Podcast Archive

Whether you work in the hotel industry, or are staying at a hotel as a guest, you will find the language we look at today very useful. Once you’ve arrived in your hotel, you may need to ask for directions, or ask about hotel facilities. In today’s Business English podcast, we will listen as Christy explains to a new guest about the hotel. In the mp3, we will study some of the phrases and words Christy uses to describe the services offered by the hotel.

LINK TO DOWNLOAD THIS LESSON (right-click, save as) :
epod_biz104_B26.mp3(8.20mb)

Difficulty Level: Upper Intermediate | Popularity: 74 | Rating: 8
TOPICS: hotels | FUNCTIONS: describing products|services, giving directions
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In today’s Business English podcast we are looking at the hospitality industry – in particular, hotels. Christy is in charge of the staff who work in a large hotel, and in today’s mp3, we will study how she reprimands one of the employees for not being polite and courteous to a customer.

LINK TO DOWNLOAD THIS LESSON (right-click, save as) :
epod_biz103_A44.mp3(10.94mb)

Difficulty Level: Lower Intermediate | Popularity: 86 | Rating: 9
TOPICS: managing people, customer service, hotels | FUNCTIONS: etiquette|manners, reprimanding
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In today’s Business English lesson, we will start to look at the airline industry. When you arrive at the airport to travel on a plane, the first thing you need to do is to check in. In today’s dialogue, we will listen as Kris goes to the check-in desk and Christy checks him in.

LINK TO DOWNLOAD THIS LESSON (right-click, save as) :
epod_biz102_D16.mp3(9.06mb)

Difficulty Level: Elementary | Popularity: 92 | Rating: 8.3
TOPICS: airlines, business travel | FUNCTIONS: stating purpose
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When speaking, discussing cause and effect is useful for explaining your decisions or your opinions. First you present a reason (a cause), and then you present its result or consequence – its effect. This type of analysis is frequently used in presentations. In today’s Business English podcast, we will listen as David gives a presentation on what he thinks will happen if management doesn’t start to keep their employees better informed. In the mp3, we can hear some of the phrases David uses to explain cause and effect.

LINK TO DOWNLOAD THIS LESSON (right-click, save as) :
epod_biz101_B25.mp3(10.75mb)

Difficulty Level: Upper Intermediate | Popularity: 79 | Rating: 9
TOPICS: presentations | FUNCTIONS: cause and effect
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In today’s Business English podcast we are going to look at computers. PCs and laptops are part of our lives today, but many of us aren’t really sure what is meant by GHz, MB, GB, FSB, so in the lesson, we are going to listen as Christy explains what some of these terms actually mean, how to pronounce them, and how they affect the performance of David’s new computer!

LINK TO DOWNLOAD THIS LESSON (right-click, save as) :
epod_biz100_C18.mp3(9.87mb)

Difficulty Level: Advanced | Popularity: 82 | Rating: 8.5
TOPICS: tech | FUNCTIONS: describing products|services, clarifying|defining, comparing
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Quite often during a meeting, things have a tendency to get off topic – people start to discuss things that are not on the agenda. In today’s Business English lesson we will listen as David leads a meeting. He works for a company that refurbishes office premises, and today’s meeting is to discuss progress on his project. But David’s staff have the habit of wandering off topic! David frequently has to try to get them back on track – not an easy thing to do.

LINK TO DOWNLOAD THIS LESSON (right-click, save as) :
epod_biz99_B24.mp3(9.63mb)

Difficulty Level: Upper Intermediate | Popularity: 85 | Rating: 10
TOPICS: meetings | FUNCTIONS: persuading|influencing
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Today’s Business English mp3 is about telephone calls. Sometimes when you call someone on the phone, especially at work, the receptionist might ask you to wait for a moment. Perhaps she has to try to connect you, or maybe the person you are calling is already on the phone. Today’s podcast will give you some phrases that you might hear if someone wants you to hold.

LINK TO DOWNLOAD THIS LESSON(right-click, save as) :
epod_biz98_D15.mp3(8.01mb)

Difficulty Level: Elementary | Popularity: 85 | Rating: 10
TOPICS: telephoning | FUNCTIONS: command|request
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In today’s Business English podcast we are going to look at the Just-in-Time process. The Just-in-time (JIT) way of working, which is also known as a lean production system, is a philosophy that tries to make any manufacturing process more cost-effective by eliminating waste. In the mp3, we are going to listen as Christy introduces the concept, and explains a little more about it.

LINK TO DOWNLOAD THIS LESSON (right-click, save as) :
epod_biz97_C17.mp3(8.62mb)

Difficulty Level: Advanced | Popularity: 87 | Rating: 9.5
TOPICS: manufacturing | FUNCTIONS: clarifying|defining
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Today’s Business English mp3 lesson is about meetings. When you are leading a meeting, you might need to know how to ask people to join in, participate in the discussion, and make some contribution to the meeting. In the podcast today, we will listen to David as he leads a meeting and asks people to participate.

LINK TO DOWNLOAD THIS LESSON (right-click, save as) :
epod_biz96_D14.mp3(6.36mb)

Difficulty Level: Elementary | Popularity: 79 | Rating: 9
TOPICS: meetings | FUNCTIONS: persuading|influencing
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In today’s Business English podcast we are continuing our appointments and meetings lessons. What do you say when you arrive for a meeting? What do receptionists say when a stranger walks into the office? Listen to the podcast, and find out when Helen arrives for her meeting with Mr. Smith.

LINK TO DOWNLOAD THIS LESSON (right-click, save as) :
epod_biz95_A43.mp3(9.63mb)

Difficulty Level: Lower Intermediate | Popularity: 75 | Rating: 8
TOPICS: meetings, schedules | FUNCTIONS: discussing time
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