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Many of us find the prospect of writing a report in English quite daunting. However, many CEOs can point to a well-written report at some stage in their career that got them noticed by their company, and enabled them to gain rapid promotion. Read more
By the end of the 15th century, English was the language of state and was carrying its messages in an increasingly uniform spelling. But it was during the 16th century that English would become the language that we know today. Read more
Being able to contribute effectively in meetings is an important skill in business. There is a range of skills required depending on your role, whether it be as a chairperson, minute-taker or participant. Read more
One of the most common uses of the telephone is to make an appointment. However, even with the wonders of e-mail, video conferencing and the old- fashioned phone, many professionals still prefer the face-to-face meeting to solve issues and maintain good relationships with clients. Read more
One of the biggest problems all language learners face is how to learn and remember vocabulary. Depending on individual learning styles, techniques that work well for one person may not help another person at all - one may have to see a word or phrase, another hear it spoken and yet another must write it down. Yet without vocabulary you will never be able to communicate so it is a problem everyone must come to terms with. Read more
A key skill in effective communication in business situations is to recognize the importance of voice characteristics in your speech patterns and to be more aware of how to use the vocal channel to aid workplace success. Read more
When you first travel abroad on business, some of the key language that you need is connected to your hotel. In this week’ column we will take a look at some key vocabulary and phrases that will help you choose a hotel, book a hotel, check in and making requests. Read more
In the last few articles we have looked at the 3V’s connected with communication (Vocal, Verbal and Visual), different styles of listening, communication styles and those of your customers, managers and colleagues. This time we will give you some practical tips, techniques and strategies to add to your knowledge base on communicating with confidence. Read more
The ability to guide a meeting to a successful conclusion is a skill much valued by organizations. The start of the meeting is crucial, since it is at this stage that the chairperson can establish the structure of the meeting and his authority in sticking to an agreed agenda. Read more
I recently moved house and was presented with a tenancy agreement. It was written in English of some description but even as a native speaker, experienced language teacher and graduate of a literature-based degree, I struggled to understand it. Read more
Unfortunately, people make judgments on individuals within a few minutes. Research has shown that this is primarily based on appearance (55%), voice (38%) and finally the actual content of what people say (7%). Therefore, the carefully written and researched presentation will have very little effect, if the presenter looks unprofessional and delivers the content in a monotone. Read more
MOST of the CVs (résumés) that I read don’t catch my attention. This is often because the writer has made one or more key mistakes in their use or presentation of language. Read more
Lexis is another word for “vocabulary”. The words you store in your head and pull out as and when you need them. A lot of people with hang-ups about their language proficiency think that grammar is the most important area of language to nail down. I disagree. Lexis is far more important. Read more
We often use SMS when we’re too busy doing something else to make a call. What about SMS in business communication? Read more
Perhaps the hardest part of any presentation is not the actual delivery, but rather the questions afterwards. During the presentation you have your notes and the content is controlled. Once you ask the audience for any questions, then this introduces an element of unpredictability. Read more
There are occasions in the workplace when negative feelings and language can interfere with your ability to have positive relations with colleagues and clients. Read more
In using Latin abbreviations or Latin in written work you must be confident that they are in common usage and will be recognised by the reader. Read more
In recent encounters with professionals at universities and corporations, I’ve noticed a problem with the past perfect tense. Remember that the use of this tense in English is where there is a relationship between two events. Read more
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