Joanne Reilly 
English Academy
 

Idioms are phrases that are used in everyday language giving a figurative rather than a literal meaning to something. Read on to find out more... Native speakers use these phrases more often than we realise. You don't have to use them yourself, but it is important that you understand what they mean. Here are 9 idioms you will most likely have heard of, plus a brief example of how to use each one: Ahead of the game "We are known for being ahead of the game when it comes to ado

These words tell us how likely something is to happen and are great to use when talking about the future, especially with regards to career development. Will - something is certain or very likely Might - something is possible Won't - something is impossible or very unlikely (won't = will not) Will Use this word carefully because it tells someone that something is certain or very likely to happen. Don't say something will happen if there is a chance that it won't (will not). I

We all have to do it...attend a meeting. This can be one of the hardest things to do in our non-native language. Why? People talk over each other They talk quickly The agenda moves on and you haven't said what you wanted to say It takes you a while to process what has just been said You want to say something but can't think how to put the sentence together You are embarrassed to speak in front of your colleagues in case you make a mistake I could go on and this is all from my

These are useful words to use in performance reviews or interim appraisals. We use these words to talk about ability: What someone can or can't do now, in the present. What someone was or wasn't able to do in the past. What they might be able to do in the future. Can or can't (cannot) - present Used to talk about ability right now. Alice can motivate her team, even when times are difficult. Ben can't find his locker key, he's looked everywhere. I can finish this report by the

Marketing and advertising is the way to let people know that your company exists. Many organisations have internal departments to do this, or they employ outside agencies with expert knowledge to help. Whatever your role, you may need to talk about marketing and advertising. Here are 9 key words you should know: Advertising agency "We're going to use an advertising agency to help us promote our brand." This is a company that develops strategies to find your target market (the

When you work for an international organisation chances are you will need to speak in English a lot of the time. You will need to write in English, take meetings in English, maybe have your lunchbreak in English if your boss is visiting from abroad. How can I describe this? What if you need to talk to your IT helpdesk in English? Your computer doesn't work, or your email is acting up (phrasal verb meaning to not work properly). How can you communicate clearly with your Englis

Meeting someone for the first time can be scary, especially when you have to speak in your non-native language. Speaking from experience, I am often so worried about making a mistake that I make one anyway and feel embarrassed, prompting me to stay quiet for the rest of the meeting or visit. This is not great, and I don't want this to happen to you. Here are a few ways to introduce yourself, and how to respond appropriately: It's nice to meet you is a phrase that is easy to

You can communicate in English. I know this because you're reading this blog post. So what is the difference between the English you learnt at school and Business English? Business English is formal English. We use it at work to: be clear communicate professionally make use of specialist vocabulary show cultural awareness The English you learnt at school helped you to pass your exams. You can use it when you go on holiday, to sing along to the lyrics of a pop song or just to

Learning a new language should be an adventure filled with excitement and challenges! Is the reality though that it's something you have to do for school or work, in which case it might be more challenge than excitement? While some people seem to pick up new words effortlessly, many others feel frustrated or stuck. The good news is that improving your study habits can make a significant difference. With the right approaches, you can enhance your language learning experience,

In today’s interconnected world, being able to make small talk at international networking events is more important than ever. Whether...

In multinational organisations most meetings will be held in English. There are two reasons for this, firstly the attendees may comprise...

The key to a successful negotiation is that both sides get something they want, without giving too much away. The language and approach...

Working for a multinational the chances are you use English at work every day and are comfortable doing so. However, delivering a...

I don't know about you but I'm often confused by IM speak. Maybe it's my age or I've just not bothered to keep up to date with the latest...

You have written a great covering letter and CV to get this far. Well done! Remember this as you go into your interview. You have a lot...

A covering letter, or letter of motivation, is something we are advised to include when sending our CV to apply for a job. Use your...

Attending a conference isn't only about listening to the speakers it is also, if not even more so, about who you talk to while you are...

You're familiar with the scenario, a customer calls and wants to speak to you in English. Is your first reaction to panic? If so read...

Working for a multinational organisation means that work processes need to be shared across regions. Using a clear structure and linking...

A complaint from a customer is the last thing we want to hear. However, with the right language to handle a problem, and a good attitude,...