Everyday English

Abbreviations, acronyms, and nomenclatures can be useful communication tools for people within a group. The downside is that it’s a form of jargon and outsiders often have no idea what you are talking about.  Learn why we use jargon and how to use it effectively (or not!) with your audience.

My core belief when it comes to communication is that we should meet people where they are, not where we think they should be.  That means  texts should be written so the greatest number of people can understand them. Others disagree with this idea.  They think that by using overly simple language, we are not challenging people to learn.  This week, I'd like to look at both sides of this argument by examining interpretive texts from art exhibits. However, is not just for museums.  It is an issue I see every day - particularly in a global Business English context. 

For some reason, people think that to sound intelligent, or be taken seriously, they have to give long, complicated explanations.  In fact, the opposite is true. There is a genius in simplicity.  How do you achieve this? Stay tuned and find out.

People are ready to travel again, and that means reading online reviews. But how you communicate with your guests can mean the difference between getting 1 star or 5 stars. Read on to get my top tips – as well as some functional language – that will leave all your guests feeling like VIPs.

Generation Z (those 15-25 years old) feel invisible to those in power.  How will this affect how you communicate with this age group?  This week, we'll look at how young people feel about technology, relationships, and the future, as well as the role of museums in this conversation.

Often, it isn't a guide’s language skills that determine the quality of the tour. It is their ability to tell a good story. How do you do that?  Listen and find out!  If you'd like to get in touch, have questions, comments, or if you need help developing a tour, please contact me on my website, www.marshallsayenglish.com.  I'd love to hear from you!

Landing a job that requires experience presents a real Catch-22 situation for anyone trying to break into a new field. How are you supposed to get professional experience if no one will give you a job to get that experience?  Try volunteering!  Whether you want to learn a new skill, make friends, practice your English, or enhance your CV, volunteering could be the way to go.

You have an issue you want the world to know about. How do you communicate your message so that people not only listen, but they also care enough to do something about it?  Join me today to find out!

This week, I am breaking from my normal Business English blog to talk about something really close to my heart: grassroots activism.  If you can tell people about your cause in your own language - that's great.  But so many of the issues we face are global issues - which means discussing them in the global language of English.  Today is basically an introduction - but I will continue on this theme for weeks to come.   Let me know what you think!

We are living in a world where people aren't sure what's happening from one week to the next.  And that can cause stress.  But did you know that one of the best ways to alleviate stress is good communication?  Join me today for my top three tips for communication practice to keep your team stress free.

Resources

During this pandemic, video calls have changed the way we communicate.  But sometimes people forget that most communication is non-verbal.  With that in mind, are you sending the right messages when you participate online?  This week, we are going to talk about how to get it right.

Last week, we looked at the Objective and Summary sections of your CV.  This week, I'd like to discuss how to describe your professional experience.  Do this well, and you will get that interview!

A recruiter takes less than a minute to decide whether to read your entire CV or not. This is why the Objective and Summary are so important. It introduces them to who you are and what you can do. Write a good introduction, and the recruiter will continue reading. Write one that doesn’t connect to the job, and the recruiter will simply move on to the next application.  

Let's face it: with everything happening in the world, you might need to look for a new job.  That means writing a CV, building your network, and job interviews.  But what if you have to do it in English?  No worries!  We'll be discussing this and much more over the next couple of weeks.

This week, I’d like to talk about what to include in your CV.  Next week we’ll look at specific functional language to help you write a fantastic CV in English.