When you are learning English, and in your ESL programs, you will come in contact with thousands of new words and it will be very difficult to remember all of them, thus, you have to choose the words you truly want to learn.

There are 3 things you must consider when learning new vocabulary:

1.How do you identify the words you should learn?
You must think about how useful a word would be to you.  Some words may work for casual and informal talk while others are better for formal and serious conversation.  Think of how often and where a word or expression is used, then, you will know if it is worth learning.

The best way to learn new vocabulary is to study words in context; however, it may be hard to decide which words to learn.  Words fall into two categories:

-Passive vocabulary (receptive)
-Active vocabulary (productive)

Your purpose for learning English will very much determine the level of effort you should put into learning active vocabulary.  You have to understand the contextual nature of vocabulary, how a word is employed, and why, where and when it is used.

2.What do you have to learn about a word?
In a dictionary you will find information about the word’s:

-Spelling
-Meaning
-Pronunciation
-Part of speech
-Inflected forms
-Grammatical features
-Collocations
-Similar and opposite words
-Examples on how to use it

You should write the words that interest you down, along with all this information or part of it; it all depends on what you need.  You must consider if you want the word to become a part of your active vocabulary or if you need to understand it when you read or listen.  If you want it to be a part of your active vocabulary, write down everything that is listed above.

3.How should you undertake learning new words?
Words have to be learned in context; never memorize them.  Pay attention to how and where a word or expression is used.

Look for interesting articles in newspapers or magazines. Listen to English as much as you can, in the radio, on TV, at the movies, at bars, at supermarkets, or in CDs.

Write down the new words you hear, sort them in alphabetical order, and look them up.  It may be easier if you write down the words by date, so that you remember what happened the day you heard it, but you should find the way that works best for you.  You can record the words along with useful information to listen regularly until you learn it.  The key is to get organized!

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.englishlci.com as the original source).

Tags: english vocabulary learning, esl class, esl programs, esl vocabulary, learn english vocabulary, learn english words, learn words english, learning english vocabulary

Every executive who decides to take a business English course in the United States will enjoy the opportunity to study current and relevant matters, to interact with other business professionals, and to focus on cultural awareness and presentation abilities.

It is the perfect occasion to encourage a global perception of the business arena, by promoting the interaction of foreign business students with native speakers who are in business themselves.

Many people study English for business reasons, and thus, the awareness of the cultural expectations in regards to business is as important as the basics of vocabulary and grammar learning.

Many quality business English programs pay special attention to presentation skills, as well as to teaching best practices in regards to conference calling and meetings.  The classes are small and are presented with case studies, role-play sessions, and debates about relevant articles found in newspapers and magazines.

A business English course does not benefit a lot from following a textbook; it is a different experience from learning the English language.  The interest resides on current events and on international business happenings, aiming to enhance the student’s communication abilities while helping them understand America’s lifestyle, society, culture, and political arenas, deeply and accurately.

The students of a business English program must have an intermediate level of knowledge in order to get the best out of the experience, since it is an important opportunity to also work on accent reduction and international business etiquette.

High-quality business English schools will take their students into the field to learn from practical experience.  They encourage them to interact in English in the real business world as a way of practicing the language.  In addition, they offer students networking opportunities and business seminars where they can meet native business people.

Business English programs are normally intensive but easily adaptable to the student’s needs.  The idea is that the student spend a large portion of the day with the teacher, communicating and interacting in different business environments, because the more contact the student has with the language, the better he or she will learn.

To intensify the contact with English speaking natives, the students are offered executive standard host family accommodation; however, they can choose to stay at a hotel instead.  The ones that choose the family experience are in for a treat, since they will gain a deeper knowledge of the culture and a non-stop learning opportunity in a natural environment.

Executives who are enrolled in an ESL program for Business English should be separated from other students, and offered facilities that are equipped with computer and student lounges as well as with free wireless connection, to make the experience as similar to the real business world as possible.

The business world is an exciting one, full of possibilities and opportunities to learn and grow. Mastering the English language is an important aspect of being the best professional you can be, and if you have the opportunity to learn it where the action is, you will put yourself ahead of the game.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.englishlci.com as the original source).

Tags: and so the awareness of the business culture is as impo, Many people study English for business reasons

Writing a business letter correctly is as important for your business image as dressing appropriately or speaking impeccably, and it can be very simple if you know what to say and how to say it.

Are you enrolled in an ESL class? If you are still trying to master business English and regularly have to write letters, don’t worry too much, keep it simple, pay attention to, and employ these phrases that are usually used in professional business letters to ask and talk about different topics:

1.To ask for information
-I am writing to inquire about…

-I am writing in reference to…

-I read/heard… and would like to know…

-Could you please send me… at the address below/above.

-Thank you for your assistance.  I look forward to hearing from you.

2.To answer a request
-Thank you for your interest/inquiry.

-Enclosed is the information you requested.  You can learn more about this at…

-If you have further questions/If you need assistance, please contact…

-Please feel free to contact me at… if I can be of further help.

3.To make a request
-Could you please send me your most recent brochure?

-Could you fax me the results of the market survey?

-I would like to order ten copies of the book…

-I would really appreciate if you could send me this information.

-Please return the enclosed envelope with your payment.

4.To show you care
-Thank you for your hospitality.

-I enjoyed very much having lunch with you last week when I was in Dallas.

-Congratulations on your promotion to General Manager.

-I wanted to congratulate you on your new position.

-I was very happy to hear that the negotiations went well.

5.To introduce a product or service
-I am writing to tell you about…

-Our new product will be available next month.

-This product/service is designed to help you…

6.To give or ask for an indication
-I am writing in regards to…

-I am writing in reference to…

-Please refer to the enclosed invoice/brochure.

-I hope you have had the opportunity to review the materials we sent you.

7.To confirm something
-I am writing to confirm…

-I would like to confirm what we discussed last Tuesday.

-I would like to confirm the main points we talked about…

8.To notify something
-I am writing to let you know that…

-Please be aware/informed that…

-I would like to inform you about a recent change/happening.  I am happy to notify you that your request for funding has been approved.

9.To offer help
-We would be happy to…

-If we can be of assistance, please don’t hesitate to ask.

10.To ask for a payment
-According to our records…

-Our records show that…

-Your monthly payment is past due.

-Please send payment as soon as possible.

Business letters must be concise while at the same time respectful and honest, and you can achieve all that by using these phrases in your day-to-day business communications.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.englishlci.com as the original source).

Tags: Business English, business english dialogues, business english phrases, business vocabulary, english business vocabulary, esl class, learn business english

Don’t worry, it’s just Business English!

After working for many years in a local company, you have the opportunity to apply for a very important job in an international company. All your experience and the knowledge of the business make you the perfect candidate for the position, but will that involve speaking or writing in English? Probably, you learnt that language when you were a young boy and now you can read a piece of news from an English paper or listen to an English song; however, have you ever used English in a business context? Do you imagine yourself trying to close a very important deal with an English speaking company or answering most of your e-mails in another language? Certainly, you will not waste the most important opportunity of your career just because of a language barrier, but surely you are wondering how you can learn business English quickly and efficiently.

Your first choice may be buying every CD and book that guarantees learning English in a couple of hours, without teachers or trainers, so you enter the first bookshop that you find and you purchase all of them; you know what people tend to say, “the more, the better”.  Or maybe you are reluctant to believe that learning another language in 48 hours is possible; therefore, you approach the most important English language center in town to enroll in a course, but, to your amazement, the nice lady at the reception tells you that you can only expect to start speaking English after attending the course for at least twelve months; what the lady does not know is that you are a very important businessman who cannot wait twelve months to do business. Not to mention the fact that none of the magical solutions or the long-term courses focus on the vocabulary and grammar that you will need for your daily tasks at your new office. Probably, they do not teach you to handle conference calls or meetings with English investors or partners, or to make a business presentation for the whole company, let alone answer the countless letters and e-mails that you will receive full of phrases and words related to the business context.

At this point, you are certainly considering not applying for the job because even when you obtain the position, what are the chances of surviving without being able to speak business English? What you surely do not know is that there is a perfect solution for you. Find an ESL school abroad that focuses on your needs. So, if you are an executive that must learn English for his job, enroll, for example, in a three-week program, that involves travelling to an American city, and spending time with a teacher that will give you all the linguistic tools that you need for business meetings, conference calls, etc. You will also have the opportunity to meet other professionals with the same needs as yours.

So to put it in a nutshell, do not waste great business opportunities just because you’re not able to speak English. Study abroad and enroll in an ESL class. And remember that it is just business English. Basically it is what you, as an executive, know but in another language.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.englishlci.com as the original source).

Tags: Business English, esl class, esl school, how to improve your business english, improve your business English, study english abroad

How many times has a colleague of yours suggested taking a business English course? You, as an experienced executive, whose agenda has no place for any other extra activity, and who has been working for the same company for more than ten years, simply answer, “what for?” Never in your business life in that same company have you needed business English to do your job, so for you that is just a ridiculous suggestion. But imagine that one day, your company decides to invest in an English speaking country, just to expand the business and try new horizons, which of course will involve travelling to that country, having meetings and conference calls, making presentations and answering letters and e-mails, all of which involves using business English. I guess that now your colleague’s suggestion does not sound that ridiculous, right?

At first, you believe that you will be able to handle the situation. Bearing in mind your years of experience in the business and the fact that you understand English pretty well, how complicated can this be for you? So the day comes in which you and the rest of the company must travel to the other country to explain the company’s investment objectives and purposes. Before flying you buy a business English dictionary, just in case you may need it. The meeting starts and you discover that all the company’s staff speaks and understands English easily. Suddenly, you realize that business English is not as easy as you thought; even when you understand some parts of the conversation, it is not crystal clear at all. Not to mention the fact that it is impossible for you to give your opinion or explain the tasks that the sector you are responsible for performs. Apparently, even when you know the business well, trying to express the same ideas in another language is not a piece of cake at all.

So, after the meeting, your boss asks you why you were so quiet. Of course you will not talk about your language problems; therefore, you make up an excuse. And now you only wonder what you will do: is this the end of your career?

Fortunately, there is a quick and efficient solution for you. Travel abroad and attend classes at a school that has a special ESL program for executives like you, who need to learn business English to continue doing business. The first thing they should do is enquiry about your real needs, in other words, they prepare the lessons considering all the situations that you will have to handle, and they teach you in consequence. A great three-week program involves travelling to the US and meeting other executives, which will not only allow you to learn the language in real life situations, but also to share business experience with other colleagues.

To sum up, it is not impossible to do business in English; you only need a program that focuses on your needs as an executive. And the most important thing: enroll in the program even if you may not need business English for your current job, as you never know when things can change.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.englishlci.com as the original source).

Tags: Business English, esl lessons, ESL Program, esl programs, esl school, how to improve business english, where to study business english

For many ESL students, doing business abroad can be tricky. Not knowing about the foreign culture can really work against you. Excessive anxiety or being overly eager to do business can become enormous obstacles that end up closing doors rather than opening them.

When business students learn English they accomplish their desire to know the language, which they need for business contacts. However, it does not mean complete and adequate preparation for international collaboration. When communicating with their foreign counterparts, business people encounter a different type of thinking, which determines decision-making. Thus, to be prepared for international cooperation there are many things to consider and many things to avoid. If you want to know what you shouldn’t and should do, read on.

Don’t get over eager to do business – They might take advantage of your disadvantage

Take your time to fully understand what is being said. Don’t make any rash decisions, ask for clarification if necessary. Use expressions like “can we go over that again” when in doubt. If you feel at all uncertain make sure you have everything written down and ask for a second meeting. Take all the time you need to review and go over all the info. Also, you might want to take an electronic dictionary. They have certain unique functions, such as error tolerant input, cross-referencing (e.g. synonyms and antonyms), and word and spelling and they are probably faster to use.

Be prepared

Make sure you have the information you are going to discuss written down. Take notes with you so you are very familiar with what you are going to talk about and how.  Make sure you know what you’re going to say; don’t assume people will be willing to help. Practice before the encounter so you will feel confident. You have to know all relevant vocabulary and expressions before any meeting and or presentations.

Try to learn a little about the culture, business and people you’re going to do business with

Because English is so widely used around the world, it is quite possible that many members of your audience will not be native English speakers. In other words, they will not have an Anglo-Saxon culture. Even within the Anglo-Saxon world, there are many differences in culture. If we hypothetically imagine a German working for an Israeli company making a presentation in English to a Japanese audience in Korea, we can see that there are even more possibilities for cultural misunderstanding. You should try to learn about any particular cultural matters that may affect your audience. This is one reason why preparation is so important. Cultural differences can also be seen in body language for example. To someone from Southern France or Italy, a presenter who uses his hands and arms when speaking may seem dynamic and friendly. To an Englishman, the same presenter may seem unsure of his words and lacking in self-confidence.

The importance of studying mentality differences has practical implications. Being aware of mentality differences leads to international cooperation and the chance to avoid many cross-cultural conflicts. If you feel you need to improve your English speaking skills, there are great ESL programs designed to help you overcome your language barriers.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention our ESL blog as the original source).

Tags: business english students, cultural differences in business, doing business abroad, esl programs, improve business english

Here are some important terms to know:

1.A ‘binding contract’ – this is a contract which cannot be stopped or legally broken. We will need to draw up a legally binding contract before we can conduct business together.
The contract is legally binding and means you must supply us with these services.
2.An ‘exclusive contract’ – this prevents the person signing the contract from working with other people.
You will have an exclusive contract with us which forbids you to work for anyone else.
We wish to offer you an exclusive contract if you are happy to accept it.
3.A ‘renewable contract’ – this is a contract that can be continued or extended after its initial expiry date has finished.
We do not have renewable contracts in this company and can only give you a one-year contract.
The contract is renewable after you have finished a six-month period and we are satisfied with your work.
4.A ‘temporary contract’ – this type of contract is for a fixed period and is not permanent.
We will offer you a three-month temporary contract.
You’ll start on a temporary contract and we may offer you a permanent contract when it finishes.
5.A ‘valid contract’ – this is a contract that has a legal force.
The contract will be valid once both parties have signed it.
The letter that was sent was not a valid contract.
6.A ‘breach of contract’ – this occurs when a person does something that breaks one of the terms of the contract.
You will be in breach of contract if you refuse to work overtime.
It will be a breach of contract if deliveries aren’t received on time.
7.’Terms of contract’ – these are the conditions which are spoken of and agreed on in the contract.
The terms of the contract say you must provide 10 deliveries a month.
Your request is something that is not stated in the terms of the contract.
8.’Draw up’ a contract – this means the contract is created and written.
I will draw up a contract after our meeting
Will you draw up a new contract for me?
9.’Go through’ a contract – this means looking at a contract in detail.
We will sit down and go through the contract.
It’s important to go through the contract carefully before signing it.
10.’Get out of a contract’ – this means ending the contract agreement.
There are a few options for getting out of the contract.
Is there a legal way to get out of the contract?
If you are interested in mastering your business English, consider taking an ESL class which focuses on teaching the essentials you will need for understanding business matters in various situations. Opt for an intensive program in the USA which teaches essential business English in as little as three weeks.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention our ESL blog as the original source).

Tags: Business English, discuss contracts in english, esl class, esl course, esl intensive course, executive english, important business english, important contract terms in english, learn business english, master business english