? (Feliz, motivado, confundido, aburrido, etc.)

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10- ¿Hay algo más que quieras decirle al docente?

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This material was created and edited by teacher: Roberto Carlos Castillo