The Business Spotlight Podcast

Skills: Social networking

Business Spotlight — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 10:17:22 +0200

Networking is important, and includes having lots of good conversations with lots of people. We’ll now offer some networking tips, and provide you with the language you need to do this effectively in English. For more, let’s welcome communication skills expert, Ken Taylor.

Intercultural: Mexico

Business Spotlight — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 09:55:23 +0200

This week, our topic is intercultural communication and our focus is on Mexico. The country’s rapidly developing economy, as well as its location, makes it a valuable partner for international trade and commerce. For insight into the Mexican culture, intercultural communication expert Robert Gibson interviews a studio guest.

Vocabulary: Abbreviations

Business Spotlight — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 20:59:56 +0200

Most of you have probably watched a movie on a DVD; listened to a song in mp3 format and you telephone using ISDN. For many technological developments we use the abbreviation, or short form, instead of the entire name. Let’s now see how well you know the abbreviations for some common technologies.

Skills: Qualities and qualifications

Business Spotlight — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 17:12:40 +0200

Many of us find it difficult to talk positively about who we are and what we do at work. Let’s practise talking about your professional qualities.

Grammar: Quantifiers

Business Spotlight — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 20:58:52 +0200

This week we talk about how to use the words “a few” and “a little”. These are called quantifiers. Both “a few” and “a little” mean “some”.

Intercultural: Professional cultures

Business Spotlight — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 20:39:57 +0200

Is our behavior at work influenced by our job choice? Robert Gibson, our specialist on intercultural communication, takes a closer look at professional cultures.

Telephoning: Active listening

Business Spotlight — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 07:45:35 +0200

It’s important to listen actively on the phone. One way to show you are listening is to use empathetic words or phrases. This way you encourage the other person and you share emotions with your speaking partners. Here's communication skills expert Ken Taylor with more.

Vocabulary: Mathematics

Business Spotlight — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 11:29:49 +0200

This week, instead of talking about grammar and vocabulary, we’ll talk about numbers and equations. Mathematics is essential for technical and financial fields of work. And even if your skills are great on paper, you may need some help in understanding numbers when they’re spoken. So we’ll test how good your skills are in English with a small dictation.

Interviews: Sports psychologists

Business Spotlight — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 02:21:07 +0200

During a big sporting event such as the World Cup, emotional aspects are as much a part of the tournament as athletic skills — who has the determination to win, and who is perhaps not giving 100 per cent? To learn more about the mental game involved in sports, we spoke to two clinical sports psychologists in London and Bochum.

Skills: International Leadership

Business Spotlight — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 21:51:30 +0200

Today we’re going to talk about some of the skills you need to be a good international leader. If you are managing a multicultural team, you'll probably use English to communicate, even if no one speaks it as his or her first language. For an exercise on preparing your vocabulary for the task, here’s communication skills expert Ken Taylor.