Posts tagged Business English
English Lesson: Talking about your job & work
Mar 26th
What do you do? I'm a sales manager for an insurance company.
Let’s talk about work today. Here is a conversation I have had quite often:
Michael: Hi. I’m Michael. Nice to meet you.
Thom: Hi Michael. I’m Thom. It’s nice to meet you too.
Michael: So Thom, what do you do?
Thom: I’m an office worker.
Michael: I see, but what do you do?
Thom: I’m a businessman.
Michael: Right, but what do you do?
Thom: I’m a company employee.
Michael: ???????
When you are having an English conversation, and someone asks you about your job, you should tell them exactly what your job is. Usually, this is your job title:
- What do you do? → I’m an English teacher
- What do you do? → I’m a salesman
- What do you do? → I’m a secretary
- What do you do? → I’m an accountant.
We do not give general answers, like Thom did in the opening conversation. So answers like these are strange in English because they don’t tell us about you. These answers are not unique:
- I’m a businessman → Lots of people are businessmen and businesswomen.
- I’m an office worker → Look around your city. Many people are office workers.
- I’m a company worker → Unless you own your own business, you work for a company
By the way, the words “salaryman” and “office lady” are not used in English.
You can also answer by describing your job, if you job doesn’t have a clear title:
- What do you do? → I work for a real estate company in the accounting office
- What do you do? → I work for a graphic design company, in the marketing office.
Let’s have a look at an improved version of the opening conversation:
Michael: Hi. I’m Michael. Nice to meet you.
Thom: Hi Michael. I’m Thom. It’s nice to meet you too.
Michael: So Thom, what do you do?
Thom: I’m a sales manager for an advertising firm in Chicago.
Here, Thom’s reply is perfect. We know exactly what he does. What do you do? Leave a comment below and let us know!
Hi Everyone!
I’m so excited to let you know that the Audio Program (Podcasts) is now available!
There are 11 podcasts, almost 1 hour of audio lessons.
Here is a sample of the audio:
Download the sample here
When you upload the podcast to your iPhone, iPod, or iPad, touch the screen to see the text of all of the lessons:
Tap the screeen of your iPod or iPad and see the lesson!
For a limited time, still just $5 for both the book and all 11 podcasts (almost 1 hour of my lessons).
Including…
- The DEFINITION of each phrasal verb.
- How to USE the phrasal verb.
- The STRUCTURE showing the grammar pattern of the phrasal verb.
- EXAMPLE sentences to see how the phrasal verb is used in context.
- A PRACTICE question to give you the chance to use the phrasal verb.
- ALMOST 1 HOUR of my audio lessons in 11 Podcasts explaining the meaning and giving examples of each phrasal verb!
Now, just $5 for the book and audio! Limited time offer
Click here for a FREE 15 page sample
Would you like to buy the complete 116 page book with all 109 Phrasal Verbs AND the 11 Audio Podcasts?
Click here to buy the book and 11 Audio Podcasts for just $5!
English Vocabulary Lesson: Basic Business English
Mar 4th
ABC Company was launched in 1999. At the time, it was a small firm, serving just local clientele. But business started booming, and ABC grew into an international powerhouse. ABC didn’t need to worry about the bottom line, because sales were strong and careful management kept overheads at a reasonable level. The results were amazing. Quarter after quarter, the profit grew and the company spent many years in the black.
Here is the key vocabulary and the definition in Basic English as the words are used here. Some of these words may have slightly different meanings in other situations.
- to launch (verb) means to start doing business
- firm (noun) means company or business
- clientele (noun) means the customers of the business
- boom (verb) to increase strongly
- powerhouse (noun) means a powerful, well known company
- bottom line (noun) means the final line on the financial report of the company. The bottom line shows the amount of the profit or loss of the business
- overhead (noun) is an expense of the company such as rent or payroll
- profit (noun) is sales minus expenses. If the company receives more money that it pays out, it makes a profit. If the company receives less money that it pays out, it makes a loss.
- in the black (noun) means the company has made a profit. If the company has made a loss, we say it is “in the red”
Thanks for studying today. I hope you find this vocabulary useful!
Hi Everyone!
I’m so excited to let you know that the Audio Program (Podcasts) is now available!
There are 11 podcasts, almost 1 hour of audio lessons.
Here is a sample of the audio:
Download the sample here
When you upload the podcast to your iPhone, iPod, or iPad, touch the screen to see the text of all of the lessons:
Tap the screeen of your iPod or iPad and see the lesson!
For a limited time, still just $5 for both the book and all 11 podcasts (almost 1 hour of my lessons).
Including…
- The DEFINITION of each phrasal verb.
- How to USE the phrasal verb.
- The STRUCTURE showing the grammar pattern of the phrasal verb.
- EXAMPLE sentences to see how the phrasal verb is used in context.
- A PRACTICE question to give you the chance to use the phrasal verb.
- ALMOST 1 HOUR of my audio lessons in 11 Podcasts explaining the meaning and giving examples of each phrasal verb!
Now, just $5 for the book and audio! Limited time offer
Click here for a FREE 15 page sample
Would you like to buy the complete 116 page book with all 109 Phrasal Verbs AND the 11 Audio Podcasts?
Click here to buy the book and 11 Audio Podcasts for just $5!
English Vocabulary Lesson: Job, Work, & Business
Oct 24th
A friend of mine is looking for a job. He used to work for a bank, but he lost his job when a new company bought the bank and downsized the office. Working in the finance industry seems like interesting work, but I heard it is hard to find a secure job. There are a lot of entry level jobs in the banking business, but not many people seem to work for the same company for a very long time. I guess that’s how business is these days.
These three words, job, work, and business are similar, but we use them differently. Do you know how to use them? Have a look at the paragraph above and then check today’s lesson:
Job is a countable noun and there are a few ways you can use job:
- A job is a task that one does:
- You did a nice job on the ABC project.
- I have several important jobs to do this week in the office.
- A job is also paid position for doing regular work:
- Jack has a job in a bank.
- Tommy has an interesting job in international marketing.
- Here are some typical questions we ask using job:
- How’s your new job?
- Do you think Tom did a good job on his presentation?
If you want to know someone’s job, you can ask, “What do you do?”
Work is a verb, but it is also a non-countable noun. Here are a few ways you can use work:
- Work is an activity requiring mental or physical activity
- You did nice work on the ABC project.
- I have a lot of work to do this week in the office.
· Work is also the place or industry where one is employed
- I have to go to work early tomorrow.
- International marketing is interesting work that involves a lot of travel.
- Here are some typical questions we ask using work:
- What kind of work do you do?
- You put a lot of work into that presentation, didn’t you?
Business is a noun and can have a countable or non-countable use:
- As a countable noun, business means the industry where one is employed
- Ted has worked in the insurance business all his life.
- The real estate business took a nosedive a few years ago.
- When we talk about the commerce in general, business is a non-countable collective noun:
- Business is not so good these days because of the economy.
- This new marketing campaign should help us drum up business
- Typical questions using business
- What line of business are you in?
- Do you think Tom enjoys the education business?
- How’s business?
So what do you do? Do you like your job? Is it hard work? Is it an interesting business to be in?
