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BEP 175 – English Idioms: Gambling Idioms (Part 1)

Business English, Business English Vocabulary, Business Idioms, ESL Podcast /

This is the first in a two-part Business English Pod series on idioms related to gambling.

As gambling involves money and risk, it’s not surprising that we use gambling idioms in business. The verb “gamble” itself is very common. We often talk about “gambling” money on an idea or “taking a gamble” to mean taking a risk. Another very common one is “bet,” both as a verb and a noun. When we gamble, we “bet” money in the hopes of winning and getting more money back. In a way, business is one big bet.

In English, gambling idioms come from a few common types of gambling. Card games, especially poker, and horse racing give us the most idiomatic expressions, but we also get some from games such as dice and marbles.

In this lesson, we’ll hear a conversation between Kevin and Dan, two colleagues who are talking about investing. Kevin actively invests in the stock market, while Dan is more cautious and usually avoids risk.

Listening Questions

1. Which person thinks that luck is important in investing?
2. What did Kevin do when the stock market crashed?
3. What does Kevin want to tell Dan about at the end of the conversation?

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Business English for Telephoning eBook

Announcements, Business English e-Books, Telephone English /

Business English for Telephoning eBook This is a preview of our new e-Book for working on the telephone in English:
Business English for Telephoning

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. As with all our e-Books, Business English for Telephoning includes over 100 online quizzes, exercises and flashcards designed to help you practice and learn all the language covered in the course.

Click the launch button below to start the online quizzes for Unit 501 – Answering a Call

All BEP e-Books are free for Premium Members or you can purchase the e-book separately by clicking the button below:

BEP 69 B – Telephoning: Taking a Message

A2, Business English, Customer Service, Intermediate English, Telephone English /

Welcome back to Business English Pod. This is the second part of our look at answering the phone and taking a message. In this lesson, we’ll focus on taking a message.

Today’s lesson is also featured in our new eBook: Business English for Telephoning. This eBook covers essential language for many different types of business calls, including dealing with customers and complaints, making arrangements and checking on orders.

In our last lesson (BEP 69 A – Answering a Call), we looked at answering a call effectively. We heard an example of poor telephone skills and started in on a dialog that demonstrated good telephone skills. Today, we’re going to continue with that dialog and look at how to take a message. Have you ever missed a telephone message? Or have you received a message that didn’t contain the necessary information? If so, then you understand how important it is not just to take a message, but to do it right.

We’ll look at ways to ask someone to leave a message, information that should be included in a message, and how to offer help. You will also learn how to acknowledge, check back and confirm information that a caller gives you.

Now, let’s rejoin Mark, who works for a company called Trivesco. He is calling a shipping company, Daneline, hoping to speak with someone named Sylvie Petersen. Sylvie is not there, so Mark has to leave a message with Amy, the receptionist.

Listening Questions

1. How does the tone of Amy’s voice sound?
2. What information does Mark include in his message?
3. How does Amy make sure she has Mark’s phone number correct?

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BEP 69 A – Telephoning: Answering a Call

A2, Business English, Customer Service, Intermediate English, Telephone English /

In this Business English Pod episode, we’re going to take another look at one of our most popular and important podcasts. Today we’re talking about using the telephone in English. This is something we all do, but we don’t all do well.

Today’s lesson is also featured in our new eBook: Business English for Telephoning. This eBook covers essential language for many different types of business calls, including dealing with customers and complaints, making arrangements and checking on orders.

Talking on the telephone has become an extremely important part of business. You need to be able to answer a call professionally and create a good image of yourself and your company with only your voice. Having effective telephone skills leaves a good impression on your customers, clients, and colleagues. People are busy, so you want to be very clear, polite and organized.

In this lesson, we’ll begin by looking at a bad example of answering a call and taking message. We’ll discuss why it’s a bad example, and then we’ll go into a good example of answering a call. I’m sure you’ll see a clear difference.

For our bad example, we’ll listen as Justin, an employee with Trivesco, calls a shipping company called Daneline. Justin is hoping to speak with Sylvie Petersen, but it is a receptionist named Amy who answers the phone.

Listening Questions – Bad Example
1. How would you describe Amy’s attitude?
2. Does Justin seem prepared?

Listening Questions – Good Example
1. What information does Amy include in her first sentence?
2. How does Mark Rand introduce himself?

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BEP 174 – Meetings: Considering a Proposal 2

Business English, English for Meetings, Negotiating, Persuasion /

This is the second in a two-part Business English Pod series about an internal meeting to consider a proposal.

As we saw in the last episode, this type of meeting can be similar to a negotiation. People with different opinions sit around the table and try to convince each other that their idea is the best. So in this situation, you need to be very persuasive and provide good reasons for your recommendations.

In this lesson, we’ll look at how to express doubt, admit risk, confirm support, and speculate about possible future situations or scenarios. We’ll also cover language that you can use to highlight any concessions you might have won in a previous negotiation.

In today’s dialog, we’ll rejoin Steve and his managers as they discuss a proposal for language training. Steve is recommending a blended training model that would combine classroom sessions with online training.

Listening Questions

1. Which advantage of online training does Steve focus on?
2. What is the main concern of the two female managers?
3. If the blended approach doesn’t work, what do they have the option of doing?

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BEP 173 – Meetings: Considering a Proposal 1

Business English, English for Meetings, Negotiating, Persuasion /

This is the first of a two-part Business English Pod series on an internal meeting to consider a proposal. This lesson follows on from our recent three-part series on meeting with an external vendor (BEP 170 – 172).

Meeting to discuss a proposal is like an internal negotiation. The people at the table may have different opinions about the best option or course of action. These people need to support their ideas with strong reasons and try to convince others of their position. In the end, only one option or proposal will be chosen, so it’s important to come prepared.

In this lesson, we’ll focus on defining options and outlining both advantages and disadvantages of a proposal. We’ll also see how we can show that we’ve fully examined a potential vendor’s background and how we can support our ideas with solid reasons.

In today’s dialog, we’ll listen to Steve meeting with his HR and Line managers. Steve has found an external vendor, called Lexis, to conduct language training. Steve is trying to convince the managers to choose the blended delivery model proposed by Lexis.

Listening Questions

1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of online training?
2. How does the male manager seem to feel about online training?
3. What does Steve say about Lexis Training Solution’s reputation?

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Skills 360 – Achieving Your Goals (Part 2)

Business English, Business Skills 360, Management English /

Welcome back Business English Skills 360 for the second part of our series on achieving your goals.

In this episode, we’re going to talk about how to maintain your focus and motivation while you work toward achieving your goals. Remember that achieving your goals is a process, not an event. It takes time, energy, motivation, and the ability to deal with adversity. It doesn’t happen all at once. But if you set SMART goals, manage them well, find the right time and resources, and maintain motivation, you’ll get there.

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Skills 360 – Achieving Your Goals (Part 1)

Business English, Business Skills 360, Management English /

Welcome back Business English Skills 360 for the first part of our series on achieving your goals. In this episode, we’re going to focus on setting SMART goals and effective goal management.

Now, when I talk about goals, I’m talking about any kind of goal. It could be a personal goal, like improving your sales pitch, or an organizational goal, like expanding successfully into new territory. The basics are the same and these tips apply to goals of any size or scope.

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BEP 172 – Meeting with a Vendor (Part 3)

Business English, English for Meetings, Human Resources, Sales English /

This is the third of a three-part Business English Pod series on discussing a proposal with a vendor.

Meeting with a vendor to discuss a proposal is partly about getting information and partly about negotiating a good deal. Your conversation is like a dance in which you and the vendor are trying to get the most out of a possible deal. You need to come out of the meeting feeling confident about the vendor’s abilities and sure that you are getting as much as possible at the best possible price.

Last week, we looked at how to show concern about cost, introducing topics with tact, and showing tactical hesitation. In this episode, we’ll focus on the negotiation phase. That will involve highlighting concerns, getting concessions, and making a counter-proposal. We’ll also look at how to set criteria for evaluation and how to maintain momentum at the end of a meeting.

In today’s dialog, we’ll rejoin Steve, who wants to hire a vendor to run language training, and Karen, whose company has bid on the project.

Listening Questions

1. How does Karen respond to Steve’s concern about cost?
2. What changes to the proposal does Steve suggest?
3. What will probably happen next?

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BEP 171 – Meeting with a Vendor (Part 2)

Business English, English for Meetings, Human Resources, Sales English /

This is the second of a three-part Business English Pod series about meeting with a vendor to discuss a proposal.

As we discussed last time, meeting with a vendor to discuss a proposal is partly about getting information and partly about negotiating a good deal. You need to use your soft skills to come out of the meeting feeling positive about the vendor and confident that you are getting as much as possible at the best price.

In the last episode, we focussed on getting information through different types of questions. In this lesson, we’ll look at how to express concern about cost, how to introduce a topic with tact, and how to show hesitation in a negotiation. We’ll also cover asking hypothetical questions and approximating numbers.

Let’s rejoin Steve, who is hoping to hire someone to run language training, and Karen, whose company has bid on the project.

Listening Questions

1. What are the advantages of a blended course?
2. What is Steve’s primary concern in this part of the meeting?
3. What can be done if the client isn’t satisfied with the blended delivery?

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