Author: Xela

3 Traditional British Meals People Actually Eat

Posted on by Xela

As with many local delicacies and national dishes not that many people actually still eat them. Things like Hakarl which is the national dish of Iceland is more of a rite of passage (1) than a tasty meal enjoyed by everyone. However, in the UK there are just a few traditional dishes that are still eaten very regularly by many people. When learning English as a language and especially when visiting the UK it is useful to know some popular meals and be confident you know what you are getting if someone suggests eating some.

Fish and Chips

Being a country totally surrounded by water it is no surprise that fish is still a very common food type in the UK. The meal itself is very simple and made up of a large single piece of fish that is deep fried in batter (2) and served with thick deep fried strips of potato. These chips are similar to French fries but much thicker and less crunchy.

Fish and Chips actually originated in the 17th century when Western Sephardic Jews used to cook fish using a batter made with flour and other ingredients. But it was not until the later half of the 19th century that fish was easily available across the UK and then it became very popular with working people. Around this time people started serving the fish with the potatoes and so Fish and Chips was born.

These days a special shop that sells Fish and Chips is called a “chippy” in common slang (3) and will serve very less other than Fish and Chips. It has become traditional to have a sausage if you do not like fish and also something called “mushy peas”. This is a side dish created with large green peas cooked until they almost turn into a paste.

Bangers and Mash

This meal is also known as sausage and mash (4). The Banger term means sausage and the mash part refers to something called mashed potato. Mash is certainly not unique to the UK but as with many potato products it is still very popular here. Sausages are traditionally made form pork but beef, lamb, chicken and turkey sausages are available. Over the last 15 years or so Bangers and Mash has become even more popular with many fashionable pubs and bars serving it with very high quality and uniquely flavoured sausages. This meal is almost always served with a thick sauce called gravy.

Roast Dinner with Yorkshire Pudding

This meal is often also called a Sunday Roast. This refers to the fact it was traditionally only served on a Sunday and in many places still is. Many pubs and restaurants will change their normal menu to offer a “roast” on a Sunday only. The meal has religious origins where people going to Church in England would not eat until after the service but these days it is very much something for everyone.

A roast dinner is made up of (5) a roast and sliced meat like Beef or Chicken served with boiled vegetables like cabbage, carrots, broccoli and sometimes parsnips, suede and other items too. One of the main ingredients is….you guessed it; potatoes. In this case they are chopped into large sections and roasted. A Yorkshire pudding is only served with beef and is a large crispy cake like item made from a batter. This is a large meal so not one to order if you are not very hungry.

None of these meals are very healthy but all of them are enjoyed by millions of British people every week so if you are visiting the UK see if you can try one of these meals.

VOCABULARY:

  1. Rite of passage: a special and unique ceremony, eg a marriage
  2. Batter: a food covering of flour and egg (that is then fried)
  3. Mash: a soft mass created by crushing (potatoes) and adding liquid (eg milk)
  4. Made up of: consists of
  5. Slang:  very informal language used in spoken form

Phrases and Sayings – November

Posted on by Xela

Here is a list of all of the sayings and phrases we have looked at and discussed on our Facebook page this month. This are all commonly used and are useful to know and understand. If you are learning English these sayings and phrases can really help you add more feeling and personality to your spoken English. If you would like to join in the discussion then like or follow us on Facebook.

If you are reading this and would like to learn more English or improve your English skills then Click Here to find out more about how Perfectly Spoken can help.

Has the cat got your tongue?

This saying is used when someone is asked a question and they do not answer. They may not be sure what they can say, they may be scared to answer if they are in trouble or have done something wrong. It is not a friendly saying and should only really be used if you are having a strong discussion or argument.

On cloud nine

Cloud 9 or cloud nine is a term used to describe a very happy place. If someone is on cloud nine they are very very happy. You might see a friend who has just got a new job and see she is very happy; you could say “she is on cloud nine about her new job”.

Storm in a teacup

A storm in a teacup is a big argument or disagreement about something very small. The idea behind this is that a storm is a big thing but when it’s in a teacup it is obviously very small. You may hear about an argument among two work colleagues that was very loud and angry but about something very small. It could be described to another friend as a storm in a teacup.

The lion’s share

The lion’s share is the biggest share of something. If three people shared a pizza but one person ate almost all of it you could say “he has had the lion’s share.” This could also be used at work if the jobs were shared between workers and one person got more work than the others.

They are selling like hot potatoes

The term hot potatoes describes anything that is being bought or sold very quickly. It can even be used if something for free is being taken by people very quickly. You may have made a new product at work and the sales manager says “they are selling like hot potatoes”. This is good news and it means they are selling fast!

Don’t miss the boat

This phrase is used when there is something good that you may want to buy, or a trip you may want to go on and you do not have much time to join. Missing the boat describes the time when the offer is gone and you cannot have it anymore. There may be a sale on some new shoes but it only lasts for 2 days. Someone might say don’t miss the boat; this means go and buy the shoes before the sale finishes or the shoes run out.

Over the top

This phrase is used to describe doing more than you need too or doing something so much it is far more than it should be. For example, if someone asked you to make a cake for a party and you made 10 cakes they may say you went over the top. It is also used if someone gets very angry with another person, more angry than anyone would expect. Going over the top in an argument is not a good thing.

 

Everything You Need to Know About Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

Posted on by Xela

The British Royal family is certainly important to a lot of people in the UK although not everyone is interested in what they do. There are also a lot of other countries that seem to be interested in what happens to the British Royal Family and America is one of them. This is even more important to the USA when an American is about to join our royal family.

Who is Prince Harry?

Prince Harry is the son of Prince Charles who is also known as the Prince of Wales. His mother Diana sadly died in an accident in Paris in 1997. Prince Harry has a brother called Prince William. Prince Harry is 6th in line to be King. He was further up the list but when Prince William had three children they become a more direct heir (1) to the throne. Prince Harry is now sixth in line behind his father, his brother and his 2 nephews and niece (Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis)  Prince Harry has been in the British Army and has done a lot of charity (2) work. He is generally well liked in the UK by most people.

Who is Meghan Markle?

Meghan Markle is an American Actress. She has been in a number of movies like Anti-Social and Horrible Bosses but has also starred in the hit (3) TV show Suits. She is 36 years old and comes from Los Angeles, California. She has been dating (4) Prince Harry since July 2016. Meghan has been married before which is very unusual for someone in the Royal Family.

The News

The news that Prince Harry was engaged was certainly a very big thing in the UK. Meghan’s parents have said “We are incredibly happy for Meghan and Harry.” Harry’s parents have said “‘We are very excited for Harry and Meghan. It has been wonderful getting to know Meghan and to see how happy she and Harry are together.”.

As soon as the news was announced the couple have been in the newspapers and online a lot. It is also something that many people in the UK are talking about and will be for a long time.

The Wedding

The wedding takes place (5) on the 19th May 2018 at St George’s Chapel in Windsor. This place is known to be very important and special to them both. It will be a private wedding but there will be a lot of celebrations across the UK and many thousands of people will be in London celebrating publicly.

Latest News

Meghan was baptised (6) and has joined the Church of England to be allowed to marry a member of the Royal family. She has also started working on becoming a British Citizen and will take the British Citizenship test after her marriage. She has now stopped her work as an actress and will concentrate on her charity work.

If you are working in the UK or you are going to be near the time of the wedding you will certainly hear and have conversations about the couple. We offer online English courses if you are working on planning on coming to the UK or other English speaking countries.

 

VOCABULARY:

  1. Heir: legally inherit a title or position.
  2. Charity:  organization that helps those in need.
  3. Hit: successful, popular.
  4. Dating: when a couple appear in public together.
  5. Take place: occur, happen.
  6. Baptise:  ceremony to admit someone into a particular Church.

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)

Is Learning English Good for My Career?

Posted on by Xela

The answer to this question is yes, it really is. Learning English is useful for many reasons but if you want to work in different countries to likelihood is that knowing English will mean you can communicate with most people.

Getting Ahead

Before you even start thinking about working and speaking English as part of your job it is worth thinking about how English may help you get a job in the first place. If you are looking for work in the UK, USA or even across Europe and into the Far East you are likely to find being able to speak English during the interview will be helpful. It may actually mean you can get ahead of other people going for the job and it just might be the reason you get it!

Customer Service

One of the basic rules of customer service is being able to understand the customer and them being able to understand you. If you are working or looking to work in any kind of customer facing role then the being able to speak English well will really help. Taking the time and effort to learn English will mean companies with English speaking customers will be much more likely to employ you. Customer support and service jobs make up a huge part of the global job market using both spoken and written English. Getting good at using English will mean getting a chance at a getting a lot of different jobs.

English for Certain Business Types

As mentioned, customer support and care for the vast range of digital products and services as well as mobile phones and TV is one major sector where English is useful. But there are also other sectors where it would also be needed.

  • Tourism
  • Medicine
  • Legal
  • Marketing
  • Media
  • Finance

All of these sectors have businesses who have offices all over the world and many that will use English as the main language.

Travelling the World with Work

Travelling is something many people dream of but there are different ways to do it. The idea of backpacking is certainly appealing to a lot of people but travelling around and working in different offices around the world while getting paid may seem a lot more interesting for others. The idea of taking a promotion and moving to a new country and a great salary is a real option for those who can speak more than one language. Learning English will open doors around the world for people who want to work in business.

Ways To Learn

There are many different ways to learn English. Many people attempt to learn themselves by using online videos without any structure. Others pay for expensive college courses which can be very good but not many people can afford them. Perfectly Spoken offers a way to take a full course but by doing it online make it far cheaper. Click Here for more information about our online English courses and lets us help you improve your career by learning English.

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.