How to speak better English · 64 days ago
English is becoming more and more important to do business in Hong Kong. As globalisation continues, companies here need to do business with foreigners from North America, Europe, the Middle East and India. This requires using English as the communication medium. Even doing business with Japanese and Korean clients will mean that you have to use English.
For some, writing in English comes easier than speaking. First of all you don’t have to face to face contact so its much easier. Secondly you have time to go over what you have written and correct mistakes before you send the email out. Lastly, modern software often corrects your writing automatically. The downside with written communication is that if there are any errors they will be easily spotted as the person reading it has time to read and read again your mistakes!
The most difficult skill for most people is speaking. There are a multitude of problems – from not being sure about which tense to use to not having enough vocabulary to express yourself. Of course pronunciation and intonation are also very important.
What is very important to realise, however, is that listening carefully to what the other person is saying is crucial. Quite often people only listen to the first sentence and then start thinking how to answer that particular sentence but then don’t listen to the rest.
This can often lead to miscommunication. For example:
A: Sales figures are down overall in Asia. What are you going to do to help rectify this?
A: Most areas performed badly. However, Hong Kong and Thailand made a profit and we really need to concentrate on Malaysia and Singapore.
B: (Listens to first sentence only).
B: (answers) : Why don’t we launch a sales campaign in Hong Kong?
B has made a big mistake and his boss must wonder if he is up to the job! If he had listened more carefully then this communication error would not have occurred.
In summary, remember that listening is just as important as speaking. And learning to listen properly is a skill that needs to be learnt.
HKEnglish.com runs a selection of interesting and enjoyable English courses. They specialise in one-to-one English tuition and their tutors are experienced, native speakers.
Start improving your English today. Act now! contact them now by email or call their Hotline 2830 9993
— Charles
How to write better business emails · 71 days ago
First things first
Writing emails at work is something that we all have to do. Writing the proper way can save you time and as well as trouble since you will get your message across accurately and easily.
And that’s what language is all about: transferring information.
The most important thing you have to understand is that organisation plays a key role in communicating your message.
Like anything in this world.. whether it be starting off on a long journey or getting dinner ready, it is useful if you spend a few minutes preparing. Jot down your thoughts on a piece of paper even before clicking the “new message” or “reply” button.
Your notes can be bullet points but for more complex issues a spider diagram (sometimes also called a mind map) can help enormously. After you have written them go over and delete any that are irrelevant. Then organise them logically and in the order that is most appropriate.
You now have a plan for your email and can start writing. You will be amazed how this simple process can save you so much time and effort. And with the organisation taken care of, you have more time to concentrate on getting the grammar right!
But that is another topic. Come back later for more tips!
HKEnglish.com runs high quality one-to-one Business English Courses.
Their experienced, native tutors’will help you improve your English proficiency effectively and efficiently in a short period of time. Their affordable, good-value courses are arranged at times to suit your busy schedule. For more information contact them now.
— Charles
Formal or Informal English? · 125 days ago
Students of English are often advised to watch TV to improve their English.
While this can be an entertaining way to learn, quite often the language presented is not always suitable for every occasion and in particular the workplace.
The style of English used in business meetings, for instance, is much more formal and tentative than the style of English used in day to day conversation with friends.
As an example, lets have a look at disagreeing with something. If you are having a conversation with a close friend then it is perfectly acceptable to disagree by saying “That’s rubbish!” or “Nonsense!”
But in the more formal work environment this same phrase would be totally unacceptable. Disagreeing more tentatively by saying “I am afraid I don’t agree with you.” would be much more appropriate. An even better, and more powerful way, is to partially concede that the other person has a valid point and then put in your own opinion as in “I can see your point, but I still think that …. is the best option”.
Knowing when to use formal or informal English is a very difficult skill. However, a good private English tutor will be able to train you to use English appropriately for different circumstances.
HKEnglish.com runs a variety of interesting English courses including Business English, Social English and General English. All their English courses have a pronunciation and grammar components so you will improve your English quickly and effectively. Their native English tutors are very experienced, so for more information contact them now.
— Charles
Common grammar problems with spoken English in Hong Kong · 160 days ago
There are many problems for Cantonese speakers of English in Hong Kong. HK SAR is now part of China proper, but Cantonese is spoken by the majority of people in Hong Kong rather than Mandarin.
Communicating in English for foreign speakers is a balance between fluency and accuracy. Many factors come into place and correct grammar is one of the major ones. This article will focus on the most common grammar problems.
By fluency I mean being able to express yourself clearly without hesitation. Fluency involves having enough vocabulary as well as confidence to speak in English. Accuracy involves using vocabulary appropriately, correct grammar as well as proper pronunciation and intonation.
Having a “British or American accent” does not really help communication but it is the ability to communicate fluently and accurately that is most important. However, as said in the introduction, it is a balance between fluency and accuracy that makes a speaker able to communicate his ideas. Some errors are tolerable and being able to express yourself confidently and fluently is sometimes considered more important that 100% accuracy.
The most common problems include:
Prepositions: Incorrect use of prepositions such as in, at, and on. For instance “I’ve been Hong Kong ten years”.
Articles: Wrong use of articles – definite (the), indefinite (a) and zero (no article). For instance “I’ve been in the Hong Kong ten years”.
Plurals: adding plural “s” when none exists or omitting the plural “s” when it should be there. For instance “I’ve been in Hong Kong for ten year”.
Gerund: wrong use of the “ing” form or infinitive. For instance saying “I am boring” instead of “I am bored”., or “I am going to swimming”.
Tenses: Wrong selection of a tense appropriate for the situation or incorrect construction. For instance “I been in Hong Kong ten years”. A very common mistake is the misuse of the present perfect and past perfect tenses.
All of these errors can be rectified by proper analysis and coaching by a Native English Teacher. HKEnglish.com runs a number of varied and interesting one-to-one English courses in Hong Kong, HK SAR, with lessons tailored to your exact needs. Their experience, qualified native English tutors will analyse your spoken (and written) English and correct these errors so that you may speak confidently with both fluent and accurate English. Contact them now for more information.
— Charles
English Pronunication in Hong Kong - Major Problems · 168 days ago
Do you often have to repeat yourself when communicating in English? Do you get blank looks and raised eyebrows when you are in meetings? Do you feel that people just don’t understand what you are saying? Are there long pauses at the other end in teleconferences? If so, your English pronunciation may not be up to standard.
Communicating in English has always been a problem in Hong Kong. 98% of the population here speak Cantonese as their mother tongue, and although English is taught in schools from kindergarten upwards, it is hardly ever spoken outside the classroom.
As globalisation continues and Hong Kong’s economy moves to become more service orientated, the need for English to communicate in business is growing at an ever increasing pace.
Many sounds in the English language just don’t exist in Cantonese and so Hong Kong people have great difficulty in producing them. An “R” sounds like and “L” and so BLUE is pronounced like BREW. The “S” sound in SOCKS is pronounced like “SH” and becomes SHOCKS.
The three most common mistakes, however, are:
“TH” sound replaced by “F”
The inability to pronounce the “TH” sounds in words like Therapist. Instead, HK speakers say “Ferapist” The “TH” sounds is mistakenly pronounced “F” instead.
Past Tense “ED” missed
The past tense ED is often omitted and causes confusion with meaning as well as giving the impression of grammatical mistakes. Simple words like ENDED are pronounced as END
Plural “S” missed or sounded when not present
The omission of the plural “S” also gives rise to confusion of meaning, as well as grammatical inaccuracy. “I borrowed three book last week.” instead of “I borrowed three books….”
Also common is the addition of an “S” when it is not needed. So, for instance, speakers add an extra “S” and LAST becomes LASTS.
English is just another language, and the purpose of any language is to communicate information. The ability to pronounce English correctly is one major step in making yourself better understood. And more importantly to stand out in the business world as a “good communicator”.
HKEnglish offers Quality One-to-One private English tuition with experienced native English speaking teachers in Hong Kong, HKSAR. There are a wide variety of English Courses with English lessons designed around your exact English learning objectives. For more information, or to schedule an appointment, contact them now.. Their centre is conveniently located at the Convention Centre in Wanchai on HK Island.
— Charles