BEP 128 – Telephoning: Handling Sales Calls

We’ve looked before at how to set up an appointment on the phone with someone you already know (BEP 119), but what about if you haven’t met the person or established a relationship with them yet? In today’s Business English Podcast, we’ll be looking at how to make contact with a prospective client and, on the opposite end of the line, we’ll examine language you can use to politely decline a request for information or a meeting.

We’ve already met Mario from Viva Fashions in previous episodes. Now Mario wants to meet with the head buyer for a chain of American stores owned by DeBourg Brands but, at this point, he doesn’t even know the buyer’s name. Mario is going to “cold call” the company and see if he can reach the buyer. First, he needs a name, and then he needs to try to speak to the buyer to make an appointment.

Listening Questions – First Call:
1) What techniques does Mario use to get information from Joan?
2) Why do you think Joan agrees to help Mario?

Listening Questions – Second Call:
1) Why does Mario keep saying “thank you” instead of “please” after making a request?
2) What language does Mario use when stating the reason for his call, and why?
3) Throughout the conversation, Mario uses informal language to minimize his request. Can you spot a few examples?

Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Quizzes | PhraseCast | Lesson Module

Download: Podcast MP3

Revised e-Book for Business Meetings in English

Business English for Meetings eBookThis is a preview of our revised e-Book for business meetings: Meeting Essentials for Business English.

Business English Pod e-Books enable you to learn on the go with MP3 audio lessons and the detailed PDF study guides, including a full transcript of each lesson. The revised editions include over 100 online Flash quizzes, exercises and flashcards designed to help you practice and use all the language covered in the course.

Click the launch button below to start the online quizzes for Unit 210 – Managing the Discussion:

quiz

You can purchase the complete e-book by clicking the button below:

Revised e-Book for Job Interviews in English

Business English for Job Interviews eBook

This is a preview of our revised Business English e-Book for job interviews: Successful Job Interviews in English.

Business English Pod e-Books enable you to learn on the go with MP3 audio lessons and the detailed PDF study guides, including a PDF transcript of each lesson. The revised editions include over 100 online quizzes, exercises and flashcards designed to help you practice and use all the language covered in the course.

You can purchase the complete e-book on the signup page.

CT 04 English Grammar – Conditionals

YouTube video

Chalk ‘n’ Talk is a new series of video lessons exploring advanced English grammar topics.

In this lesson, Brian reviews the three basic conditionals: first (probable) conditional, second (improbable) conditional and third (past improbable) conditional. In the second part of the video, Brian looks at some common errors native speakers make with the third conditional.

Premium Members: PDF Transcript | Online Practice

Download: Podcast Video

BEP 127 – English Meetings: Discussing a Problem (2)

This second part of a two-part Business English Podcast series on running and participating in a problem-solving meeting.

In the first part of this meeting (see BEP 126), the team spent time answering the question: “What is the problem?” In today’s episode, we’re going to focus on how to brainstorm solutions to a problem through discussion, how to evaluate and eliminate suggestions and then agree a plan of action.

Kathryn, the head of Human Resources at a medium-sized company, is meeting with department heads to discuss a problem they are having with low staff morale. The team has identified the root cause of the problem as the separation of staff across 3 different office locations.

Kathryn wants everyone to critique the ideas that the group has brought forward, in order to eliminate impractical suggestions. We’ll see how she confirms the best solution and how her team suggests points for action. As the dialog starts, Kathryn closes the brainstorming session and sums up the input that has been received.

Listening Questions

1) How many ideas does the group come up with for solving the staff morale problem?
2) Which idea does the group agree is the best one to try?
3) Name one of the action points suggested near the end of the meeting.

*** This lesson is part of our Business English eBook for meetings: Meeting Essentials. Premium members click here to download the complete eBook.

Premium Members: Study Notes | Quizzes | PhraseCast | Lesson Module

Download: Podcast MP3