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How to Treat Customers in English

2022.06.13

“May I help you?”


Many Japanese students have learnt “may I help you?” as “irasshaimase” in Japanese, but the two phrases are not exactly the same. Imagine you work at a corner shop. When you find customers who are obviously looking for something, you should offer help with the phrase, “may I help you?” While Japanese clerks say “irasshaimase” as a greeting to each customer coming into the shop, “may I help you?” is used for offering help. If the customer does not need any help, you can say, “please feel free to look around” with a smile. Learning the correct English expressions for the service industry is essential if you are to deal politely with foreign customers.

 

Speaking English while providing service can be tricky. Let me introduce an awkward experience as an example. Once, I was working at a high-end brand boutique at a department store. This was a decade ago in Nagoya, and wealthy people often came to such posh department stores. One day, a foreign lady, who was nicely dressed and looked sophisticated, came into our section and seemed to be interested in our well-designed dresses. I approached her and asked, "May I help you?" in English. She replied, “Yes.” I expected this answer, but I didn’t know how to respond. Do you see? I got a little nervous because I had to continue talking with her with my poor English. I thought, “would it be possible for me to explain, recommend or amuse this customer with my English?” That was my first time to take care of a foreign customer. In contrast to my tension, she was relaxed and just enjoyed looking at the dresses. “You can try it on if you like,” I said, and she smiled and took down two dresses that were hanging on the rack. I can't remember what I suggested or whether I adjusted the dress size for her. I was too nervous. Fortunately, she was satisfied with one of the dresses (and seemingly my attitude, too) and bought it. I was relieved and decided to review some English phrases for customers that I could use next time.

 

If you are working part-time, you might have opportunities to take care of foreign customers. One of my students asked me an English phrase for a cashier the other day. She wanted to know the phrase, “Would you like to pay by cash or credit card?” By learning like this, if you are well-prepared, you can be a great clerk! Please check out these websites for more useful English for the service industry:

 

https://www.thoughtco.com/beginner-dialogues-in-a-shop-1210040


https://www.phrasemix.com/collections/english-expressions-that-waiters-waitresses-and-restaurant-s

 



Photo credit Liza Summer@Pexels.com

 

 

Q1: According to the article, what does a Japanese clerk’s “irasshaimase” mean?

 

Q2: What did the foreign customer purchase in the Nagoya department store?

 

Q3: How did the author feel when providing service to the foreign customer?

 

 

Scroll down for answers 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A1: A greeting for each customer coming into the shop

 

A2: One dress

 

A3: She felt nervous.

 

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