Business English Podcast

The first of our regular business news podcasts for English learners looks at how people communicate at work and the different factors that can effect how communication takes place. The news story is followed by a discussion of the key vocabulary and an explanation of the meaning of the words in the context of this article. Please go to our new website for new podcasts: www.BusinessEnglishPod.com To update your iTunes subscription, please click on the link below (opens iTunes in a new window): http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=206603090

In the first part of our series on making and supporting your arguments in meetings, we cover the key language used to organise your thoughts and support your ideas. In later episodes we'll look deeper into the topic and provide further examples of language you can use to support you're position. Please go to our new website for new podcasts: www.BusinessEnglishPod.com To update your iTunes subscription, please click on the link below (opens iTunes in a new window): http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=206603090

Our news story today is about a share trader in a Japanese bank who made perhaps the worlds most expensive typing error! After you listen to the story, we'll explain some of the new vocabulary and provide further examples of how it can be used. Please go to our new website for new podcasts: www.BusinessEnglishPod.com To update your iTunes subscription, please click on the link below (opens iTunes in a new window): http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=206603090

Problems, and more problems. Sometimes business seems to be all about dealing with problems. And when dealing with problems over the telephone, we need to be especially careful in our discussions, since we cannot see the reactions of the other party. Today we’ll listen to business people discussing a delivery problem over the phone. Then, we’ll review the language that is used to establish relationships, discuss the problem and come to agreement on a solution. Please go to our new website for new podcasts: www.BusinessEnglishPod.com To update your iTunes subscription, please click on the link below (opens iTunes in a new window): http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=206603090

Today, more than ever business success requires intercultural awareness and effective cross cultural communication skills. Working, meeting, dealing, entertaining, negotiating and corresponding with colleagues or clients from different cultures can be full of obstacles. One wrong movement or basic misunderstanding could ruin or delay months of work. Understanding and appreciating intercultural differences promotes clearer communication, breaks down barriers, builds trust, strengthens relationships, opens business opportunities. Please go to our new website for new podcasts: www.BusinessEnglishPod.com To update your iTunes subscription, please click on the link below (opens iTunes in a new window): http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=206603090

When you attend a business meeting, you may not always understand or agree with everything someone says. You may think that someone has got their facts wrong. Or you may simply be confused or feel mislead by what someone says. If you are in such situations, it is very important for you to ‘query’ or ‘clarify’. You need to check that the information given is correct or that you understand correctly what has been said. Please go to our new website for new podcasts: www.BusinessEnglishPod.com To update your iTunes subscription, please click on the link below (opens iTunes in a new window): http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=206603090

For September we’ve chosen to cover everyone’s favourite topic – Problems. Yes, we’ve had our fare share of problems in the last couple of months, so we thought it would be a good idea to look at some different problems that we might have to deal with at work. Our main podcasts this month are on Discussing Problems on the Telephone and Dealing with Complaints from a Customer and we’ll also have a news article on a rather unfortunate mistake by a stock trader. Please go to our new website for new podcasts: www.BusinessEnglishPod.com To update your iTunes subscription, please click on the link below (opens iTunes in a new window): http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=206603090

Business socialising is an important skill for everyone involved in business. In many cultures, before any real business is done, a certain amount of ‘socialising’ is required. In English-speaking workplaces, it is usual for colleagues to make ‘small talk’ when they meet - say in a lift, around the photocopier and before or after a meeting, etc. Please go to our new website for new podcasts: www.BusinessEnglishPod.com To update your iTunes subscription, please click on the link below (opens iTunes in a new window): http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=206603090

Signposting is informing listeners about what is to be presented in a presentation, and constantly informing listeners as to where they are during that presentation. The term “signposting” comes from signs posted on street corners, which tell travelers where they are and where they are going. In presentations, Signposting is informing the listener as to what things are going to be talked about, and when sections have been completed and new sections are opened. Please go to our new website for new podcasts: www.BusinessEnglishPod.com To update your iTunes subscription, please click on the link below (opens iTunes in a new window): http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=206603090

Good questioning technique is the key to successful communication on the telephone. In today’s episode of BusinessEnglishPod we are going to examine the different types of questions that are useful to clarify details and handle enquiries on the phone. Please go to our new website for new podcasts: www.BusinessEnglishPod.com To update your iTunes subscription, please click on the link below (opens iTunes in a new window): http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=206603090

Socialising or networking with your work colleagues is an important part of your day, especially in large organisations where workloads between different departments often overlap. Making acquaintances and friendships with your colleagues can also improve your interpersonal skills, aid team building and develop better communication between work colleagues within the same organisation. Please go to our new website for new podcasts: www.BusinessEnglishPod.com To update your iTunes subscription, please click on the link below (opens iTunes in a new window): http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=206603090

Go to our new site for new Business English Podcast episodes: www.BusinessEnglishPod.com In a recent Business English Podcast (BEP 22), we looked at how to handle technical problems when speaking on the telephone in English. Today, we’re going to talk about how to deal with problems with the caller, which are of course much harder to handle! But, with the proper language and phrases, you can show the caller that you want to help, and reassure them that you can help solve the problem. We are pleased to announce that our new feed is now available in iTunes. Please click on the link below to update your subscription (opens iTunes in a new window): http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=206603090 Go to our new site for new Business English Podcast episodes: www.BusinessEnglishPod.com

This Business English podcast features a news article on how IBM is experimenting with new ways to conduct meetings. Listen to how IBM is using the virtual world of a website called Second Life as the next best thing to in person corporate meetings. After listening to the article, we'll highlight some of the new vocabulary and provide definitions and further examples. Please go to our new website for new podcasts: www.BusinessEnglishPod.com Please update your iTunes subscription by clicking this link (opens iTunes in a new window): http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?

This is a preview of our new English vocabulary podcast: Video Vocab. Video Vocab will be available in January 2007 on our new website - www.BusinessEnglishPod.com Each week we will feature 7 new words on a particular topic. Project (Noun) |ˈpräjˌekt; -ikt| Definition: An important and carefully planned piece of work that will create something new or improve a situation. Examples: 1. British Aerospace expected the project to be completed by early 2006. 2. I’m the project manager for our new database. Collocations: - project management: the organizing and managing of resources in order to complete a project within a defined scope, time, and cost. - project manager: the person in charge of a project - pilot project: a test or trial project

Please go to our new website for new podcasts: www.BusinessEnglishPod.com Contractor (Noun) [C] |ˈkänˌtraktər| Definition: A person or company that makes an agreement to do work or provide goods for another company. Examples: The company has no plans to expand its use of contractors. EADS is the main contractor on the new defense project. Derivatives: – to make a contract (noun) [C]

Please go to our new website for new podcasts: www.BusinessEnglishPod.com Estimate (Verb) [I,T] |ˈestəˌmāt| Definition: To calculate or guess what you think the value, size, amount, etc. of something will probably be. Examples: We estimate the project will take 6 months to complete. The value of the deal is estimated at £12m. Derivatives: – to make an estimate (noun) [C] – to give an estimation (noun)

Please go to our new website for new podcasts: www.BusinessEnglishPod.com Subcontractor (Noun) |səbˈkänˌtraktər| Definition: A business or person who is paid to do part of the work of another person or company. Examples: We had a problem with one of our subcontractors on a project last month and this led to serious delays. Always check whether a contractor is using subcontractors, and who is liable if things go wrong.

Please go to our new website for new podcasts: www.BusinessEnglishPod.com Allocate (Verb) [T] |ˈaləˌkāt| Definition: To decide officially that a particular amount of money, time, etc. should be used for a particular purpose. Examples: DuPont has allocated funds to build four new plants in Asia. We need to allocate more resources to this project to meet the deadline. Derivatives: – our budget allocation has been cut (noun)

Please go to our new website for new podcasts: www.BusinessEnglishPod.com Schedule (Noun) |ˈske jül | - USA | she-dyül | - UK Definition: A plan of what someone is going to do and by when they are going to do it. Examples: We are running several weeks behind schedule. We could face penalties if we don’t keep on schedule.

For today's Business English Podcast we continue our series on making telephone calls in English by looking at how to deal with technical problems and clarify information using alternative choice questions. This questioning technique is useful when you need to clarify important information or reach a decision. Please go to our new website for new podcasts: www.BusinessEnglishPod.com Please update your iTunes subscription by clicking this link (opens iTunes in a new window): http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast? Thanks for listening!

This is an intermediate level Business English Podcast on making telephone calls in English and leaving messages. If you want to get a copy complete telephone alphabet, follow this link: http://www.dynamoo.com/technical/nato-phonetic-alphabet.pdf Please go to our new website for new podcasts: www.BusinessEnglishPod.com Please update your iTunes subscription by clicking this link (opens iTunes in a new window): http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=206603090

In the final episode of our three-part series on supporting your position in meetings, we look at language used to make your statements more persuasive. Key concepts are: Making coherent, persuasive arguments, and effective us of language to support your arguments. Please go to our new website for new podcasts: www.BusinessEnglishPod.com To update your iTunes subscription, please click on the link below (opens iTunes in a new window): http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=206603090

Our news story today is about the changes in management style taking place around the world. After you listen to the story, we'll explain some of the new vocabulary and provide further examples of how they can be used. Please go to our new website for new podcasts: www.BusinessEnglishPod.com To update your iTunes subscription, please click on the link below (opens iTunes in a new window): http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=206603090

Welcome to the second part of our series on how to support your position or argument in meetings. Key Language: emphasizing, minimizing, supporting points & vocal stress. Please go to our new website for new podcasts: www.BusinessEnglishPod.com To update your iTunes subscription, please click on the link below (opens iTunes in a new window): http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=206603090

In meetings, especially formal meetings, it's important to keep the discussion relevant, and to the point. So we're looking at some words and phrases that a Chairperson might use to stop irrelevant discussion and interruptions. We're also looking at ways of stating an opinion, and agreeing or disagreeing. Transcript available at: http://web.mac.com/pdatkinson/iWeb/BusinessEnglishPod/ Please visit: http://www.workplace-english-training.com/sample.html for access to a sample of our premium subscription service. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 License.

Today’s listening is from the beginning and end of a meeting held to discuss some urgent building work at a factory. It’s going to be run in a more formal style with firm direction from the chairperson because it involves making a decision about an expensive investment. Other types of meetings that benefit from having someone to lead the discussion are Teleconferences – having a chairperson can help make sure people speak in turn rather than all at once! Transcript available at: http://web.mac.com/pdatkinson/iWeb/BusinessEnglishPod/ Please visit: http://www.workplace-english-training.com/sample.html for access to a sample of our premium subscription service. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 License.