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On these occasions...
I have recollections of my childhood in a classroom. In fact almost all my life is to be seen against a black/white board and amidst desks, pupils,...

Calendar breaks used -still now, I think- to trigger mixed feelings among students:

On the one hand, they used to mean free time, leisure activities, trips,... On the other, they almost always meant an extra serving of homework, not just a spoonful, but a handful of pages to read, write,... etc.

Some traditions were created to survive their reasons to be born: reading or writing are usual and absolutely necessary tools to interact with and know the world around.

However, there are other benefits learners can otain from reading and writing extensively:

1. You can taste "vocabulary in its sauce",
2. You can enjoy the thrill of getting to understand a more sophisticated use of the language you are learning.
3. You can refresh your knowledge of the use of lots of grammatical items you have been learning almost mechanically along all these years....

There are lots of other benefits that, I am sure, you will find in reading the following newspaper report. I have heard that if they like it hot, then you make it hot...

Curious about the article, are you?

Click here below you can print it out for a better read.
BE_1_Nytimescom_MCHactivity.pdf

Y lo había olvidado. Nombres y fechas. Adjunto un díptico publicado por el Portal educativo público de Madrid, EducaMadrid.
ddidipticogeneralv0.pdf

discussed, learnt or seen in UNIT 1

This way you will remember it more easily.
(Whenever contributing to this community glossary to Business English, indicate number before each word or group of words:
1.1. Key Vocabulary (by Ángel Arturo):
MANAGEMENT.
-Make a profit
-Negotiate contracts
-Set objectives
-Supervise people
-Allocate tasks
-Analise markets
-Delegate responsibilities
-Develop markets
-Motivate staff
-Measure performance.

CUSTOMER SERVICE:
-Fast service
-Generous discounts
-Friendly sales staff
-Rapid response
-competitive prices
-Money back quarantee (refunds)
-Long-lasting products
-Clear instruccions
-Free delivery
-Cheap insurance
-Total eficiency
-Personal treatment

BUSINESS
-Business plan
-Business trip
-Business card
-Business class
-Big business
-Go into business
-Go out of business
-Get down to business
-Set up a business

MARKET
-Market leader
-Market forces
-Market research
-Market price
-Market value
-Market share
-Market segment
-Market driven
-Market led
-Stock market
-Property market
-Labour market
-Emerging market
-Corner the market

SALES
-Selling like hotcakes
-Sales force (=sales staff)
-Sales target
-Sales figures (better: "turnover")
-Price cut
-Discount
-A price reduction
-Profit margin
-Wholesaler
-Retailer
-Retail Outlet
-Retail chains
-Retail price

TO FLY
-Check in
-Reservation
-confirmation
-Rates
-Direct flight
-Security check
-Duty.free shopping
-Passport control
-Arrivals hall
-Departure lounge
-Customs hall
-Baggage carousel.

CAREER
-Career goal
-Career move
-Motivation
-Satisfaction
-Discrimination
-Stimulation
-Recognition
-Promotion
-Self-esteem
- Risk.

STRIKES
-Take legal action
-Take strike action
-Avert strike action
-Air a grievance
-Hold talks
-Reach a compromise
-Settle for a raise
-Hold a secret ballot
-Picket the factory
-Cut production
-Organice a mass walk out
-Hand out leaflets
-Ballot member
-Half production
- Set out demand

SPECIAL EXPRESIONS
-State.of.the.art
-User frendly
-Ask for a meeting
-Asck for extra money
-Suggest a training course
-Knock.on effect
-Business.to.costumer
-On.line company
-Bricks.and.mortar company.

I hoope this expresion will be useful for the group.

Best regards.
Angel Arturo del Barrio Gacimartin

THANK YOU ÁNGEL ARTURO ----

turnover, medium sized, brand name, leading, Chief executive Officer, plc, corporation, consortium,chart, graph, grid, ... work FOR (Marga), ...recruitment, profit, staff turnover, stock turnover, agenda, CEO (Chief executive officer), headquarters, Purchasing Department, Marketing Department,
Sales Department, Production Department, Human Resources / Personnel Department (or Departament of Personnel), Finance Department, R&D (Research and Development) Department, partner, partnership, hire out, outsource, (Thank you, Elena)...


1.2 Key Expressions:

to break even, feel free to..., turning point, to level off, to take over a firm/business, ... AOB (any other business) (in Great Britain), Matters Arising (in USA), ... (once again, ta, Elena)

NOT A BAD IDEA: LOOK FOR EQUIVALENTS OR DEFINITIONS, AT THE BACK OF YOUR HANDOUTS I RECOMEND DICTIONARIES

Have you got any key word or expressions to add to the list?

When the list is complete, we will be able to copy and paste it on a Word table, order it alphabetically, and have a homemade "Essential Business English Words and Expressions Glossary"

I am expecting your contributions.

Paco Bazaga

Marga was right when in one of her last comments she mentioned the theme of humour in presentations.

I take up her suggestions and propose to update the stock of humour specifically devoted to the business world.

Let me just begin with this modest contribution:

1. Business people can't win these days. If they do something wrong they are fined. If they do something right they are taxed!

2. According to some experts a successful manager is one who believes in sharing the credit with the person who did the work.

3. Your turn, then our turn, my turn, etc. etc. IS THAT FAIR PLAY?

Try this article: English and summary/article reedited in Spanish

BE_1_Speaking_in_public_article.pdf

WAS IT HELPFUL?
DO YOU AGREE?
THEY SAY THAT IN SPAIN WE ARE NOT EDUCATED TO SPEAK IN PUBLIC, DO YOU AGREE WITH IT?

... and also thinking of further postings here.


I confess I feel a bit lonely: there are few comments and or contributions in this diary. Isn't it provocative enough? Should it be porvocative?


This week we'll be finishing the first part of Unit 1, the one dealing with business description, organization and structure.

Next week, we'll start by describing and discussing performance, facts and figures, and the like...

In the area of writing, I hope you've been able to download or at least read the two documents I had inserted early last week.

As a follow-up to those informative papers on how to face business letter writing, let me include an ordinary business assignment:


WRITING A BUSINESS LETTER.Write a letter/email of reply from Robert Morris, sales Director of UK Cycles, to Karl Janssen -a prospective customer.


Follow these guidelines:


1. Thank him for his letter, quoting the date.
2. Give him the following information:
Discounts -quantity discounts on orders over GBP 10,000.
Delivery time - usually three months after receipt of order.
Credit facilities - only after trading for at least one year with the company.
3. Thank him for his interest in your company, and close the letter in the appropriate manner.




Once you've composed the letter send it to me through the "comments" tool in this blog or to my email address:
francisco.bazaga@educa.madrid.org

I do not hesitate you will tone down my "blog" loneliness:

Give some thought/search/find, etc. and share with us:

LINKS, ACTIVITIES YOU MISS, IDEAS YOU HAVE TO ENRICH THIS BLOG,... ETC.

HAVE YOU VISITED THE BUSINESS ENGLISH SECTION OF THE EOI-JESUSMAESTRO WEB IN "ENSEÑANZAS" OR "AULA DE AUTOAPRENDIZAJE"?
NO, YOU HAVEN'T!!!!!
WHY NOT?????

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST

You want to know more about this subject, then carry out some research:

1. You can always "google" some key headings: "Kinds of company organization", "Types of businesses", etc...

2. Another means to know more: visit the webs of well-known companies (try the English version of their sites). This can help you gain experience in this area.

Whatever you do, please use the "comments" link of this blog to commmunicate your findings to the rest of users.

Thank you and best wishes,

The programme TODAY is one of the favourite news programmes in Britain.
Pay special attention to the Business News Updates and, also, try the "Listen Again" section. It is a kind of "Fonoteca" with lots of audio files available.

Before listening, make sure you have RealOne Player. Its basic version can be downloaded free of charge from the BBC Radio Download/Podcast site.

Both options "Listen Again" and "Download/Podcast" are on the left hand side menu of the Radio 4 home. See links below.

MP3 files can be recorded on your MP3 player and heard as or before the day wears you out.

Best wishes


Comentario de Marga:

I recommend:

www.bbclearningenglish.com

In this website there are lots of stories and you can:

-hear them
-read the scripts to check what you have understood
-learn new vocabulary
Marga Lunes, 17 Octubre 2005 16:23

WELCOME (BACK) TO THIS LITTLE VIRTUAL CORNER

IF YOU CLICK BELOW you WILL find two pdf files containing:

1. Information on effective business letters

BE_1_Business_Letter_Writing_intro.pdf

2. An example of the structure of a common business letter.

BE_1_A_basic_business_letter.pdf

Together with these, you will also see some links of interest for the development of you writing skills.

Best wishes,

Programa_actualizado_de_businessenglish0506.pdf

My dear pupils or just readers,
My first paper is the one containing information on the course we have just started.

Last Thursday (6th October) I tried to let you know about the course and to facilitate mutual knowledge and acquaintance among the participants in the course.

Then, we started with a viewing/listening activity on the presentation of several companies thorugh the following criteria: turnover, number of employees, activity.