Welcome back!

¡Hola a todos!

Espero que hayáis pasado un buen agosto.

Seguro que no os habéis olvidado de hacer algo por vuestro inglés como me prometisteis.

Las clases se reanudan el 2 de septiembre.

Os espero :)

Business English: Presentations

Cuando consideramos las habilidades de inglés que necesitamos en el trabajo hoy en día, la capacidad de hacer una presentación es una de las más importantes. 

Es también la destreza más difícil para los no nativos de inglés. 

Realizar una presentación formal, significa que tienes que colocarte delante de un público, intentar vender tus ideas, ser convincente, diplomático, conciso, informado, ¡y todo esto en un idioma extranjero!

Estos son dos ejemplos de cómo comenzar tu presentación, de una forma sencilla.

Recuerda que la mejor manera de que tu presentación salga bien se basa en la práctica.

Pronuncia en alto tu discurso, grábate si puedes para ver cómo pronuncias y observa también tu lenguaje corporal para controlar posibles fallos.

Y recuerda, practica, practica y practica.

Presentations: opening 1

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much for coming along here today. I hope my presentation isn’t going to take too long and that you will find it interesting. The purpose of today’s presentation is to discuss how we can improve internal communications within our company.

Now let me begin by explaining that I’d like to talk about the business case for better communication; secondly, I want to cover different styles and methods; and finally I would like to finish off by talking about some of the basics we need to have in place to deliver good quality, consistent communications across the company. I’d be very happy to invite you to ask questions at the end of the session and I’m sure there’ll be plenty of time for us to discuss some of the points that have been raised.”

Presentations: opening 2

“Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for finding the time to come and join me for this presentation this afternoon. My name is Tim Mason, I‘m a retail consultant, and many of you will have seen me shadowing you in your jobs and looking through the accounts and so on in the company over the last week. I’ve invited you here today to have a look at my findings. First, I’d like to have a look at the performance of the company, the sales of the company over the last three years; then I’d like to have a look at our market share in the womenswear market and look at our competitors; and thirdly, I’d like to suggest some improvements in our range of womenswear. At the end I’d be happy to answer any of your questions.”

Negotiations: resolving difficulties

Mark: Sara, can I have a word please, in my office? Now then. I won’t take long about this, I’ll come straight to the point. We had a chat...

Sara: Yeah.

Mark: At that point, I wasn’t particularly happy with the way that you were behaving in the office, the way that you were being uncooperative, a little bit surly with people. And since then, frankly, I’ve seen very little change.

Sara: Well, I mean, I think I’ve made an effort, trying to be helpful like I normally am with people, and I feel that I’m still doing my job - not that the job’s very interesting. I think it’s become less interesting since Maria got the promotion. I think she’s getting some more of the interesting work.

Mark: Okay, well I’m afraid that, despite what you say, it hasn’t come across. I don’t want to jump to any conclusions, but you have taken quite a bit of time off … and …

Sara: Yeah, but you’re allowed to take leave, aren’t you?

Mark: You are allowed to take leave. Hopefully you come back from leave refreshed and you leave your problems at home.

English conversation: at the restaurant

Esta es una conversación normal en un restaurante. 

Es para estudiantes de una nivel bajo, ya que nadie os hablará tan despacio en ningún sitio. Sin embargo, escuchar este vídeo os ayudará a identificar las palabras y frases que, como he dicho escucharás a velocidad normal en una conversación de verdad. 

Networking

¿Sobre qué hablar?

What to talk about?

• weather (What´s the weather like where you come from?)
• work (So what do you do exactly?)
• travel ( How was your flight? )( Have you ever been to Berlin before?)
• business (How’s business at the moment?)
• interests (So what are you interested in? Do you have any hobbies?) 

Saber escuchar y reaccionar

Active listening 

• ok
• I know what you mean. 
• That sounds interesting.
• What a pity.
• It is, isn´t it?

Airport English

A. Questions you will hear at the check-in counter:

Preguntas que puedes oír en el mostrador de facturación:

Ticket please.

May I see your ticket?

Do you have an e-ticket?

Do you have some photo ID?

How many bags are you checking?

Did you pack these bags yourself?

Do you have a carry-on bag? (a bag or purse to take on the airplane)

Do you require special assistance? (example a “wheelchair”)

Have you paid your airport improvement fee/tax?

Would you like a window or an aisle seat? (aisle is pronounced “eye + l”)

B. Problems you may hear:

Problemas que puedes tener:

Your baggage is overweight. (Remove some contents or pay a fine.)

Your carry-on luggage is too large.

Your flight is delayed. (It’s late.)

Your flight has been cancelled. (You must rebook a new flight)

Your connecting flight/connection has been cancelled/is delayed.

Your ticket is expired.

Your passport is expired.

C. Commands and questions at the Security Checkpoint:

Órdenes y preguntas que te pueden hacer en el control de seguridad:

Boarding pass, please.

ID please. (show your photo ID)

Spread your arms out please. (Put your arms up and out to the sides of your body)

Take your shoes off.

Open your bag.

Take off/remove your belt.

Do you have any change in your pockets?

Do you have any metals?

Do you have any food/produce?

Do you have any liquids or medicine?

Walk through.

You must dump all food or beverages. (You can’t bring it through the gates.)

D. Questions YOU may need to ask:

Preguntas que puedes necesitar hacer:

Is my flight on time?

When should I be at the gate?

Where is the boarding gate?

Where is the washroom?

Can I get a window seat?

Is there somewhere to eat?

Can I get a coffee at the gate?

Is my connection on time?

Where do I collect my baggage?

Where can I find a taxi?

Where is the departure gate?

Where is the arrival gate?

Where is the check-in desk for ….airlines?

Where is the domestics level?

Where is the international level?

I feel like having a coffee

La expresión es muy común en inglés para expresar "Me apetece".

Su estructura gramatical es: "I feel like+ing" 

Aquí tienes algunos ejemplos:

"I feel like going for walk.": Me apetece dar un paseo.

"I feel like going to the beach.": Me apetece ir a la playa.

"I feel like having a glass of wine": Me apetece tomar un vaso de vino.

"I feel like going out.": Me apetece salir. 

"I feel like talking.": Me apetece hablar.

"I feel like having friends over to my house.": Me apetece que vengan a visitarme amigos.

"I feel like watching TV." Me apetece ver la televisión.

Si utilizas esta expresión con 'don't' or 'do not' significa que no te apetece o expresas tu preocupación por algo.

Aquí tienes algunos ejemplos:

"I don't feel like leaving yet.": No me apetece marcharme todavía.

"I don't feel like going to bed.": No me apetece acostarme.

"I do not feel like we are going in the right direction." Creo que no vamos en la dirección correcta.