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BEP 143 – Meetings: English for Teleconferences (1)

Business English, English for Meetings, Intermediate English, Teleconference English /

English for Teleconference Meetings 1

This is the first in a two-part Business English Pod series on teleconferences – meetings that take place over the phone.

Nowadays, we have virtual teams interacting across the globe in virtual meetings without having to leave the office. Teleconferences offer a host of advantages, including minimal travel and meetings costs.

However, teleconferences do have their challenges, especially since participants cannot see each other. It’s helpful for people to introduce themselves, use their names and their colleague’s names when speaking, minimize background noise, and speak slowly and clearly. In these two episodes, we’ll learn vocabulary associated with teleconferences. We’ll also learn ways to professionally and tactfully handle any issues that come up.

Today, we’ll listen to Craig and Elsa. Craig is a new hire at StarCom, a computer and printer manufacturer. He’s fresh from university and needs to learn how to do a teleconference, so he asks for help from Elsa, who works in HR.

Listening Questions

1) What types of equipment are needed for a teleconference?
2) What is the purpose of a passcode?
3) What are three problems Elsa mentions that can often occur during a teleconference?

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BEP 142 – Presentations: SWOT Analysis 2

Advanced, Business English, Management English, Presentation in English /

This is the second in a 2-part Business English Pod series on presenting a SWOT analysis.

A SWOT analysis is a tool that helps companies understand their strengths and weaknesses, while keeping in mind the opportunities and threats they face. In this way, companies can take a look at both the internal and external factors that can impact their success. This information can be used in a variety of ways, such as project planning, crisis management, and competitive analysis.

In the last episode, Terry, who works at a growing accountancy firm, began a presentation for Susan, the newly hired marketing manager. Terry presented his SWOT Analysis quite casually, as a one-to-one discussion with Susan. He introduced some of the company’s strengths and weaknesses, internal factors that affect the firm’s growth.

In this episode, Terry will introduce the opportunities and threats faced by the firm. These are external forces that need to be considered before developing a new marketing strategy. As the dialog starts, Susan responds to Terry’s presentation of the company’s strengths and weaknesses, as Terry moves on to begin discussing opportunities.

Listening Questions:

1) What has the local government done in response to the current economic situation?
2) Who is in charge of the tax advisory division of the firm?
3) What does Terry think is important for Susan’s marketing campaign?

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BEP 141 – Presentations: SWOT Analysis 1

Advanced, Business English, Management English, Presentation in English /

In this Business English Pod lesson, we start the first in a 2-part series on presenting a SWOT analysis.

A SWOT analysis is a simple but powerful framework for analyzing your company’s strengths and weaknesses – these are internal to the company – as well as the opportunities and threats you face outside the company. This analysis helps you focus on your strengths, minimize threats, and take the greatest possible advantage of opportunities available to you.

In today’s lesson, we’ll focus on the first two stages of a SWOT: strengths and weaknesses. We’ll practice language for providing an overview, introducing your main strength, maximizing positive aspects, and acknowledging and introducing a weakness.

We’ll be listening to Terry, a partner at a growing firm of accountants, talking to Susan, the company’s newly hired marketing manager. Terry needs to brief Susan about the company and SWOT is a quick and easy-to-understand framework for giving a quick overview of a company and its position.

Listening Questions

1) What is the main source of business for the company?
2) What is the main strength identified by Terry?
3) What weaknesses does Terry mention?

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