Business English Pod :: Learn Business English Online
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Podcast Description
With over 30 million lessons downloaded, Business English Pod is the #1 provider of podcasts and mobile learning resources for intermediate and advanced Business English learners. Business English Pod lessons cover a wide range of common topics, situations, and skills, including: presentations, telephoning, negotiating, socializing, travel, meetings, interviews, conversation, and more. Our goal is to teach natural and effective language. We want our learners to be able to face different business and work situations with confidence in their English abilities. Head over to our website to learn more: www.BusinessEnglishPod.com
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BEP 209 – Contract Negotiations 2: Discussing the Fine Print | This is the second part of our Business English Pod series on negotiating a contract. So, you’ve found a company you want to work with and have agreed on the major points of the deal. Now it’s time to negotiate the ‘fine print’ or the details of the contract. Even if you’ve come to terms on price and payment, there may be a lot of costs or savings unaccounted for. A good warranty, for example, could save you a lot of money. The details may not break a deal, but you do need to negotiate them successfully so that the contract protects you and guarantees you certain benefits. To do this, you’ll need to be comfortable with the language of contracts and the techniques used to talk about them. And that’s what we’ll be looking at today. We’ll learn how to ensure warranty terms, ask about response times, and talk about the bottom line in order to win concessions. We’ll also cover talking about renewal and agreeing to overall terms. We are going to rejoin Sam and Larry, who are discussing a contract to lease a fleet of cars and vans. Larry, who represents the vehicle company, has drawn up a contract. He and Sam are discussing the details over the phone. You’ll hear Sam try to get the best deal possible for his company. Listening Questions 1. Why does Sam want to ensure the terms of the warranty? 2. What does Larry offer to Sam free of charge? 3. How does Larry respond to Sam’s request for a renewal clause? Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | PhraseCast | 5/20/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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BEP 208 – Contract Negotiations 1: Seeking Concessions | In this Business English Pod lesson, we’re going to look at language for negotiating a contract. As we’ll be discussing contracts, you might want to check out our Video Vocab lessons on contract law to refresh your memory. A lot of business is done with a verbal agreement and a handshake. But it doesn’t take a lawyer to know that you’re usually better off having everything written down in a contract. Contracts protect both sides of the arrangement and spell out exactly who must do what and at what time and where. If you’re familiar with contracts, you know that there are certain parts and clauses that are almost always included. But exactly how those are written can vary greatly from contract to contract. “The devil is in the details,” as the saying goes, which is a traditional way of saying that details are very important. And when it comes to contract negotiations, you will have to focus on a lot of details. You might agree generally on what type of arrangement you want, but working out the finer points is crucial if you want a contract that works for you. Negotiating these fine points requires several key skills. Today we’ll cover highlighting concerns in a contract, seeking concessions, and citing previous arrangements to strengthen your position. We’ll also look at agreeing with hesitation to a concession as well as emphasizing the positive. We will hear Sam negotiating a vehicle leasing contract with Larry, a leasing company rep. Sam wants to lease several cars and vans for his company. He and Larry have agreed on the major points and are now discussing the draft contract over the phone. Listening Questions 1. Why does Sam mention that their account reps try to stay in close touch with customers? 2. What does Sam say about their last leasing situation? 3. What does Larry offer to do for Sam? Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | PhraseCast | 5/13/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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BEN 16 – The Mobile Learning Revolution | Not long ago, learning was different. It occurred in a classroom furnished with just the basics – a chalkboard and chalk, textbooks, pen and paper, the students and the teacher. Now, thanks to mobile learning (or mLearning), we’re in the midst of a paradigm shift in the way people learn. Do you think mobile learning is the future? We’d love to hear what kind of experiences you’ve had with mLearning. You can share your thoughts in the comments section below or answer the question poll on our Facebook page. Free Resources: Study Notes | Online Practice | Mobile Learning Preview | 5/6/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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360 – Negotiations 2: Making the Deal | The Skills 360 podcast is now available in iTunes: Free Subscription Welcome back to the Skills 360 podcastfor the second part of our look at getting the most out of your negotiations. Today we’re going to tackle the actual negotiation. What should you be thinking about and saying when you’re sitting down at the table working on a deal? Important points to keep in mind include exercise restraint, don’t take things personally, look beyond money, make sure you get more than you give, and be willing to walk away. Discussion Questions 1. What do you find the most stressful part of negotiating? 2. Do you think you are good at bargaining? Why or why not? 3. Think of your last negotiation. How successful were you? Free Resources: Transcript | Quiz & Vocab | PDF Transcript | 4/29/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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360 – Negotiations 1: Doing your Groundwork | The Skills 360 podcast is now available in iTunes: Free Subscription Welcome back to the Skills 360 podcast for today’s lesson on getting the most out of your negotiations. Negotiation is something we all have to do on some level. You might be part of a team discussing a huge contract, or on the phone trying to get a good deal on office supplies, or in your manager’s office asking for a raise. Negotiation happens every day. In fact, you might say that in business everything is negotiable. Discussion Questions 1. In your job, what do you have to negotiate? 2. How do you usually prepare for a negotiation? 3. What do you think are the keys to successful negotiation? Free Resources: Transcript | Quiz & Vocab | PDF Transcript | 4/22/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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BEP 207 – Trade Shows 4: Closing a Deal | Welcome back to Business English Pod for today’s lesson on doing business at a trade show. If you’ve ever worked or attended a trade show, you know that there are a lot of people and companies competing for attention. And you can stand there all day having casual conversations with people but never make a solid business connection, let alone sign a deal. That’s why first you have to separate the good prospects from the bad. Then you have to make a connection with the good prospects and find out what they need. If you can manage that, then you’re on your way to closing a deal. And this is what we’ll be looking at today. Closing a deal at a trade show requires a few essential steps. You need to show a customer that you are listening to them, build trust, and offer good solutions. Then you will be in a good position to ask the person to buy. These are all ideas that we’ll hear in today’s dialog. We are going to rejoin Jenny, who works for a packing company called D-Pack. She is talking with Andrew, whose company is looking for a redesign of their packaging. Jenny has assessed Andrew’s needs and now wants to make a deal. Listening Questions 1. What concerns does Andrew have? 2. What solution does Jenny offer? 3. What is Andrew’s final decision? Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | PhraseCast | 4/15/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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BEP 206 – Trade Shows 3: Meeting with a Prospect | This is the third lesson in our Business English Pod series on doing business at a trade show. Trade shows are great opportunities for finding potential customers. And if you’ve got the right attitude and communication skills, you should be able to make some sales. Now, if you’ve managed to make a connection with a strong lead and the person comes back for a second appointment, what do you do next? How do you know you’ve got a real buyer in front of you and not just someone fishing around for information? You can’t just let a prospect browse your catalog and ask you questions. You need to take charge and find out exactly what and who you’re dealing with. Questioning skills are key. And this is what we’ll focus on today. We’ll start by looking at how to ask open-ended questions. Then we’ll get into asking about needs, buying authority, budgets, and timelines. If you can do this right, you’ll be in a great position to actually make a sale. We’ll join Jenny, who works for a packaging company called D-Pack. She’s sitting down with a potential customer named Andrew who has returned for a chat about D-Pack’s products. Jenny is going to ask a lot of questions to assess what Andrew needs and how D-Pack can help. Listening Questions 1. What does Andrew say his company’s needs? 2. Why does Jenny ask Andrew if he’s a purchasing manager? 3. When does Andrew’s company need the work done? Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | PhraseCast | 4/8/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 8 | VideoVV 29 – Finance & Economics: Bonds (Part 2) | Previously, we looked at some of the main ideas and vocabulary for bonds, including such terms as yield, coupon, and maturity. In this lesson, we’ll look at different types of bonds. And we’ll explain some of the key terms related to how bonds are priced and traded. Premium Members: Study Notes Review Quiz | 4/1/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 9 | VideoVV 28 – Finance & Economics: Bonds (Part 1) | Bonds have been a hot topic in the news recently. But what exactly are bonds and how do they work? In this lesson, we’ll explain some of the main ideas and vocabulary, starting with key terms such as yields, coupons, and maturity. Then we’ll get into different types of bonds. And finally we’ll look at how governments use bonds to finance their borrowing needs. Premium Members: Study Notes Review Quiz | 3/26/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Business English News 15: Facebook IPO | The value of ‘likes’ and ‘tags’ grew exponentially when Facebook filed its S-1 papers last month. Facebook will launch an Initial Public Offering (IPO) in May, paving the way for 27-year old founder Mark Zuckerberg, his staff, and even a graffiti artist to become exceptionally wealthy. This month’s Business English News lesson features lots of great vocabulary for talking about company valuations, growth and social networks. Use the links below to access the free transcript and quizzes for this lesson. Free Resources: Study Notes | Online Practice | 3/18/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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BEP 205 – Job Interviews: Switching Careers (Part 2) | This is the second of a two-part Business English Pod lesson on job interviews for when you’re changing jobs or switching careers. You can’t do the same thing for your entire life. That’s why you’ve chosen to make a change, to take your skills and experience and apply them to something new. But this comes with a challenge. How can you convince an interviewer that you’ve got what it takes to make the switch? This is especially true for those of us who are more “mature.” There’s an old saying: “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” Well, your task in the interview is to show why this saying is wrong. And you need to demonstrate why an “old dog” brings a lot more to the table than a younger dog. In today’s lesson, we’ll rejoin Patrick, an accountant who’s interviewing for a position with an advisory firm. Frank and Nina are conducting the interview. We’ll hear Patrick demonstrate some key interview skills; he’s going to answer hypothetical questions, highlight transferable skills, and demonstrate research. He’s also going to make polite suggestions and ask good questions. Listening Questions 1. Why does Patrick talk about his work developing junior accountants? 2. What is Patrick’s suggestion about training and development? 3. What does Patrick want to know about the position? Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | PhraseCast | 3/4/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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BEP 204 – Job Interviews: Switching Careers (Part 1) | This is the first of a two-part Business English Pod lesson on job interviews for when you’re changing jobs or making a career shift. You’ve racked up a lot of work experience and you’re proud of your special accomplishments. And you know enough to have clear opinions about how things should be done. But it’s time for a bit of a change. Maybe you’re switching careers altogether, or maybe you’re just looking to change roles. Regardless, you’re going to have to explain your accomplishments and express your opinions carefully in order to a make a good impression. In an interview, it’s not just about what you say, it’s about how you say it. You will be asked some difficult questions, and you may only have one shot at it. The stakes are high, and the competition may be great. You need to sell yourself and demonstrate why you are the right choice for the position. In this lesson, we’ll hear Nina and Frank interviewing Patrick. Patrick is a seasoned accountant looking for a career shift. He’s applying for a job with one of the major accounting advisory firms. Patrick is going to highlight his unique experience, politely criticize his former employer, admit challenges, and talk about past conflict. These are all tough things to do well, but Patrick handles them wisely. Listening Questions 1. Why is Patrick talking about changes to a company’s internal controls? 2. How does Patrick describe financial meetings with executives? 3. How does Patrick say he dealt with the executives? Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | PhraseCast | 2/26/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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BEP 203 – Trade Shows 2: Qualifying Prospects | Welcome back to Business English Pod for today’s lesson on doing business at a trade show. If you can connect with the right people at a large event like a trade show, you can get a lot of great sales leads and maybe even close some deals. Making these connections is all about your attitude and the way you communicate. But trade shows come with challenges. One of these difficulties is focusing your time on those good prospects. This means that you need to be able to identify a bad prospect and to make your conversation with him brief. Doing this requires a combination of common sense, a focus on business, and some tact. Today we will learn how to disengage from a bad prospect. But first, we’ll hear how to engage in small talk, show interest, and get people to talk as these are all essential steps in determining if a prospect is worth pursuing. We’ll rejoin Kevin, who works for a packaging company called D-Pack. He is talking with Mick, who represents ElectroHome Cleaning. Kevin is going to both begin and end a conversation with Mick, who turns out to be not such a great prospect. Listening Questions 1. Why does Kevin ask Mick about ‘product demos’? 2. What does Mick say about cleaning products? 3. How does Kevin bring the conversation to a close? Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | PhraseCast | 2/19/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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BEP 202 – Trade Shows 1: Engaging Potential Customers | Welcome back to Business English Pod. My name’s Atalie, and I’ll be your host for today’s lesson on working at a trade show. Trade shows can be fantastic opportunities to meet good prospects, network with others in the biz, and even close sales. But there are definite dos and don’ts about working the trade show circuit. At a trade show, there are a lot of people. That means a lot of potential customers and leads, but it can also be easy to waste time on bad prospects. So you have to be outgoing to draw people in, but you also have to figure out quickly who is really worth talking to. And to engage good prospects and get rid of bad ones, you need excellent communication skills. In this lesson, we’ll look at how to be approachable, connect with customers, and make a quick pitch. We’ll also learn how to pass a prospect off to another team member and how to set up an appointment. We are going to hear Kevin and Jenny, who work for a Chinese packaging company called D-Pack. They’re working a booth at a large trade show. They are dealing with Andrew, who works for a manufacturing company. Andrew has come by D-Pack’s booth, and Kevin and Jenny have to work their magic. Listening Questions 1. What does Andrew’s company want to do? 2. Why does Kevin talk about their big US clients? 3. What are Jenny and Andrew going to do at 10:00 the next day? Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | PhraseCast | 2/12/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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BEN 14 – Battle of the Mobile Platforms | The battle for smartphone supremacy has reached new heights in recent months, with industry heavyweights Apple and Google leading the charge over long-time mobile powerhouses like Research in Motion and Windows. Get the low-down on the brief, but constantly developing, history of the smartphone market in this month’s Business English News lesson. We feature lots of great vocabulary for talking about mobile communication, sales and technology. Use the links below to access the free transcript and quizzes for this lesson. Free Resources: Study Notes | Online Practice | 2/5/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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BEP 201 – Making the Most of Meetings (Part 2) | Welcome back to Business English Pod for the second part of making the most of your meetings. What’s the difference between a good meeting and a bad meeting? An effective meeting and one in which people talk but nothing really gets done? In many cases, the difference is in the person running the meeting. Whether he or she is the regular chairperson or a facilitator brought in from the outside, that person needs to make sure the meeting meets its objectives. So how can you do that? How can you make meetings work? That’s what we’re looking at in this series. And the skills and techniques we’re demonstrating are useful not just for meetings. They can also be applied to all types of group discussions. Today, we’re going to learn how to encourage quiet people, push for clarity, avoid committing to a position, conduct satisfaction checks, and praise good work. We’ll rejoin Tony, Annette, and Jake as they discuss solutions to a problem in their company. The meeting is being run by Liz, who has been brought in from another department to make sure the meeting is effective. Listening Questions 1. What does Jake think is one of the basic problems? 2. Why doesn’t Liz want to give her opinion? 3. What are they going to talk about next? Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | PhraseCast | 1/29/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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BEP 200 – Making the Most of Meetings (Part 1) | Hello and welcome back to Business English Pod. My name’s Edwin, and I’ll be your host for this episode on making the most of your meetings. Today’s lesson is officially our 200th BEP episode and this week we’ll also be rolling past 30 Million downloads. So a hearty thanks to every one of you for helping us reach this amazing milestone. It’s been a fantastic journey and we’re looking forward to the next 200. If you’d like to share in the celebration, please think about rating or commenting on our podcast page in iTunes. This week also sees the roll out of our Course Builder app for premium members. You can check out the video on the website to see just how easy it is to build a personalized course with Course Builder. So, have you ever announced a meeting and seen people roll their eyes? “Oh no, not another meeting,” they seem to be saying. But every organization needs meetings. They are important when we need to discuss an issue, share information, plan, or make decisions. The problem is that not every meeting is an effective meeting. In fact, there are some good reasons why a lot of people consider meetings a waste of time. So the question is: how can you run a meeting that people come out of feeling positive? How can we make the most of our meetings? Running a good meeting requires both leadership and tact. You need to guide the group towards its goals and keep the meeting on track. Today we’ll talk about how you can do this. We’ll look at how to keep the discussion moving and how to focus on the issues, rather than on people or items that aren’t on the agenda. In this lesson, we’ll listen in on a meeting at a company that is dealing with unhappy staff. Tony, Annette, and Jake are managers, and they’re trying to figure out exactly what the problem is. The meeting is being run by Liz, who has been brought in from another department to help out. You will hear Liz use several techniques to keep the meeting on track. Listening Questions 1. What is the purpose of this meeting? 2. What does Jake say is an important issue? 3. Why does Annette think the employee surveys are not useful? Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | PhraseCast | 1/22/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Skills 360 – Dealing with Problem People (Part 2) | The Skills 360 podcast is now available in iTunes: Free Subscription We’ve been looking at how to deal with problem people. These are the people in your office that drive you nuts because they’re so difficult to get along with. Last week we talked about how to deal with specific incidents. Today, we’re talking about ongoing issues. This is about the constant thorn in your side, whether it’s your colleague, your boss, or the IT guy that gets annoyed every time you ask for some information. In extreme cases, these people can make you dread going to work each day. So how can we deal with them? Discussion Questions 1. Have you had to deal with a co-worker who caused you continual problems? 2. At what point do you think you should involve a supervisor when you have a problem with a colleague or co-worker? 3. Do you naturally discuss problems openly or do you tend to keep things in? Free Resources: Transcript | Quiz & Vocab | PDF Transcript | 1/15/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Skills 360 – Dealing with Problem People (Part 1) | The Skills 360 podcast is now available in iTunes: Free Subscription The New Year is a really important time for most people. For one thing, we use it as a time for setting goals. And if you want some help doing that, be sure to check out the Skills 360 podcast on ‘achieving your goals’. The New Year is also a time when we feel refreshed and optimistic about the future. It’s a brand new start, right? Unfortunately, that feeling is not shared by everyone. You might go to the office in the New Year with a smile on your face, but there are people who seem determined to wipe it off. I’m talking about problem people. Discussion Questions 1. What types of people do you find difficult to deal with at work? 2. How do you usually deal with people who are rude or uncooperative? 3. Have you ever wanted to change jobs because of someone you didn’t get along with? Free Resources: Transcript | Quiz & Vocab | PDF Transcript | 1/8/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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BEP 199 – Controlling the Call (Part 2) | In this Business English Pod lesson, we’ll continue our look at language and techniques for controlling a telephone call. If you’re like most people, talking on the telephone is a basic part of work life. We talk with colleagues, customers, potential clients, suppliers, company reps… the list goes on and on. In fact, the telephone has become even more important as we spend less time at our desks and more time dealing with people remotely. As you surely know, talking on the telephone is not always easy. We can’t use the same techniques that we might use when talking to someone face-to-face. We need to learn a new set of skills. It is these skills that we are looking at in this series about controlling the call. If you learn to do this well, you’ll end each conversation with a sense of achievement and purpose. In today’s lesson, we’ll hear a conversation between Chris and Nick. Chris is calling Nick to inform him about some price changes and to arrange a meeting. As you will hear, the caller carefully controls the conversation and gets the outcome she wants. Listening Questions 1. What reason does Chris give for the change in prices? 2. When will the price changes take effect? 3. Why does Chris want to meet with Nick? Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | PhraseCast | 12/11/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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BEP 198 – Controlling the Call (Part 1) | In this Business English Pod lesson, we’re going to look at language and skills for controlling a telephone call. The telephone has become an essential part of doing business, and not just for customer service representatives and receptionists. No matter what type of work you do, chances are that you spend a part of every day talking on the phone. It might be a simple information exchange or a high stakes negotiation. But even though we all talk on the phone, we don’t all do it with the same success. But there are skills and techniques you can learn to become more effective. One of the most important telephone skills is controlling the call. You need to be able to take the conversation where you want it to go. This can be difficult when the other person has a lot to say. But you can learn to direct the conversation and keep it focused. In this lesson, we’ll hear a conversation between Mary and Oliver. Oliver works in customer service for an Internet service provider, and Mary is calling about a problem she’s having with her Internet connection. We’ll hear Oliver carefully control the conversation and guide it to a logical conclusion. Listening Questions 1. What is the customer’s problem? 2. What information does Oliver want from the customer? 3. What options does Oliver give the customer? Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | PhraseCast | 12/4/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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BEN 13 – The Euro Crisis | Free Resources: Study Notes | Online Practice The eurozone was thrown into renewed crisis this month as EU leaders struggled to agree on new stability measures. As reported by the Guardian, “A world recession has drawn closer after the G20 summit failed to agree to fresh financial help for distressed countries and debt-ridden Italy was forced to agree to IMF monitoring of its austerity program.” | 11/27/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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360 – Preparing for your Year-end Review | The Skills 360 podcast is now available in iTunes: Free iTunes Subscription The end of 2011 is fast approaching, and it’s the season for performance reviews and end-of-year appraisals. Few people actually look forward to sitting down with their supervisor and talking about the past year. For most, it’s quite a nerve-wracking experience. But today I want to show you that if you’re prepared, there’s no reason to be shaking in your boots. Discussion Questions 1. Does your company review employee performance regularly? 2. How do you feel when you are evaluated for the work you do? 3. What kind of preparation do you think is important for a year-end review? Free Resources: Transcript | Quiz & Vocab | PDF Transcript | 11/20/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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BEP 197 – Delivering Training (Part 2) | This is the second in our two-part Business English Pod lesson on delivering workplace training. Delivering training requires you to lead and control a group. This is no easy task, as you’ll know if you’ve ever done something similar such as delivering a presentation. You need to engage people, you need to make the topic interesting or relevant to them, and you need to make sure they participate. In the end, you want them to learn something. If their ears or minds are closed, they won’t do that. So how can you get them to listen, to respond, and to learn? Well, you can try some of the language and techniques we’ll look at in today’s lesson. In our last episode, we heard some useful language for introducing a training session. Today, we’ll hear about eliciting input, encouraging participation, and giving feedback. We’ll also look at connecting to personal experiences and checking understanding. These are all important ways to make sure you are an effective trainer, or presenter. We’re going to rejoin Zack as he delivers a workshop on customer service. You’ll also hear Ian and Nicole, two of the participants. Listening Questions 1. Why is it a good idea to use a customer’s name when talking to them? 2. What does Ian suggest doing when talking to customers? 3. According to Zack, what should we do more than we speak? Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | PhraseCast | 11/13/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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BEP 196 – Delivering Training (Part 1) | This is the first of a two-part Business English Pod lesson on delivering workplace training. At some point in our work, we all have to teach others how to do something or explain a certain topic. So how can we do this effectively? How can you make sure that the participants are following what you say, focused on what you want, and reaching the outcomes you expect? The skills you need to deliver effective training will help you in other ways too. Whether you’re giving a presentation or making a sales pitch, there are lots of techniques and language that overlap. We’ll learn some of these techniques today. We’ll look at language you can use to connect the topic to people’s experience and create a sense of inclusion. We’ll also look at organizational issues, like outlining your topics, establishing objectives, and transitioning to a new topic. In this episode, we’ll hear a trainer named Zack. He’s delivering the first of a series of workshops on customer service. You’ll also hear a couple of the participants, Ian and Nicole, as they interact with Zack. Listening Questions 1. What experience did Ian have recently? 2. What is the goal of the training course? 3. What does Zack say is the first thing they’ll talk about? Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | PhraseCast | 11/6/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 26 | VideoVV 27 – Legal Vocabulary: Contract Law (Part 2) | This episode of Video Vocab is the second of our two-part series on vocabulary related to contract law. In our last episode, we looked at some of the basic principles of contracts. Today, we’ll focus on specific terms and language found in contracts. Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | 10/31/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 27 | VideoVV 26 – Legal Vocabulary: Contract Law (Part 1) | This episode of Video Vocab is the first of our two-part series on vocabulary related to business contracts. In this lesson, we’ll look at the key principles behind contracts and contract law. Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | 10/24/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Business English News 12 – Steve Jobs Tribute | Free Resources: Study Notes | Online Practice Business English News is a new show on Business English Pod about current events, especially things happening in the business news. As a company built and run on Mac computers, and with an audience that mainly uses Apple products to listen to our podcasts, it’s only fitting that we (re)launch this show with a tribute to Steve Jobs, who passed away on Wednesday 5th October. | 10/16/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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BEP 195 – Small Talk before a Meeting 2 | This is the second of our two-part Business English Pod lesson on small talk, or casual conversation, in business situations. Imagine you’re sitting in a room with several co-workers. You’re waiting for a meeting to start. Does silence feel comfortable? Probably not. You should be talking. But about what? Well, this is where the art of small talk comes in handy. And it’s not only something we do before a meeting. We use small talk in the airport lounge, on the train, or standing in line for a movie. We use it with colleagues, clients, and acquaintances. And it’s something that takes practice to do well and feel at ease with. Previously we looked at some common conversation topics and techniques, including how to handle topics you don’t know much about. In this lesson we’ll look at a couple more very common topics: talking about the weather and talking about current events. We’ll also cover strategies for changing the topic and steering the conversation towards business. In today’s dialog, we’ll rejoin Liz, Coby, and Shawn as they get ready for another meeting. As you might have guessed, their colleague Gordon has yet to arrive so they chat amongst themselves while they wait for him to show up. Listening Questions 1. What does Shawn think about the summer weather? 2. Why does Coby seem upset or shocked? 3. How does Liz steer the conversation toward business? Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | PhraseCast | 10/9/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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BEP 194 – Small Talk before a Meeting 1 | Welcome back to Business English Pod for the first in our two-part series on small talk before a meeting. This is a situation you’ve probably experienced countless times: you arrive for a meeting 10 minutes early. There are several people already there. You say hello and then… what do you talk about? What do you say? In this situation, you need to be able to make small talk. Small talk is informal conversation. We use the term ‘small talk’ because it is not about exchanging information or making decisions or having serious discussion. It’s a way to avoid uncomfortable silences and build stronger relationships. Small talk might seem to be about nothing important, but small talk itself is important. Being able to make small talk will allow you to make yourself part of a group. It will set the stage for more serious types of communication. In this lesson, we’ll look at a few different ways to initiate and respond to small talk. We’ll join three colleagues, Coby, Liz, and Shawn, who have arrived for a meeting and are waiting for a fourth person to join. As they wait, the colleagues engage in the type of casual conversation you’ll often hear in an English-speaking office. Listening Questions 1. Why is Gordon going to be late for the meeting? 2. What did Shawn do on the weekend? 3. What sport is Coby talking about? Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | PhraseCast | 10/2/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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360 – Making the Most of Personal Learning 2 | Welcome back to the Skills 360 podcast. The Skills 360 Podcast is now available in iTunes: Free iTunes Subscription In this lesson, we’re going to look at some more tips and ideas for making the most of your personal learning. Last week, we looked at setting yourself up with a system of personal learning. Today, we’re going to look at how to maintain your momentum and stay on track. Discussion Questions 1. Do you have a regular schedule for studying English? 2. How can you know whether you’re improving your English skills? 3. What are your greatest personal motivators for studying English? Free Resources: Transcript | Quiz & Vocab | PDF Transcript | 9/25/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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360 – Making the Most of Personal Learning 1 | Welcome back to the Skills 360 podcast. The Skills 360 Podcast is now available in iTunes: Free iTunes Subscription We’ve got a great lesson today on making the most of personal learning. We’ll start by looking at setting SMART goals and personalizing your studies with a personal learning plan. We’ll also look at how you can vary your input by using a variety of sources and study what is interesting and relevant to both you and your job. Discussion Questions 1. What are the different things you do to study or practice English? 2. What aspect of English would you most like to improve? 3. What do you find are the best online resources for studying English? Free Resources: Transcript | Quiz & Vocab | PDF Transcript | 9/18/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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BEP 193 – English Idioms: Time Idioms (Part 2) | This is the second of our two-part Business English Pod series on idioms related to time. Time is a very precious resource. And for this reason, time management is a very important issue at work and in business. We’re always thinking about how to better manage our time, get our work done, juggle deadlines, arrange schedules, and follow timelines. Time, like money, is something that we can measure, budget, save, and even waste. English is rich in idioms related to time. These idioms are very useful in business considering time is such a constant concern. In our last episode, we covered many common and useful expressions related to time in general. Today, we’ll look at a few more, particularly ones related to a lack of time and expressing a sense of urgency. We’ll rejoin Jeff and Claire, two managers who are overseeing the development of a mobile phone app and a new website. Previously, we heard them talking about the design and development of the app. Today, they’re going to focus their discussion on the new website. Listening Questions 1. Why is the website behind schedule? 2. Which part of the team usually waits to do their work? 3. When do they hope to assemble the website? Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | PhraseCast | 9/4/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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BEP 192 – English Idioms: Time Idioms (Part 1) | Welcome back to Business English Pod. In this lesson, we’re going to take a look at idioms related to time. At work and in business, time is always a concern. We rush to get to the office “on time,” we work hard to finish projects “in time” and we sometimes have to work “overtime” to get it all done. If you’re like most people, you watch the clock and the calendar constantly. It’s hard not to with such busy schedules and tight timelines. In English, time idioms focus on a few key ideas. We hear the word “time” a lot, as well as the words “clock” and “hour”. Many of the idioms are related to speed, duration, regularity, and how late or early something happens or is finished. We also see a lot of idioms related to time pressure. In this lesson, we’ll hear a conversation between Jeff and Claire, two project managers who are overseeing the development of a mobile phone application and a new website. We will hear them discuss timelines on different parts of the project and different project teams. Listening Questions 1. What does Claire say about the designers? 2. What does Jeff say about the writers? 3. Which part of the project is behind schedule? Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | PhraseCast | 8/28/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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BEP 191 – Getting Your Ideas Across in Meetings 3 | This is the third and final part of our Business English Pod series on getting your ideas across in meetings. Meetings are a great opportunity to get your ideas across and influence other people. But doing that is no easy task. You need the right combination of tact, frankness, confidence, and humility. And you need some effective language techniques to manage that combination. In today’s lesson, we’re going to look at several advanced techniques for expressing your ideas and commenting on other people’s opinions. These include leading into opinions, highlighting consequences, and redirecting a discussion. A lot of these techniques revolve around agreeing and disagreeing. We’ve looked at many of these in the first two parts, and today we’ll continue by learning about strongly agreeing and disagreeing with negative questions. We’ve been listening to a dialog among four managers who have to find ways of reducing travel and transportation benefits by 15%. They are continuing their debate on how best to achieve this goal. Let’s listen as the chairperson Alison leads the discussion with Stewart, Pat, and Nate. Listening Questions 1. What idea does Pat believe is easier to sell to employees? 2. What is Stewart’s concern about Pat’s idea? 3. What does Alison suggest doing? Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | PhraseCast | 7/31/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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BEP 190 – Getting Your Ideas Across in Meetings 2 | This Business English Pod lesson is the second of our three-part series on expressing your ideas clearly and tactfully in meetings. Meetings are a great opportunity to present your ideas and become engaged in the decision-making process. Meetings often involve open-ended discussion among different types of people. For this reason, there is no easy formula that will guarantee success. Instead, you need to develop a range of skills and techniques that will help you express your ideas clearly and tactfully. In our last episode, we looked at giving, supporting, and contradicting opinions. In today’s lesson, we’ll cover more techniques of agreeing and disagreeing. We’ll also learn how to change the scope of a meeting, which is an especially important skill for the chairperson. Last time, we heard four managers – Alison, Stewart, Pat, and Nate – discussing how to reduce travel and transportation benefits. Today we will continue that dialog. The situation becomes a little more heated as the participants express their ideas with more force. Listening Questions 1. What does the CEO of the company want to focus on? 2. How does Alison respond to Stewart’s ideas? 3. What does Nate think about Stewart’s ideas? Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | PhraseCast | 7/17/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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BEP 189 – Getting Your Ideas Across in Meetings 1 | This is the first in a three-part Business English Pod series on getting your ideas across in meetings. Meetings are an important part of most people’s jobs. And doing well in meetings requires very effective communication skills. You need to make sure you are getting your ideas across clearly with the right amount of subtlety and tact. If you do this well, then you will be able to influence people and the direction of the organization you work with. So, how can you get your ideas across with tact and clarity? That’s what we will look at in this lesson. We’ll cover some important ways of giving opinions of differing strength. And we’ll learn about supporting and contradicting other people’s opinions. In today’s dialogue, four managers are meeting to discuss ways of saving money on travel expenses. The chair of the meeting is Alison. The other participants are Stewart from sales, Pat from HR, and Nate from marketing. We’ll hear the group express a variety of opinions as they discuss how to cut 15% from the travel budget. Listening Questions 1. What are three things that Pat mentions could be cut? 2. What does Pat think they should focus on? 3. Why does Stewart disagree with Pat? Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | PhraseCast | 7/3/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Skills 360 – Telephone Tips (Part 2) | Welcome back to the Skills 360 podcast. Communicating effectively on the phone is an essential skill. And whether you’re talking to a client, a colleague, a supplier, your boss, or a bicycle courier, you need to make sure your purpose and the information is clear. Last week, we focused on your telephone attitude. Today, we’ll look at ways you can make sure information is flowing smoothly and that you are guiding the conversation. Discussion Questions 1. How much planning do you usually do before an important telephone call? 2. What do you usually do when you don’t understand what someone is trying to say on the telephone? 3. What information do you normally include when you leave a message for someone? Free Resources: Transcript | Quiz & Vocab | PDF Transcript | 6/26/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Skills 360 – Telephone Tips (Part 1) | Welcome back to the Skills 360 podcast. Today, we’re going to take a look at an activity we do every day: talking on the telephone. We’ll look at how to start the call off on the right note by using a positive attitude, smiling over the phone, being polite, and speaking clearly. Discussion Questions 1. How do you usually answer the telephone at work? 2. What do you think a good telephone attitude involves? 3. What do you think it is okay to speak informally on the telephone? Free Resources: Transcript | Vocabulary & Quiz | PDF Transcript | 6/19/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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BEP 188 – Socializing: Hosting a Dinner Party 2 | This is the second in a two-part Business English Pod lesson on hosting visitors. Today, we’re going to look at drawing the evening to a close. Hosting visitors is a great way to get to know the people you do business with. Sharing a meal and drinks in someone’s home can really help strengthen a relationship. It gives us a chance to get to know people on a more personal level. But at some point, the evening has to end. In our last episode, we heard Tanya and Mark hosting Tanya’s business colleagues, Grace and Lee. The group sat down to dinner and had very pleasant conversation about their home, family, and the food. Today we’re going to rejoin this group. They’ve had a lovely evening, but all good things must come to an end. Grace and Lee are going to draw the evening to a close and express their appreciation. We’ll also hear the hosts and guests invite each other to future social events. Listening Questions 1. Why does Lee say that he and Grace should leave? 2. What does Grace want to do for Tanya and Mark? 3. What does Mark offer to do for Grace and Lee? Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | PhraseCast | 6/12/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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BEP 187 – Socializing: Hosting a Dinner Party 1 | This is the first in a two-part Business English Pod lesson on hosting a dinner party for overseas visitors. Have you ever had the good fortune to be invited to someone’s home during a business trip? Perhaps it was a client or a prospective client. Maybe it was a colleague or potential business partner. And have you ever had the opportunity to have overseas visitors in your own home? These are great chances to get to know the people you do business with. You are engaging with people on a personal level and building better relationships. And it’s important to do that right. The language you use, either as a host or a guest, requires great care. In today’s lesson, we’re going to hear a conversation among four people. Grace and Lee are on a business trip to their company offices in California. During their trip, they have been invited to visit the home of a work colleague, Tanya. Tanya and her husband, Mark, are hosting a dinner for the two guests. This is a perfect situation to learn some important aspects of English. We’ll look at how to make people comfortable, how to show interest in others, how to refuse offers politely, and how to show modesty. These are all essential skills when you sit down to dinner with colleagues or clients. Listening Questions 1. What does Grace say is usual on business trips? 2. What is interesting about Tanya and Mark’s home? 3. What is Grace hoping to do if they finish their work on time? Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | PhraseCast | 6/5/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 42 | VideoVV 25 – IT Vocabulary: Internet Technologies 2 | This Video Vocab lesson is the second of our two-part series on Business English vocabulary related to Internet technologies. In our last episode, we looked at the basic tools and concepts behind Web 2.0. In this lesson, we’ll focus on the programming of websites and web-based applications. Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | 5/30/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 43 | VideoVV 24 – IT Vocabulary: Internet Technologies 1 | This Video Vocab lesson is the first of a two-part series on Business English vocabulary related to Internet technologies. In part one, we’ll have a look at some of the basic tools and concepts that allow the Internet to function. Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | 5/23/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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BEP 186 – Air Travel: Connecting Flights | Welcome back to Business English Pod as we continue to look at the language and vocabulary of air travel. Air travel relies on a very complex system of scheduling. Unfortunately, that means that travel plans don’t always work perfectly. The possibility of problems goes up whenever you have one or more connecting flights. What if one airplane is late? What if your bags aren’t transferred properly to your next flight? What if the connecting airport has delays? Problems happen, and you need to be prepared to deal with them. This is what we’ll be looking at in this lesson. Last time (in BEP 185), we heard Robert check in for a flight to London, with a connecting flight in Chicago. Everything went smoothly at check-in. Robert stated his destination, checked his bags, chose a seat, and confirmed his gate and timing. But his connecting flight was scheduled to leave soon after he arrived in Chicago. And for that reason, a delay in landing has ruined Robert’s travel plans. Today we’ll hear Robert trying to work through the problem of a missed connection. He needs to work out a solution so that he can get to London for an important meeting the following morning. To do that, he’ll need to explain his problem, express urgency, make special requests, work through options, and agree reluctantly. Listening Questions 1. Why did Robert miss his connecting flight? 2. What solution does Robert request from the ticket agent? 3. What does the ticket agent remind Robert about? Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | PhraseCast | 5/15/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| Total: 44 Episodes |
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