02/25/2021
Listening and understanding everything you hear in English is not an easy skill, especially when you listen to a long presentation or are in an online meeting. Sometimes it’s enough just to understand the main points of the presentation or discussion. Here is some advice to help you prepare and practice your skills.
You know the topic of the presentation or subject of the meeting, so use this knowledge to PREPARE your brain for what you think you are going to hear the speaker(s) talk about and to PREDICT some of the words and type of language they will use. For example: a presentation about the new product range: – words and language associated with size, material, functions, quantity, price, marketing strategies. Review the vocabulary and phrases you know that are related to this topic before the presentation.
Develop your skills for only focusing your attention on the words that give you the important information. These are called content /con-tent/ words and they are usually the main verbs, nouns, adjectives and adverbs. Usually the speaker will say these words a bit louder than the non-content words. For example: “The NEW version of PRODUCT X has a LARGER capacity for MEMORY and can RUN at FASTER speeds than the older model”
After you listen to something, make notes or verbally summarise the information that you heard. Did you remember more when you re-told it? Often, reflecting on what you heard helps you to recall more information.
Does the idea of chairing an online meeting in English make you feel nervous? Sometimes it's just a matter of confidence. These 20 phrases will help you manage meetings professionally in English and make you feel more confident when you are leading a meeting with multiple participants.
What do you say when you are asked a question you don't know the answer to immediately? Difficult enough in your mother tongue. These 20 phrases will help you manage those questions professionally in English.
There are always moments in life and in business where we don't see eye to eye with someone. But the problem is often finding the right language to say "you're wrong" without causing unnecessary offence. Expressing disagreement politely is essential for maintaining positive relationships, fostering effective communication, and upholding personal and professional boundaries. With this language toolbox we hope to provide some language that will help you to handle those difficult discord moments gracefully.