Welcome to Stone Study English

Exercise 2 - Meeting Process

2009-07-20T11:48:00.000+08:00

How to attract attention before the meeting
-Hello everybody. Please have a seat. (President Obama said at news conference)
-All right. Is everybody here? Great, I think we can get started.
-Okay. Let's get down to business.
-All right then. Can we get started?
-Okay folks. Let's get started, shall we?
-All right. Can I get everybody's attention? I think it's about the time we got started.
-Right, I think everybody is here. Let's get started.
-Is everybody ready to start?
-Okay, everybody. Let’s all take your seat, get thing started.
-Okay, let’s kick the meeting off.

How to greet in a meeting
-Great! Thank you all for coming.
-Well, good morning everyone. I'm sorry I had to call this meeting at such short notice.
-Well, good afternoon everybody. It's good to see you all here.
-Hello everyone! I'm glad to see you all here. I know it's a long way for some of you to come here.
-I really appreciate your being on time and already to work.

How to introduce attendee
-Let’s start by taking a roll call
-Attending to today’s conference are our colleagues in Roma office
-Andrew John is also joining us today, he is our chief engineer.
-Stone Shi will be with us shortly.
-First of all, I’d like to introduce George from the Hong Kong office. Would you like to say a few words about yourself, George?
-Everybody say hello to Kurume. She’s visiting us from the Japan office.
-I’d like to introduce a colleague of mine.
-I’d like you to meet a friend of mine.

How to introduce yourself
-I am Simon, senior manager from consumer department.
-I am Simon. I am in charge of sales marketing.
-I am Simon. I am responsible for the sales marketing.

How to introduce your objective
-As you know, the main objective of this meeting is to agree on ways to make up the budget shortfall of $100,000 shortfall we’re facing.
-The reason we’re meeting today is to work out ways to deal with the marketing challenges that we’re facing.
-The primary purpose of this meeting will be to start a discussion on ways to cope with the huge increase in demand that we’re seeing.
-Here’s the reason why small businesses won’t adopt enterprise 2.0
-I would like to begin by re-emphasizing something that we all know
-I would like to comment on the problem of
-I like to make a few marks concerning
-I would like to mention briefly that
-There are three points I’d like to make
-The most important problem seems to be

How to ask someone to start
-George, could you start by explaining the background on the first item?
-Cathy, why don’t you tell us what you’ve been thinking on the advertising issue.
-Well, Susanne, would you be so kind as to begin?

Signposting
-I've divided these sections of the presentation into three parts.
First, we'll go to review history sales data.
Next, we'll discuss developing sales trends.
And finally, we'll compare our performance with other competitors.
So, let's talk about the history sales data.
Okay, that covers the history sales data. Now let's move on to some of the trends… First, we'll talk about...then, … and we will finish this section with...
-I've divided these sections of the presentation into three parts.
-There are three types of prices we had to think about: Economic price, market price and sociological price.
Let’s look into each of them for more details. First, economic prices, this is based on product cost.

Summary and Close
To signal the end of a topic or section of a presentation:
- Okay, that’s all I have to say on this topic for the moment.
- Right, that ends the last section of my talk.
- That's all I want to say for now on the third part of my presentation.
To introduce the summary:
- So, to sum up
- To conclude,...
- In conclusion,...
- Now, to sum up...
- So let me summarize what I've said.
- Finally, may I remind you of some of the main points we've considered.
- During my talk today, I’ve described the results of our investigation.
To make a concluding recommendation:
- In conclusion, my recommendations are...
- I therefore propose the following strategy.
- I'd like to finish with...some observations based on what I've said.
- There are two conclusions to be made from this, namely,...
- I think we have to...
- I think we have seen that we should...
- What we need to do is...
- So, let me get straight to the point. We need action and we need it now.
To finish off a presentation and invite questions:
- Many thanks for your attention. Now I’m very interested in hearing your comments.
- Thank you for your attention. And now if you have any questions, I’d be glad to answer them.
- Thank you for listening. Now, I’d be glad to try and answer any questions.
- I thank you all for being such an attentive audience and now I’m sure you must have some questions, so I’ll be happy to answer them…. Yes, Simon ..
- So, let’s throw it open to questions.
- Any questions?

How to ask for clarifying
-Could you speak a little more specific?
-Could you explain this problem in more details?
-I am not sure I understand, could you explain it to me again?
-I am not sure I follow, could you explain it?
-Let me see if I understand.
-OK John, I just want to make sure that I understand your problem.
-Is that correct?

How to apologize
-Please accept my sincere apologies.
-We’re having a temporary problem with our software.
-We’re doing everything we can to resolve the issue.
-We’re doing everything we can to sort it out.
-Can you leave it with me for a day or two?
-I’ll look into the matter urgently, and get back to you tomorrow.
-I’ll send you a replacement immediately.
-We are sending you a small gift as a gesture of goodwill.
-I can assure you that this will not happen again.
-I apologize again for any inconvenience this has caused.
-If you have any further queries, do not hesitate to contact me.

Exercise 1 - Opinion_Agreeing_Suggestion

2009-07-20T11:44:00.001+08:00

Karen: OK. Now let’s talk about who we want to use the spokesperson for this project.
Let’s go around the table. Shall we use the sports star or someone else? Sven, what do you think?
[Exercise] To ask for opinion, we can also say:
-Sven, How do you feel about this?
-Sven, What’s your opinion on this?
-Sven, What’s your view on this?
-Sven, What’s your feeling on this?
-Sven, could you please share your thoughts on that?
Sven: Well… One possibility would be to use a famous overweight business executive, or CEO.
[Exercise] To express an opinion or suggestion, we can also say:
-Perhaps we should use a famous overweight business executive.
-In my opinion, we should use a famous overweight business executive.
-From my point of view, we should use a famous overweight business executive.
-I tend to feel that we should use a famous overweight business executive.
-I have the impression that we should use a famous overweight business executive.
-Don’t you think it is a little early?
-What about using a famous overweight business executive, or CEO?
-Why don’t we use a famous overweight business executive, or CEO?
-What if we use a famous overweight business executive, or CEO?
-Maybe we could use a famous overweight business executive, or CEO?
Miguel: Sorry, can I come in here?
[Exercise] To interrupt, we can also say:
-Sorry, can I come in here?
-Can I interrupt for a moment?
-May I speak something about that?
-Can I make a suggestion?
Karen: Yes, go ahead Miguel.
Miguel: That’s a good idea, but I’m not sure would work.
[Exercise] To disagree, we can also say:
-That’s a good idea, but I’m not sure would work.
-Good suggestion, but I can see one or two problems with that.
-Well, I’m not sure about that, to be honest.
-I’m sorry but I really can’t agree.
-I’m afraid I don’t totally agree with you.
Karen: Why not?
Miguel: Well, For one thing, our customers want to be fit, not fat.
Karen: Then, what do you suggest?
Miguel: Perhaps we should just use the famous sports star like we usually do, if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it. You know what I mean?
Karen: Good suggestion, but I can see one or two problems with that, to be honest.
Miguel: Oh?
Karen: First of all, our target markets are in the UK and the US. I need a man who American and Britain really love. Secondly, our target customer is kind of special.
Charles: I have a good suggestion.
Karen: Go ahead, Charles.
Charles: It’s just an idea, but how about choosing someone from a sport where normal to be heavy, American football, for example, heavy but agile; overweight but strong and fast. You know what I mean?
Karen: Right, I can see what you mean. What do others think?
Miguel: Yes, that’s might be worthy trying.
Sven: Ok, but how about the UK?
Karen: mm… Let me think about this. Shall we try to find someone in golf – That’s popular in the US and the UK.
Charles/ Sven/ Miguel: Good idea
[Exercise] To show agreeing with something:
-That’s a great idea.
-I can’t agree more.
-I entirely agree with you.
-No argument for me on that.
-OK. I can go along with that.
-Absolutely.

BEP 30 INT - Meetings Making Suggestions

2009-06-29T18:00:00.001+08:00

Today’s intermediate Business English Podcast is part of a two-part series on making, rejecting and accepting suggestions. In this episode, we’re focused on the language used to introduce your ideas and make suggestions.
The dialog takes place at a sports shoe company called Stratos. You’ll be listening to Karen, a marketing manager, meet with three members of her team, Charles, Sven and Miguel. They are choosing a celebrity spokesperson for a new product. Celebrity means a famous person and spokesperson is someone who gets paid to be in an advertisement for a product.
Karen: OK. Now let’s talk about who we want to use the spokesperson for this project.
Let’s go around the table. Shall we use the sports star or someone else? Sven, what do you think?
Sven: Well… One possibility would be to use a famous overweight business executive, or CEO.
Miguel: Sorry, can I come in here?
Karen: Yes, go ahead Miguel.
Miguel: That’s a good idea, but I’m not sure it would work.
Karen: Why not?
Miguel: Well, For one thing, our customers want to be fit, not fat.
Karen: Then, what do you suggest?
Miguel: Perhaps we should just use the famous sports star like we usually do, if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it. You know what I mean?
Karen: Good suggestion, but I can see one or two problems with that, to be honest.
Miguel: Oh?
Karen: First of all, our target markets are in the UK and the US. I need a man who American and Britain really love. Secondly, our target customer is kind of special.
Charles: I have a good suggestion.
Karen: Go ahead, Charles.
Charles: It’s just an idea, but how about choosing someone from a sport where normal to be heavy, American football, for example, heavy but agile; overweight but strong and fast. You know what I mean?
Karen: Right, I can see what you mean. What do others think?
Miguel: Yes, that’s might be worthy trying.
Sven: Ok, but how about the UK?
Karen: mm… Let me think about this. Shall we try to find someone in golf – That’s popular in the US and the UK.
Charles/ Sven/ Miguel: Good idea.

How to make suggestion:
-One possibility would be to use a famous overweight business executive.
-Perhaps we should use a sports star.
-I have a good suggestion. It’s just an idea, but how about…
-What about washing the dishes? / How about eating lunch together?
-Shall we try to find someone in golf?
-What if we cut the cost by finding a new office?

BEP 28 INT - Meetings Agreeing and Disagreeing

2009-06-29T17:58:00.001+08:00

This Business English Podcast episode is the first part in a two-part series looking at agreeing and disagreeing. In these two episodes, we’ll be practicing different levels of agreement and disagreement, from weak to strong.
Appropriate agreement and disagreement is an important part of all meetings and discussions.
Today’s listening is from a meeting in the R&D department of Pharmtec, a drug company.
This meeting is between Jean, the head scientist, and Louis and Carina, two researchers. They are talking about the result of new medicine trial.
Jean: So, what do you think about the new ZeriX trial? This could be the drug we’ve all waiting for. I think it’s going to a big setup.
Louis: So do I.
Carina: I’m sorry, but I really can’t agree. After all, so far we only carried out two trials, and don’t forget the strange (?) of the first trial.
Jean: Yes, I meant the first trial is a little disappointing. But that doesn’t take anything away from these new results, absolutely amazing.
Louis: Yes, fantastic. Aren’t they?
Jean: Especially for men over 60.
Carina: Don’t you think it is still a little early to be so sure? Perhaps we shouldn’t count on our chicken before they hatched. I still think there may be some issues with ZeriX.
Jean: Do you really think so? Anyway, we don’t have anything come out the pipeline right now. We have to try to make this work.
Carina: Yes, of course, but our patients come first.
Jean: The patients always come first, we won’t forget that. Now Carina, let’s talk about these issues one by one.
How to agree (short answer):
-So do I.
-I do too.
-I don’t either (negative sentence)
-Nor do I (negative sentence).
-Neither do I (negative sentence).
How to agree (Standard phrase):
-I entirely agree with you.
-You’re quite right.
-I couldn’t agree more.
-That’s exactly how I see it.
-That’s just how I feel.
How to disagree:
-I’m sorry, but I really can’t agree.
-Well, I’m not so sure about that, to be honest.
-Well, I don’t know.
-Well, it depends.
-I’m afraid I don’t really agree.
-I’m afraid I don’t totally agree with that.
-Yes, I think it is a good idea, but I think it is difficult to implement.
-Don’t you think it is still a little early?

BEP 27 INT - Meetings Expressing Opinions

2009-06-22T18:20:00.002+08:00

Formal:

Sheila, a vice president, is talking to Walt, George, and Bruce, three software engineers, about the deadline for new software launching.

Sheila: So, let’s move on to the topic of release date. Gentlemen, when do you like we’ll be able to launch this product. Walt?

Walt: Well, I tend to feel that we should probably be able to start testing the product in April. That means if all goes well, we can have the first release in May or June.

Sheila: I see, thank you Walt. What’s you reaction to that, Bruce?

Bruce: May or June? Well, from my point of view, that sounds about right.

George: Excuse me, may I come in here? I wonder if I could say something.

Sheila: Go ahead, George, what would you like to add?

George: Well, it seems to me that May is much, much too early. Actually we’re still having some pretty major problems with bugs in our production, and I just don’t see how we would be able to fix these bugs.

Informal:

Bruce, Walt, and George talk in a break room right after the meeting. Sheila, their boss, isn’t here.

Bruce: Hi guys. Did you see the Chelsea and Liverpool game last night? What did you think, Walt? Quite a game, Chelsea looks pretty good.

Walt: You always have to rub it in, don’t you Bruce? You know I’m a Liverpool fan.

B: How about you, George?

G: Actually, that was one of the greatest games I ever seen. But the way you guys keep telling the boss we can finish the product by May, none of us are going to have time to watch football games.

How to ask for an opinion (Formal):

-How do you feel about that, Bruce?

-Could you please share your thoughts on that, Sam?

-What’s your view on this, Richard?

-Tony, what’s your feeling on this?

-What’s your reaction to that?

-What’s your opinion on that?

-Any comments Simon?

How to express your opinion (Formal):

-I tend to feel that we should be able to start testing the product in April.

-From my point of view, that sounds about right.

-I have the impression that he didn’t really want to come.

-Don’t you think it’s a little early?

-In my opinion,

How to ask for an opinion (Informal):

-What do you think?

-How about you, George?

How to express your opinion (Informal):

-The point is that we’re doing well in the market.

-Obviously, there is only one choice.

-Basically, I think we have two choices.

English training phase II - lesson three -Explain and clarify a problem

2009-06-16T18:33:00.005+08:00

Part 1: Dealing with problem

1. Introduce the problem
-I'm afraid we've got a problem.
-I think we've all noticed that the staff moral is extremely low.
- Well, let's turn to a problem that's on everyone's mind.
-So, we need to tackle a fairly pressing problem today.
-I know we've all been discussing this particular issue recently.
-As you all know, we're going to look at the problem of budget.
2. Focus on the discussion
-What exactly is the problem? Budget or something else, let's have some inputs.
-We need to deal with this problem before we get our hand.
-What's the end line causes this problem? And what can it tell us?
-What is exactly the root of this problem, any suggestions?
-Perhaps we can begin by breaking down the problem, who can start?
2. Ask for clarification
-How do you mean exactly?
-I'm not sure I follow, could you explain?
-Could you explain the problem in more detail?
-Could you speak a little more specific?
3. Predict the consequences
-That'll result in even more expense.
-It could be very dangerous.
-It'll mean lengthy negotiations.
-It might turn violent.
4. Suggest possible actions
-Perhaps we could talk to them
-Couldn't we bring some people?
5. Promise action
-I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

BEP024-Teleconference

2009-05-25T18:04:00.001+08:00

In this Business English Podcast we’re going to listen to a teleconference between the head office management of a US guitar manufacturer and the manager of their new Latin American plant.
Key language structures explained are: diplomatic language and using probing questions. We also introduce some useful English phrases for starting a teleconference meeting, interrupting and clarifying.
Jack: Hello, this is Jack. Is this James?

James: Yes indeed, and with me are Dan and Angie. How about Jerald?

Jack: It is just me here in the San Jose plant. I didn’t get the agenda for this tele conference, just schedule. So what can I help you with?

James: Oh, Jack, we’ve heard that there have been some troubles in the plant and we thought that perhaps you could tell us what seems to be the problem.

Jack: Oh, problem? Nothing serious, thing’s going well. We have some environmental issues, but that has not hurt our production, which is going up from …

Angie: Could I just interrupt for a moment? Jack, this is Angie. I received report that workers are getting sick in the plant. Could you please give us some data on this?

Jack: Sure, Angie. It seems the few workers had problems breathing when painting the Guitar parts. They were quickly treated and sent home. These things do happen at any plant and anywhere in the world. And I would to say production is increasing. After all, what we act, no plant is perfect, we meet our goals.

Dan: And Jack, this is Dan. I understand what you were saying. But I’d like to point out that we heard the workers complain to local government. This would give bad reputation and we don’t need the government looking for reason to close down our plant.

Jack: While I agree with a lot of you saying. I think you may be exaggerating the problem. Workers complain to the government is very routine. We have many similar workers complain in our plants in the US as well. Would you agree?

James: Jack. The point we were trying to make is that we’d like you to be more specific about what will or might happen because of this. I can understand you’d like to focus on production, but at the moment, I’m afraid we have to give this thing full attention.

Jack: Understood. Well, tomorrow government specters will come to the plant. This is normal of course, and they’ll talk to our workers and then decide on the penalty. After that, they …

Dan: Sorry, sorry to interrupt. Can we go back to the penalty for a moment? What are we looking for here?
Jack: It could be a fine or a temporary shut down while we’re changing our processes, and of course they could close down the plant, but I don’t expect that. We faced things like this before. Angie, you might remember our problem with wood dust a couple of years ago?

Angie: Before answer that just let me check I understand what you were saying. We could be facing a completely shut down of the plant because of this workers complains, is that correct?

Jack: There’s a very slight chance on that, but yes, it is possible.

1. Introduce attendees
-Let’s start by taking a roll call
-Attending today’s conference are our colleagues from Roma office
-Andrew John is also joining us today, he is our chief engineer.
-Stone Shi will be with us shortly.
-And with me are Jack and Tom.

2. Talking in diplomatic way
-It seems we have a slight problem
-Could I just go back to the point about price?
-There might be a small delay
-That might be quite expensive
-Perhaps we could get a meeting next week?

3. Probing question using diplomatic language
-I wonder if you could explain how you
-I’m afraid I am not quite clear about
-I’m interested in knowing more about
-Could you put me in the picture about?

4. Interrupting somebody
-Could I interrupt for a moment?
-May I say something about that?
-Could I speak to that?

5. Ask for clarifying question
-I’m afraid I’m not quite clear what you mean by
-I’m sorry, could you explain what you mean by
-What exactly do you mean by?

6. Disagreeing someone
-How about looking in this different way?
-I am not against your whole idea, just the part about price.
-While I agree with a lot of what you’re saying here, I think it may be
-I am not so sure. I like to hear more about this.
-I can understand exactly how you feel, but at the moment we just had no option.
-Yes, I think it is a good idea, but I think it is difficult to implement.

Making arguement (BEP17)

2009-05-25T18:01:00.001+08:00

1. Begin to present what you want to say

-I would like to begin by re-emphasizing something that we all know

-I would like to comment on the problem of

-I like to make a few marks concerning

-I would like to mention briefly that

-There are three points I’d like to make

-The most important problem seems to be

-Here's the reason why small businesses won't adopt enterprise 2.0

2. Change the point (lead the discussion)

-Let’s go on to our next subject.

-I would now turn briefly to the problem of

-The next issue I’d to focus on is

-Turning to

3. Add to another point

-In addition to that

-Also

-As well as, there is also

-furthermore

4. Give an example

-For instance

-Let me give you an example

-For example

5. Emphasize

-As a matter of fact

-In fact

-I would have you know

-You probably not be awareness that

6. Make generation

-In general, the cost is higher.

-On the whole

-So

-Generally speaking

-All things considered, we are doing quite well.

7. State preference

-We would like to recommend

-I would rather

-I would prefer to

-I tend to favor

Language you can use to give or react to news

2009-05-19T17:35:00.001+08:00

How to give good news

-We’d like to say that we are very impressed by your job interview.
-We’d like to offer you the job.
-We’ve got some good news for you. We’d like to move you up a grade. That means promotion and a bit more money every month.
-I’m really pleased to tell you that you’re the winner of our competition.

How to respond to good news

-Congratulations!
-Congratulations on your engagement. Congratulations on getting married.
-Congratulations, that’s fantastic news!
-Congratulations, that’s great news!
-Congratulations, that’s brilliant news!

There are other two formal phrases, but they are very useful for you when you are writing to congratulate someone.
-I’m really pleased to hear that.
-I’m really happy for you.

How to give bad news

-Well Neil, I’m afraid I’ve got some bad news for you: you didn’t quite make the grades, which sadly means that you won’t be able to go to the university you chose this year.
-Unfortunately, I’m afraid we’re not going to be able to offer you the position this time.
-I’m really sorry but …

How to respond to bad news

-I’m so sorry to hear that.
-Oh my god
-Oh my god, that’s awful.
-That’s terrible

We don’t say ‘That’s a pity’ or ‘That’s too bad’ when someone has really bad news. That’s awful! That’s terrible! These are good ways to react.

-You must be feeling terrible.
-You must be feeling absolutely awful.

If you hear about someone’s bad news from someone else, it’s perhaps better to go to your friend and offer help.
-I heard about your news.
-I heard about your terrible news.
-I’m so sorry to hear about your news.
-I’m so sorry to hear about your awful news.
-Martin told me about what happened.

English training phase II - lesson two -Sentence structure

2009-05-19T11:46:00.003+08:00

A. Read the information about sentence structure
A simple affirmative sentence in English typically has the order Subject + Verb + Object. Each part can be a phrase rather than a single word:
This report (Sub) will analyse (Verb) last year’s budget. (Obj)
There can be an adverb phrase as well, and it often comes at the end. Adverbs say how (quickly), where (at our office) or when (next week) something happens. If we have several adverbs together, the usual word order is HOW – WHERE – WHEN. Look at these examples:
I am looking forward to our meeting in Munich next month.
Sales rose by over 10% in Hungry last year.
B. Now rewrite sentences with correct word order.
1. I am writing /to let you know/ from Head Office in Munich/ I am coming to visit/ next month/ that /your offices in Moscow.
I am writing from Head Office in Munich to let you know that I am coming to visit your offices in Moscow next month.
2. This will be/ in Central Europe /part of a visit/ to all our subsidiaries /that /I am making.
This will be part of a visit that I am making to all our subsidiaries in Central Europe.
3. to consult with you /I will take the opportunity/ about our strategic plan/ for Central Europe,/ which/ for some time /we have been working on
I will take the opportunity to consult with you about our strategic plan for Central Europe, which we have been working on for some time.
4. I would also like /our production facility/ while I am in Moscow/ to visit/ and if there is time, /as well/ some of the local supplies.
I would also like to visit our production facility while I am in Moscow, and if there is time, some of the local suppliers as well.
5. I will contact you again/ when /I can travel/ the exact dates/ as soon as I know.
I will contact you again as soon as I know the exact dates when I can travel.
C Put the lines in the emails below into the correct order:
Email1:
Dear Jeff,
I am writing to thank you 1
The meetings were very productive, and 4
As well as the business side of things, 7
The next time that you are in Munich, 11
Please give my regards
for your hospitality
during my recent trip to Paris.
I really appreciate the time you took
I am sure that they lay the basis for
to show me the Notre Dame, and
to your colleagues in the Paris office.
and the wonderful meal that we had afterwards.
a good long-term business relationship.
it will be my pleasure to return your kindness.
It was a great pleasure to meet them all. 15

I am writing to thank you for your hospitality during my recent trip to Paris. The meetings were very productive, and I am sure that they lay the basis for a good long-term business relationship.

As well as the business side of things, I really appreciate the time you took to show me the Notre Dame, and the wonderful meal that we had afterwards.The next time that you are in Munich, it will be my pleasure to return your kindness.

Please give my regards to your colleagues in the Paris office. It was a great pleasure to meet them all.

Regards,

Stone

Email 2:
Thank you for taking the time to attend 1
Unfortunately, we have to inform you that
As we mentioned in the interview, we had 5
While we were impressed with your interview, 8
We appreciate your interesting in 12
many applications for this position
your application has not been successful.
an interview with us last week.
we did not feel
working with us,
that you have the necessary skills
, and we would like to take the opportunity
and experience for the position.
and the standard of candidates was very high.
to wish you every success in the future. 15

Dear Jeff,

Thank you for taking the time to attend an interview with us last week. Unfortunately, we have to inform you that your application has not been successful.

As we mentioned in the interview, we had many applications for this position and the standard of candidates was very high. While we were impressed with your interview, we did not feel that you have the necessary skills and experience for the position.

We appreciate your interesting in working with us, and we would like to take the opportunity to wish you every success in the future.

Best regards,

ABC Corporation

How to write a delayed mail

2009-05-15T13:49:00.001+08:00

Dear Stone,

Sorry about my very late response, I've been much too busy lately. About the CD writers, I don't have personal experience with them but I think that it could be a problem if the writing was stopped in the middle. It doesn't surprise me that the people who setup your CD making computer encountered problems with the CD writer being interrupted.

One solution that I can think of is looking at a CD-RW drive. I know that CD-RW drives are able to perform writing on a CD-RW disk with stopping and restarting. Maybe they are able to perform the same operation on a normal CD, but I'm not sure. Another possible solution would be to look for a CD-writing software program that has a fix for your problem (I'm sure your not the only one).

I wish I could offer more concrete help, but my knowledge of CD-Rs is a tad shaky. Let me know if you make any progress.

Michael Brinton

Computer Hardware Editor

Another example:

Dear Stone,

I wish I had gotten back to you earlier, as I could have warned you that WordPerfect would be uninstalled. However, you do have a couple options, the first being to click here to download a free trial of WordPerfect X3 until you can request a set of CDs from Dell. Alternatively, you can switch to the free OpenOffice suite, which was designed to compete with Microsoft Office and WordPerfect Office. Either way you should be up and running in an hour or two.

Hope this helps,
John

English training phase II - lesson one - Respond a request

2009-05-12T13:41:00.009+08:00

1. Correct an Email
In the email below, there are many mistakes and inappropriacies. Find them and correct them.

1) Hi Dear Mr Jeff
2) Thank you for your quickly respond.
3) According to your request for assistance, please notice
4) the below information:
5) Please find the attachment of the server requirements
6) for the Dalian office. Please kindly refer to it.
7) Regarding to your question about payment, I need to
8) Forward the query to the Financial deportment. They
9) Will contact with you soon.
10) Highly appreciate if you can reply me with update
11) contact informations for all members of your team.

Best regards

FW De Klerk

2. Revised Email

Hi Jeff,

Thank you for your quick response.
Regarding your request for assistance, please note the following information:

Please find attached the server requirements for the Dalian Office.

Regarding your question about payment, I need to forward the inquiry to the Finance department. They will contact you soon.

I would appreciate it if you could get back to me with updated contact information for all members of your team.

Best regards

FW De Klerk

OR

Dear Jeff,

Thank you for responding so quickly.

Regarding your request for assistance, please note the information below:

Attached please find the server requirements for the Dalian office. For more detailed information on the prices, please refer to page 4.

Regarding your request about payment, I need to forward the inquiry to the Finance department. They will contact you soon.

I would appreciate it if you could get back to me with up to date contact information for all members of your team.

Best regards

FW De Klerk

3. Phrases learned from the course:
-Thank you for + Ving
-Thank you for your (noun)
-Thanks for your + (noun)
-Thanks for + Ving

-Please note that
-Please be informed that

-The information below:
-The following information:
-The information as follows:

-Regarding your request for

-Please find attached the server requirement.
-Attached please find the server requirement.
-Attached is the server requirement.

-I'd appreciate it if you could get back to me with updated contact information.

Presentation Process

2009-05-11T08:58:00.000+08:00

1) Getting everybody's attention (BEP101)
-All right. Is everybody here? Great, I think we can get started.
-Okay. Let's get down to business.
-All right then. Can we get started?
-Okay folks. Let's get started, shall we?
-All right. Can I get everybody's attention? I think it's about the time we got started.
-Right, I think everybody's is here. Let's get started.
-Is everybody ready to start?
-Okay, everybody. Let's all take your seat, get thing started.
-Okay, let's kick the meeting off.
2) Greeting (BEP101)
-Well, good morning everyone. I'm sorry I had to call this meeting at such short notice.
-Well, good afternoon everybody. It's good to see you all here.
-Great! Thank you all for coming.
-Hello everyone! I'm glad to see you all here. I know it's a long way for some of you to come here. -I really appreciate your being on time and already to work.
3) Name and Position (BEP101)
-I am Simon, senior manager from consumer department.
-I am Simon. I am in charge of sales marketing.
-I am Simon. I am responsible for the sales marketing.
4) Titles and subjects (Signposting) (BEP102)
-I've divided these sections of the presentation into three parts.
First, we'll go to review history sales data.
Next, we'll discuss developing sales trends.
And finally, we'll compare our performance with other competitors.
So, let's talk about the history sales data.
Okay, that covers the history sales data. Now let's move on to some of the trends… First, we'll talk about...then, … and we will finish this section with...
4.1 How to introduce a list
-I've divided these sections of the presentation into three parts.
-There are three types of prices we had to think about: Economic price, market price and sociological price.
Let's look into each of them for more details. First, economic prices, this is based on product cost.
4.2 Give a link between parts of the presentation.
-That's all I want to say about development of the product. Now let's turn to the actual marketing plan.
-Lets now take a look at sales result.
4.3 Sequencing information
First/Then/Next/After that/Later/At the end/Finally
4.4 Careful repetition to emphasize key points
-As above all said, there is no alternative but to increase production by 100 percents.
-I'd like to reemphasize the main benefit of the new design.
-As we saw in part two.
-As we covered during the discussion of savings.
5) Summary and Close (BEP33)
To signal the end of a topic or section of a presentation:
- Okay, that's all I have to say on this topic for the moment.
- Right, that ends the last section of my talk.
- That's all I want to say for now on the third part of my presentation.
To introduce the summary:
- So, to sum up
- To conclude,...
- In conclusion,...
- Now, to sum up...
- So let me summarize what I've said.
- Finally, may I remind you of some of the main points we've considered.
- During my talk today, I've described the results of our investigation.
To make a concluding recommendation:
- In conclusion, my recommendations are...
- I therefore propose the following strategy.
- I'd like to finish with...some observations based on what I've said.
- There are two conclusions to be made from this, namely,...
- I think we have to...
- I think we have seen that we should...
- What we need to do is...
- So, let me get straight to the point. We need action and we need it now.
To finish off a presentation and invite questions:
- Many thanks for your attention. Now I'm very interested in hearing your comments.
- Thank you for your attention. And now if you have any questions, I'd be glad to answer them.
- Thank you for listening. Now, I'd be glad to try and answer any questions.
- I thank you all for being such an attentive audience and now I'm sure you must have some questions, so I'll be happy to answer them…. Yes, Simon ..
- So, let's throw it open to questions.
- Any questions?

What to say in an email to indicate that you are sending an attachment/file.

2009-04-10T08:28:00.000+08:00

From eslpod
An attachment is anything extra that is added to or connected to the main thing. In an email, an attachment is usually a file that is also included within the email and that one can open by clicking onto an “icon” (small image, picture).

The most common phrases people use are “attached is/are” or “I’ve attached.”
- “I’ve attached three photos for you to choose from.”
- “Attached is the sales report for the month of June.”

If you want to be a little more formal, you can use the phrases “attached please find” or “please find attached.” These are more appropriate for formal business emails.
- “Please find attached the customer lists for our new products.”
- “Attached please find three documents related to the court case we discussed.”
- “Thank you for taking the time to interview me for the new position at your company. Attached please find a list of my former employers.”

If you are sending a letter in the mail, you can use the “attached” phrases listed above when what you are adding/attaching is stapled to or paper clipped to the letter. If it is not physically attached but included in the same envelop or package, then use “enclosed” instead.
- “Enclosed is an example of the new packaging for our product.”
- “Please find enclosed the reports from the past six months.”

How to summarize and close down a presentation

2009-02-16T18:00:00.001+08:00

So what structure should you use to close down a presentation?
Well, I’m sure some of you have your own methods, but this simple format has always worked for me and covers all the main points:

1. Give your audiences a clear signal that you are going to finish.
2. Briefly summarize the main points of your presentation.
3. State your recommendation or give your call to action—let your audience know what you want them to do.
4. Finish off by thanking your listeners and inviting questions or discussion.

BEP 33 - Dialog

Nick: Product and industry knowledge is important. But the crux of the matter is that we simply aren’t aggressive enough in our approach to selling. To sell you simply have to push and push hard.
So as we can see, a first-class CRM strategy and a great marketing plan are not worth the paper they’re written on if we don’t have qualified staff to push them through.
Okay, that’s all I have to say on this topic for the moment.
Now I’d like to recap the main points of my presentation before I open it up for questions.
So to sum up: First, I analyzed the sales results for 2006. I talked about how our drive to increase brand recognition through a surge in advertising has failed because of mediocre initiative and inconsistent follow up from our sales people. Second, I explained about how our special taskforce found major deficiencies in our sales training system and in our staff’s basic sales skills. Finally, I proposed a recovery plan for 2007. I stressed that the most important thing at this stage is not advertising or technology but the way that we train our salespeople.
Let me leave you with one thought. What I’d like to stress is—and I can’t emphasize this enough—that it is absolutely essential to have an effective sales team. And effective salespeople must have effective training. Now what I’m asking from you today is a commitment to increase the training budget by 25% so that we can address this training shortfall. Then, by this time next year, instead of scratching our heads we’ll be cracking the champagne.
Many thanks for your attention.
So now I’m very interested in hearing your comments.

Useful Language

To signal the end of a topic or section of a presentation:

Okay, that’s all I have to say on this topic for the moment.
Right, that ends the last section of my talk.
That's all I want to say for now on the third part of my presentation.

To introduce the summary:

So, to sum up
To conclude,...
In conclusion,...
Now, to sum up...
So let me summarize what I've said.
Finally, may I remind you of some of the main points we've considered.
During my talk today, I’ve described the results of our investigation.

To make a concluding recommendation:

In conclusion, my recommendations are...
I therefore propose the following strategy.
I'd like to finish with...some observations based on what I've said.
There are two conclusions to be made from this, namely,...
I think we have to...
I think we have seen that we should...
What we need to do is...
So, let me get straight to the point. We need action and we need it now.

To finish off a presentation and invite questions:

Many thanks for your attention. So now I’m very interested in hearing your comments.
Thank you for your attention. And now if you have any questions, I’d be glad to answer them.
Thank you for listening. Now, I’d be glad to try and answer any questions.
I thank you all for being such an attentive audience and now I’m sure you must have some questions, so I’ll be happy to answer them…. Yes, Simon ..
So, let’s throw it open to questions.
Any questions?

Asking for clarifying

2009-01-14T09:12:00.002+08:00

Could you speak a little more specific?

Could you explain the problem in more detail?

I am not sure I understand. Could you explain it to me again?

OK let me see if I understand you.

One question Johnathan. You mentioned the go-live on the 25th. Could you explain what you need from us to make sure everything goes smoothly?

OK John. I just want to make sure that I understand your problem.

Is that correct?

Enormous/IMMENSE/HUGE/VAST AND SO ON

2008-12-25T20:48:00.000+08:00

(1)
enormous， immense， huge， gigantic， colossal， mammoth， tremendous， stupendous， gargantuan， vast
(2)
These adjectives describe what is extraordinarily large.
这些形容词都描述超乎寻常大的事物，
(3)
Enormous suggests a marked excess beyond the norm in size, amount, or degree:
Enormous 暗指在大小、数量或程度上超乎常规的：
an enormous boulder;
巨大的圆石；
enormous expenses.
巨额费用。
(4)
Immense refers to boundless or immeasurable size or extent:
Immense 指无限的或无法测量的尺寸或范围：
an immense crowd of people;
无边无际的人海；
immense pleasure.
无以伦比的欢乐。
(5)
Huge especially implies greatness of size or capacity:
Huge 尤指尺寸或容量的庞大：
a huge wave;
巨浪；
a huge success.
巨大的成功。
(6)
Gigantic refers to size likened to that of a giant:
Gigantic 指象巨人一样的大小尺寸：
a gigantic redwood tree;
大得惊人的红杉树；
a gigantic disappointment.
极度失望。
(7)
Colossal suggests a hugeness that elicits awe or taxes belief:
Colossal 暗指能让人生畏或动摇信仰的巨大：
colossal crumbling ruins of an ancient temple;
古代神殿巨大的崩溃废墟；
has a colossal nerve.
无比的胆量。
(8)
Mammoth is applied to something of clumsy or unwieldy hugeness:
Mammoth 用于指事物笨拙的或笨重的庞大：
a mammoth ship;
巨轮；
a mammoth multinational corporation.
巨大的跨国公司。
(9)
Tremendous suggests awe-inspiring or fearsome size:
Tremendeus 指大小让人生畏或令人感到可怕：
a tremendous monument 100 feet high;
一百英尺高的巨大纪念碑；
ate a tremendous meal.
吃下大量的一餐。
(10)
Stupendous implies size that astounds or defies description:
Stupendous 指大小尺寸让人吃惊或超乎描述范围：
an undertaking of stupendous difficulty.
着手解决巨大的困难。
“The whole thing was a stupendous, incomprehensible farce” (W. Somerset Maugham).
“整个事件就是惊人的、无法了解的闹剧” （W·索默尔塞特·毛姆）
(11)
Gargantuan especially stresses greatness of capacity, as for food or pleasure:
Gargantuan 尤其强调容量大，如就食物或快乐而言：
a gargantuan appetite.
惊人的食欲。
(12)
Vast refers to greatness of extent, size, area, or scope:
Vast 指范围、大小、地区或跨度的宽广：
“All the land was shrouded in one vast forest” (Theodore Roosevelt).
“所有的土地都隐藏在广阔的森林中”。（西奥多·罗斯福）
“Of creatures, how few vast as the whale” (Herman Melville).
“作为生物，几乎没有比鲸鱼更巨大的” （赫尔曼·梅尔维尔）

Telephone: Opening calls

2008-12-24T14:03:00.000+08:00

Short and sweet, when answering a phone in true business, it is important to let the caller know or who or what department is answering.
Answering with just Hello tells the caller nothing. The most helpful way to answer is to give your company name, your department name and your name. However, many receptionists answer with just company name and their name.
When answering internal calls, you should at least give your name and maybe your department name.
Here are some examples for answering a call:
-Good morning, Fidelity, Stone speaking.
-Hello, Fidelity, IT service department, Stone speaking.
-Mike Colin.
-Administration office, Stone.
Callers should also identify themselves to let the receivers know why they are calling. Here are some ways to introduce yourself:
-Hello, this is Stone from Fidelity.
-Hello, my name is Stone, from Fidelity.
-Yes, this is operation department calling about

Once you’ve identified yourself, you might need to ask to speak to a particular person, especially the receiver is a receptionist.
-May I speak to
-I’d like to speak to
-Could you put me through to
-Could I have an extension 211, please
-May I speak to someone in the accounts department
You should also let the receiver know why you want to speak to the person by explaining your reason for calling.
-I’m calling about
-The reason I’m calling is
-It is about
-It is in connection with
Very often, a caller would ask to speak with someone or may ask for information without identifying themselves or what they calls about.
Sometimes, the identifier of the purpose is not important, and sometimes, they are. If they are important, the receiver may ask who the caller is.
-Who is calling, please
-May I know who is calling
-I’m sorry I didn’t catch your name
-May I know what is in connection with
And here are some phrases the callers used to ask the receiver to leave a message.
-May I leave a message
-Take a message, please
-Could you tell her that
-Could you ask him to

Dialog:
Clair: Good morning, ABC company. Clair speaking. How may I help you?
Nikon: Yes, good morning. This is Nikon from Y company. Could you put me through to George, your contract department?
Clair: Oh, I’m sorry, but we closed for the holiday, and I am just here to take a message and handle emergencies. May I know what is in connection with? Perhaps I can take a message for you?
Nikon: Well, Clair, this is very urgent. I am subcontractor manager, and the reason I’m calling is that I has an important information on a contract your company is interested in. Could you get the information to George right away?
Clair: I will say what I can do. If I can get the important data on this contract, I should be able to get message through to George. In perhaps he can call you back.
Nikon: Ok, do you have a pen? I am going to give you my contact information and ask him to call me as soon as possible.
Clair: Just a second, and yes, ready now, go ahead.
Nikon: Ok, …

South Korean Lawmakers Blockade, Brawl Over US Trade Deal

2008-12-19T14:42:00.001+08:00

Download Audio
A move by South Korean lawmakers to advance a controversial free-trade agreement with the United States has sparked physical clashes between opposing parties -- with one side physically barricading itself from the other. The scuffles underline an intense dispute among Koreans about the deal.

Hammers were swung, doors were split open and fire hoses were deployed, Thursday, as part of South Korea's legislature came under siege in a dispute on a major free-trade deal with the United States.

Minority party politicians, opposing ratification of the deal, tried to force their way into to a legislative committee room where members of President Lee Myung-bak's ruling Conservative Party barricaded themselves.

The conservatives successfully initiated the process of ratifying the deal, as security guards scuffled with dozens of political opponents nearby.

Supporters say deal is needed

The American-South Korean free-trade pact would open up large sectors of the U.S. and South Korean economies for easier bilateral trade. It was signed last year, but has languished behind other priorities, in both nations.

Supporters of the deal say it is needed -- now more than ever -- to stimulate the slowing South Korean economy. South Korean farmers and left-leaning politicians fiercely oppose the deal, saying the far larger U.S. economy is likely to swallow entire South Korean industries, especially in agriculture.

Won Hae-young, floor leader for South Korea's minority Democratic Party, accuses President Lee's party of ignoring civilized principles.

Won tells a television interviewer with South Korea's YTN cable network Mr. Lee has turned the legislature into a battleground.

South Korean conservatives have a big enough majority to ratify the free-trade deal by themselves. However, U.S. President-elect Barack Obama and new members of the Democrat-majority U.S. Congress are critical of the free-trade deal and questions remain about the likelihood of ratification in Washington.

English Training Course - An external request

2008-12-05T15:29:00.002+08:00

Subject: New shipping date for P/T-008/05
Dear Simone,

Thanks for your comments of the order below (P/T-008/05). It maybe tight to meet our delivery schedule of April.

As it takes 4 days for sea freight, another 2 days for distribution, also at least a week for customs clearance, so please arranged it earlier your schedule.

In order to meet our sales promotion in April, we need to receive the products in the end of March, so please help us by corresponding with our supply team and check if it is possible to ship the goods around March 16.

Awaiting your favorable reply by today.

Claudia

This is an email from Claudia, who works for a whole sale business to Simone, who works for one of her supplies. Claudia wants to make a request to Simone for an order to be shipped earlier so she can deliver the products to customer on time.

A good request email would usually have four parts:
1. Background: explain the situation behind the email.
2. Request: tell the reader what you want him or her to do.
3. Motivation: explain to the reader why he or she will benefit from the fulfilling the request.
4. Action: remind the reader what action you’d like them to take.

Let’s first check the mechanics.

Thanks for your comments on the order below (P/T-008/05). It may be tight to meet our delivery schedule for April.

As it takes four days for sea freight, another two days for distribution, and at least a week for customs clearance, so please arranged it earlier your schedule.

In order to meet our sales promotion in April, we need to receive the products by the end of March, so please help us by corresponding with our supply team and checking if it is possible to ship the goods around March 16.

Now let’s take look at the style.
If you look into the first paragraph, you see Claudia begin with an introduction statement, reminding Simone which order she wants to discuss. The second sentence is a background sentence:

Thanks for your comments on the order below (P/T-008/05). It may be tight to meet our delivery schedule for April.

So I think we break the introduction sentence out.

Thanks for your comments on the order below (P/T-008/05).

It may be tight to meet our delivery schedule for April.

In the fourth paragraph, we have another sentence about the background. So I will cut these out and move to the second paragraph.

Thanks for your comments on the order below (P/T-008/05).

It may be tight to meet our delivery schedule for April. In order to meet our sales promotion in April, we need to receive the products by the end of March.

As it takes four days for sea freight, another two days for distribution, and at least a week for customs clearance, so please arranged it earlier your schedule.

Please help us by corresponding with our supply team and checking if it is possible to ship the goods around March 16.

Let’s make a few vocabulary changes. I am going to change tight to difficult. Tight is informal. And since we have used the word April in the first sentence, we don’t need to use it again in the second sentence, we can change this to for that month.

It may be difficult to meet our delivery schedule for April. In order to meet our sales target for that month, we need to receive the products by the end of March.

The third paragraph is a request paragraph.
She says so please arrange it earlier in your schedule, it doesn’t give Simone a very clear idea about of Claudia wants her to do. We already know from looking into the fourth paragraph that Claudia wants to the good to be delivered around March 16. So let that information and move to the second paragraph so Simone knows exactly what she need to do.

As it takes four days for sea freight, another two days for distribution, and at least a week for customs clearance, we would like you to ship the goods by March 16.
You should explain to your reader what she will benefit.
So let’s add a motivation paragraph here.

As it takes four days for sea freight, another two days for distribution, and at least a week for customs clearance, we would like you to ship the goods by March 16. An early shipment will allow us to meet customer expectations and generate more sales in future.

The fourth paragraph should be our action paragraph.

Please help us by corresponding with our supply team and checking if it is possible to ship the goods by March 16.

Let’s go back to the beginning and review the tone of the email.
First let’s look at the two sentences what C asked S to do something:
-We would like you to ship the goods by March 16.
-Please help us by corresponding with our supply team and checking if it is possible to ship the goods by March 16.

The first request use indirect form, but the second request may be too direct.
Let’s change it to more polite way:

We would appreciate if you can help us by corresponding with our supply team and checking if it is possible to ship the goods by March 16.

We also need to do something about the closing statement.
It is not a good way to close an email.
Let’s change it to an indirect way:

I look forward to your reply.

Let’s look the update email:

Subject: New shipping date for P/T-008/05
Dear Simone,

Thanks for your comments on the order below (P/T-008/05).

It may be difficult to meet our delivery schedule for April. In order to meet our sales target for that month, we need to receive the products by the end of March.

As it takes four days for sea freight, another two days for distribution, and at least a week for customs clearance, we would like you to ship the goods by March 16.
We would appreciate if you can help us by corresponding with our supply team and checking if it is possible to ship the goods by March 16.

I look forward to your reply.

Regards,

Claudia

English Training Course - Writing an internal bad news email

2008-12-05T15:26:00.002+08:00

Now you will a short email from Jenny, who is responsible for her company’s IT services. She is writing this email to give her colleagues some bad news.
Subject: Server Restart Inform
We will restart our mail server from 17:15PM to 18:00PM today because of the backup tape equipment has some problems, I’m afraid that we will restart the server many times, sorry for the inconvenience to you, any questions please call 588.

Best regards,

Jenny

Let’s talk about the best way to deliver a bad news. When you write to someone outside your company, it is a good idea to use an indirect style. Although you should also make sure your readers understand and accept the bad news. But in this case, Jenny is writing to her own colleagues, in this internal bad news, it is best to use more direct style, since the company wants to deliver you the bad news efficiently. At the same time, she needs to be polite and to show understanding for her colleagues receiving the bad news.

All right, let’s start with the mechanics of this email.
As you can see, we have a subject line. We can not use inform as a noun in this way, so we’d better change this to something like notice.

When we looked into the body of this email, the first thing we noticed is the entire message is just one sentence.

Subject: Server Restart Notice
We will restart our mail server from 17:15PM to 18:00PM today because of the backup tape equipment has some problems. I’m afraid that we will restart the server many times. Sorry for the inconvenience to you. Any questions please call 588.

Best regards,

Jenny

In the first paragraph, Jenny wrote the company will restart the server. Since Jenny is using 24-hour time here, she doesn’t need PM after 17:15 or 18:00. Also we need to change because of to because. Remember that because of always follows by a noun or noun phrase.
We can not also say ‘Any questions please call 588’, it is actually a sentence fragment. We’d better change this to a complete sentence by making the first part into a clause – ‘If you have any questions, please call 588’.

And finally, we should think about constructing email into a separate paragraph.

Subject: Server Restart Notice
We will restart our mail server from 17:15 to 18:00 today because the backup tape equipment has some problems. I’m afraid that we will restart the server many times.

Sorry for the inconvenience to you. If you have any questions, please call 588.

Best regards,

Jenny

Now let’s move to the style of this email, when you writing an email to deliver a bad news, one good strategy is to buffer the news, that is, to put some neutral material at the beginning and the end of the email, and also at the beginning and the end of the paragraph containing bad news. This makes the delivery less (a bright), and helps avoid giving a negative impression to the reader.
As you can see, Jenny has not followed the rule. She goes straight to the bad news.
Let’s rewrite this paragraph to put the explanation first:

We have discussed that the backup tape equipment for our mail server has some problems. For this reason, we will restart the server from 17:15 to 18:00 today. I’m afraid that we will restart the server many times.

The last sentence of the paragraph gives the readers some additional bad news’, we can rephrase this words in a positive way.

We have discussed that the backup tape equipment for our mail server has some problems. For this reason, we will restart the server beginning at 17:15 today. We expected the server to be available again after 18:00.

When an email has to deliver a bad news, it is also helpful to emphasize what the readers would benefit by cooperating. So let’s help Jenny add a new sentence in the second paragraph.

We have discussed that the backup tape equipment for our mail server has some problems. For this reason, we will restart the server beginning at 17:15 today. We expected the server to be available again after 18:00.

These repairs to the server will make your Internet and email connections more reliable in the future.

In the last paragraph, ‘Sorry’ sounds very informal, let’s change to ‘We apologize for’.

We apologize for the inconvenience. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call me on the extension 588.

Finally, we should add a closing sentence to show the appreciation.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Let’s look at the update email:

Subject: Server Restart Notice

We have discussed that the backup tape equipment for our mail server has some problems. For this reason, we will restart the server beginning at 17:15 today. We expected the server to be available again after 18:00.

These repairs to the server will make your Internet and email connections more reliable in the future.

We apologize for the inconvenience. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call me on the extension 588.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Regards,

Jenny

English Training Course - Asking feedback on a report

2008-12-05T14:46:00.006+08:00

To: Emily@xyz.com
Subject: Please review this document
Dear Emily,
I should be glad if you review the attached document. Please can you let me know if you have any inputs, comments and concerns?
I look forward to hearing from you.
If I don't receive your feedback by 5:00pm next Wednesday, I will deem that you are OK with the content of the attached document.
Thank you very much for your attention!
Regards,
Stone

Stone wants the language to sound friendly but he also wants to keep the language direct and professional.
Let’s first look at the issue of mechanics –the grammar, punctuation, spelling and layout of the email.
I think the formatting of this email needs a couple of changes. In the first paragraph, we have a phrase – I look forward to hearing from you, which normally appears in the conclusion of a business letter.
We also need to make few corrections to the grammars of the first paragraph:
-We add ‘could’ before ‘review’ to make an indirect request.
-Since this is a request, so let’s say ‘Can you please’ instead of ‘Please can you’.
-‘inputs, comments and concerns’ basically mean the same thing.
In the third paragraph, I don’t think Stone need to use the exclamatory point. That’s very informal.

Now let’s go back the top and look at the style of the email beginning with the subject lines. ‘Please review this document’, we don’t know what kind of document he is referring to. Is it report？Unfortunately, we can not fix that because the information is missing from the email. Let’s move on to the first paragraph, where we will see the same problem. Stone doesn’t tell us what kind of document he is talking about.
I think we should make some changes in the second paragraph to make it more formal.
-A word like OK is very informal, let’s change it to ‘satisfied’.
-Instead of saying ‘that you are OK with the content of the attached document’, just saying ‘that you are satisfied with the document’. Stone has explained that the document is attached to the email.
-Stone has made a request in the body of the email. We don’t need to repeat this request in the subject lines. To make it less direct and more polite, we can change the subject line to ‘Document for review’.

I think the tone of first paragraph doesn’t have any major problems.
However, if we look at the second paragraph, there certainly some changes we should make.
‘If I don't receive your feedback by 5:00pm next Wednesday’, by using a negative verb here, Stone created a negative feel for the entire sentence. Instead of talking about what Emily shouldn’t do, let’s talk about how she can help Stone to improve the document-‘I would like to receive your feedback by 5:00pm next Wednesday’.

Let’s look at the update email:
To: Emily@xyz.com
Subject: Document for review
Dear Emily,
I should be glad if you could review the attached document. Can you please let me know if you have any comments?
I would like to receive your feedback by 5:00pm next Wednesday, so that I can make any changes you feel are necessary.
Thank you very much for your attention. I look forward to hearing from you.
Regard,
Stone

How to describe figures up and down

2008-12-05T13:34:00.003+08:00

A. Going up
You use a number of verbs to describe amounts or figures going up
1. BT shares advance in active trading.
2. Trade surplus jumps to record level.
3. Petrol prices set to skyrocket.
4. Unemployment leaps to ten-year high.
5. Yahoo! soars as internet explosion continues.
6. VM profits up as car sales continue to surge.
B. Going down
You also use a number of verbs to describe amounts of figures going down.
7. 1,000 jobs axed as defence plant closes.
8. European central bank cuts rate in surprise move.
9. Megacorp eases on profits warning.
10. September retail sales plummet.
11. Government slashes income tax to ten per cent.
12. Euro dives to new lows.

C. Peaks and troughs
If a figure rises to a level and then stops rising, remaining at that level, it levels off and remains steady or stable.
If a figure reaches its highest level - a peak - and then goes down, it peaks at that level. if it reaches its lowest level - a trough - and then bottoms out, it falls to that level and then starts rising again.
D. boom and bust
Demand is the amount of goods and services that people want in a particular period.
A boom is when there is rising demand, and other indicators are strong.
stagnation is when the economy is growing slowly, or not at all.
Stagflation is when slow growth is combined with prices that are increasing fast.
Recession is a period when there is negative growth, a period when the economy is producing less. A slump is a very bad recession. A depression is a very bad slump.

World AIDS Day

2008-12-01T20:13:00.003+08:00

World AIDS Day, observed December 1 each year, is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. AIDS has killed more than 25 million people, with an estimated 38.6 million people living with HIV, making it one of the most destructive epidemics in recorded history. Despite recent, improved access to antiretroviral treatment and care in many regions of the world, the AIDS epidemic claimed an estimated 3.1 million (between 2.8 and 3.6 million) lives in 2005 of which, more than half a million (570,000) were children.
The concept of a World AIDS Day originated at the 1988 World Summit of Ministers of Health on Programmes for AIDS Prevention. Since then, it has been taken up by governments, international organizations and charities around the world.
From its inception until 2004, UNAIDS spearheaded the World AIDS Day campaign, choosing annual themes in consultation with other global health organizations. In 2005 this responsibility was turned over to World AIDS Campaign (WAC), who chose Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise as the main theme for World AIDS Day observences through 2010, with more specific sub-taglines chosen annually. This theme is not specific to World AIDS Day, but is used year-round in WAC's efforts to highlight HIV/AIDS awareness within the context of other major global events including the G8 Summit. World AIDS Campaign also conducts “in-country” campaigns throughout the world, like the Student Stop AIDS Campaign, an infection-awareness campaign targeting young people throughout the UK.
World AIDS Day banner, European Commission building, Brussels
It is common to hold memorials to honor persons who have died from HIV/AIDS on this day. Government and health officials also observe, often with speeches or forums on the AIDS topics. Since 1995 the President of the United States has made an official proclamation on World AIDS Day. Governments of other nations have followed suit and issued similar annoucements.

Spotlight: Pink ribbons are meant to raise awareness of breast cancer; red ribbons remind us of AIDS; blue ribbons symbolize the fight against child abuse, prostate cancer and second-hand smoke; yellow ribbons welcomed home the US hostages in Iran in 1981, and await deployed US soldiers today

English Training Course - How to make suggestions

2008-12-01T20:10:00.002+08:00

How to show that you have a suggestion:
-I wonder if I could say something.
-Sorry, can I come here?
-Can I just come here?
-I have a good suggestion.

How to make suggestion:
Formal:
-I tend to feel that we should be able to start testing the project in April.
-Well, from my point of view.
-Well, it seems to me that …
-I have the impression that…he didn’t really want to come.
-Don’t you think that that’s a little early?
-Well, one possibility would be to
-Perhaps we should
Informal:
-How about
-Basically, I think we have two options.
-Obviously, there’s only one choice.
-The way I see it, we’re heading for trouble.

How to accept a suggestion?
-Right, I can see what you mean.
-Yes, that might be worth trying.
-Okay, let’s do that.
-That’s not a bad idea.
-Yes, I think that would work really well.
-Good idea. /Great idea.

How to reject a suggestion?
-That’s a good idea, but I am not sure it would work.
-Good suggestion, but I …., to be honest.
-I am not really sure about that.
-Do you think so?

English Training Course - How to manage the discussion

2008-12-01T20:04:00.004+08:00

How to manage the discussion
Task A: How to keep the discussion on track?

Sam wants to change the topic:
-Can I just come here? That reminds me that....
The chairperson can get it back on track with:
-Sorry Sam, but I think this is a bit of sidetrack. Let's try to keep to the agenda, Okay? I want to get everyone out here on time.

Sandra wants to change the topic:
-Speaking of the ...
Chairperson can get it back on track with:
-You may have a point there, Sandra. Let's leave that for the regular team meeting on Thursday. We still have a lot to cover.
Let's review the language for keeping the discussion on track:
-I can see what you saying, but let's try to keep to the agenda.
-To save time, we need to stay on track. Let's try not to get too far of the topic.
-Let's come back to it later, for now, I really want to stick to the agenda.
-That's an interesting point, but let's talk about that when we come to it, can we back to the main point?
-We've got a lot to cover. So I suggest we do our best to stay on track.

Task B: How to widening the discussion to make sure you've heard different point of you?

-What do others think, is there anything else we should consider?
-What other approaches are there to the problems, does anybody has any ideas?
-How about other people? Any comment?
-Let's go around the table and get reaction to that idea, who would like to begin?
-Are there any other ways to think about this?

Task C: How to move from one point to the next in the meeting?

-Right, we seem to have dealt with this issue, now let's move to the next issue.
-Good, I'll say that is about all for that topic, now, let's turned to the issue sales.
-Well, we just about covered the San Francisco office. Let's continue about discussing NY office.
-Time is pressing, let's leave that there and move on to the next issue on the agenda, okay?

Task D: How to ask for an opinion?

-How do you feel about that, Cecilia?
-What would you like to add, George?
-Could you please share your thoughts on that, Sam?
-What's your view on this, Richard?
-Tony, what's your feeling on this?

Laughter

2008-11-30T11:05:00.003+08:00

In court the judge interrogates a mugger but gets into difficulty because the mugger is a forigner who doesn't speak English.
Judge: Don't you speak English at all?
Mugger: Only a few words.
Judget: What words do you know?
Mugger: your purse or your life?

English Training Course - Chairing a conference call

2008-11-29T20:36:00.005+08:00

Today will will learn how to chair a conference call. It involves how to start a meeting, how to control a meeting and how to end a meeting. Let's get started.
To chair a meeting is to lead the meeting. The one who is to chair the meeting is called chairperson.

There are many ways to open a meeting. It depends, obviously, on the type of the meeting and the situation. But there are six key points that you will always need to consider when starting a meeting:
1) Getting everybody's attention.
2) Welcoming and thanking attendees
3) Introducing any new colleagues.
4) Explaining the objectives
5) Looking at the agenda, and ..
6) Asking someone to start.
Let's look at how a chairperson handles each of these steps.
1) Getting everybody's attention
-All right. Is everybody here? Great. I think we can get started.
What else could the chairperson say?
-Okay. Let's get down to business.
-All right then. Can we get started?
-Okay folks. Let's get started, shall we?
-All right. Can I get everybody's attention? I think it's about the time we got started.
-All right everybody. We need to get this show on the road. (informal)
-Right, I think everybody's is here. Let's get started.
2) Welcoming and thanking attendees
-Well, good morning everyone. I'm sorry I had to call this meeting at such short notice.
-Well, good afternoon everybody. It's good to see you all here.
-Great! Thank you all for coming.
-Hello everyone! I'm glad to see you all here. I know it's a long way for some of you to come here. I really appreciate your being on time and already to work.
3) Introducing any new colleagues
-First of all, I’d like to introduce George from the Hong Kong office. Would you like to say a few words about yourself, George?
-Everybody say hello to Kerumi. She’s visiting us from the Japan office.
4) Explaining the objectives
-As you know, the main objective of this meeting is to agree on ways to …
-The reason we’re meeting today is to …
-The primary purpose of this meeting will be to start a discussion on …
-The main problem that we are facing is …
-The main thing I’d like to accomplish today is …
5) Looking at the agenda
-Let’s first go over the agenda. As you can see, we have a lot to cover.
-Let’s take a quick look at the agenda. As you can see, it’s broken down into five main parts.
-I’ve divided up the meeting today into three parts.
-I’ve prepared some figures to help us compare the two options. I’ll distribute them now.
6) Asking someone to start
-Good. Okay, let’s move straight to the first point on the agenda. Sandra, would you please kick off?
-Great. Well, we have a lot to cover, so let’s get down to business. George, could you start by explaining the background of the first item?
-All right then. Let’s start then, shall we? Katy, why don’t you tell us what you’ve being thinking on the advertising issue?
-Right. Suanne, would you be so kind as to begin?

Laughter

2008-11-29T19:49:00.003+08:00

An antique collector was passing a small shop when he noticed a cat on the sidewalk, licking milk from a saucer. The man immediately realized the saucer was very old and valuable. So he persuaded the shop owner to sell him the cat at $20. Then he said to the shop owner, "I wonder if you could throw in that old saucer as well. The cat seems to like it."
"Sorry," the shop owner, "but that saucer brings me luck. Just in this week I've sold 68 cats".

Thanksgiving

2008-11-29T19:43:00.001+08:00

Source: ESLPOD.COM

Thanksgiving reminds us to be grateful, but for a lot of people, the holiday also means a weekend of eating a lot and watching football. And, my family is no exception. My family likes to have a traditional Thanksgiving dinner each year. We invite people from our extended family . We also invite close friends, especially those who don't have family in town. When it comes to Thanksgiving dinner, our motto is: The more the merrier. Our dinner, of course, starts with a big turkey, baked in the oven. I always carve it before it's served. Then, we have the fixings. We always have mashed potatoes, stuffing, yams, cranberries, and corn on the cob. Some years, we go wild and have other vegetables and sides. And, for dessert, we have pumpkin pie. My wife is not a big fan of pumpkin pie so for her, we also have ice cream.After we have a really big meal, we usually watch football on TV. Things usually get pretty rowdy since there are always fans on both sides rooting for their own team to win. Last year, my uncle almost got into a fistfight with my nephew. Luckily, no one‚ and no furniture harmed. That was a relief!

Listen to this podcast

English Training Course - Talking about email - Part 3

2008-11-28T21:26:00.005+08:00

Today we will talk about how to write a friendly and diplomatic email.
Task A: How can you establish a good relationship with someone if you only communicate by email?
Here are some strategies. Do you think they are useful?
-On Fridays, wish the person you are writing to a good weekend.
-On Mondays, ask how their weekend was.
-Always stress your thanks for any help or information they have given you.
-Avoid writing an email when you feel angry or upset.
-Accentuate the positive and think very carefully about how you express negative points.

Task B: An Austrilian company is working with a Chinese developer to launch a new software product. The Austrilian project manager replies to Zhang Lina about the launch schedule.
Considering how to rewrite the mail in a more diplomatic way.

To: Zhang Lina
Re: Pre-launch development conference
Dear Lina,
The dates you've set for the pre-launch development conference (11-12 Sep) are no good. I told you before that nobody from the Austrilia office is free to attend at that time. You must change it to the following week.
I received your latest software prototypes and have passed them onto all team members.
Send me the new dates asap so we can finalise our schedule.
Regards
John

Task C: Question Match

Task D: Use appropriate phrases to make the mail on Task B more friendly and diplomatic. Refer to the launch schedule. Show consideration for the fact that changing the date will affect other scheduled events too. Wish Lina success on the software development project.
To: Zhang Lina
Re: Pre-launch development conference
Dear Lina,
Many thanks for sending us the information on the launch schedule. However, there seems to be a slight misunderstanding about the dates for the pre0-launch development conference. I 'm afraid that no one from here will be free to attend on 11-12 Sep. I am really sorry if I didn't make that clear in my last email. Would it be possible to reschedule the conference for the following week? I realized that will mean changing some of your other scheduled events. I'm very sorry about that.
Could you please let me have the new dates for the conference as soon as you can because obviously we have to plan our schedules at this end.
Thanks a million for the software prototypes. We are all extremely impressed with the work you guys have done.
We wish you every success with the rest of the software development project and look forward to meeting up with you at the conference.
Best regards
John

English Training Course - Talking about email - Part 2

2008-11-28T09:22:00.006+08:00

Today we will focus on how to make requests in email.
Let's get started with a sample:
Email A:
From: Jason Bourne
To: Martin Smith
I need the test results urgently. Can you please send them right away so we can get on with the next stage of the project?
Email B:
From: Jason Bourne
To: Martin Smith
Hi Martin,
I know you're very busy this week but I was wondering if you could send the test results as soon as possible? We can't start the next stage of the project without them. I'd really appreciate it.
Regards
Jason

Which email is more polite?
Is there any situation where email A is appropriate?

How to make request?

1. Saying how you got the contact

-We met last Thursday on your stand at the Munich Trade Fair.

-I am emailing you off your website, which I found through Google.

2. Giving reason for writing

-We are a manufacturer / supplier / provider of ...

-We are interested in ...

-We are a Turkish company exporting to the EU, and we need ...

3. General requests

-We would be grateful for some information about ...

-Please send us information about your product range and prices.

4. Specific requests

-In particular, we would like to know ...

-Please send full details of your prices, discounts, terms of payment and delivery times.

-Could you also say whether there is any minimum order.

5. Close

-An early reply would be greatly appreciated.

-I look forward to an early reply, and am sure that there is a market for your products here in Hungary.

English Training Course - Talking about email - Part I

2008-11-28T08:42:00.008+08:00

Do you know how to write a well-formatted and polite email? When I wrote the first English email in my new company, I am so nervous. I am not sure wether my expression is polite and clear to the recipient. It is a hard time for me. I'd like to share some information about how to write a clear and polite email.

Task A: Please correct the following sentences in a mail:
1. The details are as following.
"As follows" is often used to introduce a list (of things, etc.) E.g.
The 75 students are divided into five groups as follows:
group 1 - group 5
We may also say:
--The 75 students are divided into the following five groups:
--The five groups of 75 students can be found in the following list:-
2. Could you please help to check it?- Could you please check it?
3. Please find the attached report.- Please find attached the report.
4. Thank you for your checking.- Thank you for checking.

Task B: formal or informal email?
Formal:
I am afraid I will not be able to attend the meeting on Friday. As I will miss the meeting. I was wondering if you could send me a copy of the minutes? I will write to Anna as well, to inform her that I will not be there. Once again, please accept my apologizes for this, and I can assure you that I will be at the next meeting.
Informal:
Sorry I can't make the meeting on Friday. As I'll miss the meeting, could you send me a copy of the minutes? I'll write to Anita as well, to tell her (that) I won't be there. Once again, I'm sorry for this, and I promise (that) I'll be at the next meeting.
Below are the phrases to write in formal/informal way:
Sorry I can not program all the words one by one. I copied a picture here. You are supposed to refer to http://files.motime.com/eee115ff83bcfeb708e6eb48aee00186.doc or www.hueber.de/shared/elka/Internet_Muster/Red2/3-19-002884-2_Muster1.pdf for more details.

English Training Course - Talking about job

2008-11-28T07:56:00.005+08:00

I am enjoying my annual leave today. I am supposed to have annual leave every year.
But I don't have chance to enjoy these days before this year. Now it comes to true.
Today we will talk about how to describe your job.
A. It is essential that you are able to talk about your job and the work you do. Use the following phrases to talk about your work.
-My job entails/involves
-I'm in charge of
-I'm responsible for
-My responsibilities include
-I report to
-I manage
-I oversee
-I work for/under

B.Question Match

1. What's your job? - I'm a supervisor in a logistis company called Express Move.
2. What does that involve? - I'm responsible for 13 warehouses staff and report to the site manage.
3. How long have you been in your present job? - I've worked here for about four years now.
4. Do you enjoy your work? -Very much. My job entails a lot of different tasks - from co-ordinating drivers to liasing with suppliers so i don't get bored.
5. Is there anything you don't like about your work? - Well the role involves bureaucracy - and I'm not very keen on that.
6. How do you spend your time when you're not working? - I enjoy team sports like rugby, but I don't play as regularly as I'd like.

C. Story in this course
Just a few days after this training course, Mr. Johnson, who is the chairman of our company, visits Dalian. It's a great honor to us. One of our colleagues introduce himself to the visitors started with 'I am .... I am responsible for .....My responsibilities include ....". Don't you think it is too nervous?

English Training Course - Talking on the telephone

2008-11-27T16:07:00.001+08:00

Talking on the telephone can be difficult for a couple of reasons. First of all, you can't see the person you're talking to, so you can't see his or her body language and "read" his or her face. Talking on the
phone also requires its own special set of words and phrases. Here’s a helpful reference chart that will help you speak on the telephone phone with confidence in business and personal situations. We hope you'll find this helpful. Now if you can only find somebody to pay for your cell phone bill you'll be all set!

SITUATION	EXAMPLES
Introducing yourself. Phrases to use when you place the call.	When calling a general number: - May I speak with Marina Smith? - Hello, this is John Block calling for Marina Smith. - Is Marina Smith in? (informal) When the person answers the call directly: - Hi Marina, it’s John calling. - Good afternoon, Marina. This is John Block from ABC company calling.
Answering the phone. There are many different ways to answer your phone.	For calls to your direct line: - Good morning, this is Marina. - Good afternoon, XYZ firm. How may I help you? - Marina speaking. - XYZ firm, Marina speaking. For calls to your direct line, when the person asks for you by name: - Speaking (caller says: “Is Marina there?” and Marina replies: “speaking”). - This is she / this is he (caller says: “Is Marina in?” and Marina replies “This is she”). For calls to a general number: - Thank you for calling XYZ. How may I direct your call?
Connecting someone. When you answer the phone and it is for somebody else.	- One minute, I’ll transfer you now. - Please hold and I’ll put you through. - Let me see if Jim is available. - One moment, please. - Hang on a minute. (informal)
When you need to put somebody on hold	- Jim is on another line at the moment. Would you like to hold? - I’m sorry. I have a call on my other line. Can you please hold? For customer service calls - All of our operators are currently busy. Please stand by for the next available operator.
When you don’t understand the caller	- Could you please repeat that? - I’m sorry, I didn’t catch what you just said. - Can you please speak a little more slowly? - Can you please speak a little louder?
Clarifying what your caller says	- Can you please spell that for me? - How do you spell your last name? - And that company name again was, JAQ Industries? - Let me repeat your information to make sure I got it right.
Taking a message for someone	- I'm sorry, John’s not here at the moment. Can I take a message? - John is in a meeting at the moment. May I ask who’s calling? - John is at lunch. Would you like to leave a message? - John has left for the day. Would you like to be put through to his voice mail?
Leaving a message for someone	- Please tell him that Susan called and ask him to call me back. My number is 999-343-3423. - Please ask him to call Susan when he gets in. - He already has my number. - He’s not in? Please put me through to his voice mail. - When do you expect him back in the office? - I need to speak with him on an urgent matter. Please have him call me as soon as he gets in.
Ending a conversation	- It’s been great talking with you. I’ve got a meeting now so I better run. - Thanks for calling. I’ll speak with you again soon. - I’ve got another call coming in. Good talking to you. - I better let you go. - It’s 5 o’clock already. I better let you go. - Let’s touch base on this again in a few days.

English Training Course - Greetings and introductions

2008-11-27T14:35:00.000+08:00

My company is conducting an English training course. I prefer to write something down to understand the course more well.
The 'Hello World' of English training course is about how to greetings and introductions. Let's get started.

A. What do you say when you meet someone for the first time?
How important do you think the following are when meeting someone for the first time?
-Eye contact -Friendly tone -Firm handshake -Giving them your business card

B. Question Match

1. It's good to see you again. - Greet someone you've met before, some time ago.
2. I'm Stephen, the Chief Accountant. -introduce yourself.
3. I'm sorry. I didn't catch your name. Can you say it again? -Check someone's name if you didn't hear it very well.
4. I'm sorry I don't know your name. -Ask someone what their name is.
5. Hi! How are you? -Greet someone you often meet.
6. Nice to finally meet you! -Greet someone you haven't met but with whom you have regular contact by phone or email.
7. Good morning. Pleased to meet you. -Greet someone you've never met before.
8. This is George Patton. He's in charge of sales. -Introduce a colleague.

C. In pairs look at each of the functions 1-8. Try to think of an alternative phrase that you could use in this situation.

3. Pardon?/Sorry, but I didn't quite hear what you said/Sorry, I didn't quite catch that./Say again?
5. What' up?/How is going?
7. How are you?/How are you doing?/Glad to meet you!/My pleasure to meet you.

D. How to introduce yourself
Dr. Livingstone, I presume?
—Sir Henry Morton Stanley, How I Found Livingstone, 1871
To introduce yourself to a new person, you can start with "Hello. My name is Sally" or "I'm Sally (or Sally Suave)" or "I'd like to introduce myself. I'm Sally." In a group, a handshake plus your name is acceptable.
People you don't know are not a big, amorphous crowd of strangers. Although in a group they may seem like an imposing solid brick wall, it may be better to think of a crowd as a wall of individual windows that can each offer you a different view of life. If you follow the many tips and small strategies contained in this book, even self-introduction can be a pleasure.
When you introduce yourself by saying your own name, don't use your title. Even if other people call you Mrs. Murray, introduce yourself as Eleanor Murray or Eleanor. However, with children who need help knowing what to call you, you can introduce yourself as Aunt Eleanor or Grandma Ellie if you want them to call you that.
A teacher introduces himself to his students with the title he would like them to use—Mr. Goodge or Dr. Goodge—but writes his whole name on the board: George Goodge. In intellectual circles, an inverse snobbery restrains professors from injecting their titles into introductions ("Hello, I'm Fred Mayhem"), though others may add them ("Hello, Dr. Mayhem.")
You will be on safe ground if you address both current and retired military, ambassadorial, clerical, and judicial people by their profession (Colonel Smith, Ambassador Smith, Reverend Smith, Father Smith, Justice Smith) or simply "sir" or "ma'am" until you are very sure of protocol in their worlds. When in doubt, ask. Aristocratic titles may call for a quick check of the etiquette books.
After you have said hello and your name, you may wish to expand on your introduction with pleasantries such as "Good to see you," "Nice to meet you," or "Nice to see you again."
If another person is introducing you, just make eye contact and offer to shake hands when you are being introduced. If your introducer has mangled your name, say it again clearly for your new acquaintance.
If you aren't clear of the other person's name, as you say something along the lines of "Nice to meet you," say the name again with an inquiring expression to let him or her correct what you think you heard. If you want to start right in on a first-name basis, just repeat your first name.
Once the other person has introduced himself, use the person's title and last name (e.g., Mr. Smith) until you are invited to be on a first-name basis. to reintroduce yourself to a brief former acquaintance (if you do not remember the person's name), say "Hello. My name is ___ ." Then the person will most likely respond with his or her name. If not, you can say "I remember you, but I've forgotten your name," or "You may not remember me; I'm Rafik." Always reintroduce yourself to young children who may have forgotten which one of the grown-ups you are in the interval since they saw you last.
If you wish to introduce yourself to someone who is of greater status or age, simply use good manners: "Good morning, sir. My name is Matt Frieberg; I'm your wife's student."
If you are the person with higher status, pay attention to the person who has made the effort to introduce himself to you. You, too, should use your best manners and be civilized. Don't let a seemingly unimportant person turn you into a snob. My English-born father often told of a conversation he'd overheard:
A humble young academic who was visiting a hidebound English university skirted protocol and had the gall to introduce himself to a professor at a gathering (rather than wait for a mutual friend to introduce them). "Good afternoon, sir, my name is Eric Kincaid," he said as he extended his hand. "Oh, really?" drawled the older man in his best upper-crust Etonian voice, and then he turned away.
A truly great human being does not commit cruelty by being uncivil to a person with lesser status. Give everyone you chance to meet at least three minutes of your time and attention. Be kind.
How to Remember Names
A gifted conversationalist seems to remember every name, every time. With a little help and some practice, you can too.
1. Gather your wits before you meet a new group of people. If you can, do your homework ahead of time with a list of names that you will then connect to faces.
2. When you are introduced, pay attention to the other person's name. Say it out loud as you make eye contact, say it at least once during the conversation, and say it again when you part.
3. Say the name over a few times in your mind and link it to a visual image: if her name is Mary Jane, imagine her wearing Mary Jane shoes. Or connect the person with others who have that name; visualize the Ben Lincoln you've just met standing next to Abe Lincoln.
4. Use rhyming: "Tall Paul" or "Nate the waiter." (Just don't say it out loud.)
5. Follow up. Reinforce your memory by looking at his name tag, asking him for a card, and writing his name down as soon as you get home.
How to Introduce Others
A senator once took Will Rogers to the White House to meet President Coolidge. Inside the Oval Office, the senator introduced the two men. "Will Rogers," he said, "I'd like you to meet President Coolidge."
Deadpan, Rogers quipped, "I'm sorry, but I didn't catch the name."
—Steve Goodier, Joy Along the Way, 2002
Another way to initiate a courteous conversation is to be attentive to occasions when introductions are in order. When you find yourself in a group of people who require introductions, first say the name of the woman, the older person, or the higher-ranking person. Repeat this rule over and over, and rehearse it with a friend if it is a stumbling point: the lady, the elder, or the honored person comes first. For example:
Mom, this is my friend Matt Chang. Matt, this is my mother, Lynda Weber.
(Matt's response will be "Hello, Mrs. [or Ms.] Weber" or "Hello, Lynda [if you said only her first name].")

What's Rest

2008-11-27T08:45:00.001+08:00

China's food exports to US in 2007

2008-11-26T18:39:00.000+08:00

I read a news from China Daily. It is about china's food exports to US.
It is interesting to learn some words about food.
Below is the Top 10 list:
1. Fish and shellfish $2.013b
2. Fruits and preparations, including frozen juices $816m
3. Vegetables and preparations $444m
4. Soft beverages, processed coffee $276m
5. Feedstuff and food food grains $222m
6. Bakery and confectionary products $173m
7. Tea, spices and preparations $142m
8. Nuts and preparations $99m
9. Meat products and poultry $98m
10. Non-agricultural food and food additives $85m

Widget, Widget, Widget

2008-11-26T17:58:00.000+08:00

What’s Widget
1.a small application that runs on your desktop or in a web page. Widgets enrich your desktop or web pages with functionality, useful information and a lot of fun
2.There are three types of Widgets:
-Desktop Widget
-Web Widget
-Mobile Widget
3.Bring all the things you love right to your desktop or web browser
4.Save time with live updates right on your desktop
- Your favorite info comes to you
- No need to surf around for what you use most
5.Convenient at-a-glance view keeps your Widgets in line
- Get all of your personalized updates in one place
- Neatly organize your widgets along any edge of your desktop
Why Widget
Though Social Network is still the mainstream in 2008, Widget has gotten more and more attention from last year. It has possessed a large market and provided a new marketing channel for advertising agencies.
It was forecasted by eMarketer that Widget advertising spending would reach 40 million dollars in 2008. During the period of post-Web2.0 that traditional Internet access methods were split, the popularity of diversified and individualized Widget may lead a new trend.
The most classical application of Widget perhaps is to put a video from YouTube or tudou.com in a blog or BBS or to embed a customized search box in a blog. This kind of mini-application that can be embedded in a webpage or put directly on the desktop is called Widget. It integrates many net applications such as games, clock, calendar, information consultation, media tools, network tools, work assist. Users can get various services they need from Widget.
Benefit from the push of Widget, Social Networks like MySpace，Facebook and Orkut under Google were forecasted to have 1 billion dollars for their advertising revenue.
By the end of 2007, FaceBook has managed 11179 Widgets. Their users quickly rise to 50 million and the market value rise to 15 billion dollars. The success of Youtube was also based on the swift spread of Widget. In June of 2005, Youtube began to provide embedded video player in MySpace. In May of 2006, the video embedded in MySpace took 20% of the total video stream of Youtube.
Not only big enterprises such as Google, yahoo has big interest in Widget, but also mobile phone manufactures. At the beginning of 2007, Iphone supported Widget, meanwhile, Nokia developed Widset platform. It is also the trend of “Mobile + Internet”. Some experts think that the future of mobile phone Widget will be more attractive than web Widget.

Word about Movie

2008-11-26T17:42:00.000+08:00

Movie theatre:
It is a cinema.
Cinema:
It is a movie theater.
Lobby:
It is a hall, foyer, or waiting room at or near the entrance to a building, such as a hotel or theater.
Concession stand:
Concession stand is the term used to refer to a place where patrons can purchase snacks or food at a cinema, fair, Stadium, or other entertainment venue. Some events or venues contract out the right to sell food to third parties. Those contracts are often referred to as a concession — hence the name for a stand where food is sold.
Food sold at concession stands or candybars are often junk food such as french fries, ice cream, popcorn, pizza, hot dogs, soft drinks, and candy. However, many newer arenas now include multiple concession stands or candybars that essentially form a food court, serving a variety of fast food. At temporary outdoor events such as funfairs, food trucks may operate as concession stands or candybars.
Screening room:
It is a place you actually watch the movie.
Ticket window:
It is a place where you buy ticket from.
Ticket taker:
The person checks your ticket and gives part of your ticket back to you.
Stub:
The ticket taker gives part of ticket back to you, it is called stub.
Genres of movies:
Action: generally involves a moral interplay between "good" and "bad" played out through violence or physical force.
Adventure: involving danger, risk, and/or chance, often with a high degree of fantasy.
Comedy: intended to provoke laughter.
Drama: mainly focuses on character development.
Fantasy: speculative fiction outside reality (i.e. myth, legend).
Horror: intended to provoke fear in audience.
Slasher: A variation of Horror that focuses less on suspense and more on death and gore. Also calledSplatter film.
Mystery: the progression from the unknown to the known by discovering and solving a series of clues.
Romance: dwelling on the elements of romantic love.
Thrillers: intended to provoke excitement and/or nervous tension into audience.

Tell the difference of words I

2008-11-26T08:54:00.000+08:00

could versus would:
would is a little more formal.
Would you please give me that pen?
Could you please give me that pen?
center versus centre:
center and centre are identical in meaning,
center is an American spelling.
centre is a British spelling.
for example, theater is an American spelling, but theatre is a British spelling.
to have versus to have got
to have got is informal, to have is a little more formal.
-How much money have you got?
-How much money do you have?

-I have a car.
-I've got a car.

-I have to go.
-I've got to go.

Should we use singular or plural verbs with percentages.

30% of the population (is/are) single.
You have to look at what comes after the word OF.
If the object is singular, then the verb is singular.
If the object is plural, then the verb is pluarl.
-30% of the pie was missing.
-30% of the pies were missing.

Plunges and Dives

2008-11-25T18:03:00.000+08:00

Source: ESLPOD.COM
I don’t know enough about the financial crisis here in the U.S. to explain why our economy is having so many problems, but I can explain some of the headlines (titles) that have appeared recently in U.S. newspapers for those of you who are interested in reading the news in English.

Here is the main (most important, largest) headline from today’s Wall Street Journal:

Bailout Plan Rejected, Markets Plunge, Forcing New Scramble to Solve Crisis

Let’s begin with bailout. To bail something/someone out literally means to remove water, usually from a boat or ship that has a leak (where water is entering the boat and causing it to go down or sink). A bailout (noun), however, is when you give money to someone or some company to help them when their business is failing. The U.S. government has been giving money to large financial companies to prevent them from failing in the past two weeks. Yesterday, the U.S. Congress (the part of the government that makes and approves new laws) rejected or said no to a plan to provide even more money to these businesses. Because they said no, the stock markets plunged. To plunge means to go down very quickly or rapidly. You can also use plunge when something goes down in the water very quickly. Plunge is similar here to the verb to dive, which again means to go down quickly.

So the bailout plan was rejected by the U.S. Congress, causing the stock markets to plunge. Now what happens? Well, the U.S. government has to find a new solution, so they are looking desperately - scrambling - to solve this crisis or serious problem. To scramble, then, means to move quickly after something goes wrong, usually something you didn’t expect to go wrong. Many people thought that Congress would approve the bailout plan, so when it failed to pass yesterday, there was a scramble to find a new solution.

The New York Times‘ headline was similar:

Defiant House Rejects Huge Bailout; Stocks Plunge; Next Step is Uncertain

A defiant person is someone who disobeys or says no to something. The House refers to the House of Representatives, which is one half of the U.S. Congress (the other part is called the Senate). So the House rejected the large or huge bailout plan, the stock market plunged, and now no one knows what will come next. The next step or action for the government is uncertain.

Chinese History Story(CHS)- Terracotta Warrior

2008-11-25T13:08:00.000+08:00

Terracotta:
Fairly coarse, porous clay that, when fired, assumes a color ranging from dull ochre to red. Terra-cotta objects are usually left unglazed and are often of a utilitarian kind, because of their cheapness, versatility, and durability. Small terra-cotta figures from 3000 BC have been found in Greece and others throughout the Roman Empire from the 4th century BC. The use of terra-cotta virtually died out when the Roman Empire collapsed, but it was revived in Italy and Germany in the 15th century.
Warrior:
A warrior is a person habitually engaged in warfare.

Terracotta Army was buried with the Emperor of Qin (Qin Shi Huangdi) in 210-209 BC (his reign over Qin was from 247 BCto 221 BC and unified China from 221 BC to the end of his life in 210 BC). Their purpose was to help rule another empire with Shi Huangdi in the afterlife. Consequently, they are also sometimes referred to as "Qin's Armies".

The Terracotta Army was discovered in March 1974 by local farmers drilling a water well to the east of Mount Lishan. (The precise coordinates are 34°23′5.71″N,109°16′23.19″ECoordinates: 34°23′5.71″N,109°16′23.19″E.) Mount Lishan is also where the material to make the terracotta warriors originated. In addition to the warriors, an entire man-made necropolis for the emperor has been excavated.

Terracotta Warriors Audio on BBC Learning English
Terracotta Warriors Script on BBC Learning English

Useful Tools

2008-11-25T08:42:00.000+08:00

Because of software policy, I can not access some useful tools such as Visio, Ms project.
I'd like to share some free tools with you.
1. http://ganttproject.biz/
GanttProject is a free and easy to use Gantt chart based project scheduling and management tool. Our major features include:
Task hierarchy and dependencies
Gantt chart
Resource load chart
Generation of PERT chart
PDF and HTML reports
MS Project import/export
WebDAV based groupwork

2. http://projects.gnome.org/dia/
Dia is a gtk+ based diagram creation program released under the GPL license.

Dia is inspired by the commercial Windows program 'Visio', though more geared towards informal diagrams for casual use. It can be used to draw many different kinds of diagrams. It currently has special objects to help draw entity relationship diagrams, UML diagrams, flowcharts, network diagrams, and many other diagrams. It is also possible to add support for new shapes by writing simple XML files, using a subset of SVG to draw the shape.

It can load and save diagrams to a custom XML format (gzipped by default, to save space), can export diagrams to a number of formats, including EPS, SVG, XFIG, WMF and PNG, and can print diagrams (including ones that span multiple pages).

A talk with Indian Friend

2008-11-24T08:37:00.001+08:00

Yesterday evening, I received a call from an Indian friend. He said there seems to be some problems about heating system of his room. And he asked if he can come to my home to see how to set the switches. I said it’s ok.

He came to my home after ten minutes. I showed the switches in my home. The switch will be work if it is set to be vertical. My friend told me the switches in his home are set to horizon.

I invited him to sit down and have a talk.

He told me something about his work. He will have 7 days holiday during Christmas. I suggested that he can have a tour in China. And we talked about snow. I forgot the word ‘skate’. To make things worse I used the word ‘skirt’. Fortunately, I remembered the word ‘skate’ finally.

And we talk about how we spent the weekend. I told him I go to the cinema with my son. We talked about the film name. Unfortunately, I forgot again how to say hell. I don’t know what’s wrong, but I can’t remember many words I had learned. The film name is HellBoy. It’s a sequel to the movie.

Welcome to Stone Study English

2008-11-21T15:04:00.000+08:00

Welcome to Stone Study English.
I plan to put some materials in my English learning courses.
I am glad to see you here.