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?
Sunday, 30 November 2008
Saturday, 29 November 2008
English Training Course - Chairing a conference call
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?
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
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".
"Sorry," the shop owner, "but that saucer brings me luck. Just in this week I've sold 68 cats".
Thanksgiving
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 podcastFriday, 28 November 2008
English Training Course - Talking about email - Part 3
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
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
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
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
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.
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.
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