Business English writing skills

Watermarque Business English writing skills courses are designed to provide training in practical business English writing skills and tips. Our aim is to make business writing efficient, effective, clear, concise and, overall, professionally acceptable.

Writing emails, letters, reports, proposals, minutes or agendas using:

• clear, concise, correct English language in all business writing.
• correct grammar.
• appropriate positive tone to build and maintain client relationships.
• correct structure, spelling and vocabulary.
• planning and editing techniques to achieve the desired result.

Workplace conversation, common expressions, idioms, ‘small talk’ and cross-cultural interaction

Cross-culturally, workplace conversations and informal meetings can vary enormously. We offer coaching in knowledge, skills and tips as well as practical exercises for:

• establishing and maintaining positive working relationships
• enhancing cooperation and team morale.
• sharing ideas.
• discussing problems.
• using common local expressions, idioms and ‘small talk’.

Pronunciation

Overseas born professionals often have very specific, individual pronunciation challenges which correlate with their first language. To assist each person to improve their English language pronunciation we provide coaching in the relevant pronunciation techniques and practical exercises essential to enhanced effective and efficient communication face-to-face and on the phone.

Presentation Skills

The discomfort or nervousness often associated with giving a presentation can be intensified by the challenge of presenting information in a language other than the speaker’s native language. The focus here is on the appropriate English language skills and presentation techniques necessary to develop and present effective informal or formal presentations including:

• planning and preparation.
• appropriate verbal and non-verbal communication.
• asking and responding to questions.
• preparing effective supporting material.

Meeting Skills

Effective meetings are an opportunity to share ideas, discuss issues, establish and maintain positive working relationships, enhance cooperation and develop team morale. Our aim is to assist professionals who may be lacking confidence or inexperienced in local meeting procedures to develop skills in:

• appropriate language for contributing to discussions.
• questioning techniques.
• giving feedback.
• effective verbal and non-verbal participation.
• meeting etiquette.

Basic Negotiation

Your course will be designed to address the needs of teams or individuals who would benefit from learning language and skills that will assist them to participate in basic negotiations. The skills and attitude explored include:

• Assertive language and behaviour.
• Verbal and non-verbal communication.
• Persuasive language.
• Questioning and feedback.
• Cues for signalling agreement, disagreement and summation.

Teambuilding Skills

Team building skills one-to-one or team training is designed to encourage positive team participation. The focus here is on developing and maintaining effective team communication skills including:

• using supportive language and behaviour in the work team environment.
• participating in and contributing to discussions.
• providing feedback.
• decision making language and strategies.
• monitoring team progress.
• conversation and ‘small talk’.

Telephone Skills

Many of our clients have expressed the view that telephone communication presents very specific challenges that can be quite difficult to overcome. Our telephone skills training focuses on:

• language for answering and concluding telephone calls.
• expressions for responding to and maintaining communication.
• techniques for avoiding silences.
• appropriate formal and informal tone.
• pronunciation.