Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Adjectives used to describe change

Adjectives used to describe change

When we talk about changes, we often need to point out how big or rapid these changes have been. To do this, we need to use adjectives.

http://effective-public-speaking.com/change/exercise1.html
http://effective-public-speaking.com/change/exercise2.html
http://effective-public-speaking.com/change/exercise3.html
http://effective-public-speaking.com/change/exercise4.html

Friday, November 4, 2011

Pearson Brown English Lesson -Verbs used to describe change

Verbs used to describe change

When we are giving a presentation, we often talk about changes. Usually we illustrate these changes with visual aids to show these changes. We need, however, to explain these changes. To do this, we need special verbs.

http://effective-public-speaking.com/verbsofchange/exercise1.html
http://effective-public-speaking.com/verbsofchange/exercise2.html
http://effective-public-speaking.com/verbsofchange/exercise3.html
http://effective-public-speaking.com/verbsofchange/exercise4.html
http://effective-public-speaking.com/verbsofchange/exercise5.html

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Pearson Brown English Lesson -Effective Presentations – stating your purpose

It is important to state your purpose clearly at the beginning of your talk. Here are some ways to do this:

talk about = to speak about a subject

* Today I’d like to talk about our plans for the new site.
* I’m going to be talking to you about the results of our survey.

report on
= to tell you about what has been done.

* I’m going to be reporting on our results last quarter.
* Today I will be reporting on the progress we have made since our last meeting.

take a look at
= to examine

* First, let’s take a look at what we have achieved so far.
* Before we go on to the figures, I’d like to take a look at the changes we have made.

tell you about = to speak to someone to give them information or instructions

* First, I will tell you about the present situation, then go onto what we are going to do.
* When I have finished, Jack will then tell you about what is happening in Europe.

show = to explain something by doing it or by giving instructions.

* The object of this morning’s talk is to show you how to put the theory into practice.
* Today I’m going to show you how to get the most out of the new software.

outline = to give the main facts or information about something.

* I’d like to outline the new policy and give you some practical examples.
* I will only give you a brief outline and explain how it affects you.

fill you in on
= to give some extra or missing information

* I’d like to quickly fill you in on what has happened.
* When I have finished outlining the policy, Jerry will fill you in on what we want you to do.

give an overview of = to give a short description with general information but no details.

* Firstly, I would like to give you a brief overview of the situation.
* I’ll give you an overview of our objectives and then hand over to Peter for more details.

highlight
= draw attention to or emphasize the important fact or facts.

* The results highlight our strengths and our weaknesses.
* I’d now like to go on to highlight some of the advantages that these changes will bring.

discuss = to talk about ideas or opinions on a subject in more detail.

* I’m now going to go on to discuss our options in more detail.
* After a brief overview of the results, I’d like to discuss the implications in more detail.

Exercises:

http://effective-public-speaking.com/purpose/exercise1.html
http://effective-public-speaking.com/purpose/exercise2.html
http://effective-public-speaking.com/purpose/exercise3.html
http://effective-public-speaking.com/purpose/exercise4.html

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Pearson Brown English Lesson -Vocab "Out" Part 2

When you finish your stay in a hotel, you have to ‘check out’ at reception and pay your final bill.

* I need to check out of my hotel room by 11.
* You check us out whilst I order a taxi for the airport.

If you ‘lock yourself out’, you close a door without having the key to get back in.

* Richard managed to lock himself out of his hotel room stark naked.
* I’ve left the keys in the car and locked myself out.

If you ‘pick something out, you choose it, often with some care.

* Harry has picked out all the cashew nuts and left only the peanuts for me.
* From the thirty candidates, we’ve picked out seven to interview.

If you ‘reach out’ for something, you extend your arm to get it (sometimes metaphorically.)

* Drivers have to reach out a long way to insert the ticket in the machine.
* Our present customers are almost all over fifty. We need to reach out to a younger public.

If you ‘rush out’, you leave or send out very quickly.

* I wanted to speak to Jane but she rushed out as soon as the meeting was over.
* We rushed out the new catalogue and it is full of spelling errors.

If you ‘throw something out’, you get rid of it.

* We need to throw out the terrible printers we have and buy some new ones.
* You shouldn’t throw out the baby with the bathwater.

If you warn somebody to ‘look out’, it means that there is danger.

* Look out! The boss is on the warpath.
* Look out! There’s a radar camera just up ahead.

If you ‘send something out’ you send it to a lot of people (for example, to a mailing list.)

* I’ll be sending out the newsletter early next week.
* Have you sent out the invitations yet?

If someone or something ‘stands out’, it is very noticeable or is better than similar people or things.

* One candidate stands out from the rest.
* He likes to stand out from the crowd.

If you ‘pour out’ your (usually sad) feelings or your thoughts, you talk about them very honestly and without holding anything back.

* He poured his heart out to me about his recent divorce.
* Don’t hold back. Let it all pour out. It will do you good.

Exercises:
http://business-english.com/outphrasals2/exercise1.swf
http://business-english.com/outphrasals2/exercise2.swf
http://business-english.com/outphrasals2/exercise3.swf
http://business-english.com/outphrasals2/exercise4.swf