BizPod

This week we have an interview with Robert Dennis, a seasoned business English teacher living in Milan. He discusses his background, including his studies at Oxford University, and his experiences teaching English to a variety of professionals and students, both in person and online. Robert highlights his website, PayAsYouLearn.com, which offers comprehensive business English courses and resources, including a free introductory course. He also mentions his book, Business English, written specifically for Italian learners aiming to work in the UK. The conversation touches on the evolution of English teaching and learning resources, with Robert recommending diverse methods like audiobooks, streaming services, game shows, and even platforms like TikTok for language acquisition, while also cautioning against the addictive nature of social media scrolling. Enjoy!

Robert says...

"I can help you with anything in English!

I am a highly experienced Business English teacher, published author, creative copywriter and a resourceful translator from Italian into English. Contact me today to discover how I can help you or your organisation communicate more effectively."

Sign up for Robert's newsletter: https://substack.com/@robertenglish

Learn Business English (Full Course) 

This course is a great way to learn business English for your job! In this course, you will discover how to communicate successfully at work - speaking to customers and colleagues, making phone calls, writing emails, taking part in meetings, giving presentations, talking about your job and your company, dealing with problems - and much more!

Study the key words and phrases carefully to improve your English language skills!

Learning Business English has been created by Robert Dennis, an experienced business English teacher who has taught thousands of students both in companies and privately. Find out more about Robert Dennis here: https://robertdennis.it

Start improving your Business English skills today!

Free (intro) course

• Business English

Improve your ability to use English in your work. This online course will help you achieve your language objectives.

• Make Progress

Develop your language skills and knowledge of English. This course will help you quickly build your Business English competence.

• Ideas and Tips

Get support and useful suggestions on how you can learn Business English better.

https://www.payasyoulearn.com/courses/learn-business-english

Follow Robert on Social Media

• Instagram - Robertdennisenglish - https://www.instagram.com/robertdennisenglish/
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@robert_english
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dennisrobert/
• YouTube - Business English channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOByj7srXQJAPXB5bnRUhaw

This BizPod episode features a discussion about the act of apologising, particularly in a business context. We examine an article that suggests using more complex vocabulary makes apologies seem more sincere, but question the validity of the research cited. We critique the article's examples of effective apologies, noting they sound unnatural and lack the word "sorry," and explore factors like spending money and physical presence as ways to enhance an apology's perceived sincerity. 

Check out more via the website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ellbizpod.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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This time, we discuss various aspects of celebrations and parties in the UK, prompted by recent VE Day events. We highlight key elements of British national celebrations, including the presence of the Red Arrows aerial display team and the Royal Family. The discussion touches upon other commemorative aspects like military marches, monuments adorned with flags, and the display of poppies, particularly a notable ceramic poppy installation at the Tower of London. We also enjoy memories of the British tradition of street parties and emphasise the importance of music in any celebration.

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This week we meet, chat, and laugh with Giulia where we speak about various aspects of Italian culture and language learning. Giulia, an Italian teacher, highlights common Italian characteristics and dispels some stereotypes, noting her own preferences for American coffee and less pasta/pizza. 

The conversation also explores the concept and effectiveness of corporate team building activities and Giulia shares her personal experience and advice on language learning, emphasising the importance of connecting learning with personal interests. 

Finally, we touch upon the perceived chaos and energy of Italian life as experienced by a student, offering a contrasting view to Giulia’s more introverted nature.

Connect with her on Linktree: https://linktr.ee/spaghettilearning

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Have you heard about "olo"? Scientists claim to have discovered a brand new colour that no human has ever seen before without special help! This saturated blue-green shade was reportedly seen by stimulating specific cells in the eye with lasers. But is it really a new colour, or is the discovery "open to argument"?

This week we discuss this amazing claim and what it means. We use the idea of this 'new colour' olo as a starting point to talk about the fascinating world of colours in general, from their historical significance (like purple traditionally being a colour for royalty) to how businesses use them in branding.

Why is the colour of a brand like Coca-Cola (red) or British Airways (blue) so important? What does the research into olo potentially mean for helping people who are colour blind? We cover all this and more!

Check out more via the website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ellbizpod.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Join us for a thoughtful new episode of our podcast this week. We delve into the fascinating world of leaders and leadership, especially as we reflect on the recent passing of Pope Francis. We explore what makes a leader truly inspirational, sharing our ideas about the qualities of great leaders and even discussing examples of leadership that might not be so positive. This episode offers a wonderful opportunity to learn new vocabulary and improve your English listening skills while considering important ideas about those who are meant to offer influence and guidance in our world. 

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Ever heard of a town giving away free chickens?

It sounds like something from a fairy tale, but it's happening in parts of Europe!

Our latest podcast episode explores the story of towns in France and Belgium that have implemented innovative schemes to combat food waste by providing residents with their own egg-laying hens.

This episode offers a fascinating blend of cultural insights and English language learning. You'll discover European culture as we explore the values and traditions that might explain why these towns are adopting such unique solutions. We’ll follow the story, tracing the development of these programs, from the initial idea to the results and challenges.
Come and listen, and consider whether you'd like to adopt a chicken or two!

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This week, we're pleased to introduce you to Ricky, known online as the "Kiwi Professor." If you've ever wondered about learning English in a practical and relatable way, this episode is for you.

Ricky, a native of New Zealand (where "Kiwi" is a friendly nickname), brings a wealth of experience to our conversation. He's a CELTA-certified Business English Coach specializing in the I.T. sector, helping professionals communicate effectively.

We'll be discussing his approach to teaching and learning, his insights on general life, and a preview of a new course he's developing. His guiding principle, "A little bit of English... EVERY DAY," underscores his belief in consistent, manageable progress. 

Check out his website: https://www.kiwiprofesor.com/

Connect with him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiwiprofesor

Check out more from the ELL via the website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ellbizpod.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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This time, we’re discussing the potential closure of the last major British steelworks located in Scunthorpe. We explore the reasons behind this threat, including financial losses and the need for a transition to cleaner energy. We touch upon the historical decline of the UK steel industry, the economic impact on the local community, and the strategic importance of domestic steel production, even mentioning its current ownership by a Chinese company. The conversation also briefly considers redundancy and transferable skills and draws parallels to the decline of other traditional industries in the UK, ultimately concluding with a lighthearted quiz about steel.

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What do boxing, grills, and a comeback have in common? The Unbelievable Story of George Foreman!

You might think you know George Foreman – the boxing legend, the face of the iconic grill. But his story is far more complex and compelling than you imagine.

In this episode, we delve deep into the life of a man who defied expectations at every turn. From his turbulent youth and Olympic gold medal triumph to his shocking retirement and even more stunning comeback to the boxing ring at age 45, we uncover the layers of a true American icon.

Check out more via the website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ellbizpod.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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