Bozen – So September is on us and thoughts turn to going back to work, and this time of year is often seen as the moment for a fresh surge in both business and individual development plans. The months which lie ahead will of course be crucial but before embarking on this journey perhaps dedicate a little time to polishing up your English for we need to keep both a sense of proportion and a little fun element about our lives … and of course this page is all about practising one’s English! Why not go about it in a slightly different, light-hearted, but also serious way. And who knows – there might even be benefits for your own social interaction and business prospects! The more spontaneous and appropriate an utterance is the more it helps to build and consolidate relationships. Business is not all about facts and figures, and a little social communication and chitchat is all part of the art. To attempt this exercise we begin by looking at the ‘how to’ approach i.e. how to talk about particular things and what a British person might say to involve another in conversation. The examples chosen by and large can be used in one or other situation so have fun in thinking about their appropriate usage.
How to talk about weather:
What have we done to deserve this?
You never can tell what’s coming next.
traffic:
Why don’t we just take it easy and stop for a coffee?
Things never change, do they?
political situation:
We should have known better.
God only knows what will happen!
fashion trends:
It’s not to my liking.
I wish I could have such imagination!
food:
Sensational!
I have never tasted anything like it ever before.
sports news:
I knew that would happen.
Never in my life would I have believed it!
And the list can go on and on. The important aspect is to incorporate an expression or two in your vocabulary bag and not only will you have fun but also have the opportunity to converse better with your direct counterpart. As you will see one phrase or other is not exclusive to the example topic so see how many circumstances you can create for their use.
Another way to approach language development is of course the functional method i.e. what is the purpose you are trying to achieve. Here again the mind boggles at the number of combinations and forms one can use to get across a request for information or expression of emotion. So here again let’s look at an example or two and attempt to enrich our language.
how to functionasking directions:
Could you possibly tell me how to get to …
I’d like to go to …. Have you any idea of the best way?
enquiring as to room availability in a hotel:
Is there by any chance one free?
Would you be so kind to tell me if there is availability?
informing your interlocutor that you do not understand
I am afraid I didn’t catch that.
Do you mind saying that again please?
explaining that you cannot do the job in the required time period
I would need more time to do that – it is just too much in too little time
Is it possible to have an extra day or two?
The examples given are chosen willy-nilly but serve to have a little end of summer fun and provoke a thought or two. Here we have considered another system for improving one’s communication and it might be advisable to identify the functions which one most uses and prepare opening strategies accordingly! Such preparation would seem artificial to some but it is often surprising to realise that if one is able to identify the function there is a far better chance of coming up with the appropriate phrase to get across the message one intends. Take for example the head of logistics in a company who is often complimented for his excellent English by overseas colleagues. Little do they know that he has developed a telephone strategy whereby he has listed the functions on a sheet of paper which he keeps next to his phone, so when he informs on the telephone that ‘the sun is shining and the forecast is for a long hot spell’ or that ‘delivery may be delayed a couple of days due to trade union action’ he is merely reading from his notepad and not even looking out of the window nor aware of any strike! If he were ever to meet these colleagues face to face it would be a far different story.
To start this new working year in style and to maintain this dichotomy between fun and usefulness why not test yourself and see how many of these phrases of ‘How to talk about’ or ‘How to funcion’ you can use in the next month … and of course if you do not have the direct opportunity to converse with an English speaker in next period why not just speak to yourself in English occasionally. Have fun and happy September.
The author: Geoff Barclay spends much time in South Tyrol for business and pleasure and his ‚Brain International Ltd‘ assists individuals, companies and organisations in their internationalisation process – via market entry and business development support and a range of services embracing training, translations, and language immersion abroad – all intended to better equip the interested party looking to expand horizons.
