ESL Program
Speak With Confidence: Business English You’ll Need On The Telephone
Talking on the phone may present Business English students with a number of difficulties. Firstly, you will be unable to see the person speaking - this will make it harder to understand what is being said without the support of body language or being able to watch the person’s mouth pronounce the words. Also, there is different set of words and phrases people commonly use when on the phone. It’s a good idea to become familiar with them so you can answer the phone and speak with confidence when required.
MAKING A CALL
Introducing yourself / Making a request to speak to someone
Hi, my name is John Smith. May I speak to Sarah Brown?
Hi, I’m calling to speak to Sarah Brown.
Good morning / Good afternoon - this is John Smith from the ABC Company. Please may I speak to Sarah Brown?
RECEIVING A CALL
How to answer the phone
Good morning / Good afternoon. This is John Smith from the ABC Company. How may I help you?
Yes, this John Smith speaking. How may I help you?
Thank you for calling the ABC Company. How may I direct your call?
Connecting someone
One moment please, I’ll transfer you right now.
Please could you hold and I’ll put you through.
Let me see if Jim Andrews is available.
Putting someone on hold
Jim Andrews is on the other line. Would you like to hold?
Jim Andrews is just away from his desk. Would you mind holding?
I’m sorry, could you hold for just a moment?
DURING THE CALL
When you don’t understand something
I’m sorry, I didn’t understand that. Could you please repeat it?
I’m sorry, I didn’t catch what you just said. Would you mind repeating?
I’m having difficulties understanding what you are saying. Would you mind repeating a little more slowly / a little more loudly?
Clarifying what you have heard
Could you please spell that for me?
How do you spell that?
Let me repeat your information to make sure I have got it right.
Your company’s name is ‘The XYZ Company’ - is that right?
Taking a message for someone
I’m sorry, Jim Andrews is not here at the moment. Can I take a message?
Jim is currently in a meeting. May I ask who’s calling? I can take a message.
Jim Andrews isn’t available at the moment. Can I put you through to his voicemail?
Leaving a message for someone / Leaving a voicemail
This is John Smith calling from The ABC Company. My number is 703 333 1234. Please could he / she / you call me back when it is convenient.
This is John Smith calling from The ABC Company. I’m calling regarding (an order that was placed) / (a meeting we have arranged) / (a letter that was sent to me). Please could you / he /she call me back on the following number - 703 333 1234. Thank-you.
Finding out more information
When do you expect him/her back?
Could I leave a voicemail?
ENDING A CONVERSATION
With someone who has called
Thanks for calling. I’ll speak with you again soon.
Thanks for calling. I’ll pass on your message.
With someone you have called.
It’s been good talking to you. Thank-you. Bye.
I better let you go. Thanks very much. Bye.
I’ll touch base with you again in a few days. It’s been good talking to you.
To gain a solid knowledge of good business English that will fuel your success, consider taking an ESL program based in the USA.
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).
Cómo Escoger un Curso de Inglés en el Exterior
Puede ser difícil aprender inglés como segunda lengua, pero es imprescindible hacerlo si deseas tener acceso a los mejores trabajos, educación y oportunidades culturales.
Es por esto que muchos hispano hablantes deciden tomar un curso de inglés en el extranjero. Estos cursos se llaman “ESL programs” o “English as a Second Language programs”, que quiere decir ‘programas de inglés como segunda lengua’.
Hay cursos individuales o en grupo, y los mejores pueden ser caros, así que aquí te damos una guía de cómo escoger el mejor curso de inglés para que le saques el mayor provecho a tu inversión:
1. Confirma la experiencia del profesor
Cuando visites sitios de escuelas de inglés en Internet o veas anuncios sobre cursos de inglés, debes investigar a fondo y averiguar todo lo que puedas acerca del programa, quién lo enseña y su experiencia en el campo.
Pon atención y averigua si el curso es dirigido por un voluntario o por alguien que está certificado para enseñar el inglés como segunda lengua.
Una persona certificada ha sido entrenada y conoce muchos, si no todos, los retos que un estudiante de inglés puede encontrar. Por supuesto, esto no quiere decir que un voluntario hará un mal trabajo, sin embargo, un profesor certificado incrementa la posibilidad de que tu experiencia en el aula sea muy enriquecedora.
2. Pide referencias
Una vez que tengas varios programas en mente, pídele al profesor o a la escuela que te envíe referencias. No dudes en pedirlas, pues si estás pagando por el programa tienes derecho a saber si este lo vale.
La mayoría de escuelas y profesores tienen una lista de antiguos alumnos que están dispuestos a hablar con clientes potenciales sobre su experiencia con los programas. Contáctalos y pregúntales sobre el profesor y cómo el curso los benefició. Estas personas inclusive te pueden dar información valiosa sobre la comunidad donde se encuentra la escuela y sobre la cultura del lugar.
3. Analiza cómo aprendes mejor
Es importante considerar en qué tipo de ambiente aprendes mejor.
¿Eres el tipo de persona que trabaja mejor sola, fuera de un aula? Si es así, te conviene más trabajar con un profesor particular o tomar un curso de inglés virtual, sin embargo, esto puede resultar más caro, por lo que debes considerar tu posición financiera antes de decidir.
Hay también opciones de grupos muy pequeños y espacios tranquilos como bibliotecas y salas de conferencia; todo esto es importante porque mucho ruido y distracciones pueden entorpecer el aprendizaje.
4. Busca alternativas económicas
Dependiendo de donde vives, puedes encontrar alternativas más económicas a un programa de inglés, por ejemplo, grupos comunitarios o iniciativas gubernamentales. Estos van a resultar mucho más baratos que un profesor o escuela privada, sin embargo, probablemente no vas a recibir el mismo tipo de atención.
Si realmente deseas aprender el inglés profundamente, vale la pena invertir en un buen programa, en una ciudad donde se hable la lengua diariamente y donde puedas experimentar la cultura de habla inglesa en su totalidad.
5 Formas de Practicar el Inglés Escrito
Una vez que alcanzas cierto nivel de escritura en inglés vas a querer comprobar que te puedes comunicar efectivamente con otros.
Desafortunadamente, si vives en un área o país donde pocas personas leen en inglés, va a ser difícil que recibas retroalimentación acerca de lo que necesitas mejorar.
Por suerte, ahora hay muchas otras formas de practicar y mejorar tu inglés escrito, y aquí te presentamos 5 de ellas:
1. Utilizando una pizarra
Habrá ocasiones en que desees practicar escribir en inglés pero no necesariamente guardar lo que escribiste. Si escribes en una pizarra, podrás escribir cuanto quieras sin necesidad de gastar papel, y además es una gran manera de practicar tu ortografía.
Al mantener una pizarra siempre a la mano podrás hacer anotaciones rápidas acerca de diferentes temas antes de escribir una composición más formal.
2. Escribe un diario en inglés
Algunas veces sentirás la necesidad de practicar escribir en inglés pero no quieres compartir lo que escribiste.
En un diario puedes escribir tus pensamientos y crear un ambiente donde no te preocupa el resultado. Puede que inclusive descubras que te encanta escribir en tu diario y lo conviertas en una práctica diaria.
3. Lleva un blog
Eventualmente, vas a querer compartir tus ideas y puntos de vista en inglés, pero puedes sentir que no estás listo para enfrentarte a un público de carne y hueso.
Un blog es el balance perfecto entre un diario privado y un grupo de personas.
El blog está abierto al público en general y muchas personas lo leerán. Si alguien desea hacer un comentario lo puede hacer y tu te verás beneficiado con la retroalimentación.
No es necesario que te involucres en ninguna conversación en tu blog si no lo deseas.
4. Inscríbete en un club de inglés
Los clubes de inglés son muy populares, los hay de todo tipo y son el complemento ideal de una “ESL class” (clase de inglés como segunda lengua).
Al escribir junto a otros que desean mejorar su inglés, tienes la oportunidad de practicar el tuyo.
Aquí puedes compartir lo que te resulta difícil y entender porqué es así, a la vez que recibes consejos prácticos para mejorar.
5. Únete a un grupo virtual de crítica de escritura
Hasta los que nacieron hablando y escribiendo el inglés como lengua nativa desean mejorar su estilo. En estos grupos puedes encontrar desde personas que desean ser escritores hasta las que simplemente quieren aprender a comunicarse mejor en diferentes medios.
Ya que estos grupos se dedican a ayudar a otros a mejorar su estilo, vas a recibir retroalimentación muy honesta y directa sobre lo que necesitas mejorar.
Hay muchas formas de practicar el inglés escrito y las que te convienen dependen de tu nivel de aprendizaje. Conforme avanzas, es importante que empieces a compartir con personas que escriben en inglés como primera lengua, sin embargo, una mezcla de escritura privada y pública te puede ayudar a cumplir metas específicas.
Get Ready To Negotiate (Part One): Important Business Terms You’ll Want To Use
If you need to negotiate a matter in the business world, you’ll want to equip yourself with good vocabulary to make yourself understood and help you understand many important negotiating terms.
Read, understand and learn the following words which you’re likely to hear during business negotiations:
1.Agent
MEANING: A person that acts for or represents a company
EXAMPLE: The company will send an agent to discuss our wishes with you.
2.Alternative
MEANING: Another option
EXAMPLE: You’ll have to find an alternative for the initial plans you had.
3.Arbitration
MEANING: The addressing / resolving of a conflict using a third impartial party
EXAMPLE: We will have to resolve this matter using arbitration if we do not reach an agreement.
4.Bottom line
MEANING: The lowest or final position someone is willing to reach
EXAMPLE: I’ll accept a 7% raise as a minimum. That’s my bottom line.
5.Bedrock price
MEANING: The lowest possible price
EXAMPLE: We want to sell you our products at bedrock price.
6.To bargain
MEANING: To try and change someone’s mind about their position
EXAMPLE: I’d like to bargain with you on that point.
7.Collective
MEANING: Together
EXAMPLE: We need to reach a decision collectively.
8.A commitment
MEANING: A pledge or promise of oneself to something or to doing something
EXAMPLE: I have a commitment to meeting your needs.
9.Compromise
MEANING: To reach an agreement with someone by both parties complying in some way to the other’s wishes
EXAMPLE: Let’s see if we can reach a compromise.
10.A condition
MEANING: Something that has to be fulfilled or given first in order for something else to happen
EXAMPLE: We will employ you once these conditions are met.
11.Consensus
MEANING: An agreement by all
EXAMPLE: It’s important that there is a consensus on this issue.
12.Contract
MEANING: A written and legal agreement between two or more parties
EXAMPLE: After our discussion, we will draw up a contract.
13.To cooperate
MEANING: To work together
EXAMPLE: Let’s cooperate on this business proposal.
14.A counter offer
MEANING: To present an alternative offer in response to an initial offer
EXAMPLE: I have a counter offer you might want to listen to.
15.Counter-productive
MEANING: Something that has the opposite effect to the one intended or needed
EXAMPLE: If we lower the price, that will be counter-productive to us.
16.A deal
MEANING: A business agreement
EXAMPLE: Let’s reach a deal on this issue.
17.Discount
MEANING: A reduction in price
EXAMPLE: We’ll offer you this product at a good discount.
If you are interested in mastering your business English, opt to take an intensive ESL program in the USA to teach you everything you need to know to be successful with your business matters. Executive English courses last from three weeks and equip you with the English you need to know for every business situation.
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).
Useful Business Presentation Tips for ESL Students
Delivering a business presentation can be a daunting task for many people. However for those who speak English as a second language a business presentation can pose a true challenge. People are sometimes afraid of speaking in public, and if you add the natural discomfort of speaking in a foreign language to that, the situation may seem overwhelming. The good news is that there is always something you can do to make things better. If you follow a few simple tips, giving a presentation is actually very easy.
Tip 1: Prepare, prepare, prepare
Preparation is everything! With good preparation and planning you will be totally confident and less nervous. And your audience will feel your confidence. Your audience, too, will be confident. They will be confident in you. And this will give you control. Control of your audience and of your presentation. With control, you will be “in charge” and your audience will listen positively to your message
Tip 2: Ask yourself these questions
“Why am I giving this presentation?” Do you need to inform, to persuade, to train or to sell? Your objective it very important. It should be clear in your mind. After all, it cannot possibly be clear to your audience if it is not clear in your mind
“Who am I giving this presentation to?” You should try to know how many people there will be, who they are, where they are from, whether they are experts or non-experts, etc. This is important because it will give you a clue as to what they can expect from you.
“Where am I giving this presentation?” In a small hotel meeting-room or a large conference hall? What facilities and equipment are available? What are the seating arrangements?
“When am I giving this presentation and how long will it be?” Will it be 5 minutes or 1 hour? During what part of the day is it?
“How should I give this presentation?” What should your approach be? Formal or informal? How many visual aids should you use?
“What should I say?” Now you must decide exactly what you want to say. First, you should brainstorm your ideas. You should include only information that is relevant to your audience and your objective. You can always give additional information during the questions after the presentation. The title is also important since it will help you to focus on the subject.
Tip 3: Structure
A well organized presentation with a clear structure is easier for the audience to follow. It is therefore more effective. You should organize the points you wish to make in a logical order. Most presentations are organized in three parts, followed by questions:
Short introduction
• welcome your audience
• introduce your subject
• explain the structure of your presentation
• explain rules for questions
Body of presentation
• present the subject itself
Short conclusion
• summarize your presentation
• thank your audience
• invite questions
Remember a successful presentation is one of the most effective ways of communicating your message. And because English is so widely used in international business, a working knowledge of the vocabulary and techniques used in an English language presentation is a valuable asset. If you need to improve your English for this type of situation, sign up for an ESL program that covers business presentations.
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).
How to Put an End to Your Problems with Business English
How many English courses have you started in your life? How much money have you spent on CDs, books and countless other tools to learn English? But…can you talk to an English speaker without filling countless gaps with mumblings, like err…, ehhh…, ummm, etc.? Probably the answer is NO. But the truth is that English is essential for you, but not just any type of English. What you need is to learn business English, which is very different from the general one that we all know. And why is that? Because you work for a very important international company and everyday you face the problem of not understanding what a person is saying in a business meeting. Is there a solution?
What is business English? Business English is the “language” that every executive uses to close deals, to talk to investors, to make presentations, etc. So if you cannot understand business English, you will probably lose several opportunities to expand your business. Business English is characterized by the fact that the meaning of the words are highly different, in other words, it is the English that we all know, but used by businessmen; therefore, the phrases and particularly the words can only be understood by those who do business.
Even when you take as many English courses as you can, and you purchase every new CD to learn English, your problems with business English will not fade away because those are tools to learn regular English, so you will find yourself repeating the names of animals and colors, and not the words that you use on a daily basis in your office. What you need is to find the perfect place that understands your necessities and gives you a quick solution as you certainly do not have time to waste; we must remember that you are an executive, whose agenda is full of meetings, conference calls, and presentation, which are, of course, in English.
Believe it or not, there is a solution to help you to tackle this annoying problem. You should go to a school that offers ESL programs and focuses on teaching the type of English that each person needs. In your case, a very busy executive, you should go for an intensive program which involves travelling to the US for three weeks to learn business English. The ESL school will prepare your lessons for the three weeks considering all the business situations that you have to handle everyday in your company. Moreover, this will give you the opportunity to meet other businessmen while you are learning; as a consequence, you will have the possibility to learn the language and to do some business networking at the same time.
To conclude, there is no need for you to worry any longer about understanding what an investor or a partner is saying in a meeting or in a conference call. After taking the ESL program, you will be able to cope with business English easily; so…what are you waiting for?
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).
Doing Business in English - Is it Mission Impossible?
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).
How to Talk to Your Boss
Are enrolled in an ESL program and working in the US? You probably have a boss; unless they own their company, most people have bosses they have to report to and receive instructions from.
Here we will show you how to talk to your manager in correct business English; this is, to let him or her know exactly how you feel or what you need. We will show you how to properly ask for feedback, for an explanation, for more work, and to show frustration, among others.
1.When you are working on a project and you want your manager to review it before officially presenting it, there are numerous ways in which you can ask your manager to do so:
-Do you want to review my project?
-I just finished my project. Do you want to review it?
-This is my first big project and I was wondering if you could review it?
-I think I covered everything, but could you do a quick review?
2.After a project you worked on is completed, you should ask for feedback on it, however, make sure your manager has had enough time to go over the work before you ask for his or her opinion.
-Did you finish reviewing the project I concluded?
-Hi Steve, this was my first project and I wanted to know how I did so that I can get better.
-What do you think I could have done better?
-What should I do different next time?
-What did I do well and what needs to be improved?
3.It is good that you ask for feedback if you are new at a job or position. You can ask for it after you complete an assignment or after a few months on the job.
Some companies have a feedback process set up, where you have weekly or bi-weekly individual meetings with your manager, and this is a good time for you to talk about your work and everything else that concerns you.
If your company does not offer regular feedback meetings, you can schedule some time with your boss to talk about your development:
-Hi Jen, can we meet sometime this week to talk about my work so far?
-I was wondering if we could have a meeting to talk about how I am doing.
4.If your work doesn’t involve a specific project or assignment, you can ask for feedback about your work in general:
-Can you give me some feedback on my performance?
-Where do you think I need to improve?
-What areas you think I should work on?
-Do you think I am ready to work on a specific project?
-Do you think I am ready to get more responsibility?
When you know how to talk to your manager, you convey respect for yourself, your work, your boss, and your company; this is why it is crucial that you learn to communicate appropriately, in a way that enriches your professional growth and your company’s trust in you.
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).
20 Examples of Words and Their Antonyms
A good way to optimize your time when learning vocabulary is learning words in pairs. How? Well, every time you learn new words, instead of learning them by heart, you can reinforce your understanding of them by watching how their meaning is limited and shaped by other words, called “opposites”.
1.Agree / disagree: He agreed with my ideas, while Susan disagreed.
2.Unlock / lock: The thieves managed to unlock the door. Anyways, it’s always useful to lock it.
3.Remember / forget: She forgot the company’s name during the interview, but remembered it later.
4.Withdraw / deposit: She went to the bank to withdraw some money that I deposited earlier.
5.Asleep / Awake: Are you asleep yet? Or are you still awake?
6.Fail / succeed: Will his son succeed in what he has failed to achieve?
7.Slow / fast: The pros and cons of having a slow car are the same as the pros and cons of having a fast car.
8.Keep / lose: Did he keep his temper under control? Or did he lose it?
9.Lose / make money: We have made a lot of money lately, which compensates for all the money we lost last year.
10.Lower / raise: I’ve heard the banks are planning to raise their interest rates. I wonder if they’ve ever lowered them.
11.Deep / shallow: Is this lake deep or shallow?
12.Increase / reduce: While temperature increases as summer approaches, it reduces as autumn comes along.
13.Complicate / simplify: Why don’t they simplify things instead of complicating them?
14.Strengthen / weaken: You need to strengthen your position before your opponent’s move weakens you more.
15.Expand / decline: Ship building has expanded in this area over the years, while other activities have declined.
16.Accept / deny: The prime minister denied what his assistants had accepted earlier.
17.Disapprove / approve: I wonder whether they approved or disapproved my opinions on the subject.
18.Smart / stupid: Even smart people can say stupid things.
19.Reachable / unreachable: He was trying to convince himself that the unreachable can become reachable.
20.Understand / misunderstand: Everyone but me misunderstood your speech. I was the only one who understood it.
We hope this brief list helps you understand how some words come “in pairs” (although a word may have different opposites!), and that it gives you a better understanding of their meaning, an essential part of your ESL program.
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).
A Foolproof Plan to Improve Your English during Your Stay in the US
Whether you’ve enrolled in an ESL program for beginners, advanced ESl classes, or Business English courses, the key to improving your English lies in how seriously you take your English learning goals and how hard you’ll try to achieve them. Sounds too “serious”, right? And no fun? Although, improving your English does require a certain amount of hard work and concentration, it is possible to find the perfect balance between concentrated studying and spontaneous, fun learning. Follow this foolproof plan, and you’ll be speaking more confidently in English in no time.
Plunge into it head first!
No matter how great, how experienced, or how knowledgeable your teachers are, you will never absorb the teachings they impart through osmosis. Do not think you can just sit quietly in the back of the classroom, and just listen and watch what goes on. If you really want to improve your English, you have to dive into the experience; participate and be actively engaged in the lessons, right from the start, even if you’re a beginner and will only be able to say a few words. This is not the time to be shy or self-conscious about your English, after all, you’ll be surrounded by students just like you!
Do your homework
Throughout your life you’ve always heard teachers and parents tell you to study and do your homework, and let’s face it, they were a pain in the neck. But they were right. After school study is essential to strengthen everything you’ve seen in class. All of those new words, grammar tenses, and expressions must be reviewed, practiced, and chewed on, so to speak. This way you’ll increase your chances of remembering and effectively using everything you’ve learned. Besides the exercises assigned to you by your teacher, there are several fun things you could do for “homework”. You could read short news articles or blog posts. Watch videos on YouTube or CNN.com. Make a note of any new words or vocabulary and then look them up in your dictionary. The resources are endless!
Get out and mingle!
It is absolutely essential that you practice what you’re learning in class in real life settings. Engage the locals in conversation and ask them about their customs, history, sites of interest, and activities. Even if you’re a beginner there’s lots you could say and practice, from day-to-day phrases, to polite requests. No matter what your level is, you must make the effort to speak to people outside the classroom. You could join a club or organization, even sign up for extracurricular classes, like cooking, pottery, or skiing.
There is an amazing variety of ESL programs to choose from, but once you do make your choice, you have to commit to it for the duration. An English course in the US is an investment, and one you won’t want to waste. To really make it worth your time and money, you must do your part. If you do, you won’t be sorry. You’ll feel more confident speaking English and be ready to take on the world!
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