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https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bizpod/BEP068c-Interruptions.mp3 Welcome back to Business English Pod for today’s English for meetings lesson on how to deal with interruptions during a meeting. Meetings are a very important part of work life. They are where decisions are made, relationships are built, and work is coordinated. When meetings go smoothly, they can feel very productive. But meetings can easily become messy and unfocused. In many cases, people compete for time and attention during meetings. They interrupt each other to give new ideas, disagree, or try to get their way. Knowing how to deal with interruptions is a critical skill if you want to participate fully in a meeting. Interrupting people is easier if you learn some useful phrases. You can also learn language to help you stop an interruption and finish what you were saying. In some cases, you might need to concede someone else’s point, either partly or fully. When we concede a point, we are saying “okay, you’re right.” Sometimes that’s the key to moving on after an interruption. In today’s dialog, we’ll join a meeting at a manufacturing company. Bill is the production manager and Mei Lin and Sam work in HR. They are discussing staffing and recruiting for a new production line. Bill is keen to hire new staff, but Sam and Mei Lin want to explore alternative approaches so there’s a lot of disagreement and interrupting during the meeting. Listening Questions 1. What does Bill say is the purpose of the meeting? 2. What is one of the expressions Mei Lin uses to interrupt Bill when he’s speaking? 3. What does Bill say to get back to what he was trying to say after being interrupted? Premium Members: PDF Transcript | Quizzes | PhraseCast | Lesson Module Download: Podcast MP3>>> The post BEP 68c – English for Meetings: Dealing with Interruptions first appeared on Business English Pod :: Learn Business English Online.

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bizpod/BEP419-Contractors-2.mp3 Welcome back to Business English Pod for the second part of our look at managing conflict with subcontractors. In this lesson we’re going to focus on dealing with scope creep, cost disputes and conflicting priorities. When things go sideways with contractors, it’s rarely because of one big mistake. It’s usually a thousand small disagreements that pile up. Different expectations, unclear goals, or shifting priorities can spoil what’s supposed to be a healthy collaboration. Learning to manage these conflicts will help you keep projects on track and maintain trust. When problems come up, smart project managers don’t avoid the hard conversations. Instead, they face things head-on. This requires good communication skills, and fortunately, these skills can be learned. Some of the things you might face are conflicts over the scope of a project or resources. And don’t be surprised if you disagree on money, or costs. Learning to face these issues directly is one thing. But you also need to learn the art of compromise and seek constructive solutions. In today’s dialog, we’ll join a telephone conversation between a project manager named Celia and a subcontractor named Raj. Celia works for a software development company that has hired Raj’s team to build a payment gateway module for a new banking app. Listening Questions 1. What piece of work do Celia and Raj disagree about, in terms of whether its part of the project scope? 2. What compromise does Celia suggest on the issue of costs? 3. At the end of the dialog, what solution does Celia state that she wants to see to prevent further problems? Premium Members: PDF Transcript | Quizzes | PhraseCast | Lesson Module Download: Podcast MP3>>> The post BEP 419 – English for Projects: Managing Conflict with Contractors 2 first appeared on Business English Pod :: Learn Business English Online.

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bizpod/BEP418-Contractors-1.mp3 Welcome back to Business English Pod for the first in a two-part lesson on English for project management and dealing with subcontractors. In this lesson we’re going to look at how to manage conflict with an external contractor. Very few projects run perfectly smoothly. There are just too many variables involved to expect nothing to go wrong. One of the trickiest variables in any project is the people involved. And some of the trickiest people issues are conflicts with subcontractors or external vendors. Conflict with subcontractors is almost inevitable. Different companies have different goals, priorities, and communication styles. Project managers who know how to handle tension early can prevent escalation and maintain a productive working relationship. And this can keep everyone focused on results instead of resentment. Managing conflicts well requires a very tricky balance. You need to address issues and accountability head-on, while remaining diplomatic. You need to set expectations but steer away from too much blame. And it can be very helpful, as you do this, to reference documents to achieve clarity. In today’s dialog, we’ll listen to a telephone conversation featuring a project manager named Celia at a software development company. Her company has outsourced the payment gateway module of a new banking app. Now she’s talking to Raj from the subcontractor about their first delivery, which doesn’t meet expectations. Listening Questions 1. What are the problems that Celia introduces directly near the start of the dialog? 2. What document does Celia refer to in order to clarify their agreement? 3. At the end of the dialog, Celia sets some clear expectations. What’s the timeline she expects for the actions she mentions? Premium Members: PDF Transcript | Quizzes | PhraseCast | Lesson Module Download: Podcast MP3>>> The post BEP 418 – English for Projects: Managing Conflict with Contractors 1 first appeared on Business English Pod :: Learn Business English Online.

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bizpod/360.106-Persuasion-2.mp3 Welcome back to the Business English Skills 360 podcast as we continue our look at how to develop a persuasive approach in business. To be persuasive in business, you need more than facts and logic, and you must also connect emotionally. People make decisions with both their minds and their hearts, so showing warmth and friendliness helps make them more open to your ideas. You don’t need to be overly social; simply showing empathy and genuine interest in others is enough. Asking questions not only builds rapport but also gives you insight into what motivates people, allowing you to adapt your approach. Emotions play a key role in persuasion. You can appeal to fear (“sales may drop if we don’t act”), hope (“this plan will give us our weekends back”), or pride (“this will make us leaders in our field”). Another powerful emotion is belonging – people want to feel part of a group or shared vision. You can use this by framing your message around teamwork or industry trends (“the whole industry is moving this way”). A couple of useful techniques are contrasting and hyperbole. Contrasting means presenting two choices where one clearly supports your message. Adding hyperbole, or deliberate exaggeration, can also make your message more memorable (“this could be the most important decision in our company’s history”). Persuasion isn’t purely an exercise in logic. It’s not just people’s minds that you need to consider, but also their hearts. That’s why we try to make a connection with them emotionally, or personally. We try to learn about them so we can adapt our approach. We appeal to a broad range of their emotions. And we use techniques like contrast and hyperbole to ramp up the impact of our ideas. Members: Lesson Module | Quiz & Vocab | PDF Transcript Download: Podcast MP3>>> The post Skills 360 – Developing a Persuasive Approach (2) first appeared on Business English Pod :: Learn Business English Online.

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bizpod/360.105-Persuasion-1.mp3 Welcome back to the Business English Skills 360 podcast as we look at how to develop a persuasive approach in business. Persuasion is one of the most valuable skills in business, enabling professionals to influence decisions, gain support, and advance ideas. But effective persuasion is not about slick talk or manipulation – it relies on sincerity and well-chosen techniques. Sincerity is the foundation. People are persuaded when they believe you genuinely believe what you are saying. If your audience senses dishonesty or hidden motives, trust quickly erodes. To demonstrate sincerity, share how you came to believe in your idea. For example, acknowledge initial doubts and explain what changed your perspective. Transparency also plays a major role. If you stand to benefit personally, acknowledge it openly while emphasizing broader benefits. This honesty builds trust and credibility. Once sincerity is established, persuasion comes down to tailoring your approach to your audience. Logical thinkers respond to structured reasoning, such as outlining clear criteria for a plan. Others may be more influenced by authority or social proof, in which case citing respected figures or supporters can be effective. The key is to understand what motivates the people you are trying to influence. Beyond adapting to individual mindsets, several techniques are broadly effective. Repetition reinforces ideas and makes them more memorable. For example, emphasizing a chain of cause and effect – like lowering costs leading to stronger growth – creates impact. Rhetorical questions are another powerful tool, framing choices in a way that guides the audience toward your conclusion without directly telling them what to think. In short, successful persuasion blends sincerity with strategy. Believe in your message, be transparent about your motives, and then apply techniques that resonate with your audience. With this balance of trust and skill, you can significantly enhance your ability to persuade in business. Members: Lesson Module | Quiz & Vocab | PDF Transcript Download: Podcast MP3>>> The post Skills 360 – Developing a Persuasive Approach (1) first appeared on Business English Pod :: Learn Business English Online.

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bizpod/BEP-417-Audit-2.mp3 Welcome back to Business English Pod for today’s lesson, the second part of our financial English series on discussing an audit. Money is the language of business, and audits are one way companies prove they can be trusted with it. Audits check whether financial records are accurate and reliable. They help investors, managers, and the public see that the numbers tell the truth about the organization’s money. If you’ve ever been a part of a discussion about an audit, you’ll know that there’s a lot of specialized language in the world of finance. And some of this language is what we call collocations, or natural combinations of words. We use collocations all the time. In fact, we store a collocation in our memory as one unit, rather than individual words. Maybe you’ve noticed a few collocations I’ve already used. Earlier, I said “financial records,” which are the documents related to a company’s finances. I also said “to tell the truth,” which is a verb plus noun, showing that collocations include combinations of different types of words. And if you learn these combinations, you can both understand better and sound more fluent. In today’s dialog, we’ll hear a conversation between Ray and Elaine, who work for an international company that has just gone through an audit. Ray is the CFO, or Chief Financial Officer, and Elaine is the CEO. In their conversation about the audit results, they use many collocations. We’ll explain these collocations later in the debrief. Listening Questions 1. Ray says that the “audit findings” revealed a gap. What financial process is this gap related to? 2. What question does Elaine ask about reporting? 3. What does Ray suggest rolling out this quarter to improve procedures? Premium Members: PDF Transcript | Quizzes | PhraseCast | Lesson Module Download: Podcast MP3>>> The post BEP 417 – English for Accounting: Discussing an Audit (2) first appeared on Business English Pod :: Learn Business English Online.

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bizpod/BEP-416-Audit-1.mp3 Welcome back to Business English Pod for today’s lesson, the first in a two-part series on financial English for discussing an audit. Financial audits have a way of increasing stress within a company. Suddenly everyone’s paying attention as reports get checked, numbers are reviewed, and details that seemed minor yesterday become urgent today. Audits can feel intense, but they are a critical part of good business practice. Like many other financial processes, the world of audits has its own language or vocabulary. And much of this language comes in the form of “collocations.” Collocations are words that go together naturally. They are combinations of words that we learn as a group, rather than individually. For example, a minute ago I said “everyone suddenly pays attention.” We always use that verb “pay” with the noun “attention.” It’s a strong collocation. That expression includes a verb and a noun, but collocations can feature any word forms. “For example” is a collocation that has a preposition and a noun, for example. In today’s dialog, we’ll hear a conversation between Ray and Marcia. Ray is the Chief Financial Officer for an international company. Marcia is an auditor with an accounting firm hired to do an audit of Ray’s company. During their conversation about the upcoming audit, Ray and Marcia use many English collocations. We’ll explain these collocations later in the debrief. Listening Questions 1. What does Ray hope to do in the week following the 15th of the month? 2. What does Marcia want to “walk through,” or review, with Ray? 3. Ray asks about something that is a hot topic, in Marcia’s opinion. What does he ask about? Premium Members: PDF Transcript | Quizzes | PhraseCast | Lesson Module Download: Podcast MP3>>> The post BEP 416 – English for Accounting: Discussing an Audit (1) first appeared on Business English Pod :: Learn Business English Online.

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bizpod/BEN60-Tariffs.mp3 In this Business English News lesson on the effects of tariffs on global trade, we look at business English vocabulary related to the global supply chain and economics. With his recent moves, Donald Trump has plunged the global economy into a new era of mercantile competition. He slapped tariffs on numerous trading partners even as he finalized new deals with others, such as Japan and the EU. The US president’s executive order last month announcing the tariffs said they were designed to reduce America’s trade deficit. As the Washington Post reports: Since returning to office, Trump has raised US tariffs to their highest level since the 1930s, with an average rate of about 17% on nearly 45% of all imports. New 25% tariffs have been announced on India, with 50% on Brazil and copper imports. Although the administration has signed framework deals with key partners such as the EU and Japan, analysts warn these agreements remain fragile and insufficient to offset rising input costs and legal challenges. The consequences of these sweeping tariff increases are being felt deep within the mechanics of global trade. As costs rise and agreements remain uncertain, businesses are struggling to maintain operational stability. Nowhere is this more evident than in global supply chains. Free Resources: PDF Transcript | Quizzes | Lesson Module Download: Podcast MP3>>> The post Business English News 60 – Tariffs: Rewiring Global Trade first appeared on Business English Pod :: Learn Business English Online.

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bizpod/BEP045c-Maintaining-Conversation.mp3 Welcome back to Business English Pod for today’s lesson on how to keep a conversation going while socializing at work. Some people are natural talkers. They seem to be able to start conversations, and maintain conversations, so easily. You might think this is an ability people are born with. Either you have it or you don’t. Either you have a social personality, or you don’t. But conversation is actually a skill. And if conversation is a skill, then you can develop it through practice. In our last lesson, we practiced starting a conversation with someone. Once you’ve got the conversation started, it sure is uncomfortable if you don’t know how to keep it going. So we need a different set of skills and language to maintain the flow of conversation. One thing you might do in this situation is direct the conversation or change the topic. And to keep the other person engaged, you’ll want to show interest and comment on what they’re saying. That makes them feel good and want to keep the conversation going. Showing interest often means asking follow-up questions and showing empathy or personal care or attention. In this lesson, we’re going to go back to the first dialog we heard in the previous lesson, which featured Penny and George. Penny and George work for an international company called Multi-Fresh, which is hosting a conference for its employees. We’ll hear how Penny develops her conversation with George. Listening Questions 1. What is the word or topic that Penny uses to change the topic of conversation? 2. What experience of George’s does Penny show interest in? 3. How does Penny react when George tells her about how difficult his experience was? Premium Members: PDF Transcript | Quizzes | PhraseCast | Lesson Module Download: Podcast MP3>>> The post BEP 45c – Socializing: Keeping a Conversation Going first appeared on Business English Pod :: Learn Business English Online.

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bizpod/BEP044c-Starting-Conversation.mp3 Welcome back to Business English Pod for today’s lesson on how to start a conversation while socializing at work. For many people, starting a conversation with someone can be a huge challenge. And it doesn’t get any easier when you’re doing this in another language! But it is one of the most important skills for building professional connections. A simple chat at a conference or event can lead to new opportunities, ideas, or contacts helpful for your career. Learning to network confidently will help you feel more comfortable and prepared in professional and social situations. So what are some of the things you should think about? Well, you might start by introducing yourself, especially to someone you recognize but haven’t met in person before. You might also use questions to break the ice and start a conversation on a simple and safe topic. Informal conversations can be tricky. For one thing, you need to know how to handle a situation where you forget someone’s name. You also need to be able to find ways to keep a conversation going and, when the situation calls for it, end it politely. In this lesson, we’ll hear two dialogs that take place at an HR conference for an international company called Multi-Fresh. In the first dialog, we’ll hear Penny strike up a conversation with George. In the second dialog, Pat tries to strike up a conversation with George. Listening Questions 1. What information does Penny give when she introduces herself to George? 2. What topic does Penny mention to get the conversation started? 3. What excuse does George give for finishing his conversation with Pat? Premium Members: PDF Transcript | Quizzes | PhraseCast | Lesson Module Download: Podcast MP3>>> The post BEP 44c – Socializing: Starting a Conversation in English first appeared on Business English Pod :: Learn Business English Online.

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bizpod/BEP043c-Meetings-Managing.mp3 Welcome back to Business English Pod for today’s lesson on how to manage the discussion during a meeting in English. Bad meetings can waste time and leave everyone confused. But a well-run meeting can help create new ideas, solve problems, and move a project forward. Running a great meeting is about more than just following an agenda. It means guiding the conversation effectively. If you’re running formal meetings as a manager or team leader, this skill is essential. But even if just you’re a team member who wants to make sure your team has good discussions, it’s good to understand what’s behind running a meeting. And you never know when it might be your job to facilitate. Good meeting management often means keeping the discussion focused and inviting different viewpoints or opinions. It also means widening the discussion, moving to a new agenda item, and checking for agreement. In this lesson, we’ll rejoin a meeting about budget cuts at an international shipping company. Martin, the General Manager, is facilitating the meeting. We’ll also hear Sandra, Sam, and David, three employees in the meeting. Listening Questions 1. How does Martin respond to Sam’s comment about pizza? 2. What does Martin say once they have finished talking about the outsourcing issue? 3. At the end of the conversation, what question does Martin ask everyone if they agree on? Premium Members: PDF Transcript | Quizzes | PhraseCast | Lesson Module Download: Podcast MP3>>> The post BEP 43c – Meeting English: Managing the Discussion first appeared on Business English Pod :: Learn Business English Online.

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bizpod/BEP042c-Meetings-Starting.mp3 Welcome back to Business English Pod for today’s lesson on how to start a meeting in English. Many jobs require us to spend a lot of time in meetings. Sometimes we might think there are too many meetings. In part, we might feel this way because a lot of meetings aren’t run very well or facilitated effectively. There’s a good chance that you will have to run meetings some day, if you don’t already. You have a chance to make sure those meetings are effective by running the meeting well. Fortunately, running a meeting involves skills that you can learn. Today we’ll focus on starting a meeting, which begins with getting people’s attention and acknowledging them. Next, you might clearly state the purpose or goals of the meeting before reviewing the agenda with everyone. Then you may invite someone to begin speaking about the first item on the agenda. In this lesson, we’ll hear the start of a meeting about budget cuts at an international shipping company. The meeting is being led by Martin, the General Manager. We’ll also hear Sandra, David, and Sam, employees who are attending the meeting. Listening Questions 1. What does Martin apologize for as he is acknowledging the meeting attendees? 2. What does Martin say is the objective of the meeting? 3. What does Martin invite Sandra to do at the end of the conversation? Premium Members: PDF Transcript | Quizzes | PhraseCast | Lesson Module Download: Podcast MP3>>> The post BEP 42c – Meeting in English: Starting a Meeting first appeared on Business English Pod :: Learn Business English Online.

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bizpod/360.104-Collaboration-2.mp3 Welcome back to the Business English Skills 360 podcast as we look at how to build a collaborative workplace culture. Even in the most competitive companies, collaboration is key to success. In our last lesson, we looked at the benefits of collaboration, like innovation and employee engagement. Now we’ll look at the systems and approaches to make it happen. Collaboration starts with leadership. Leaders need to focus on “we,” not “I.” That means trusting their teams, being open about goals and challenges, and involving others in decisions. When teams feel trusted and included, they’re more likely to work together. Communication is key too – and it changes when you give up control. It’s no longer just about giving clear instructions. It’s about listening, understanding different ideas, and building consensus. That takes more time and effort, which means teams need some flexibility in their schedules. Collaboration also needs structure. Cross-functional teams, shared roles, and communities of practice all help break down silos. And digital tools like Slack or project management platforms make it easier to share work and ideas. Of course, not every decision has to be made as a group. Some are simple or urgent. And when trust is low, it may be best to focus on rebuilding that first. But if you want the real benefits of collaboration, you need to create the right environment: one built on trust, open communication, and the systems to support teamwork. Members: Lesson Module | Quiz & Vocab | PDF Transcript Download: Podcast MP3>>> The post Skills 360 – Fostering a Culture of Collaboration (2) first appeared on Business English Pod :: Learn Business English Online.

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bizpod/360.103-Collaboration-1.mp3 Welcome back to the Business English Skills 360 podcast as we look at how to build a culture of collaboration at work. Collaboration is more than just working together or coordinating tasks. It means people share goals, ideas, decisions, and responsibility. True collaboration often involves people from different teams coming together to solve shared problems or create something new. So why is collaboration so important? One key reason is innovation. When people with different backgrounds and skills come together, they bring fresh ideas. These creative clashes often lead to breakthroughs. Collaboration also helps spread knowledge across teams. If one team finds a better way to work, others can learn from it – if they’re connected. Stronger connections also lead to greater resilience. When teams share skills and experiences, they can support each other when challenges come up. And beyond business results, collaboration boosts employee engagement. People feel more connected, valued, and motivated when they work toward shared goals. But collaboration takes effort. It’s not instant or easy. It takes time, trust, and a willingness to share control. If you want others’ input, you have to be open to their ideas, not just your own. Collaboration can bring big rewards, but it also comes with challenges. In part two, we’ll explore what teams and leaders can do to support collaboration through strong communication, trust, and the right systems. Members: Lesson Module | Quiz & Vocab | PDF Transcript Download: Podcast MP3>>> The post Skills 360 – Fostering a Culture of Collaboration (1) first appeared on Business English Pod :: Learn Business English Online.

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bizpod/BEP-415-Purchasing-6.mp3 Welcome back to Business English Pod for today’s lesson on English for purchasing. This lesson looks at language for evaluating proposals from vendors. Business is all about buying and selling. And just as your company sells products to individual consumers or other companies, you also have to purchase goods and services to make it all happen. For ongoing purchasing relationships, this means evaluating different vendors to find the best match. So, when you sit with your team to evaluate vendor proposals, what will you talk about? These discussions often involve comparing pricing, timelines, quality, and service. You might also talk about warranties, reliability, and risks. And just like any group process, the quality of the decision will come down not just to the facts in front of you, but your ability to communicate clearly about them. In conversations about vendor proposals, there are several aspects you might consider. You might assess risk as well as vendor capacity. You might also evaluate the total cost and compare value, as opposed to the basic contract price. And finally, you might prioritize the different criteria you use to assess the vendors. In today’s dialog, we’ll listen to a conversation between managers at a fitness equipment company called xFit. Hazel, Adam, and Nick are evaluating proposals to choose a manufacturer of a specific part for their line of treadmills. In previous lessons on purchasing, we heard xFit choose a company called VinMech to produce a part for a different exercise machine. Listening Questions 1. What does Adam say about SteelWorks production capacity? 2. What does Nick say adds value to VinMech as a possible vendor? 3. Which criteria does Adam say are the most important consideration in this decision? Premium Members: PDF Transcript | Quizzes | PhraseCast | Lesson Module Download: Podcast MP3>>> The post BEP 415 – Purchasing 6: Managing Purchase Orders first appeared on Business English Pod :: Learn Business English Online.

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bizpod/BEP-414-Purchasing-5.mp3 Welcome back to Business English Pod for today’s lesson on English for purchasing. This lesson looks at language for evaluating proposals from vendors. Business is all about buying and selling. And just as your company sells products to individual consumers or other companies, you also have to purchase goods and services to make it all happen. For ongoing purchasing relationships, this means evaluating different vendors to find the best match. So, when you sit with your team to evaluate vendor proposals, what will you talk about? These discussions often involve comparing pricing, timelines, quality, and service. You might also talk about warranties, reliability, and risks. And just like any group process, the quality of the decision will come down not just to the facts in front of you, but your ability to communicate clearly about them. In conversations about vendor proposals, there are several aspects you might consider. You might assess risk as well as vendor capacity. You might also evaluate the total cost and compare value, as opposed to the basic contract price. And finally, you might prioritize the different criteria you use to assess the vendors. In today’s dialog, we’ll listen to a conversation between managers at a fitness equipment company called xFit. Hazel, Adam, and Nick are evaluating proposals to choose a manufacturer of a specific part for their line of treadmills. In previous lessons on purchasing, we heard xFit choose a company called VinMech to produce a part for a different exercise machine. Listening Questions 1. What does Adam say about SteelWorks production capacity? 2. What does Nick say adds value to VinMech as a possible vendor? 3. Which criteria does Adam say are the most important consideration in this decision? Premium Members: PDF Transcript | Quizzes | PhraseCast | Lesson Module Download: Podcast MP3>>> The post BEP 414 – Purchasing 5: Evaluating Vendor Proposals first appeared on Business English Pod :: Learn Business English Online.

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bizpod/BEP041c-First-Round-Interview-2.mp3 Welcome back to Business English Pod for today’s lesson on the skills you need to succeed in a first-round job interview in English. A job interview is a chance to highlight your achievements and talk about the amazing things you’ve done in your career. By talking about what you’ve achieved, you can show how your experience fits the position. And by showing how your strengths have helped you, you can convince the interviewer that you’re the right person to hire. If only it were that easy, though! Interviewers aren’t going to ask you only about the good stuff. They’re going to ask about difficult things as well. That means they might ask you about problems in your current or past jobs. And they might also ask you that dreaded question: what are your weaknesses? But don’t worry. You know these questions are coming, so you can get ready. Think of some difficult situations you’ve been in. Focus on the ones where you were able to solve a problem or deal with difficult people. And think about your weaknesses honestly, and how you’ve tried to improve on these things. In that way, you’ll be able to face the tough questions confidently. In this lesson, we’ll rejoin William as he interviews for a position at a bank in Hong Kong. William is being interviewed by Mike, an HR manager at the bank. You will hear how William deals with difficult questions, and how he isn’t afraid to discuss problems and how he dealt with them. Listening Questions 1. William talks about a problem with short-term loans. What does he say was the cause of this problem? 2. What does William say is one of his strengths? 3. What does William say is one of his weaknesses? Premium Members: PDF Transcript | Quizzes | PhraseCast | Lesson Module Download: Podcast MP3>>> The post BEP 41c – Interview English: First-Round Job Interviews (2) first appeared on Business English Pod :: Learn Business English Online.

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bizpod/BEP040c-First-Round-Interview-1.mp3 Welcome back to Business English Pod for today’s lesson on key skills for a first-round job interview in English. If you find job interviews stressful, you’re certainly not alone. Many people struggle to feel confident and comfortable in interview situations. And there’s the added worry that the stress you feel will make it even more difficult to answer the questions well. But you can reduce this stress with effective preparation. You know that you’ll be asked certain types of questions. So you can make notes about your responses, or make an outline of important ideas that you want to talk about. You can also develop skills to make sure you’re being clear and accurate in your responses. So what should you prepare and what skills should you develop? Well, for starters, you should be ready to introduce yourself and your career path, and to summarize your current job responsibilities. In terms of skills, it’s good to practice clarifying the words you use, buying yourself time, and connecting your answers back to the question. In this lesson, we’ll listen as William is interviewed for a position in business development at a bank in Hong Kong. He’s being interviewed by Mike, an HR manager at the company. This is a first-round interview, and you can hear William show how comfortable and skilled he is at responding to the questions. Listening Questions 1. What information does William give about his education and work history? 2. What does William say about his management style? 3. What does William say to buy himself time to think of an answer? Premium Members: PDF Transcript | Quizzes | PhraseCast | Lesson Module Download: Podcast MP3>>> The post BEP 40c – Interview English: First-Round Job Interviews (1) first appeared on Business English Pod :: Learn Business English Online.

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bizpod/BEN59-DeepSeek.mp3 In this Business English News lesson on recent hiring trends, we look at business English vocabulary related to IT English and the DeepSeek AI chatbot. A surprise development in artificial intelligence is making waves across the industry. DeepSeek, a Chinese AI lab, has upended expectations, drawing global attention and raising new questions about the future of AI. With new players entering the field and established giants forced to respond, this moment could redefine how AI is built, funded, and controlled in the years ahead. The drama kicked off at the start of the year, as the Financial Times reports: A small Chinese artificial intelligence lab stunned the world by revealing the technical recipe for its cutting-edge model. This has transformed its reclusive leader into a national hero who has defied US attempts to stop China’s high-tech ambitions. DeepSeek, founded by hedge fund manager Liang Wenfeng, released its R1 model, explaining in a detailed paper how to build a large language model on a bootstrapped budget. Free Resources: PDF Transcript | Quizzes | Lesson Module Download: Podcast MP3>>> The post Business English News 59 – DeepSeek first appeared on Business English Pod :: Learn Business English Online.

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bizpod/BEP-413-Technology-Idioms-2.mp3 Welcome back to Business English Pod for the second part of our series on English idioms related to technology. Every day you use dozens of high-tech devices and apps to communicate, plan, organize, monitor and store information. It’s almost impossible to imagine the workplace before modern technology. It’s also almost impossible to imagine the English language without all the idioms we use related to technology. If you want to be on the same wavelength as expert English speakers, you can’t ignore idioms. And I just used a prime example there. If you are “on the same wavelength,” it means you understand each other. This comes from radio technology, where you have to be tuned to the same frequency to receive a signal. As you can see, an idiom has a special meaning that isn’t always clear. You can think about the words on their own, but that won’t help you. You need to learn idioms as chunks of language, with a special meaning beyond the individual words. In this way, you will be able to communicate even better in English. In this lesson, we’ll rejoin a conversation at an engineering company between Maggie, Antonio, and Finn. They are continuing their conversation about upgrading the tech systems in their company. In their discussion, they use many idioms related to technology. See if you can spot some of these, and we’ll explain them later in the debrief. Listening Questions 1. What does Antonio say about HR and their training plans? 2. Why didn’t the company move to PayWorks software a couple of years ago? 3. How does Antonio describe the new servers that are available? Premium Members: PDF Transcript | Quizzes | PhraseCast | Lesson Module Download: Podcast MP3>>> The post BEP 413 – Business English Idioms about Technology (2) first appeared on Business English Pod :: Learn Business English Online.