Author: Xela

Why English is so important in Business

Posted on by Xela

How Many People Use English?

OK so here are a few facts that show how widely used English is. The British council states English is the first language for around 373 million people. But it is a second language for another 500 million on top of that number so nearly 900 million people can speak English. These numbers are very approximate but give a strong idea of the real number. The really big fact is that it is estimated another 1 billion people are learning English. As a language it is recognised officially in 80 countries and spoken widely in another 100 countries.  Another estimate suggested by 2020 another 2 billion people will be learning English. There is no doubt in this globalised world English is very very important.

 

Big Business

It is worth pointing out that English is not the most widely spoken language in terms of a native tongue. However, according to Unicode.org people speak in English live in countries that make up 29.3% of the words GDP. This means there is a lot of business power behind the language and the countries that use it.

 

English in Business

Due to the fact most big corporations have offices all over the world there was a need for a single language to be used in meetings and the like. English has become that language. It is now the default choice for teams and executives meeting up online and in person across the world. For example if a sales manager from Berlin were to meet the head of HR from Korea they would most likely choose to speak English. People that can’t speak English may well find it hard to keep up with meetings and even get the bigger jobs in the first place.

 

Branding and Language

Again, as companies become more global so too does their use of language. Corporate identity and language are becoming simpler and many big firms are choosing to use English. Nokia, Daimler and Renault are just a few big names that have done this. This not only means that, as mentioned before, all meetings and company literature uses English but also the values of the company and even names of services and products all start to rely on English and understanding it is critical.

 

English in Science and Technology

Science and Tech are big growth areas and probably always will be. If anyone wants to make a huge impact on the business world then these are the sectors where they head. Recent data suggested that around 95% of all scientific papers written in the Science Citation Index were in English. Nature is written in English as is the Lancet both of which are very important publications. What this all means is that when a publication or company wants to communicate with the most possible people they use English and this is only going to get more popular.

 

Learning English is popular, there are lots of ways you can do it. Perfectly Spoken offer a chance to do a structured course but you can do it online and it doesn’t cost as much as many other courses. Visit our online English course page for more information and find out how you can improve you English and join the global business and tech community, improve your job prospects and more.

Why Learning English Can Help Close the Deal

Posted on by Xela

Pitching

To successfully pitch anything be it yourself in a job interview or a new phone app to a tech giant communication is critical. But communication is formed of two parts and regardless of how well you may understand the person you are selling too, if they do not understand you then the deal may not go through. You probably know everything there is to know about your product but if you cannot get all those great selling points across clearly and in a way the client understands then it won’t work. Learning English in business can really make a difference when it comes to selling and getting your point across.

 

Listening

Even though this is mentioned above it is important to look at the other side of a sale. At various points in any business pitch the customer will want to ask some questions. Being able to understand and respond to these questions can make the difference between getting the sale and losing it. Having great English language skills will mean you are able to clearly understand any worries or questions the customer may have. You can then talk about them and offer suitable answers.

 

Research

Being able to talk and listen are both useful and important parts of any business meeting but do not forget research! To really do well in business you need to know everything there is to know about your client or customer. Often the only way to do this is to research the. This could mean reading their website but also watching videos about what they do and more. Being able to understand English will certainly help if you are dealing with an English speaking client who’s website is in English and all their video content is too.

 

If you would like to learn English then click here to learn more about our courses. Our online courses give you access to all of our video lessons across different levels for a small monthly fee of 9.99 euro. Our teachers will help you improve your business English skills so you can be confident in your business role or look at getting a new job.

New Years Resolutions – What Are They All About?

Posted on by Xela

A New Year’s resolution is simply a choice someone makes at the start of the new year to change the things they do, or perhaps to do things they have not done yet. These resolutions are common in most of the Western Hemisphere and also in the East but what the resolutions are can vary a lot.

If you are living or working in the UK or you are working with people from the UK it is useful to understand the feelings and intentions behind these resolutions and how hard it can be to stick to them. Below are some common resolutions you may hear about or be told about when working with English speaking people especially from the UK.

  1. Lose Weight

This is a very common resolution. It is a simple one to say but a hard one to do. A lot of people would like to weigh less and be in better shape. January is a very common time to start trying to exercise more and lose weight. It is often hard to go outside and exercise because the weather is so bad in the UK. It is important to be nice and to encourage people if they tell you this is there plan. Be careful not to offend anyone by agreeing they should lose weight.

 

  1. Stop Smoking

Smoking is certainly something many people want to stop doing. It is a perfect new years resolution for health and to save money. Some people choose to try e-cigarettes to help and others just stop. If you are working around people who are trying to stop smoking remember to be supportive. If you smoke it is polite to try to not remind them you are going for a cigarette as this may make things harder.

 

  1. Eat Healthier Food

This is a very common resolution in the UK and across many countries. It is not always about losing weight but about being healthier. As with smoking, eating junk food in front of people who are trying to be healthy can be a little rude. It would also be bad to invite people out with you for junk food and not think about the people trying to stick with their resolution.

 

  1. Stop Drinking

There is no doubt, people in the UK do like drinking alcohol. Giving this up forever is not a common resolution but there is a common practice where people stop drinking for January. This is called a “dry January”. As with other resolutions it is important to remember work mates and friends may be trying not to drink and it is nice to be helpful and supportive.

 

  1. Start a New Career

This resolution is certainly more extreme than the others mentioned here but January in the UK is very often about looking for a new job. It is important to know this because January and February is a great time to be looking for work in the UK.

If you would like to learn English then take a look at our courses and join us!

 

Winter In The UK

Posted on by Xela

People in the UK love to talk about the weather and there are two main seasons they like to talk about the most; Summer and Winter. Right now it’s winter in the UK and we thought it would be useful for everyone working with people in the UK to know a little more about the British winter.

Winter

Rain

Winter in the UK is normally very wet. It rains….and rains….and rains. It certain parts of the country it is common for it to rain every day for a month. The word winter can often mean snow for many countries but this is not common in most of the UK. The rain causes a lot of mud and large puddles of water in the road and on pavements.

Wind

Winter also means lots of wind in the UK. Wind speeds of up to 80mph are common during storms at this time of year so fallen trees something you will see after a storm. The British Meteorological Office or Met Office now name storms. Each one gets a letter from the alphabet and the UK is already on Eleanor.

Ice

While the UK may not always see lots of snow in the winter ice is common. The term “frost” is used to describe ice covering plants, roads and windows and is usually seen in the morning. Frosts are common across the country and heavy frosts can lead to people falling over in the street and even car crashes.

Cold

Temperatures in the UK do not get as cold as many other countries but that does not stop the British people talking about how cold it is. Winter temperatures do not go much lower than 0 degrees Centigrade or  32 degrees Fahrenheit very often. They can actually stay a few degrees higher for most of the winter but with the wind and rain this can feel very cold.

This Winter

This winter has been one the British people will enjoy talking about for a long time. A large part of the country was covered in snow which lead to transport problems and loss of power to many homes. On top of this certain parts of the UK have had large amounts of rain in a short time. The mud and water on the roads and in gardens is more than other years.

Moaning

The word moaning is a common English term to describe saying how bad things are. British people enjoy moaning about the weather and the 2017-18 Winter has caused a lot of moaning. If you work with people who live in the UK asking them about the weather will be a great way to start a conversation.

Perfectly Spoken offer full English courses that meet both Cambridge and IELTS exam levels.

Top Growth Sectors for Jobs in the UK

Posted on by Xela

If you are planning on coming to the UK for work, or you are working in the UK and would like a change of career there are some areas of work that are doing very well at the moment. These sectors are important to look it if you are thinking about what training or university course to do to get the best jobs.

  1. Finance and Accounting

Knowing about money and accounting in business is always something that will earn you money. Every single business needs some help at one time or another. However, when things get tough this need increases. With Brexit and a clear economic downturn there is no doubt larger companies and smaller ones are looking to accountants and financial experts to help them get the best out of less business. If you are looking for a sector that is growing and that is reliable then finance is a strong one to think about. Even if maths is not your strong point there are a wide range of jobs in any accounting firm including marketing, HR and more.

  1. Power and Energy

This is a big sector including things like Nuclear, Oil, Gas and Renewables. Most of these areas are growing. With the new Nuclear facility being built in the UK there is no doubt there will be a call for more skilled and non skilled people. Oil may be a fossil fuel but the petrol industry is far from dying and with the rise of smaller efficient petrol engines the automotive sector is booming. Renewables is also a huge area for growth. Think about companies that make solar panels and turbines, companies that fit panels to homes too. Also the number of large wind farms is increasing and with this comes more jobs. Along with all of this there are more and more new power companies opening up catering for the desire for renewable energy and all of this means more jobs. As a sector power is a strong one to look for jobs in and the range of roles, just like finance, is huge.

  1. Engineering

This is a sector that has two problems. The first is that there is huge demand for new engineering projects that meet the growing need for environmentally friendly processes. The second is that a large number of people who work in this sector are getting older and will retire by 2025. Now is the time to consider a career in engineering. There is a reported skills gap and a need for around 180,000 new skilled workers in this sector. If you are thinking about what to study at a university in the UK then engineering is a good choice. If you are already in this sector and are planning to come to the UK then now is a good time.

  1. IT and Technology

If there is one sector that will always grow it is IT and Tech. The demand for new tech is never ending and the companies providing both the tech and ways for businesses to use it are growing. First of all the creation, design, testing and marketing of new tech is huge so there are a lot of jobs in that area. But do not forget things like digital marketing where companies need help keeping there customers aware of new products from people who understand the tech itself. It is a huge growth industry and one that anyone looking for a career in the UK should look into.

 

The great thing about these sectors is they are global so working in the UK could be part of your career or it could be where you stay. These are big growth areas and a very good place to start thinking about career, education and jobs.

If you would like to improve your English for business and work then CLICK HERE for more information on our range of courses and our monthly subscription offer.

7 Top Business English Vocabulary Terms

Posted on by Xela

Learning English has many different parts and much of the basic learning is all about day-to-day life. However, as students get more advanced they may start wanting to learn more specific terms aspects of the language. For many students learning English for work and business purposes is a big factor so below we have got 10 important business English words we think everyone should know.

Competitor

This is a word used to describe another business selling or offering the same thing as the business you work for. They are trying to do better and be more successful and so are competing with you.

 

Marketing

This term describes the way companies advertise themselves. Marketing can be TV commercials, websites, social media pages and more. In many jobs, it is important to be aware of what marketing your company does and your competitor companies.

 

eCommerce

This is a type of business that sells things through a website. Some businesses use a shop or shops others just use a website. Some companies use both. But a company selling anything online is considered at least partly an eCommerce business.

 

Client

Client is another word for customer. It is used when customers are very important as a way of making them different. You might be a customer in a supermarket but you would talk about clients if you worked for a marketing company. Client is an important term in many types of business.

 

Appraisal

The word appraisal can be used in many different ways. It means to look at something and see if it was done well or badly or how successful it was. In business and the workplace, in general, an appraisal is a meeting where a member of staff talks with the boss or bosses about how well they are doing. It is a very important part of work in the UK and other countries.

 

Agenda

An agenda is a list of things that need to be talked about at or in a business meeting. You may be asked to create an agenda ready for a meeting. But you may also be sent one before a meeting so you know what the meeting is about.

 

Notice

Notice is a term used when someone is leaving a job. The notice period is the amount of time the company gives you to find another job if you are asked to leave. It is also the amount of time you have to carry on working if you want to leave, so they can find someone to replace you. It is important to understand your notice period when you take a job.

If you found this useful why not check out our ultimate guide to business English vocabulary.

 

PRACTICE. TEST YOURSELF. FILL IN THE GAPS

  • I didn’t get the ___1___ so I wasn’t very well prepared for the meeting.
  • I’m a bit worried. I’ve been at the company for 6 months and I’ve got (a/an) ___2___ with my boss tomorrow.
  • In the legal profession, the ___3__ period tends to be 6 -12 months depending on the seniority.
  • We’ve got an important lunch with ___4__ today. I hope they renew their contract and stay with us and don’t go to the ___5__.

(Answers: 1 agenda/ 2 appraisal/ 3 notice/ 4 clients/ 5 competition)