Kaplan International Languages’ Post

🌟 3 chunks of Super- Duper Language – what’s that? 🌟 Yes, I like to focus on the language that is critical for your career. But that doesn’t mean to say that the language lacks colour and vibrancy! Have you found examples in English where the compound word is made up of two identical words? 1. You know at least one: 👋 Bye-bye – a friendly way of saying goodbye. 🔥 You’re a goody-goody if you know other examples. 🌟 Super-duper if you do! 2. What about examples where the two words are not identical?  These are more common, and you know: 🎶 Hip-hop – if you are into this music. 🏓 Ping-pong – if you are into this sport. 🙍♀️ Some are disparaging. Let’s hope you are not accused of being wishy-washy, or producing so-so work! Don’t dilly-dally in writing that report, cut the chit-chat and get on with it chop-chop - make sure it’s tip-top! 🙌 3. So why is there a picture of a lemon? Well, here’s one to learn and use at work today: If you find something simple… 😊 Then you find it easy-peasey-lemon-squeezy! 🍋 Do you know any other examples either in English or Italian that works like this? Do put them in the comments below. 👇 I was an HR Director for 30 years and I am a qualified coach and English teacher. I know the language you need to succeed. Would you like to know more about my approach to Business English? DM me with the word “Ciao” and I’ll send some details. If you prefer to chat about it, we’ll put a zoom date in the diary! #coffeechat _________________________________________________________________________________ 🙋♀️ Thanks for checking out this post! I love working with Italian Career Women who want to boost their English communication skills, so they have the confidence to say YES to new opportunities.🚀 🔔 If you're interested in this topic, head to my profile, click the 'follow' button, and ring the bell so you'll never miss a post 🤝 | Lesley Strachan #donne #womenhelpingwomen #formazione #businessenglish

T͟h͟e͟ ͟B͟u͟s͟i͟n͟e͟s͟s͟ ͟E͟t͟i͟q͟u͟e͟t͟t͟e͟: Clash of Cultures “𝙋𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙣𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠. 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪.” - What did you understand from this statement? Depending on your country and if English is your native language, this statement might evoke different interpretations. If you purely thought of this as a polite request, you probably come from non-native English speaking country. But if you are a native English speaker, and depending on your country, this may not be your preferred phrasing. And yes, it could be a plain request, without reading too much into it. Say “Please”, say “Thank you”. We are told this as kids, to instil politeness and humility. Talking about India, these words are strongly associated with being courteous. So sentence starting with “Please” is usually considered polite and a “Thank you” is considered an acknowledgement. This is also what is tried to convey, most often than not, when using these words. People here usually tend to speak their mind, and so a direct approach works best. Native speakers, from certain countries, use suggestions, posing as questions, and at times even rhetorical, to convey ideas. "Please" is replaced with something like “Can you”. Be extra cautious when using “Please” and “Thank you” in a sentence, as this could be interpreted as disingenuous. When actually posing a question, it is common to use “I was thinking”. When not entirely convinced about something, using phrases like “Interesting”. Things like these could be a little confusing, early on, for non native speakers. People having global exposure tend to be fine either way, as they are better aware of the cultural intricacies. So no need to lose sleep over this. Also, this is more relevant when starting a new collaboration or during tense interactions. Otherwise, these things usually take a back seat. 𝘞𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬, 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦, 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘳? OR 𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬, 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦, 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘳. Which one do you prefer? Have you experienced instances which involve cultural context? Do you convey your thoughts differently based on the individual? #Global #Team #collaboration #IT #developer #developerlife #communication #Office #business #etiquette #india

Everyday life chronicles - warning it is on the longer side. “And then I realize this was xxx and I removed myself of the situation” “Sorry what was that?” “Xxx” “What?” “Xxx” “I’m sorry, I don’t understand” Me spelling the word “x.x.x” Interlocutor loading the letter in their brain. “Ooooh you mean xxx. (Insert laughter).” Me not hearing the difference between what they said and what I pronounced. “So as I was saying...” I speak 4 languages. 2 much much better than the 2 others. I lived in 3 different countries but 4 different linguistic communities (5 if you differentiate dialects.) I never went to school in another language but I have lived in 3 languages (working, going to the doctor, the hairdresser and so on) and taught one. Why do I tell you all of this? Well because this little intro dialog still happens to me. The word I replaced by “xxx” was the word “chaos” and I still remember the face of my interlocutor when I know well I can pronounce this word properly. This happens with interlocutors who have bathed in only one language, who are not used to speak with people from another cultural background, or those who wants to “teach me” the language. And it’s ok… it is not how I operate when someone mispronounce a word in French but I do understand where those friends and colleagues come from. In fact, this excerpt is not entirety true to the facts. My answer was first to apologize. Sadly some could say, I have learned to apologize a lot for the way I speak in my second language. Even if I have an author career in said language, and if I think and dream in that language, I have learned that most unilingual interlocutors need an apology for the way my accent comes out (stronger when I’m tired) and the way I look for my words (even if this happens also in my mother tongue). This is essential for a good communication between us. I am not ashamed of my strange accent (yes I am French but no it’s not a French accent) I am not ashamed of looking for my words. But I can get tired of having to make my interlocutor feels more at ease. I can get tired of making it easier for my interlocutor to speak only one language. I can get tired of my multilingual asset to be seen as a deficit. As human beings, our differences aren’t a disability. Our strength aren’t a deficit. Our efforts aren’t an impairment. We need to embrace those who make the effort to learn another language. We need to celebrate those who can express themselves in more than one language. We need to be mindful of the energy it takes to adapt daily to these situation. In my wildest dream those who use more than one language at work should be rewarded… especially if they work in more that one language daily and are able to do tasks other can. In my wildest dream, everyone speaks at least a slither of a second language. In my wildest dream, I stop apologizing. Thankfully I dream in English. It’s a first step to have my dreams come true!

As a law professional, you are well aware of how important it is to use language competently, accurately and skillfully and you probably constantly strive for excellence when you use English at work. However, if you are not satisfied with your performance, especially as far as speaking is concerned, you may want to consider whether perfectionism might be getting in your way and keeping you from speaking English fluently. In fact, it kills creativity and it creates anxiety because it is ofter fuelled by fear: the fear of not using the right words, the fear of getting stuck, the fear of making mistakes, the fear of having an accent. It can be helpful to know that perfectionism is a belief system consisting of recurring thoughts that you can override if you learn a few useful truths about what being fluent really means. ❌ You don’t have to worry about occasional mistakes. I’m sure you have already noticed that even native speakers do not speak English correctly 100% of the time. Making mistakes from time to time is not a problem if your ability to be understood is not negatively affected. ❌ You don’t have to get rid of your accent. Your accent is an important part of who you are and of your cultural heritage. Remember that what really matters is whether the people you talk to understand you clearly. (By the way, an Italian accent is often found to be very charming...) ❌ You don’t need to always be using complicated language. If you listen carefully to native speakers, you’ll realise that they tend to use simple language. So, unless complicated and obscure words are absolutely necessary in the context you’re in, you can certainly keep your language simple. Here are some quick tips to increase your confidence when you speak English: ✅ Speak slowly and focus on the true purpose: communication. You don’t need to rush to give your response: it’s perfectly fine to slow down your speech and give yourself the opportunity to find the right words. ✅ Pay attention to what’s working. Focus on the positive things in your communication: you know you’re OK when you can speak in a way that you can be understood and you’re able to communicate your ideas clearly. ✅ Practice active listening. This will allow you to pick up speech tricks from other people that you can use in future conversations. ✅ Think in English. This is a habit that you can create: start by looking around you and describe what you see and what is happening in English in your mind. Try to use these tips this week when you can, message me and let me know how it goes! And by the way, if you would like to advance your English communication skills, feel free to send me a message to find out how you can improve in this area. #FrancesRossTeaching #law #LegalEnglish #avvocati #avocats #abogados #advogados

As a law professional, you are well aware of how important it is to use language competently, accurately and skillfully and you probably constantly strive for excellence when you use English at work. However, if you are not satisfied with your performance, especially as far as speaking is concerned, you may want to consider whether perfectionism might be getting in your way and keeping you from speaking English fluently. In fact, it kills creativity and it creates anxiety because it is ofter fuelled by fear: the fear of not using the right words, the fear of getting stuck, the fear of making mistakes, the fear of having an accent. It can be helpful to know that perfectionism is a belief system consisting of recurring thoughts that you can override if you learn a few useful truths about what being fluent really means. ❌ You don’t have to worry about occasional mistakes. I’m sure you have already noticed that even native speakers do not speak English correctly 100% of the time. Making mistakes from time to time is not a problem if your ability to be understood is not negatively affected. ❌ You don’t have to get rid of your accent. Your accent is an important part of who you are and of your cultural heritage. Remember that what really matters is whether the people you talk to understand you clearly. (By the way, an Italian accent is often found to be very charming...) ❌ You don’t need to always be using complicated language. If you listen carefully to native speakers, you’ll realise that they tend to use simple language. So, unless complicated and obscure words are absolutely necessary in the context you’re in, you can certainly keep your language simple. Here are some quick tips to increase your confidence when you speak English: ✅ Speak slowly and focus on the true purpose: communication. You don’t need to rush to give your response: it’s perfectly fine to slow down your speech and give yourself the opportunity to find the right words. ✅ Pay attention to what’s working. Focus on the positive things in your communication: you know you’re OK when you can speak in a way that you can be understood and you’re able to communicate your ideas clearly. ✅ Practice active listening. This will allow you to pick up speech tricks from other people that you can use in future conversations. ✅ Think in English. This is a habit that you can create: start by looking around you and describe what you see and what is happening in English in your mind. Try to use these tips when you can, then message me and let me know how it goes! And by the way, if you would like to advance your English communication skills, feel free to send me a message to find out how you can improve in this area. #FrancesRossTeaching #law #LegalEnglish #avvocati #avocats #abogados #advogados

Are you worried that your English sounds basic and boring? 👇 Try this to make your language more precise and interesting. Perhaps you notice that you always repeat the same words and phrases or that other people express themselves in a more interesting way in English. 💡 One way that you can easily add some variety to your language is with the use of adverb or adjective collocations. Don't worry if you've no idea what that means! Basically they are words that normally go together and describe something or how something is done. For example, take the collocation 'completely different'. 'completely' and 'different' are two words that are commonly used together and sound good when they are. This means that if you use a sentence such as "This system is completely different to the previous one", your English sounds more interesting than if you'd used "very different". ✅ Another advantage is that 'completely different' is stronger and more emphatic. If you wanted to make it softer you could say it was 'slightly different'. ✅ These kind of words allow you to be more nuanced and precise and express exactly what you want to say. Some other useful examples are: 🔷 absolutely convinced 🔷 highly effective 🔷 fully aware 🔷 reasonably priced 🔷 perfectly normal So how can you start to incorporate these kinds of phrases into your vocabulary? ➡️ One key thing is to start to notice useful collocations you might want to use. Make a note if you see or hear one that you like. ➡️ Then choose one and try to find opportunities to use it. This can be hard to do spontaneously so at first it might be easiest when you're writing or giving a presentation that you've planned in advance. ➡️ When you feel comfortable using that collocation naturally, move onto the next one. Finally, take this into account: As you start to make your language more complicated and sophisticated, don't go too far. Although expressing yourself better is fantastic, in the end the ultimate goal is to communicate. You don't want to confuse or isolate people because your language has become too complex and unclear. ✅ Make sure the new words you are using will work for the people and situation you are working in. What do you think makes someone sound interesting when they're speaking English? Share your ideas below in the comments. __________________________________ Click the 🔔 on my profile to be notified every time I post!   #tech, #english, #communication, #speakingskills, #traininganddevelopment

HOW TO THINK IN ENGLISH TO ENHANCE YOUR CONFIDENCE IN FRENCH CONVERSATIONS WITHOUT WAITING UNTIL YOU’RE ABLE TO THINK IN FRENCH "How can one think in French and speak naturally without translating words from English?" This is a question I receive frequently, in various forms. In general, everyone aspires to be able to 'think in French.' This issue stems from the misconception that we must stop thinking in English for everything else to fall into place. Many believe that thinking in French will make finding words easier, sentences flow naturally, and lead to fluency. That's the common belief. Would you like to feel more confident speaking French BEFORE you start thinking in French? That's why I've developed a 3-step foolproof technique to assist you. But first, let's conduct an experiment. Try thinking in French right now. Seriously, step away from this page and give it a try for a minute. Was it easy? Of course not! We can't think, walk, breathe, or speak differently from what we're naturally accustomed to. We can train ourselves to do it, but it won't come naturally. It takes time and practice. So, expecting to think in French BEFORE we speak it is like putting the cart before the horse. We can only start thinking in French once we've spoken it long enough and fast enough. This means that before we can speak the language fluently, we won't be able to think in it. Is this disheartening news for you? It shouldn't be. Because we have to accept that this is how the human brain operates. The brain is lazy and will only find shortcuts (i.e., become efficient) when forced, not a moment sooner. If it's easier to translate from English into French, that's what it will do. And it's much easier for the brain to go from something familiar (English) to something still unfamiliar (French), so it transfers more quickly than if we compel it to fully engage with the still unfamiliar territory of the French language. Once we start speaking too rapidly (or for too long), Monsieur le Cerveau will raise his tiny arms and say, "This is too tiring; I'd rather stay in French than switch so quickly from English to French." However, this doesn't happen consistently. Initially, he'll remain in the French zone for the words he's practiced the most. He'll quickly revert to the English zone if translating is more comfortable. As a result, the periods when you're 'thinking in French' will become more frequent the more you speak the language. Several steps are involved before we finally start thinking in French. If you want access to my training that teaches you how to navigate French conversations WITHOUT the need to think in French first, comment below with the word 'STEPS.'

Title: Mastering Spanish Greetings: Essential Phrases for Every Learner Greetings are the cornerstone of social interaction in any language. When learning Spanish, mastering common greetings is the first step towards fluency. In this blog, we'll explore essential Spanish greetings that every learner should know, along with tips for using them effectively. ### ¡Hola! (Hello!) "¡Hola!" is the most basic and universal Spanish greeting. It can be used in both formal and informal settings, making it incredibly versatile. ### Buenos días (Good morning) This greeting is typically used in the morning until around noon. It's a polite way to start the day and show respect to the person you're addressing. ### Buenas tardes (Good afternoon) "Buenas tardes" is used in the afternoon until early evening. It's a courteous way to greet someone later in the day. ### Buenas noches (Good evening/night) Used in the evening and at night, "buenas noches" is a polite way to say hello or goodbye as the day comes to an end. ### ¿Cómo estás? (How are you?) This common phrase is used to inquire about someone's well-being. It's often followed by "bien" (good) or another appropriate response. ### Mucho gusto (Nice to meet you) When meeting someone for the first time, "mucho gusto" is a friendly way to express pleasure or satisfaction. ### Adiós (Goodbye) "Adiós" is a formal way to say goodbye. It's appropriate for both casual and formal situations. ### Hasta luego (See you later) Used to indicate that you'll see the person again in the near future, "hasta luego" is a casual way to say goodbye. ### Tips for Usage 1. **Context Matters:** Consider the context and relationship with the person you're greeting. Formal greetings are used with strangers, elders, or in professional settings, while informal greetings are used with friends, family, or peers. 2. **Body Language:** Accompany your greetings with appropriate body language, such as a smile and eye contact, to convey warmth and sincerity. 3. **Practice:** Regularly practice using these greetings in conversations to become more comfortable and confident. ### Conclusion Mastering Spanish greetings is essential for effective communication and building relationships in Spanish-speaking communities. By learning and using these common phrases, you'll navigate social interactions with ease and make a positive impression on native speakers. ### Keywords: Spanish greetings, common Spanish phrases, learn Spanish greetings, Spanish language basics, greeting etiquette. ### Hashtags: #SpanishGreetings #LearnSpanish #LanguageLearning #GreetingEtiquette #SpanishPhrases #LanguageSkills

What if nobody understands my English? 😟 How can you stop this being a problem? If you worry about people not understanding you in English, you are not alone. This is one of the most common worries I hear from my clients. The problem is that if you are worrying about this, it's almost impossible to communicate well. You'll probably be nervous and distracted by thoughts like: 😟 "Did I pronounce that right"? 😟 "Did I make a mistake"? 😟 "Did they understand me"? So what can you do to improve the situation? Here are some things that might help 👇 🔷 Work on your pronunciation If people really don't understand you it might be because you are pronouncing some key sounds or words incorrectly. ⭐️ Getting some help with this will make you easier to understand and make you feel more confident. 🔷 Slow down People often want to speak as fast as they do in their native language. However, speaking as fast as possible is not helpful, especially in an international meeting where many people are speaking English as a foreign language. ⭐️ You will communicate better if you concentrate on speaking slowly and clearly. 🔷 Organise your information It's very difficult to follow disorganised information, even if the English is absolutely perfect. Make sure you explain your ideas in a clear and organised way. ⭐️ If necessary explain your points in different ways so that you give your listeners another opportunity to understand. 🔷 Don't automatically blame yourself. When we're speaking a foreign language we normally assume a communication problem is our fault. However, there may be lots of reasons someone doesn't understand. For example: ➡️ They might not be used to your accent or the version of English you speak. ➡️ They are not confident with the topic of the meeting. ➡️ They are thinking about something else! None of these things mean your English is bad. ⭐️ That person may just need time to adjust to how you speak and what you are talking about. 🔷 Work on your mentality It's possible that the problem is not your pronunciation, organisation or how fast you talk. It might be that worrying about your English means you are not able to concentrate on communicating well. ⭐️ If this is the case you need to find a way to increase your confidence in your English speaking so that you can focus on expressing yourself the way you want to. ______________________________ If you'd like to see more posts like this, click 🔔 the on my profile to be notified every time I post. #english, #communication, #speakingskills, #traininganddevelopment