Business English Pod / Communication / Page 13

BEP 17c – Presenting an Argument in English (2)

Business English, Communication, English for Meetings /

This is the second of a two-part Business English Pod series on presenting an argument.

This podcast is one of the most popular as voted by you, the listeners. And to celebrate our 4th anniversary, we’re giving it another go by updating the examples and explanations. We hope you enjoy it!

When you’re presenting an argument, it’s important to back up what you’re saying. You need to have relevant facts and examples at your fingertips and think ahead to what your opponents might say. It’s also helpful to know how to talk in broad terms and give your argument some contrast. Finally, it’s good to know how to conclude your argument in a clear, concise way.

In this lesson, we’ll explore these points in detail. We’ll talk about ways to give powerful examples. We’ll also look at language for making contrasting points and generalizations. And, we’ll show you how to finish up your argument, either formally or informally.

Last time, we met Jack and Dan, who work for an American guitar manufacturer. Jack thinks moving production to Costa Rica would be a good financial move for the company. But Dan isn’t so sure.

Listening Questions

1. Why are shipping costs increasing? Give one example.
2. Why does Dan think that moving production to Costa Rica would be more expensive?
3. What is happening to the company’s market share?

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BEP 17c – Presenting an Argument in English (1)

Business English, Communication, English for Meetings /

It’s our 4th anniversary and to celebrate, we’re bringing back one of our most popular podcasts as voted for by you, the listeners. We’ve freshened up the examples and explanations, and we hope you’ll enjoy this new version.

When you’re making an argument, you’re trying to get others to see your point of view. To do this, you need to present your argument – and it’s supporting details – in a clear and organized fashion. Otherwise, it’s going to be difficult for your audience to follow your argument or support you.

Today, we’ll look at ways to make an initial recommendation and begin an organized argument. Then, we’ll talk about how to sequence the points of your argument, how to add new points, and how to emphasize points so they have a greater impact on your listeners.

Here’s the scenario for our dialog. Jim, Dan, and Jack work for an American guitar manufacturer. Jack believes the company should build a new factory in Costa Rica to save money on production costs. Let’s hear how he organizes and supports his argument.

Listening Questions

1. What is Jack’s recommendation?
2. According to Jack, why is the company losing money?
3. How does Jack explain that labor costs are more expensive than raw materials?

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BEP 154 – Management English: Motivating Your Team (2)

Advanced, Business English, Communication, Management English /

Management English - Motivating your Team 2

This is the second in a two-part Business English Podcast series on motivating your team.

There are many strategies you can use to motivate people. One way is to reward them. This reward can be emotional, such as acknowledgement or praise for a job well done. Or, it can be more concrete, like a cash bonus or a prize.

In this lesson, we’ll look at motivation through rewards. We’ll discuss how to acknowledge your team’s efforts and give praise. We’ll also look at how to introduce challenges, friendly competition, and incentives. Finally, we’ll talk about some ways to finish up a meeting so that your team feels energized for the work ahead.

Last time, we listened to Joe, the manager of the sales department at a resort, motivating his team after a round of layoffs. Today, we’ll go back to Joe’s team a month later. They’ve made good progress since their first meeting and Joe wants to keep his staff motivated so that they will continue to succeed.

Listening Questions

1. Why is the team happy with Nick?
2. What is the first prize for the sales competition?
3. What does Deborah think about the challenge?

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BEP 153 – Management English: Motivating your Team (1)

Business English, Communication, ESL Podcast, Management English /

Management English - Motivating your Team 1

This is the the first of a two-part Business English Pod series on motivating your team.

Motivation is an important force in business. Much of what gets accomplished is driven by a team’s motivation. When employees feel energized about a project, they’re more likely to contribute ideas and work hard toward success. But if they’re not motivated, their commitment – and the chances of success – diminish.

Sometimes, motivation is difficult to achieve. Circumstances such as a poor economy or downsizing can devastate employee morale, or optimism. Employees may feel defeated, uncertain about their future, and not at all excited about the work ahead.

In this lesson, we’ll look at some ways to motivate your team. We’ll discuss how to acknowledge obstacles that may hold a team back. We’ll cover ways to convey enthusiasm and make people feel valued. And we’ll talk about how team members can contribute to the discussion and brainstorm.

Today we’ll listen to Joe, a manager at a resort, try to motivate his sales team. The department has been downsized considerably and morale is low. Still, they have important work to do.

Listening Questions:

1. Why does Joe say that the team looks different now?
2. What idea does Carl suggest?
3. What is Nick’s idea?

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BEP 150 – Working in Multicultural Teams (Part 2)

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

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

These days, working with people from different cultures is quite common. You might be meeting with colleagues in another country or on another continent. Business practices vary all over the world. Some cultures are more formal than others. Some have distinct customs regarding greetings, gender roles, and food. So it’s helpful to know as much as possible about other business cultures before you meet your team.

But even if you’ve done your research carefully, problems can still arise, especially in face-to-face meetings. There can be miscommunications, points that need clarification, and different ideas of what’s acceptable in a business environment.

Today, we’ll look at issues like slang and idioms, concepts of time, forms of address, and misunderstandings due to culture. We’ll also discuss opening interactions and explaining different business customs.

In the last episode, we met Cao Ming a U.S.-based manager at a multinational company. Originally from China, Ming has worked in New York for many years and is now headed to Brazil where he’ll lead a research team. He did some background reading and discussed Brazilian culture with a colleague before he left. Now, he’s heading his first meeting with his new Brazilian team.

Listening Questions

1. What are two idioms Ming needs to explain?
2. What suggestion does Carla make at the beginning of the meeting?
3. Why does Felipe mispronounce Ming’s name?

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