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BEP 25c – Travel English: Checking in for a Flight

A2, Business English, Business English Vocabulary, Travel /

BEP 25 - Travel English: Checking in for a Flight

Welcome back to Business English Pod for today’s lesson on checking in for a flight at the airport.

This Business English lesson is part of our new series of fresh takes on some of our older lessons. We’ve kept the same dialog but have new explanations and practice for our lower level learners.

So, imagine you arrive at the airport on the day of your flight. You walk up to the ticket counter to “check in.” What do you say? Well, you need to start by telling the agent you want to check in and give some information about your flight, such as where you are going. You also need to check your “baggage,” or your bags, and perhaps make a polite request for the kind of seat you want.

In fact, it’s important to be polite throughout this conversation, and it’s this polite language and vocabulary that we’ll learn today. And you may find the expressions we learn quite useful in many different travel situations.

In the dialog you’re going to hear a traveler called Robert. Robert is talking to a ticket agent because he wants to check in for his flight. Listen carefully and you will hear Robert and the ticket agent talk about Robert’s destination, his bags, seat, and ticket.

Listening Questions

1. What is Robert’s final destination?
2. How many suitcases does Robert want to check?
3. After checking his bags, what does Robert ask the ticket agent?
4. Where does Robert want to sit on the airplane?

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Business English News 31 – Crowdfunding

Business English, Business English Vocabulary, Business News, Finance and Accounting /

BEN 31 - Crowdfunding

In today’s Business English News lesson, we look at new methods of raising capital for startups.

Crowdfunding, the idea of gathering lots of small contributions from individuals to finance a company or a project, is one of the latest buzzwords to hit the business world. Born as a result of the economic crisis where access to financing from traditional sources is increasingly difficult, crowdfunding is another avenue to secure funds for entrepreneurial ventures; as This is Money explains:

Until recently, financing a business involved asking a few people for big sums of money. Crowdfunding is turning this idea on its head, using the Internet to help entrepreneurs talk to thousands – if not millions – of potential funders who each contribute a small amount.

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BEP 263 – Socializing at an Office Party 2

Business English, Socializing /

Welcome back to Business English Pod for today’s lesson on socializing at an office party.

Office parties can be fun, but have you ever stood there with a colleague and felt like you don’t know what to say? Maybe you’ve got a great working relationship, but outside the office it feels like a different game? In fact, good working relationships are supported by good personal relationships. The more we know our co-workers, the better our work can be. And the office party can be a great chance to get to know them better and build that relationship.

So, how do we do that? What are some techniques for socializing at office parties? In today’s lesson, we’ll look at paying, or giving, someone a compliment, declining a drink, and gossiping. We’ll also learn how to change the topic and introduce two people who haven’t met before.

In the dialog, we will hear Amber, who works for a pharmaceutical company. At a company Christmas party she runs into one of her colleagues Max. Max and Amber chat for a while before Finn, a new colleague of Amber’s, shows up on the scene.

Listening Questions

1. What compliment does Amber give to Max?
2. What reason does Amber give for not wanting a drink?
3. Max and Amber are talking about work colleagues when Amber changes the topic. What topic does she ask about?

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BEP 262 – Socializing at an Office Party 1

Business English, Socializing /

Welcome back to Business English Pod for today’s lesson on socializing at an office party or event.

Office parties are a great opportunity to get to know your colleagues outside of the usual work environment. Besides, as the saying goes, “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” But have you ever found yourself at a party, drink in hand, and been unsure how to strike up a conversation? Maybe you’re at a table with someone you haven’t actually met from a different department. You make eye contact, smile, and then what? What do you say?

Socializing with co-workers is an important part of building good relationships, but it can be awkward if you find yourself at a loss for words. Fortunately, there are some great techniques for this situation that you can learn and practice. In today’s lesson, we’ll look at breaking the ice and using common points of knowledge to start a conversation. We’ll also learn how to turn the conversation to the other person, show interest, and make an excuse to leave when you want to finish the conversation.

In the dialog, we will hear Amber, who works in marketing for a pharmaceutical company. She is at a staff Christmas party and finds herself talking to Shelly, who works in sales. Amber and Shelly haven’t actually met before, and Amber wants to make conversation.

Listening Questions

1. What does Amber first comment on in her conversation?
2. What work topic does Amber bring up with Shelly?
3. What reason does Amber give for leaving?

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BEP 261 – Complaining on the Telephone 2

Business English, Customer Service, Telephone English /

Welcome back to Business English Pod for today’s lesson on complaining and getting results over the phone.

Few people actually like to complain, but sometimes you just have to. There’s an old saying that “the squeaky wheel gets the grease,” which means that if you don’t complain, you won’t actually get anything resolved. So if you pay for a product or service and you’re not satisfied, it’s usually best to let the company know.

We can complain by email, but email isn’t always powerful enough. We need to use our voice to convey our ideas, emotions, and seriousness. We can complain in person, but that’s not always possible. So in many situations, we need to complain over the phone. But that’s not an easy thing to do successfully, so today we’ll look at some techniques that you can use to get results over the phone. In this lesson, we’ll cover rejecting a proposed solution, making threats, and asking for guarantees. We’ll also learn about establishing consequences and showing appreciation for a solution.

In the dialog, we will rejoin Donna and Mike. Donna works for Fuller Foods, which buys fruit from a company where Mike works as an account manager. Donna has been complaining about late deliveries and damaged produce. And Mike is trying to make her happy by looking for solutions to the problem.

Listening Questions

1. What does Donna think of Mike’s idea to talk to people in his company about the problem?
2. Why might Donna mention that she gets calls from sales reps from other companies?
3. What does Donna propose in the event that deliveries arrive late?

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