Business English
Helping your students interact effectively in the
corporate world!
A workshop by José Roberto A. Igreja
Business English
Helping your students interact effectively in the
corporate world!
Business English
Helping your students interact effectively in the corporate world!
• The world keeps changing …
• Things are always evolving …
• Keeping up to date is a must …
• We need to move on with the times …
Business English
Helping your students interact effectively in the
corporate world!
Business English
Helping your students interact effectively in the corporate world!
Syllabus: summary of main topics (as of a course of study); a plan
showing the subjects to be studied in a particular course.
Business English
Helping your students interact effectively in the corporate world!
The syllabus - some considerations ...
Business English: What is it really made up of?
> About 70% of the so-called “Business English”
is actually plain English (crucial vocabulary for
everyday communication + structures)
Business English: What makes a good syllabus?
Brainstorming …departments of a company
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Communication in the corporate world!
Human Resources
Manufacturing
Advertising & Publicity
Marketing & Sales
Finance & Accounting
Import & Export
IT: Information Technology
Communication in the corporate world!
Communication in the business world!
Business English: What makes a good syllabus?
Human Resources - Vocabulary & Expressions
Résumé / Hire / Fire / Workload / Maternity leave / Peers / Expertise / Position / Shift /
Turnover / Day off / Retire / etc…
1. Some of the ……………….. of this job include a company car and a cell phone.
perks / (fringe) benefits
Perk = Perquisite: privilege or profit beyond regular pay
2. Our sales department is ……………….. . We need to hire two experienced salesmen soon.
short-staffed
3. The ………… we interviewed this morning seems to have the skills required by the position.
applicant
4. This position requires someone with a proactive ……………… .
profile
5. Does your company have any ……………. at the moment? (positions available)
openings
Business English
Helping your students interact effectively in the corporate world!
Time for another popular business quote ...
Business English: What makes a good syllabus?
Manufacturing - Vocabulary & Expressions
Raw material / Warehouse / Tailor-made / Spare part / Stockroom / Forklift / Shift / etc…
1. The recent ………………….. in production has been caused by a lack of spare parts.
(a specific problem in part of a process that causes delays to the whole process) =
bottleneck
2. That new plant will provide many new jobs as soon as it’s ……………………...
(actively working) =
up and running
3. You can get ………… from operating a machine too long.
RSI
RSI = Repetitive Strain Injury
(Brazil: LER: Lesão por Esforços Repetitivos)
4. “We´re an ecofriendly company. All our …………………. is biodegradable.”, said Tony.
(the boxes, bottles, plastic, etc. used for wrapping products so that they can be sold) =
packaging
Business English: What makes a good syllabus?
Manufacturing - Vocabulary & Expressions
•
•
•
•
•
Idle time
Breakdowns
Storage capacity
Warehouse
Procedures
Business English: What makes a good syllabus?
Advertising & Publicity - Vocabulary & Expressions
Advertising campaign / Advertising budget / Billboard / Ad / Flier / Target audience /
etc…
1. They have a two-minute ……………… on a local TV show.
(a short section between radio or tv programs used for advertising) =
spot
2. “Our commercial will be broadcast during ………………….,” explained Carol to a
colleague.
(the hours when television audiences are largest) =
prime time
Business English
Helping your students interact effectively in the corporate world!
“You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people
some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.”
Abraham Lincoln
16th president of US (1809 - 1865)
I - Business vocabulary & expressions
1. What´s your company´s ____________________?
core business
2. The ____________ of the two companies would create the biggest advertising agency in the
country.
merger
3. Ralph is highly respected by his ____________.
peers
4. “I need to call some new ________________ today.”, said Neil to a coworker.
prospects
5. We´ll have to work overtime to _____________________ .
meet the deadline
6. Many people were invited for the _________________ of the new store.
grand opening
7. All the managers agree that the Green Tree Hotel is an ideal _____________ for the
conference.
venue
I - Business vocabulary & expressions
Venue: place where a public event or meeting happens
8. Roger´s ____________ in advertising would be perfect for our department.
expertise
9. You can check out their website for a list of __________________ events.
upcoming
10. “So, tell me about the _________________ of the conference.”, Brian asked a
coworker.
highlights
Business vocabulary & expressions
Keynote speech
= main speech at an event
Hotshot
= someone who is very good or successful at something
Silicon Valley
= a region in California popular for its concentration of high-tech industries
Business vocabulary & expressions - Silicon Valley
Southern part of the San Francisco Bay area in Northern California
Thousands of high technology companies are headquartered in Silicon Valley:
• Apple
• Facebook
• Google
• HP
• Sun Microsystems
• Yahoo!
• Youtube (acquired by Google)
II - Business Idioms
1. Special knowledge associated with a profession
> TRICKS OF THE TRADE
Ex. Max is an experienced professional. He knows all the tricks of the trade.
II - Business Idioms
2. Too much paperwork that slows down business
> RED TAPE
Ex. There is always a lot of red tape to take care of before releasing your goods from the
port.
3. Earn a lot of money in a short time
> MAKE A KILLING
Ex. They made a killing selling those gadgets.
4. Have no profit or loss
> BREAK EVEN
Ex. It takes most new companies at least a few months to just break even.
5. The end result
> BOTTOM LINE
Ex. I wouldn´t worry so much about that report if I were you. All they care about is the
bottom line.
Business collocations
Money - What words/expressions collocate with “money”?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Earn money
Make money
Spend money
Save money
Lose money
Lend money
Borrow money
Owe money
Easy money
Hard-earned money
Business collocations
Money doesn´t grow on trees
Time is money!
Money makes the world go round
Business English
Helping your students interact effectively in the corporate world!
In God we trust ... All others pay cash!
Business collocations
Deal - What words/expressions collocate with “deal”?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Make a deal
Close a deal
Clinch a deal
A good deal
No big deal!
Package deal
Big deal!
Real deal
What´s the deal?
Deal the cards
Business English
Helping your students interact effectively in the corporate world!
Time for another popular business quote ...
Tour of the book: Fale tudo em inglês nos negócios!
José Roberto A. Igreja
Disal Editora 2011
Summary
I. BUSINESS DIALOGUES AND KEY PHRASES
1. Companies and businesses; The work environment
2. Communication in the business world
3. Human Resources & Legal Matters
4. Manufacturing
5. Advertising & Publicity
6. Marketing & Sales
7. Finance & Accounting
8. Import & Export
9. IT: Information Technology
10. Business as usual!
II. BUSINESS IDIOMS
III. ACRONYMS, SYMBOLS AND ABBREVIATONS
IV. BUSINESS GLOSSARY: PORTUGUESE-ENGLISH/ENGLISH-PORTUGUESE
V. POPULAR BUSINESS QUOTES GUIDE
VI. ACTIVE BUSINESS VOCABULARY GUIDE
VII. CD GUIDE: TRACK AND PAGE
Tour of the book
Tour of the book
Tour of the book
Tour of the book
Tour of the book
Capable of being decomposed; not harmful to the environment
= biodegradable
General direction in which something tends to move
= trend
Not expensive
= affordable
Someone who is not easily pleased
= picky
Tour of the book: Business dialogues
Tour of the book: Business dialogues
Tour of the book: Business dialogues
What´s the business idiom?
Talk about work or business during free time
TALK SHOP
“Ok guys, I’ll have lunch with you today, but please let’s not talk shop,” said Clint to his
coworkers.
Running late; after the time that was planned
BEHIND SCHEDULE
“We may need to work overtime. We’re behind schedule,” said Derek to a coworker.
A rough estimate or figure
A BALLPARK FIGURE
“Can you give me a ballpark figure on how much you plan to spend?”, Harry asked Bill.
What´s the business idiom?
Reduce suddenly, said of prices, profits, etc.
TAKE A NOSEDIVE
Business English: Acronyms, symbols and abbreviations
YUPPIE
= Young Urban Professional
RSVP
= Répondez S`il Vous Plait
= please reply
Business English: Acronyms, symbols and abbreviations
SWOT (Swot Analysis)
R&D
= Research & Development
Business English: Acronyms, symbols and abbreviations
World Wide Web
... What a Wonderful World
Business English: Acronyms, symbols and abbreviations
IV - Business Acronyms - What do these acronyms stand for?
1. FAQ
2. NYSE
3. FYI
Business English: Acronyms, symbols and abbreviations
4. GDP
= Gross Domestic Product
(Brazil: PIB = Produto Interno Bruto)
5. ROI
= Return On Investment
6. NGO
(Brazil: ONG = Organização Não Governamental)
Business English: Acronyms, symbols and abbreviations
Curiosity
Laser
= Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission
of Radiation
Business glossary
Inadimplência
Default: act of failing to meet a financial obligation
ex. He failed to make payments on time and is now in default.
ex. If you default on your payments, the bank will be forced to repossess your car.
24/7 twenty-four seven
A: … and what do you do for a living?
B: I’m a freelance architect. I have a home office.
A: That’s nice! I bet you have a lot of free time.
B: Well, actually it’s the other way around. It’s pretty much like a 24/7 job.
Business glossary
Paraíso fiscal
Tax haven: a country where taxes are low or nonexistent
ex. Switzerland, Jersey, Bahamas and Cayman Islands are some of the most popular tax
havens.
To commute: travel from one’s home to one’s workplace and vice-versa
ex. Tom usually commutes by subway.
commute: the trip to and from work every day
ex. My morning commute takes about 30 minutes.
Tour of the book
Popular Business Quotes
Tour of the book
Popular Business Quotes
Business English
Helping your students interact effectively in the corporate world!
jr@dialectoenglish.com.br