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Using professional English in an international career

Uncover the importance of mastering professional English in an international career, explore challenges and effective communication methods. Learn grammar tips, cultural nuances, and common misunderstandings to boost your language skills.

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Using professional English in an international career

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  1. Using professional English in an international career Ian Badger Bristol University, 1.8.11 www.bmes.co.uk ian@bmes.co.uk

  2. Content • Introductions • A country quiz • Why do we need to be highly proficient in English? • The challenges ahead • Questions

  3. Why do we need to be highly proficient in English?? • English increasingly the official language for professional communication – in business and academic life • Growing use of web conferencing – e.g. using Sametime, Genesys, LiveMeeting tools • Use of global IT systems – training, instructions, IT support, collaboration often only in English • Global recession (closures, threat of redundancy) • Reorganisation, centralising • Relocation of jobs (offshoring / ‘nearshoring’)

  4. Communication channels in English Face-to-face meetings/presentations One-to-one telephone calls Three/four-way teleconferences Web conferencing / Webinars Everyday emailing (and faxing?) Instant messaging Texting Blogging? Tweeting???

  5. Your English – areas for potential misunderstandings? • Grammar: use of tenses, prepositions? • Pronunciation? • Intonation? • Vocabulary? • Cultural issues (Levels of ‘directness’, use of humour, etc.)? • Speed of delivery?

  6. Which speakers are most difficult to communicate with – a quick survey from my ‘home’ company: • Scottish 32 • Chinese 28 • French 27 • N American 11 • English 8 • Austrian 5 • German 3 • Finnish 1 (Respondents 80% Finns, 10% German/Austrian, 6% UK/US 4% Other) Speakers mentioned in top 4 responses note Scottish and Chinese nearly always #1 or #2

  7. Contents

  8. Catriona voicemail • Jindee voicemail • Nick voicemail

  9. Clear usage: a conference call Note the colloquial phrases used by native English speakers in track 7’s extract from a conference call: ’Hi, guys’; ’Hello’; ’Hi’; ’Hi, Nigel. How are you?’ (informal greetings at the beginning of the call) ’Good weekend?’ (Shortened colloquial greeting alternative to Did you have a good weekend? or How was your weekend?) ’Is Nigel on?’ (Has Nigel joined the call?) ’OK, then. Edmund, do you want to take us through your highlight report, please?’ (The speaker could also say: Could you take us through…? / Please take us through…? / So, Edmund, take us through…? )

  10. Frequently-used native-speaker/advanced grammar • We are going to be looking at…. • We have been given a target to finish the work by… • Our intention is to wrap the project up by the end of the year. • We will be tracking implementation for two years. • It’s currently being implemented • I would have finished this today if I hadn’t had to go to China at short notice • Had we known about this earlier, we………..

  11. Frequently used ‘incorrect’ grammar I live at the centre of town He don’t have a good job As I told earlier We don’t need no consult They will decide what is the reason How you can do that? Did you check the equipments?

  12. Understanding advanced English • We were very chuffed • We hope to reduce headcount through natural wastage • If I can digress for a moment.. • The group has gelled • It’s an intractable problem • You can’t accuse them of dithering

  13. And finally… In increasing cases: No English = no job/no contract/no audience Any questions??

  14. References Badger, I, ‘Listening’ in the Collins Business Skills series, Harper Collins/Collins ELT Badger I and P Menzies, ‘English for Business Life’ (Intermediate and Upper Intermediate Self Study Guides), Cengage/Heinle ELT Badger I and S. Pedley, ‘Everyday Business Writing’, Pearson Longman Badger I, ‘Everyday Business English’, Pearson Longman Badger I, ‘Business English Phrases’ Pearson Longman Lambert V and E Murray, ‘Everyday Technical English’, Pearson Longman www.bmes.co.uk (Business and Medical English Services)

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