Phrasal Verbs For The Workplace

 

Finally, we're back with a new post on using phrasal verbs at work. 

ESL for Job Hunting | How To Write A Cover Letter

Looking for a job in an English speaking country? Today, we'll give you some advice on how to write a cover letter.

Business English: Writing Your Resume

Today's post is all about writing a resume that gets employers' attention and interest.

Business English: " Here's The Thing.." - A Guide To Giving Negative Feedback

Do you have to saying something to a colleague or employee about their awful fashion choices, the terrible quality of their work, their body odor, their smelly feet? This post will show you how to soften the impact of your words when giving negative feedback.

Idioms & Phrasal Verbs - What's The Difference?

We're back with more phrasal verbs, but, this time, we're adding idioms to the mix😆!

Business Presentations - Part 4: Dealing With Difficult Questions

You've have reached the end of your presentation and are now going to take questions from your audience. This can be the most challenging, and  it's the most important part of your talk. People's final impression of you will likely be made at this point. 

In today's post we'll cover the following types of situations:

a) You Don't The Answer

b) Question Machine Guns

c) Emotional Questions

d)  Hijackers

Business Presentations - Part 1: Introducing The Topic & The Outline

This is part one of a series of posts on doing business presentations. Today, we'll look at:

a) Introducing the topic

b) outlining your presentation

There will be useful phrases and vocabulary for business presentations, a short paragraph on your voice, and a few videos for further study and information.

Business English: Customer Service - Face To Face

Today's post will be on using English for face-to-face customer service. We'll cover general, everyday language for greeting customers/clients, explaining services/goods, saying "no", inviting repeat business.

Business English: Reported Speech

Please read the short dialogue below.

April 1st, 2016

Jiro: So, did Ms Rashid tell you what she needed for the conference next month?

Kim: Yes, I spoke with her yesterday evening. She asked if we could book a hotel conference hall in 
          the city center. I told her it would be more expensive, but she said location was more      
           important than price

Jiro: Good. Has she confirmed how many people will be attending the conference?

Kim: She said there would be 250 people attending.  Have you found a suitable hotel to book?

Jiro: Yes, I have. The Meridian Hotel. The manager said there were two conference halls available. But, he asked if we could confirm the booking by tomorrow morning.

Business English: Talking About Work Experience

 In today's post, we'll be looking at the language and grammar tools needed to talk about your work experiences (past and present). We'll discuss what to do, and not do, at job interviews.

Read the short passage  below:

James' Work Experience

I've had many jobs in my working life. In high school, I worked as a kitchen assistant in an Italian restaurant.  I was a customer service representative at medium-sized retail finance company for three years. Now, I teach English. I've been teaching English since April 2000. 

Question: When did James start teaching English?

Business English: Negotiation Language

Today's post is all about the language of negotiation. We'll go over the English expressions and grammar for agreeing/disagreeing, making a proposal/counter-proposal, and presenting options.

A & An: Review

"A" or "An"?

I thought this would be a good time to review "a" and "an" (indefinite articles which were covered here in October).  

First, we use a/an in the following situations:

In writing when we introduce something for the first time. (I was looking for a post office near my hotel in Paris. The clerk said, "Try the post office around the corner on Rue Belleville). 

When we're writing/talking about something in general, unspecified. (I'm looking for a coffee shopm Chen needs a new blazer for the party, There's a large river near here,  etc). 

We don't use a/an for countries, cities, famous/well-known places, people's names, plurals, etc.

(x) I went to a Spain last year. 

(correct) I went to Spain. 

A: Which Starbucks did you go to?

B: Oh, you know, a Starbucks on the corner of 6th Street and Columbia Avenue. (x)

      Oh, you know, the Starbucks on the corner of 6th Street and Columbia Avenue.(correct)

"a" and "an" have the same meaning but:

We use "an" for words that start with vowels (a,e,i,o,u) or have vowel sounds .

Example:  an eraser, an hour (vowel sound)

We "a" for words that start with consonants (b,c,d,f,g,h,j,k, etc)

Also, watch out for compound nouns: a bus stop, an Irish coffee, etc. The first letter of the first word tells whether to use "a" or "an".