BEC Wizard

Functional Language for Business In this Business English learning online post, we look at some useful phrases frequently used in communication in a business environment. There are example sentences provided below showing how to use each one. Asking for Permission Could I... May I... Can I... I would like to... Please let me know if ... is suitable (convenient). Rearranging an Appointment Unfortunately I cannot attend... on the [date] Could we meet at the [place] on the [day] to discuss... ... would suit me better. Informing I wish to inform you that... It is necessary for us to... Please feel free to contact ... if you require more details. Explaining/Giving Instructions You should... Please contact... It is necessary to... When you have completed the project, please email/deliver the details to... Example Sentences Asking for Permission Could I pop into your offi...

Memo Writing Here are some examples of how to write a memo. Example Memo To: New Product Development Team From: Max Faure Date: Subject: Timekeeping Dear all, I’ve noted that during the last two or three weeks some members of the team have been making a habit of arriving late and as a result, being late for the daily team meeting. This unfortunately means that the meetings themselves have been starting later than scheduled, and due to this, we haven’t had enough time to get through all of the agenda items because a lot of time has been wasted on updating latecomers on what they missed. I’m very aware that many of you are working long hours and putting a lot of effort into this project, so rather than taking time to speak to the team members concerned, I would just like to ask everyone if they could make a point of being on time for team meetings in future. By doing this we can ensure that the project will be finished by the proposed date and within budget. ...

In this Business English learning online post, we explore how to talk about exporting goods and services. What is important when exporting goods or services for the first time? seeking expert advice knowledge of laws/regulations regarding the target country correct documentation accurate costing Exporting Goods or Services It is essential to partner with experts in this field if your company has no previous experience with regard to exporting goods or services. Use of a third party export consultancy or export agent would be highly recommended. Another possible source of problems is related to the legal structure and import regulations which are in force in the country being exported to. Again, it would be useful to have contact with specialists within the target country in order to smooth the way for importation of the company’s goods or services. Once the correct procedure have been identified and clarified it is crucial to ensure that the necessary...

In this Business English lesson, we look at how to talk about Time Management What are the most important points when managing your time Examining current activities Organisation / Planning Monitoring your activities and time Business English Speaking Skills | Time Management | A short 2 minute talk Time management is a key skill that business people need to learn, develop and always be refining. Especially for those who work in extremely dynamic business situations. There is a constant need to be reviewing and if necessary reprioritizing tasks which are pending so that at the end of the day, everything is completed as and when it needs to be, without any delays. Normally the first step would be to examine current activities that are pending and then prioritize them in order of urgency, both in terms of time and the degree of impact they have on business operations. It’s a good idea to use some type of time management software to get all the tasks in on...

Business English Learning Online Cambridge Word List PDF Learn essential Business English words to help you at work or in your studies. Try using this Business English learning online resource to improve your English speaking skills for business. The Cambridge Business Vocabulary wordlist is a guide which can help you ensure your business English vocabulary contains all the words you might come across at work or in a business setting. The wordlist, developed by Cambridge ESOL, is used by the people who write or create Business English exam questions and material. It also contains what has been identified as high-frequency Business English related vocabulary. This essential Business English wordlist also includes: Receptive vocabulary - words you should understand even though a questions is not focused on them Productive vocabulary – words you need to know in order to be able to answer a question The list is updated each year to include the most commonly use...