Many of our day-to-day business transactions involve money, so it’s common to hear money idioms used frequently in business discussions. We use them to talk about handling money and to describe situations with lots of money or no money at all. But we also use them to talk about situations that have nothing to do with money – such as evaluating ideas or speculating on their impact.

In the last episode, we met Kevin and Leah, two employees at a cosmetics company. They’re planning a promotional campaign on a small budget. So they’re brainstorming ideas that will spark customer interest at a reasonable cost.

Now, they’re thinking of ways to show that their company’s cosmetics line is good value for money-conscious consumers.

Listening Questions:

1. What idea does Kevin suggest at the beginning of the dialog?
2. What are two things the company will have to do if it accepts Kevin’s idea?
3. What are Leah’s concerns about the idea?

Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | PhraseCast

It’s difficult to imagine business without money. After all, making money is the main goal of many businesses. Profits often determine a company’s success. And companies must spend money, and budget carefully, to reach their business goals. So, it’s not surprising money idioms are featured regularly in business conversations.

We’ll be covering many of these idioms today. Take note of them as you hear the dialog, but don’t worry if you don’t understand them the first time around. They’ll all be explained in the debrief and you’ll have a chance to practice them at the end.

We’ll be listening to Kevin and Leah, two colleagues at a mid-sized cosmetics company. Cosmetics is the industry name for make-up – products used to enhance a person’s appearance, such as mascara or eye shadow. They are discussing promotional plans for the coming year while working on a tight budget, so there isn’t much money to spend. Kevin and Leah don’t agree on the best way to spend the money and must find a compromise.

Listening Questions:

1. What promotional plan does Kevin suggest?
2. Does Leah agree with this idea? Why or why not?
3. What does Kevin think the company needs to show?

Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | PhraseCast

Teleconferences allow people from different locations to have a meeting over the telephone. While convenient, teleconferences do have some issues to keep in mind, such as keeping track of who’s talking. Sometimes two people talk at the same time or talk too quickly. Because participants can’t see each other, it’s helpful to use “signposts” or short statements that prepare others for what’s about to be said. Other issues such as laying out an agenda and managing the time also come into play.

In the last episode, we heard a conversation between Craig and Elsa, two employees at StarCom, an electronics manufacturer. Craig has his first teleconference coming up and Elsa gave him an informal tutorial, teaching him about the equipment and some of the protocols for a teleconference.

Today, Craig is participating in the teleconference. The host of the teleconference is Tony, a manager in Chicago. Also participating are Diana, a colleague in London, and JP, who works in Marketing at the Dallas location. They’re discussing the upcoming holiday season, new product lines, and advertising.

Listening Questions:

1) How does JP help Craig with the agenda?
2) According to Diana, why were the printer test results disappointing?
3) Why doesn’t Diana think the problem will be resolved quickly?

Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | PhraseCast

Nowadays, we have virtual teams interacting across the globe in virtual meetings without having to leave the office. Teleconferences offer a host of advantages, including minimal travel and meetings costs.

However, teleconferences do have their challenges, especially since participants cannot see each other. It’s helpful for people to introduce themselves, use their names and their colleague’s names when speaking, minimize background noise, and speak slowly and clearly. In these two episodes, we’ll learn vocabulary associated with teleconferences. We’ll also learn ways to professionally and tactfully handle any issues that come up.

Today, we’ll listen to Craig and Elsa. Craig is a new hire at StarCom, a computer and printer manufacturer. He’s fresh from university and needs to learn how to do a teleconference, so he asks for help from Elsa, who works in HR.

Listening Questions:

1) What types of equipment are needed for a teleconference?
2) What is the purpose of a passcode?
3) What are three problems Elsa mentions that can often occur during a teleconference?

Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | PhraseCast

Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | MP3 Audio Only

Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | MP3 Audio Only

Your membership will renew automatically every 30 days, providing a steady supply of new lessons to enjoy. The lessons are scheduled in the same order that they were originally published (see the PDF for a complete schedule). We’ve also included three of our latest lessons in each month to give you the best of old and new.

As an extra bonus, we’ve included the latest 12 lessons published in 2009 in your first month for a total of 24 lessons in month one. By the end of your subscription, you’ll have access to over 150 lessons covering all aspects of Business English.

All this is available at a special introductory price of just €7.99 per month for 12 months.

The new Learning Center features:

Stand by for another announcement later this week about the launch of a new monthly membership option starting at just EUR7.99/month.

In this lesson, Brian takes a look at the causative and how it can be used with gerunds and the passive.

Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice

This is the second in a 2-part Business English Pod series on presenting a SWOT analysis.

A SWOT analysis is a tool that helps companies understand their strengths and weaknesses, while keeping in mind the opportunities and threats they face. In this way, companies can take a look at both the internal and external factors that can impact their success. This information can be used in a variety of ways, such as project planning, crisis management, and competitive analysis.

In the last episode, Terry, who works at a growing accountancy firm, began a presentation for Susan, the newly hired marketing manager. Terry presented his SWOT Analysis quite casually, as a one-to-one discussion with Susan. He introduced some of the company’s strengths and weaknesses, internal factors that affect the firm’s growth.

In this episode, Terry will introduce the opportunities and threats faced by the firm. These are external forces that need to be considered before developing a new marketing strategy. As the dialog starts, Susan responds to Terry’s presentation of the company’s strengths and weaknesses, as Terry moves on to begin discussing opportunities.

Listening Questions:

1) What has the local government done in response to the current economic situation?
2) Who is in charge of the tax advisory division of the firm?
3) What does Terry think is important for Susan’s marketing campaign?

Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | PhraseCast

In this Business English Pod lesson, we start the first in a 2-part series on presenting a SWOT analysis.

A SWOT analysis is a simple but powerful framework for analyzing your company’s strengths and weaknesses – these are internal to the company – as well as the opportunities and threats you face outside the company. This analysis helps you focus on your strengths, minimize threats, and take the greatest possible advantage of opportunities available to you.

In today’s lesson, we’ll focus on the first two stages of a SWOT: strengths and weaknesses. We’ll practice language for providing an overview, introducing your main strength, maximizing positive aspects, and acknowledging and introducing a weakness.

We’ll be listening to Terry, a partner at a growing firm of accountants, talking to Susan, the company’s newly hired marketing manager. Terry needs to brief Susan about the company and SWOT is a quick and easy-to-understand framework for giving a quick overview of a company and its position.

Listening Questions

1) What is the main source of business for the company?
2) What is the main strength identified by Terry?
3) What weaknesses does Terry mention?

Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | PhraseCast

In business, it’s not unusual to have a customer who’s late with a payment. Sometimes an invoice just hasn’t been received; other times the customer might not have the funds to cover the bill. Eventually, you need to call, discuss the problem, and try and work out a solution.

In today’s podcast, we’ll practice phrases for introducing the problem, clearly stating the details in a polite but firm manner, making an offer and proposing a solution.

The dialog features Marcy, who works for Computer Solutions. Marcy’s company provided software and training for Jack Fountain’s department at ATI Communications. Months have passed since Marcy submitted her first invoice, but no payment has been made. Now she’s calling to find out why. First, she speaks with Donna in the Accounts Payable department.

Listening Questions:

1) Where does Jack think Marcy’s invoice might be?
2) What are the payment terms that Jack agreed to?
3) What solution does Jack suggest?

Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | PhraseCast

You’ll often hear sailing idioms used in business discussions. A company is compared to a ship and employees are the ship’s crew.

In the last episode, two colleagues named Lakisha and Warren were talking about the decline of Trussock’s, an engineering firm. They felt that Trussock’s problems were caused by the new CEO’s poor management. It seemed he had no concrete business plan and employees were confused and very unhappy. Today, Lakisha and Warren discuss ways that Trussock’s could become a viable, or successful, company again.

Listening Questions:

1) What does Lakisha think should happen with Trussock’s management?
2) How might Trussock’s employees help the company’s situation?

Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | PhraseCast

The image of a ship is a powerful one in business. The ship is like a company – a huge entity that must be steered toward success, maintained properly, and carefully guided away from dangers like storms and rocks. Employees are often seen as a crew of sailors, a group that must work together as a team. So sailing idioms frequently appear when we discuss business in English.

Today’s episode starts a two-part series on sailing idioms. Lakisha and Warren are two colleagues discussing the decline of Trussock’s, an engineering firm that has been faltering since a new CEO took over.

Listening Questions:

1) What are the major differences between Trussock’s old CEO and the new CEO?
2) What do Lakisha and Warren think will help change the situation at Trussock’s?

Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | PhraseCast

Click the launch button below to start the online quizzes for BEP 129:

FREE Links: Study Notes | Online Exercises

Click the launch button below to start the online quizzes for BEP 83:

FREE Links: Study Notes | Online Exercises

Click the launch button below to start the online quizzes for BEP 126:

FREE Links: Study Notes | Online Exercises

There are many reasons that someone might visit a factory and take a tour. They might be a prospective client who wants to see where the products are made, or perhaps someone from head office is on an inspection tour, or it could be an official inspection to make sure you are following government or internal standards. If it’s your job to give the tour, you’ll want to make sure everything goes smoothly. So in today’s episode we’ll looking at language for guiding people on a tour and pointing out areas of interest.

We’ll be listening to Ingrid taking Carl on a tour of a factory where GC cleaning products are produced. Carl is from the head office of GC and he’s inspecting the factory where Ingrid works. His job is to make sure that the company’s factories are all up to standard and capable of handling future orders. As the dialog starts, Carl has already arrived at the factory and met Ingrid, who is ready to start the tour.

Listening Questions:

1) What time of day does Carl arrive for his tour?
2) What is the problem with the detergent production line?
3) What role does newspaper play in the production of detergent in this factory?

Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | PhraseCast

All managers need written progress reports from their staff, but it is often necessary to make a verbal progress report during a meeting. A verbal report can be thought of as a combination of a presentation and a question and answer session.

When making a progress report, you’ll need to start with the overall status of the project, and then go on to explain how much of the work has been completed, at what stage the work is now, what remains to be done and, of course, what problems might have arisen. Because the format is “live”, people may interrupt to ask questions or make comments and you should be sure of your facts when you go into the meeting.

We’ll be listening to Angela, who works in the Operations department of her company. Blaine & Co. They plan to move to a new head office and the renovation, or preparation, of their space is currently underway. Angela has visited the new office and spoken with the key people on-site. As the dialog starts, she is called upon to give a verbal report on the progress of the renovation.

Listening Questions:

1) What did Angela do to prepare for this meeting?
2) Will Blaine & Co. be able to move as planned?
3) Where will Blaine & Co. get money to cover the extra costs?

Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | PhraseCast

In this lesson, Brian takes a look at the causative and how it can be used in the passive voice. The causative has the meaning of ’someone causes someone to do something’. The three verbs usually used for the causative are get, have, and make.

Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice

In recent years getting through the security check at the airport has become a chore. In some cities, the whole process can take fifteen to twenty minutes or more. This includes standing in line, sending your bags through the X-ray machine, and walking through a metal detector, which “detects” or finds any metal you might have hidden on your body. Most security checks thus require passengers to take metal items out of their pockets and put them on a tray – or flat container – to send through the X-ray machine. Some countries – notably the United States – may even insist that passengers remove their coats and shoes.

And of course it’s not just airports that have high security – more and more tourist attractions are “beefing up” or increasing their security too. So negotiating security checks is a good skill to practice.

In this episode, Honesto and Alan are on their way home. They arrive at the airport late, so they are anxious about missing their flight. When the dialog begins, they have checked in to get their boarding passes. Now they need to go through security.

Listening Questions:

1. At the beginning of the dialog, what does the security officer ask passengers to do?
2. What problem does security find with Alan’s baggage?
3. Alan has to leave an item behind at the security check. What is it?

Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | PhraseCast

But despite people’s attempts to make WiFi services user-friendly, or easy to use, they are sometimes difficult to connect to. So in this lesson, we’ll not only look at ordering coffee, we’ll also practice troubleshooting an internet connection.

For today’s lesson, we’ll be rejoining our friend Honesto as he stops by a coffee shop at the airport. We’ll hear to Honesto ordering a drink and attempting to connect to the café’s WiFi. As you listen, try to answer the following questions.

Listening Questions:

1) What kind of drink does Honesto order?
2) What “deal” does the coffee shop offer Honesto?
3) Why can’t he get online?

Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | PhraseCast

A sales pitch is a presentation designed to introduce a product or service in order to convince people to buy it. An elevator pitch is a very short presentation designed to do the same thing in 60-seconds or less and often the “product” being presented is you. An elevator pitch should be short enough that you could complete it during an elevator ride. A key point being that you’re not asking the person to do something for you, you’re telling them what you can do for them.

In today’s lesson, we’ll be listening to two pitches. First up is Jonathan, a university student visiting a job fair in search of his first job. Then we’ll hear Dominic, a manager for a logistics company, make his pitch to a potential customer while attending a local Chamber of Commerce meeting.

Listening Questions:

1) What does Jonathan highlight as his key strengths in the first dialog?
2) In the second dialog, how does Dominic get Graham’s attention?
3) What’s the key advantage of Dominic’s company?

Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | PhraseCast

Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | MP3 Audio Only

Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | MP3 Audio Only

Angie, who works in Human Resources at Xeon’s head office, calls James at home in the evening to do a screening interview. She needs to ask him some preliminary questions to decide if he will be invited for a face-to-face interview at Xeon.

Listening Questions:

1) Why does James want to call Angie back?
2) Why did James leave his previous job?
3) How long does James have to wait to find out if he has a second interview with Xeon?

Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | PhraseCast

In the last episode, we saw how a manager presented an idea to her colleagues and persuaded them to take it seriously. She then defended and supported her argument in front of her peers, who were not sure of the feasibility of the proposal at the start of the meeting.

In today’s lesson, we’ll introduce language for connecting your ideas to company strategy, emphasizing points, setting an action plan, and assigning tasks at the end of your presentation. Once you have convinced your colleagues, you need to provide a plan for getting the work done. We will show you how to use language effectively to follow through on your outstanding idea.

We’ll be listening to Jill, an industrial supply company manager. In the last episode, she did an excellent job of defending her idea and now her colleagues are becoming convinced that her plan is worthwhile. As the dialog begins, Jill is telling her colleagues about new technology that makes it possible for regular staff to update the company website.

Listening Questions:

1) How much money did the company in Jill’s example spend on setting up their website?
2) What two things are mentioned as part of Pylon’s current strategy?
3) What job is someone named Harry chosen to do?

Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | PhraseCast

In today’s lesson, we’ll introduce language for dealing with unexpected objections, signposting your presentation, supporting your points and persuading other people. Once you’ve pitched an idea, your colleagues will try to find weak points in your argument and you will have to give evidence that your idea is worth supporting. We will show you how to make coherent, persuasive arguments, and use language effectively to support your points.

We’ll be listening to Jill, a manager at an industrial supply company, who introduced her idea in the last episode. She now has to defend and support her argument in front of her peers, who are not sure that her idea is feasible. As the dialog starts, Jill has just made some convincing arguments about the low cost of updating the company website.

Listening Questions:

1) When was Pylon’s website created?
2) What does Jill say the website can become after the redesign?
3) What did Jill’s assistant find that will help them with the website?

Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | PhraseCast

Business people often come up with ideas about how to do things better, or how something can be changed to provide greater cost benefits to the company. Being able to present an idea to your peers and persuade them to support your proposal is a crucial skill for all business managers.

So in today’s lesson, we’ll introduce phrases for organizing and structuring your ideas, supporting your points and using other people’s comments to lead into the next part of your presentation. We will show you how to make coherent, persuasive arguments, and use language effectively to support your arguments. It is your colleagues’ task to find the weak points in your argument and you will have to predict their objections and deal with them before or when they come up.

We’ll be listening to Jill, a manager at an industrial supply company, who’s meeting with other managers and department heads following an announcement of 20% staff cuts across the board. Jill is concerned about the impact these layoffs will have on the sales department, especially because sales have been poor for the last two quarters.

Jill has had an idea about how the company can make use of the Internet to increase sales and allow sales staff to focus more on “value-added” product sales. She has already pitched the idea to her boss and he has agreed to allow her to present it to her colleagues. As the dialog starts, Jill’s boss introduces her and her proposal to the participants at the meeting.

Listening Questions:
1) What is the problem that Pylon was having even before the staff cuts?
2) What are the “value-add” products Jill would like sales staff to focus on?
3) What does Jill say can be done with $5,000?

Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | PhraseCast

Discussion:
How have you been effected by the economic crisis? What about your company? What’s the situation like in your country?

Share your experiences – click here to join in the discussion!

Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice

In this lesson, Brian looks at how sense verbs (hear, feel, listen, see, watch, smell, taste, sense) can be used with -ing forms.

Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice

We’ve already met Mario from Viva Fashions in previous episodes. Now Mario wants to meet with the head buyer for a chain of American stores owned by DeBourg Brands but, at this point, he doesn’t even know the buyer’s name. Mario is going to “cold call” the company and see if he can reach the buyer. First, he needs a name, and then he needs to try to speak to the buyer to make an appointment.

Listening Questions – First Call:
1) What techniques does Mario use to get information from Joan?
2) Why do you think Joan agrees to help Mario?

Listening Questions – Second Call:
1) Why does Mario keep saying “thank you” instead of “please” after making a request?
2) What language does Mario use when stating the reason for his call, and why?
3) Throughout the conversation, Mario uses informal language to minimize his request. Can you spot a few examples?

Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | PhraseCast

Business English Pod e-Books enable you to learn on the go with MP3 audio lessons and the detailed PDF study guides, including a full transcript of each lesson. The revised editions include over 100 online Flash quizzes, exercises and flashcards designed to help you practice and use all the language covered in the course.

Click the launch button below to start the online quizzes for Unit 210 – Managing the Discussion:

You can purchase the complete e-book by clicking the button below:

Business English Pod e-Books enable you to learn on the go with MP3 audio lessons and the detailed PDF study guides, including a full transcript of each lesson. The revised editions include over 100 online Flash quizzes, exercises and flashcards designed to help you practice and use all the language covered in the course.

Click the launch button below to start the online quizzes for Unit 311 – Salary Negotiations:

You can purchase the complete e-book by clicking the button below:

In this lesson, Brian reviews the three basic conditionals: first (probable) conditional, second (improbable) conditional and third (past improbable) conditional. In the second part of the video, Brian looks at some common errors native speakers make with the third conditional.

Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice

In the first part of this meeting (see BEP 126), the team spent time answering the question: “What is the problem?” In today’s episode, we’re going to focus on how to brainstorm solutions to a problem through discussion, how to evaluate and eliminate suggestions and then agree a plan of action.

Kathryn, the head of Human Resources at a medium-sized company, is meeting with department heads to discuss a problem they are having with low staff morale. The team has identified the root cause of the problem as the separation of staff across 3 different office locations.

Kathryn wants everyone to critique the ideas that the group has brought forward, in order to eliminate impractical suggestions. We’ll see how she confirms the best solution and how her team suggests points for action. As the dialog starts, Kathryn closes the brainstorming session and sums up the input that has been received.

Listening Questions

1) How many ideas does the group come up with for solving the staff morale problem?
2) Which idea does the group agree is the best one to try?
3) Name one of the action points suggested near the end of the meeting.

Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice | PhraseCast

But, while we might have the right people at the meeting, the process is often flawed because one question hasn’t clearly been asked and answered: “What is the problem?” So, in today’s episode we’re going to focus on how to define the problem through discussion and then restate the problem as a challenge. In the second part of this series, we’ll look at how to evaluate and eliminate suggestions and then agree on a plan of action.

We’ll be listening to Kathryn, the head of Human Resources at a medium-sized company, who is meeting with department heads to discuss a problem they’re having with low staff morale across all departments of the company. Morale is a word used to describe a general feeling or mood.

Kathryn wants everyone to consider possible hidden reasons for low morale at the company. We’ll see how she helps participants focus on breaking down the morale problem. As the dialog starts, Kathryn calls everyone to attention and begins the meeting.

Listening Questions:

1) What is the surface problem that Kathryn and the others can see?
2) What does the group decide is the true cause of this problem?
3) What is the challenge that the group faces at the end of the dialog?

Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Exercises | PhraseCast

In this video, Brian reviews the different ING forms and gerunds. After looking at the various types of ING words in English, Brian goes on to explain the use of gerunds.

Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice

Each video lesson features a review of a real-life email from one of our members. If you’d like to submit one of your own emails for possible review, click this link to go to the information page.

Tip: Select the “HQ” option in the YouTube menu to see a high quality version of this video.

Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice

Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice

First we’ll hear a short article introducing the vocabulary. Then we’ll go over each word in detail, with some example sentences to show how you can use the words. At the end of the video you’ll have a chance to review and practice your new vocabulary.

Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Practice

Business English Pod e-Books enable you to learn on the go with MP3 audio lessons, review key language and techniques with the detailed PDF study guide, including a full transcript of each lesson; and practice useful phrases and language with interactive quizzes.

Click the launch button to view the online quizzes for Unit 407 – Bargaining:

You can purchase the complete e-book, including the PDF study guide, podcast lessons, key language and practice MP3, and access to the online Flash exercises, quizzes and vocabulary flashcards, by clicking the button below:

As you listen, pay attention to the language they use to ask about vehicle types, standard features, extras and insurance options.

Listening Questions:

1. What kind of car would Honesto prefer?
2. What features are standard on all Beevis cars?
3. Why does Honesto not need extra insurance?

Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Exercises | PhraseCast

1. How does Honesto feel about breakfast at the hotel?
2. Who was responsible for the minibar charge?
3. Why does Honesto mention his club membership?
4. How will Alan and Honesto get to the airport?

Premium Members: Study Notes | Online Exercises | PhraseCast