Showing posts with label English Training Course. Show all posts
Showing posts with label English Training Course. Show all posts

Tuesday, 16 June 2009

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

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.

Tuesday, 19 May 2009

Language you can use to give or react to news

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

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

Tuesday, 12 May 2009

English training phase II - lesson one - Respond a request

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.

Friday, 5 December 2008

How to describe figures up and down

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.

Friday, 28 November 2008

English Training Course - Talking about job

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?

Thursday, 27 November 2008

English Training Course - Greetings and introductions

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].")