Improve your Listening
Powered by MaxBlogPress 

People Archive

Free Daily English Lessons on Your Mobile Cell Phone!

2
comments

Now you can easily read the free English lessons on Ask John English almost anywhere using you mobile phone!

The new mobile phone design is faster and easier to use on your iPhone and your other mobile phones and devices.

Free English Lessons by Phone!

If you prefer to view the site as normal on your phone,  just scroll to the bottom of the page and use the switch to change back to normal view.

VOCABULARY TIP:

In the US people say ‘cell’ or ‘cell phone’.

In the UK and Australia, we say ‘mobile’ or ‘mobile phone’.

EXAMPLE: I will call you later on my mobile = I will call you later on my cell.

Activity:

1. Look at Ask John English using your phone!

Now you can read all the new lessons each day on the train, in a restaurant – anywhere!

2. Please tell me if you like using your phone to read Ask John English!

Put your answer in the comments!

Rating 3.00 out of 5
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Business Tips for Speaking to New Clients

2
comments

Today, let’s talk about the clothes we wear at work.

ACTIVITY: Read or listen to the article below and then watch the video.

Tell me about your country:

  •  What do people usually wear for work?
  • Is it okay to wear jeans and a t-shirt to work?

 

Sadly most people judge us within 10 seconds of seeing of us so although it is important to know what we say sometimes…..sometimes how we look speaks for us.

Dress the part of what ever is necessary for your business. For some it might be a business suit for others it may be a lab coat and for others it may be a pair of coveralls. Whatever it might be its important that your client knows you fit in for the work you must sell to them.

People often only hear and listen to about 10% of what you are saying. The rest isn’t so much on what you are saying but how your body language and tone of voice is making them feel. Wow!
Start with a sincere smile and a warm hand shake. Use a greeting that is comfortable for you “How was your flight”, “how were my directions”…etc.

By asking open ended questions you automatically give more control to the customer making them feel more comfortable.
Speak clearly and at the same speed as your client is speaking, unless your client has an unusual speech pattern. You don’t want to mimic them if that’s the case ;) .

Smile while you talk it makes a huge difference. Regardless of whether you are sitting or standing it is important to keep your shoulders back and chest out. This already shows your client that you are confident about your work.

Relax and have fun.

Meeting a new client often means a long term relationship and may even lead to friendship – who knows?


Now watch the video:

Can’t see the video? Click HERE

ACTIVITY: Tell me about your country:

  •  What do people usually wear for work?
  • Is it okay to wear jeans and a t-shirt to work?

Rating 3.00 out of 5
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

ANZAC Day – A Day To Remember

0
comments

Today is ANZAC Day here in Australia.

Q: What is ANZAC DAY?

A: ANZAC means Australian and New Zealand Army Corp.

ANZAC Day is a day when all Australians and New Zealanders stop to remember the people who fought and died in war.

In particular, it is a day when the battle of Gallipoli is remembered, which took place in Turkey from 25 April 1915 to 9 January 1916, during the First World War. 98,758 people were killed in this fight. You can read more about what happened here.

This video is part of a movie about Gallipoli. It shows the first day of the war on 25 April 1915.

Can’t see the video? Click HERE.

I wish you, your family, your country and our world peace.

Rating 3.00 out of 5
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

I got it!

4
comments

Today, let’s look at ‘I got it’!

q Q: What does ‘I got it‘ mean?

  A: I got it‘ usually means ‘I understand‘. In this case ‘get‘ means understand
  

 You can also say:

  • I got you
  • I got what you mean
  • I don’t get you
  • I don’t get what you mean
  • I gotcha
  • gotcha

 

    Example 1:   A: I don’t understand why people in Australia say G’day.   B: G’day means ‘hello’. It is short for ‘good day’.

   A: Oh! I get it! Thanks!

   Example 2:

   A: What should I do today?

   B: Well, in the morning you need to go to the bank and in the afternoon you have a meeting at 2pm.

   A: The bank and a meeting. Got it.

  Example 3: 
  A:
What should I bring to the beach next Sunday?

   B: You need a hat, sunscreen and a towel.

   A: Gotcha!

Note that ‘I got it’ is different to ‘I have got it‘, which means ‘I have it‘.

 


 

Question: Do you get it?

Put your answer in the comments!

Rating 3.00 out of 5
Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Can you say no?

41
comments

generalHow to say ‘NO’!

Do you know how to say ‘no’? Sometimes it can be difficult! Especially if someone really pushes for you to say ‘yes’.

Today, let’s look at a common way to say ‘no’. It is also polite!

     “No thanks, I’m alright.”  OR “No thanks, I’m right.

          

Example:
Q: Would you like some tea?A: No thank you.

Q: Oh, go on! It is very nice tea!
 
A: No really, thank you, but I’m alright.

Remember: It is okay to say ‘no’. In fact, I think it is very important to say ‘no’! If you say ‘yes’ all the time, people will treat you badly!

Today’s sentence is a very clear, polite way to say ‘no’. Try it for yourself!


Question: Do you know any other ways to say ‘no’ politely?

Practice: Would you like some beer?

Put your answer in the comments!

Rating 3.00 out of 5
Tags: , , , , , , ,

How to write a letter to reject a job application.

0
comments

intermediateRecently, we looked at how to write a letter to reject a job offer. You can read that lesson here: http://www.askjohnenglish.com/business-all/how-to-refuse-a-job-offer

Today, let’s look at how to write a letter to reject someone who has applied to work in your company.

Many companies get people sending them job applications everyday.

It is important to:

  1. Thank these people for thinking of your company.
  2. Be honest with the applicant and tell them they have not been successful.

If you want to, you can also tell them why they have not been successful. They may appreciate this feedback as it will help them in their next job application. Let’s look at an example.

EXAMPLE LETTER:

____________________________________________

Bob Smith (Your name)
5 Brown Street (Your address – number and street name)
Sydney NSW 2000 (Your address – city, state, postcode) 
(02) 5555-5555 (Your phone number) 

2 February 2009 (Date)

Dear Mr. Bush, 

Thank you  for your interest in the position of Regional Manager with ABC Inc. There were a high number of applicants for this position and unfortunately, your application was not successful.

Although your application was of a high standard, many other applicants held a Master of Business Administration degree.

Thank you again for your application.

Kind Regards.
Signature

 
Bob Smith (Print your full name)

____________________________________________

Most of us have received a letter like this one at some time during our lives.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WRITING COVER LETTERS AND RESUMES

QUESTION: Have you had a letter telling you that you were unsuccessful in a job application?

What did they say? Was it helpful?

Rating 3.00 out of 5
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Long Weekend – Australia Day

8
comments

intermediateA long weekend is coming! 

Yes, that is right! Next Monday I don’t have to go to work! It is a holiday for Australia Day!

A long weekend is when either Friday or Monday is a public holiday, and people don’t have to go to work or school. It is called a long weekend, because usually weekends have only 2 days off (Saturday and Sunday).

But on a long weekend there are 3 or sometimes even 4 days off.

For example: Easter is a long weekend, because we have Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday off work and school. So Easter is a 4 day long weekend!

Australia Day is only 1 day – Monday. So I will have a 3 day long weekend!

Question: What are some of the long weekends in your country?

Rating 3.00 out of 5
Tags: , , , , , ,

I didn’t mean to…

0
comments

intermediateToday, let’s look at ‘I didn’t mean to…’

The phrase “I didn’t mean to …” is usually used for something bad that you did, but didn’t want to do.

 Examples:

  • I didn’t mean to hurt you.
  • I didn’t mean to break the dishes.
  • I didn’t mean to be late.

If you are talking about something that happened, that is not bad, you could say:

  • I wasn’t planning to watch a movie, but I saw one anyway.

OR

  • I decided to watch a movie to fill in time.

 OR

  • I decided to watch a movie just for the fun of it.

If you are talking about people you met, but wasn’t planning to meet, you can use “bump into“.

 Example:

I bumped into Miho yesterday in Ikebukuro.

If you visit someone in their house, without planning to, you can use “drop by“.

 Example:
I was in this area, so I decided to drop by. (I was near here, so I decided to visit you)

Question: Do you often do things for the fun of it? Or do you like to plan what you want to do carefully?

Put your answer in the comments!

Rating 3.00 out of 5
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

New Guest Writer!

0
comments

I have some news! Some guest writers have offered to share their tips on learning language with you!

Let’s welcome the guest writers! These people teach different languages (not English) and have been kind enough to share some of their tips on learning language!

The first article is full of tips and good advice on how to learn language effectively!

TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK IN THE COMMENTS!

Rating 3.00 out of 5
Tags: , , , , , ,

Christmas Lights

2
comments

Here is a video I made last year. It shows the Christmas lights in people’s homes in Sydney:

Do you celebrate Christmas in your country?
Do people decorate their houses or the street?
Let’s share our culture with each other!

Rating 3.00 out of 5
Tags: , , , , ,

Video & Audio Comments are proudly powered by Riffly

Switch to our mobile site