5 Common Mistakes Using Business English

1. Personal vs. Personnel

personal - an adjective meaning something is particular to an individual or private.
Ex: No personal emails are allowed on corporate computers at work.

personnel - a noun for the number of employees working at place of work (factory, office, department store, etc) and a once popular name for what is called ´human resources´ today - the division of a company that hires, fires, and trains employees.

Ex: The latest email from personnel reminds everyone personal emails are not tolerated on corporate computers.

2. Executive vs Execute

executive - adjective or noun referring to the top brass in a company (vice president, president, CEO and the like)
Ex: One day the boss´s secretary wants to network her way into the executive inner circle of the company.

execute - a verb that means among many things - to carry out fully or to put to death legally. Thus, if not careful one could execute the executives with a  mistake!

3. For vs. Since

For - denotes a duration of time
Ex. I have played tennis for three years.

Since - denotes a duration of time from a certain reference point
 Ex. I have played tennis since 2006.

4. What are the plurals of data, information and training?

Plurals - data(*), information, and training - these are treated like a collective noun and no s is needed!

* Datum is the singular for data. However, data is often used with a singular verb - Ex. The data is being downloaded from the server right now.

5. discreet vs discrete 

Discreet - adjective - being prudent or showing good judgment, especially in speech, modest or unnoticeable
Ex. I didn't want anyone to see what I was doing to avoid arousing suspicion so I had to be discreet entering the locked door at the back of the building.


Discrete - adjective - individually distinct or of distinct or unconnected elements
 Ex. Even though she trusted her boyfriend, they kept their money in two discrete accounts.

Bonus: e.g vs i.e

e.g. stands for exempli gratia = for example.
Ex.  : "I like fast cars, e.g. Ferrari and Porche"
In the sentence above you are simply giving an example of the kinds of cars you like - Ferraris and Porches.

i.e. stands for id est = that is (in explanation).
Ex. I like fast cars, i.e. any car that can go over 130mph. 


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If you are in São Paulo and want English lessons personally designed to fit your needs, please call Professor Winn at 6214-1511 or send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com.

Anyone interested in English-language services or translations (Sp/Fr/Pt>En) may send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com for a prompt evaluation.

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Executive English Training

Improve your confidence in communication, writing, expressing yourself at conferences and meetings, negotiations, conducting presentations, as well as dealing with customers! Start Executive Englishi Training today with Professor Winn!

My class enables you to excel in executive English communicative competency and succeed in today's competitive business world.
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If you are in São Paulo, Brazil,  and want English lessons personally designed to fit your needs, please call Professor Winn at 1160 461 342 or send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com.

Anyone interested in English-language services or translations (Sp/Fr/Pt>En) may send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com for a prompt evaluation.

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English for the Workplace

Are you seeking a job requiring an interview in English? Do you need more confidence writing an email, memo, or even your resume in English?

You need English for the Workplace!

My course is tailored to address the participants' everyday English Language needs based on job - specific language and vocabulary. It offers a practical introduction to the vocabulary, expressions and language of the workplace for business professionals. Participants gain extra skills in the areas of communication and listening comprehension, as well as drafting business letters, resumes and reading on a variety of business topics.
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If you are in São Paulo, Brazil,  and want English lessons personally designed to fit your needs, please call Professor Winn at 6214-1511 or send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com.

Anyone interested in English-language services or translations (Sp/Fr/Pt>En) may send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com for a prompt evaluation.

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Animating Business English Learning Pt 2

Traditional staid approaches solely using textbooks, for example, to teaching Business English bore students and do not produce the communicative skills necessary to function in real-life situations.

Therefore, scenario-based Business English training is gaining critical mass. Professor Winn believes the most practical usage of the language serves the student and provides the preparation for the real work world.

There is a growing consensus among language teaching community that, compared to the classical approach of learning emphasizing vocabulary and formal grammar rules better learning outcomes can be achieved by using approaches that enhance opportunities for students to engage with real-life situations and tasks.

Scenario-based learning may be defined as learning that occurs in a context, situation, or social framework. Practical use of the English language is the ultimate aim focusing on the importance of contextualizing learning activity in real life scenarios and contexts.

In scenario-based learning, learners participate in a fictional context-based meaningful
authentic learning environment and collaborate with other participants in completing activities structured into scenarios reproducing real-world situations. Decisions made by the learners affect the outcomes of the scenarios.

The benefits of scenario-based learning and its successful uses in language teaching are well documented. Scenarios are selected to reflect common and/or particularly important situations that are likely to occur in the actual language use.

Scenarios and case studies are a common way to structure business-related knowledge.

Therefore scenario-based learning is particularly suitable for an authentic, immersive learning
environment. In such an environment, linguistic knowledge can be acquired directly as tacit knowledge, without formalizing it as grammar rules or vocabulary lists.


If you are in Buenos Aires and want animated English lessons personally designed to fit your needs, please call Professor Winn at 1160 461 342 or send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com.

Anyone interested in English-language services or translations (Sp/Fr/Pt>En) may send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com for a prompt evaluation.

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Animating Business English Learning Pt 1

At present, numerous factors can inhibit these learners from attaining high level of proficiency in business English. One of them is due to how business English courses are conducted.

For instance, often English Foreign Language syllabi put excessive emphasis on formal aspects of grammar, while learners are taught at a common pace without taking into account their background or individual needs. Adult learners are often not accustomed to acquiring formal
knowledge, and have different levels of exposure to English in their daily and professional lives, requiring an individualized approach, particularly for weaker students.

This problem is further compounded by the choice of teaching and learning materials. Traditionally, the most common type of teaching material used to teach business English are textbooks. The major problem with using textbook format is that it is non-interactive and lacks stimulation. Apart from textbooks, audiovisual materials which only provide one-way interaction, such as video and audio cassettes, may also be used. Boring!

Teaching materials that lack interactivity in combination with high student to teacher ratios in the classroom often result in learning environment that is not conducive to developing communication skills.

In most cases, these learning materials are imported from overseas, and are targeted at non-native speakers who either work or study in native speaking contexts and almost invariably interact with native speakers.

So, what is an effective alternative? Professor Winn uses scenario-based learning for business English.

Find out more about scenario-based learning in our next post.

For an animated approach to learning English (business, legal, medical, etc), please call Professor Winn at 1160 461 342 in Buenos Aires or send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com.

Anyone interested in English-language services or translations (Sp/Fr/Pt>En) may send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com for a prompt evaluation.

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6 More Tips to Improve Business English Writing

In our previous post, we dropped 5 top tips to improve your business English writing. We are always striving to help our loyal readers and so conjured up 6 more to help you. Let us know what you think!

6. Avoid using jargon and technical terms. - Again, KISS principle - keep it simple!

7. Don't use clichés such as "Please be advised that" - Write clearly and with purpose - don't obfuscate!

8. Use active verbs instead of the passive voice - Verbs are the engines of any language. Let them shine and accurately express your thoughts in the active voice.

9. Format information in lists and use bullet points. - Break up monotonous text by grouping similar thoughts together in lists.

10. Insert tables and graphs into text rather than writing lengthy descriptions.- A picture is worth a thousand words.

11. Know your target audience. - Who is going to read your writing and why? - Are you writing for executives or front-line managers? Adjust your writing to fit the audience.

Hire your English coach today to assist you in perfecting your written English!

If you are in Buenos Aires and want English lessons personally designed to fit your needs, please call Professor Winn at 1160 461 342 or send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com.

Anyone interested in English-language services or translations (Sp/Fr/Pt>En) may send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com for a prompt evaluation.

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5 Tips to Improve Your Business English Writing

Have you ever read an email or memo you did not understand? Have you had to read and read again the same paragraph to grasp its meaning? Do you worry that others may not be able to understand what your writing is about? Be understood today!

The purpose of any piece of writing is to communicate information to your readers. Here are our 5 top tips to make your writing clearer and more understandable:

1. Plan your writing for your readers - Know what you are going to say before you write it.

2. Put the most important information at the beginning - First things first as the saying goes!

3. Use short, understandable modern words instead of long, complicated old ones - Freshen your vocabulary!

4. Use short sentences - Keep it short and simple, stupid! (KISS principle)

5. Get rid of unnecessary words, information and sentences. - Brevity is the soul of wit so Shakespeare said.

Hire your personal English-language coach to perfect your English today. Writing is often overlooked in traditional language learning programs. Be understood today and get a leg up on your competition!

If you are in Buenos Aires and want English lessons personally designed to fit your needs, please call Professor Winn at 1160 461 342 or send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com.

Anyone interested in translations or other English-language services may send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com for a prompt evaluation.

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Your business, academic or personal success depends on effective English communication. Get it right the first time.

If you are in Buenos Aires and want English lessons personally designed to fit your needs, please call Professor Winn at 1160 461 342 or send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com.

Anyone interested in English-language services or translations (Sp/Fr/Pt>En) may send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com for a prompt evaluation.

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