EnglishClub

Warning: this video contains strong language that may offend some people. Turn subtitles on/off using CC button or Settings

What do YOU think? Please leave your comments below ⬇️

See also:

• Director’s Statement
• Classroom Materials for Teachers

Face-to-face negotiations can be logistically difficult, time-consuming, and costly. An increasing number of businesses have chosen to tackle these issues by utilizing negotiation training. However, while virtual meetings can save time and money, interactions that aren’t face-to-face run the risk of hitting a miscommunication stumbling block.

One way to reduce the risk of miscommunication is to get a firm grasp on the most commonly used business English words and phrases. Here are some words and phrases you may come across often and how they may be used.

to reach a consensus

Definition: To reach an agreement.

This phrase may be used in different ways. For example:

• To highlight the goal of the discussion: “We hope to reach a consensus on the two pending items of the deal.”
• To confirm an outcome: “We have reached a consensus on when payment is due.”
• To indicate that an agreement has not been reached: “We are unable to reach consensus on the items discussed.”

to drive a hard bargain

Definition: To work very hard to get an agreement in a negotiator’s favor.

This expression can be used to describe the nature of the deal or the other negotiator’s approach. For instance, “They’re driving a hard bargain and have refused to compromise on any of the terms.” Or, “You drove a hard bargain, but we were able to come to an agreement.”

to come to terms

Definition: Typically means to gradually move towards an agreement.

The process of reaching a consensus may be referred to as coming to terms.

Example: “After much negotiation, we’ve come to terms on the cost of the online trading resource.”

concession/to concede

Definition: Something you give up when trying to make a deal. Negotiation trainers advise that a concession may also be referred to as a “trade-off,” as it’s usually given in exchange for something.

For instance, let’s say a buyer wants to negotiate the cost of an item. The seller may agree to “give up” the higher price for a lower one. The buyer may say, “In order for us to reach a deal, some concessions must be made.” In turn, the seller may respond, “We’re willing to concede on the price and offer you $65 per piece instead of $75 for a longer term.”

“To concede” may also be used in a question or statement. For example, “What are you willing to concede?”

a deal breaker

Definition: An item or an issue that has the potential to stop a negotiation. In negotiation training, a deal breaker is described as operational, legal, personal, behavioral, or cultural, among other reasons.

Here are some ways this term may be used:

• To list deal breakers before the meeting: “The use of bullying tactics is a deal breaker.” Or, “The following conditions are deal breakers for us.”
• To identify a deal breaker that comes up during the conversation: “This finding is a deal breaker for us.” Or, “If we cannot agree on point number two, this is a deal breaker for us.”

counteroffer

Definition: An offer made in response to a previous offer by the other side. A counteroffer may also be referred to as a counter-proposal or as an alternative offer.

Let’s say a supplier is negotiating with a business about a new sales service. The supplier’s offer involves a 15% discount to try the service. The business instead suggests 20%, which is their counteroffer.

highball/lowball offer

Definition: An extremely high (highball) or low (lowball) offer. Whether an offer is high or low depends on the value of the negotiated item.

For example, let’s say you’re trying to close a deal on office space. The landlord says that the space costs $2,000 per month. Assuming that the price represents fair market value, an offer of $800 is a lowball offer. On the other hand, a seller’s price of $3,500 is a highball offer.

bottom line

Definition: The point beyond which negotiations will not proceed. The bottom line may also be referred to as the final offer or the walk-away point.

For instance: “An 11% discount is our bottom-line offer.”

deadlock

Definition: An issue that negotiators are unable to agree on. A deadlock issue can become a deal breaker if unresolved.

Here are a few ways this word may be used in a negotiation:

• When highlighting a potential problem: “It appears we are deadlocked on the issue of deploying online training platforms.”

To explain why a deal fell apart: “We are unable to reach an agreement as we are deadlocked on several items in the contract.”

Three monkeys sat in a coconut tree
Discussing things as they’re said to be.
Said one to the others: “Now listen you two,
There’s a certain rumour that can’t be true
That man descended from our noble race –
Why, the very idea is a disgrace!

“No monkey ever deserted his wife,
Starved her babies and ruined her life;
And you’ve never known a mother monk
Leave her babies with others to bunk,
Or pass them on from one to another
‘Til they scarcely know who is their mother.

“And another thing you’ll never see –
A monk build a fence round a coconut tree,
Forbidding all other monks to taste
And letting the coconuts go to waste.
Why! if I built a fence round a coconut tree
Starvation would force you to steal from me.

“Here’s another thing a monk won’t do:
Go out at night and get in a stew,
Or use a gun or club or knife
To take some other monkey’s life.
Yes, man descended, the ornery cuss,
But brother he didn’t descend from us!”

Author unknown
Voiced by Josef Essberger

Comments from monkeys welcome below…

This wonderful ESL games site has been around since 2010 but has been updated to avoid the use of Flash and to be user-friendly on Android and iOS devices. Created by Owen Dwyer, Games to learn English is packed with online games where ESL learners can play independently to practise their English.

It’s a beautifully designed site, with wonderful images and even excellent audio as part of some games. The level of most games is elementary, but it’s fun and interactive and frankly good revision for all levels.

Owen welcomes feedback and tries to reply to any emails sent through the site’s contact page.

Title: Merry Christmas Song
Singer/song writer: Jonathan Taylor Brittunculi

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (0.0KB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | More

Lyrics

Seasons Greetings everyone,

From all of us here at EnglishClub.com

Wherever you are in the world – let’s dance!

We wish you a Merry Christmas

We wish you a Merry Christmas

We wish you a Merry Christmas

And a Happy New Year

Here we go…

Good tidings we bring

To you and your kin

We wish you a Merry Christmas

And a Happy New Year

One more time, everybody!

We wish you a Merry Christmas

We wish you a Merry Christmas

Yes we do (1,2,3…)

We wish you a Merry Christmas

And a Happy New Year

Seasons Greetings everyone and a Happy New Year!

Now where’s my figgy puddin’?

Merry Christmas Song (video with subtitles)

Jonathan Taylor plays guitar and sings during production of Vseki den in Bulgaria

Jonathan Taylor is EnglishClub’s “Music Man” and this article about him recently appeared on Radio Bulgaria’s website.

When I asked Jonathan Taylor, a teacher of English in Bulgaria’s Sevlievo, if he liked Bulgaria, he replied: “I love it.” The Englishman has been living in the village of Krushevo since 2011 and says this country attracted him with its beauty and tranquillity. Read the rest of this entry »

For 2016 ExpertEditor.com has just published their list of best websites for ESL students. The list is conveniently split up into logical sections such as:

• Grammar
• Writing
• Reading
• Speaking
• Pronunciation
• etc

With 101 entries, ExpertEditor claims that this list “will blow your mind, and of course Read the rest of this entry »

Akademia Music Awards

EnglishClub’s music man, Jonathan Taylor Brittunculi, won a prestigious music award this month for his 9/11 tribute, The Falling Man (If Only). Jonathan’s song was chosen as Best Folk Song December 2015 in the Akademia Awards.

Odd Jonathan, whose stage name comes from his struggles with dyslexia, was inspired by the documentary ‘Voices from the Towers’. His award-winning song is also featured as part of the artist memorial gallery of the 9/11 Memorial Museum in New York. The video below was created by Jonathan’s former English students.

Visit Jonathan’s MyEnglishClub page to congratulate him on this award. You can find Jonathan’s Music for English Learners on EnglishClub or on YouTube.

All good things must come to an endSaying

2016 is a new year with new beginnings and sad to say Tara Benwell, for over seven years the mainstay at MyEnglishClub, will be moving on to pastures new as from 1st January.

Tara actually started contributing to EnglishClub way back in 2003, writing materials for the Young Learners section, English for Work and many other pages. In 2006 Tara started writing and recording Listen to News, a popular weekly news story with audio and exercises. Then in 2008 we launched MyEnglishClub as our social network. Tara was the first administrator of MyEnglishClub and has worked hard to help and support its thousands of members. Since 2008 Tara has continued adding new lessons and pages to EnglishClub and helping in the overall running of the site.

Read the rest of this entry »

Hip Hip Hooray! Anyone can sing Happy Birthday!

A US federal judge has ruled that Happy Birthday To You, the most recognized song in the English language, is not protected by a valid copyright. This is great news for anyone who wants to use the song in a movie, advertisement, or other commercial production. 

The publishing company Warner/Chappell has been collecting millions of dollars in royalties for use of the Happy Birthday song since 1988. This is the year Warner took over a publishing company that once claimed to have the copyright for Good Morning To You, a kindergarten song with the same tune as Happy Birthday. Good Morning To You, which has been out of copyright for years, was written by an American teacher named Patti Hill and her piano-playing sister Mildred. The judge ruled that no valid copyright for the combination of the sisters’ adapted lyrics (Happy Birthday To You) and tune exists.

This new ruling suggests that Warner/Chappell not only has no valid copyright, but that it may also have to pay back millions of dollars in royalties that it has collected over the years. Warner/Chappell will have a chance to appeal.

Some legal experts warn that this ruling doesn’t officially put the Happy Birthday song into the public domain. A valid copyright holder other than Warner/Chappel could still come forward.

Which video site do you use to watch English videos? Have you tried Daily Motion? This is an alternative to YouTube, and you can now view EnglishClub’s videos on our DM channel. All of our Music for Learning English videos are now available in a playlist. We will be adding more EnglishClub videos soon.

Follow EnglishClub on Daily Motion.

https://vimeo.com/englishclub

Do you enjoy using Vimeo to watch English videos? You can now view EnglishClub’s videos on Vimeo. All of our Music for Learning English videos are now available on Vimeo in one handy Collection. We will be adding more EnglishClub videos soon. You can contribute your own videos to Vimeo, too. See you there.

Follow EnglishClub on Vimeo.

Happy 50th Jonathan

EnglishClub’s music man Jonathan Taylor Brittunculi celebrated his upcoming 50th birthday in style at the first annual Krushevo Music Festival. Krushevo is a small village in north central Bulgaria where Jonathan lives with professional photographer Nicola Miller. Jonathan and Nicola organized the festival and invited musicians and music lovers to attend.

Several musical acts played throughout the day and into the night, including Vladimir Totev, a famous Bulgarian writer and his partner Dimi Dimitrova from the Russe Philharmonic Orchestra. Local bands Teen Dork and No Limits also hit the stage. Other acts included Mick Black and Matt Rider from England and Jamie McDonald from Ireland. Jonathan, himself, was also part of the show.

Are your students practising making predictions in English? On EnglishClub’s YouTube Channel, you will find a unique set of videos that can be used for a fun making predictions activity.

You Know What I’m Gonna Do?

EnglishClub’s video series “You Know What I’m Gonna Do?” features our Thai friend, Kid, using the informal contraction gonna. (She also asks her questions in an informal way: “You know …?” instead of “Do you know…?”). In each video Kid asks viewers what they think she is gonna do with the object that she has in her hands. Read the rest of this entry »