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BEP 149 – Working in Multicultural Teams (Part 1)

Advanced, Business English, Communication, Culture, ESL Podcast /

This is the first in a two-part Business English Pod series on working in multicultural teams.

In today’s world, it’s common to work with people from different cultures. And since effective business depends on clear communication, it’s important to consider different aspects of culture. Your colleagues may do business differently than you do. So, knowing more about intercultural communication can help your work go more smoothly and avoid any misunderstandings.

In this episode, we’ll go over some points to consider for working in a multicultural team. We’ll look at general business culture, specific business customs, levels of formality, and local cultural awareness. And since food is often served in business settings, we’ll talk about that, too.

We’ll be listening to, a manager at a biotechnology company based in the United States. Although Ming is originally from China, he has worked for many years at the head office in New York and is now heading to Brazil to manage a team of international researchers. In this episode, Ming is preparing for his trip by talking to a colleague, Tanya, who lived and worked in Brazil for 3 years.

Listening Questions:

1. What has Ming heard about Curitiba?
2. What does Tanya say about relationships in Brazil?
3. What honorary title does Ming ask about?

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BEP 148 – How to Ask for a Pay Raise (2)

Advanced, Business English, ESL Podcast, Human Resources, Negotiating /

This is the second of a two-part Business English Pod series on how to ask for a pay raise.

Asking for a pay raise is a two-step process. Before any discussion of compensation begins, it’s important to state your case and demonstrate why you deserve a raise. Let your boss know of your achievements and your value to the company.

The second part involves negotiating. This is the time to start talking about specific numbers and benefits, but it must be handled diplomatically. You’ll need to outline what you want, acknowledge the other party’s concerns and bargain for the best deal.

In the last episode, we listened to Ryan, a salesman at an industrial supply company called Pylon, present his case to his boss, Jacob. Ryan pointed out that his relationship with Alliance Builders brought in more sales overall. He also took on some web design work in addition to his sales duties. Now, Ryan and Jacob are ready to start negotiating Ryan’s compensation.

Listening Questions

1. How much does Ryan think he should receive for the web design work? Why?
2. Why can’t Jacob give Ryan the amount of money he wants?
3. What do Jacob and Ryan agree to in regard to Alliance Builders?

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BEP 147 – How to Ask for a Pay Raise (1)

Advanced, Business English, ESL Podcast, Human Resources, Negotiating /

This is the first of a two-part Business English Pod series on how to ask for a pay raise.

Asking for a pay raise makes many people uncomfortable, but it’s most definitely to our benefit to make the effort.

Getting a raise is more than just asking, though. Before the discussion can start, you need to prepare. Make a list of your achievements and quantify them with numbers and examples, if you can. It’s also helpful to get an idea of how your compensation compares to industry averages. You can easily find this information online or at the library. Remember that there can be more to compensation than salary, like health insurance, retirement plans, and stock options.

Today, we’ll listen as Ryan, a salesman at an industrial supply company called Pylon, discusses his salary with Jacob, his boss. Ryan would like a pay raise, but first, he needs to show Jacob why he deserves one. Notice how Ryan has thoroughly prepared for this meeting and is able to provide specific examples to support his case.

Listening Questions

1. Is Ryan is happy with his job? What reasons does he give?
2. Why is Ryan’s relationship with Alliance Builders important?
3. What is the difference in the pay structure for web design and sales work differ?

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ET 06 – Writing Requests to Senior Managers

Business English, Business Writing, English Video /
YouTube video

In this Email Tune-up lesson, we’re looking at an email from Jimmy, who is the training officer for his company. Jimmy wants to notify the various department heads of an upcoming seminar their staff will be attending. This is an internal email, which usually means it’s a bit more informal than something being sent outside the company. However, it’s being sent to managers at a higher rank than Jimmy’s, so the tone must be respectful and not too informal.

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