03-21-2025

Doing Business in Japan: What You Need to Know Japan is a great place for business. It has a strong economy, advanced technology, and a rich culture. However, doing business in Japan is different from Western countries. Understanding Japanese business culture will help you succeed. Respect and Politeness: Respect is very important in Japan. People bow when they greet each other. A firm handshake is not common. Always use polite language and show good manners in meetings. Business Cards:...

03-10-2025

Mastering Business Negotiation: Essential Tips for ESL Learners Negotiation is a key skill in business. Whether you are discussing a contract, setting a price, or resolving a conflict, strong negotiation skills can help you succeed. Here are some essential tips to improve your negotiation abilities in English. Prepare in Advance Before a negotiation, research the topic and know your goals. Think about what you want and what the other party might want. Preparing key phrases, such as: “Our main...

03-04-2025

The Importance of Customer Service in Business Customer service is an essential part of any successful business. It refers to the support and assistance that a company provides to its customers before, during, and after they purchase a product or service. Good customer service helps businesses build strong relationships with their customers, increase customer satisfaction, and improve brand loyalty. Why Is Customer Service Important? Customer Retention – When businesses provide excellent...

01-20-2025

Hello everyone and welcome to 2025. Todays idiom is he/she caved. This refers to someone agreeing to something they previously resisted or were unwilling to accept. Example 1 He caved to the idea of going to Disneyland for the company party. Example 2 The management caved to the demands of the union.

12-12-2024

Another year has gone by. How much did your English improve? The idiom we will introduce today is heads up. This means to inform or warn about something before it happens. Example 1 Give me a heads up before you decide to quit. Example 2 Please give me a heads up if there are any changes.

11-16-2024

Hello everyone, are you enjoying the beautiful fall weather? Here is a our idiom for today, "thrown in the deep end". This means to be put into a difficult situation with no training or preparation. Example 1 We threw the new worker in the deep end the other day. She had to do a sales pitch, and did pretty good. Example 2 I was thrown in the deep end when I started working for the Japanese company. They made me speak Japanese from day one. It was sure a tough experience, but a good one.

10-06-2024

Hello to all the wonderful students learning English with us. Today's idiom is "writing is on the wall". This means a clear sign something bad is about to happen. Example 1 We could all see the writing on the wall that this company was going to fail. Example 2 The writing is on the wall. The economy is going into recession.

08-27-2024

We hope everyone is enjoying their summer. Fall is right around the corner, so get ready to bring out the coats and boats : ) Today our idiom is corner the market. This means to dominate a market or business. Example 1 The new bakery's delicious bread helped it corner the market in the neighborhood, with everyone choosing it over other shops. Example 2 The company lowered its prices and quickly cornered the market on smartphones, leaving its competitors behind.

07-10-2024

In our blog today we are going to use the phrasal verb "putting in". There are many meanings, but today we will focus on the meaning of investing time into something. Example 1 We have been putting in so much overtime this week. Example 2 Have you put in any overtime this week?

07-07-2024

We hope everyone is enjoying their weekend. Here is another important phrasal verb to use in business situations. Catch Up. This means that you are behind in your work for example. Example 1 I just got back from a two week holiday. Now I need to catch up on my emails. Example 2 I had to get caught up at work because I took a two week vacation.