Don’t forget you can prepare yourself before making a call.

source form: learnenglish

source form: learnenglish

A business report is a formal document. It should be concise, well organised, and easy to follow; using headings, sub-headings, sections.

Sections should be numbered: – major section 1,2,3 etc. – first level of sub-section 1.1, 1.2 etc., 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 etc. – second level 1.1.1, 1.1.2, ……, 1.2.1, 1.2.2, ….. etc.

Report format:

Title page - subject of the report, author, date

Terms of reference - who ordered the report, when and why, any conditions

Contents page - all section numbers and titles, using exactly the same wording as in the report

Abstract - brief summary of report – task, summary of conclusions and recommendations

Introduction - background information

Main body of report - findings, description, facts, opinions, etc. This must be well structured

Conclusion - summary of results

Recommendations - usually in the form of a list

Appendices (not always necessary) – additional details, tables, graphs, detailed analysis. These must be numbered and cross referenced in the text

Glossary (not always necessary) -explanation of any specialist terms

Bibliography - references to any books, journals, etc. which were used either for background reading, or directly quoted in the report.
They should be arranged alphabetically by the author’s name The reference should include: author, date of publication, title, edition,
place of publication, publisher.

General guidelines:

• If using Word™ or a similar package, use (but don’t just rely on) the spell-checker.
• Check your grammar and punctuation.
• Make sure you read it through and that you understand it.
• If you can get someone else to read it – even better.
• Make a copy – if you’re using a PC make two separate copies, and keep them safe.

source form: learnenglish

1) Facilitator, note-taker, and time-keeper should introduce themselves and define their roles. This will let people know what to expect of them.2) General introduction between all members: Make newcomers, or infrequent members feel welcome by having everyone introduce themselves, or do a ‘check in’ with all present – how is everyone feeling before the meeting? This is good to do at all meetings

3) Brief agenda intro (written on blackboard and/or give everyone copies of agenda, or use a single copy that everyone can add to and see) Include time limits (if nec.) and who’s responsible for each item. Allow everyone to include items on the agenda.

4) Approve/revise agenda and time limits.

5) Review previous week’s meeting. Any items not taken care of? Follow up.

6) For each agenda item, first define, then discuss:

 

a) CONTENT = what is discussed (topic or problem)b) PROCESS = how the topic is discussed (ie, brainstorming, go-around, presentation)

c) RESOLUTION = is a decision needed or are we just discussing? If a decision is necessary, define what kind of decision will be made (ie, consensus, voting)

d) ACTION = record what action was decided on, who is responsible, and the date by which they have to accomplish the action

7) Summarize meeting (note-taker) and make sure everyone agrees on what happened. Set roles and agenda for next meeting.

9) Evaluate meeting.

10) Closure: Do some sort of formal ending of the meeting (a poem, a song, a reading, a ‘check out’ where each person says something; how the meeting went, what they’re up to next, &c.).

Before next meeting

1) review meeting
2) follow up on action items

source form: learnenglish

Common English Phrases

Offering help / refreshments etc:-

Making small talk:-

source form: learnenglish

Click on the timeline to see how this irregular verb changes with each tense

The Past

Past Continuous – “He was spending time* with his mother, when he realised he hadn’t got any beer.”

Past Simple – “He spent a lot of money on beer in April.”

Past Perfect Simple – “By the end of April he had spent £52 on beer.”

Past Perfect Continuous – “By the time he got paid at the end of the April he had already spent all his money.”

The Present

Present Continuous – “He is spending too much money on beer.”

Present Simple – “He spends money on beer every week.”

Present Perfect Simple – “He has already spent £36 on beer since the end of April.”

Present Perfect Continuous – “He has been spending too much time down the pub since he turned 18.”

The Future

Future Continuous – “He’s spending money on beer again tomorrow.”

Future Simple – “He will spend at least £52 on beer this month.”

Future Perfect Simple – “By the end of the month he will have already spent all his money on beer.”

Future Perfect Continuous – “By the end of the year he will have given up beer, and will have stopped spending all his money on it.”

!Note - *We can spend time as well as money.

source form: learnenglish

At least one irregular verb in bold is shown in all its forms.

Verbs

Phrasal Verbs

source form: learnenglish

1) “We went for a drink at a little hole in the wall near the university last night.”

2) “I went to the hole in the wall to get some cash.” 1) A small place to live, stay or work in.2) A cash machine. Break the bank.For example:

He broke the bank at the casino and walked away with a lot of money. Win all the money at a casino gambling table. To laugh all the way to the bank.For example:-

If we don’t take this opportunity, you can be sure our competitors will and they’ll be laughing all the way to the bank. To make lot of money very easily, often because someone else has been stupid.  To not break the bank.For example:

Going out for a drink in the pub won’t break the bank. Not be too expensive To bank on something/someoneFor example:

“You can always bank on friends to help you.” Something or someone you can be sure of. Gor for broke.For example:

“She really wanted to pass her English exam, so she went for broke and revised every day.” To risk everything in order to achieve the result you want. To be brokeFor example:

I can’t go out tonight, I’m broke. To have no money. A cash cowFor example:

The British newspapers are the group’s biggest cash cow, earning nearly 40% of group profits. A business or a part of a business that always makes a lot of profit. Hard cashFor example:

They don’t accept credit cards, we will need hard cash. Money in the form of coins or notes paper money Cash in your chipsFor example:

He cashed his chips in shortly after his ninetieth birthday. To die. Ready cashFor example:

We have a lot of investments but we need ready cash to pay the bills. Money that is available to spend. To be strapped [for cash]For example:

Could you lend me a fiver? I seem to be a bit strapped. To be short of money. A blank chequeFor example:

The project manager seems to think he has a blank cheque. As much money to spend as is wanted or needed. The other side of the coinFor example:

Running a web site is fun, but the other side of the coin is that it costs a lot of money. The opposite view of something. A bad debtFor example:

The bank expects to lose millions of last year’s profits as a result of bad debts. Money owed that is not likely to be paid. e-cashFor example:

It is easier to pay on the net with e-cash. Money from a special bank account which is used to buy goods and services over the Internet by sending information from your computer A fool and his money are soon parted.For example:

Andrew is always buying the latest gizmos, a fool and his money are soon parted. Something we say which means that stupid people spend money without thinking about it enough. Blood moneyFor example:

The assassin was paid his blood money. Money that has been gained from the death of another person. Easy moneyFor example:

A lot of people think running a web site is easy money. Money earnt with very little work or effort. Funny moneyFor example:

She was caught trying to pay with funny money, Counterfeit money, or money from dishonest activities. A licence to print moneyFor example:

Some people think the TV licence fee is just a licence to print money. Activity that allows people to become very rich without having to make any effort. Money doesn’t grow on trees.For example:

We can’t afford to buy a house, money doesn’t grow on trees. Money isn’t that easy to come by. Money for old ropeFor example:

A lot of people think being a professional footballer is money for for old rope. A job that is an easy way of earning money. Money talksFor example:

He seems to get away with murder I guess money talks. People who are rich have a lot of power and influence. Money to burnFor example:

They buy a new car every year. They must have money to burn. To have a lot of money to spend on things that are not necessary Put your money where your mouth isFor example:

If people are really interested in helping the homeless they should put their money where their mouth is To follow up on words with action. Monopoly moneyFor example:

Whether he sells the house or not, it’s all monopoly money to him. Monopoly is the trademark for a game in which you buy property with pretend money, so monopoly money has little or no value. Pin moneyFor example:

She teaches English for pin money for extra treats for herself and the family. A small amount of money that you earn and spend on things for yourself. Pots of moneyFor example:

Bill Gates has pots of money. A lot of money. Throw money aroundFor example:

They don’t work but they have plenty of money to throw around. To spend money, especially in an obvious and careless way, on things that are not necessary. Hit pay dirtFor example:

If a salesperson does not quickly hit pay dirt with a customer they will usually move straight on to someone else. To discover something very valuable or very useful. Pay through the noseFor example:

I paid through the nose to get the bathroom done. To pay too much money for something. Pay top dollarFor example:

If you want the best, you have to pay to dollar. To pay a lot of money for something Pay your wayFor example:

I teach English so that I can pay my way. To pay for yourself rather than allowing someone else to pay The devil to payFor example:

If the company catches you making personal calls there’ll be the devil to pay! To get into a lot of trouble. A penny for your thoughtsFor example:

‘You’re very quiet. A penny for your thoughts.’ To ask someone what they are thinking about. A pretty pennyFor example:

That car must have cost you a pretty penny. To be very expensive The penny dropsFor example:

She looked confused for a while, but then the penny dropped. To finally understand something. Turn up like a bad pennyFor example:

Whenever he wants money he turns up like a bad penny. To arrive at a place or event where you are not wanted. A penny pincher / To penny pinchFor example:

He left the pub before it was his round. He is such a penny pincher. A miser /To be a miser. In for a penny, in for a poundFor example:

He spends hours on his English every day. In for a penny, in for a pound. To put a lot of money or effort into something. Dirt poor
Most of the population in this undeveloped area were dirt-poor and jobless. Extremely poor As poor as church miceFor example:

When we first got married, we were as poor as church mice. Very poor The pink poundFor example:

Brighton is a lively, prosperous city, courtesy of the pink pound. Money spent by people who are homosexual, especially on entertainment. To hold the purse stringsFor example:

The Financial Director holds the purse strings here. To control the spending of a family’s or an organization’s money To loosen the purse stringsFor example:

We shouldn’t expect the Chancellor to loosen the purse strings too much in this year’s Budget. To allow more money to be spent. To tighten the purse stringsFor example:

If we want to go on holiday this year we need to tighten the purse strings a bit. To reduce the amount of money that can be spent You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s earFor example:

I new it wouldn’t last, you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. If something is poor quality you can’t do much to improve it. Filthy richFor example:

Bill Gates is filthy rich. Extremely rich Rob Peter to pay PaulFor example:

If you keep robbing Peter to pay Paul, you’ll never be out of debt. To borrow money from one person to pay back money you borrowed from someone else. Strike it richFor example:

He struck it rich in the computer business. To suddenly become rich Spend money like waterFor example:

If you spend money like water, you’ll always be broke. To spend too much. Spend a pennyFor example:

Excuse me, I must go and spend a penny. To go to the toilet. Have your fingers in the tillFor example:

She had her fingers in the till, that’s why she lost her job. To steal money from the place where you work.

source form: learnenglish

Songs

source form: learnenglish

One irregular verb in bold is shown in all its forms.

Verbs

Phrasal Verbs

source form: learnenglish