Improve your Speaking

Answering a Business Call “Good morning, this is Sarah from Acme Corp. How may I help you?”

Making a Call “Hello, may I speak to Mr. Johnson, please?”

Taking a Message “I’m sorry, she’s not available right now. Can I take a message?”

Leaving a Message “Could you please tell her that John from Marketing called?”

Asking for Clarification “I’m sorry, could you repeat that, please?”

Requesting Clarification (Roleplay) Customer: “Sorry, I didn’t catch that. Could you explain it again?”

Using the Phonetic Alphabet “My email is S as in Sierra, M as in Mike, I as in India, T as in Tango, H as in Hotel.”

Politely Asking to Wait “Could you hold on for a moment, please?”

Dealing with Difficulties “I’m sorry for the inconvenience. Let me see what I can do to help.”

Handling Complaints (Roleplay) Customer: “I’m not satisfied with the service.”
Agent: “I apologize for the trouble. Can you tell me more about the issue?”

Ending a Business Call “Thank you for calling. Have a great day!”

Business English Dialogue: Telephone 1 A: “Acme Corp, how can I help you?”
B: “Hi, I’d like to speak to the sales department.”

Telephone Dialogue: Script 1 A: “May I ask who’s calling?”
B: “This is Emily from Tech Solutions.”

Business English: Vocabulary Deep Dive (Part 1) Phrase: “Could you transfer me to…?”
Meaning: Asking to be connected to another person or department.

Business English Dialogue: Telephone 2 A: “I’m afraid Mr. Lee is in a meeting.”
B: “Could you let him know I called?”

Telephone Dialogue: Script 2 A: “Would you like to leave a message?”
B: “Yes, please. Tell him I’ll call back at 3 PM.”

Business English: Vocabulary Deep Dive (Part 2) Phrase: “The line is busy.”
Meaning: The person you are calling is already on another call.

Customer Service Roleplay: Start-to-Finish Dialogue Customer: “I need help with my order.”
Agent: “Of course. Can I have your order number, please?”

Confirming Details “Let me repeat that back to you: your order number is 12345, correct?”

Transferring a Call “Please hold while I transfer your call to the appropriate department.”

At the Check-in Counter “Good morning. May I see your passport and ticket, please?”

Checking Baggage “Do you have any bags to check in?”

Carry-on Allowance “Is this bag small enough for carry-on?”

Asking for a Window Seat “Could I have a window seat, if possible?”

Security Check “Please place your electronics and liquids in the tray.”

At Passport Control “What is the purpose of your visit?”
“I’m here on business/vacation.”

Finding Your Gate “Excuse me, where is Gate B12?”

Boarding Announcement “Flight 257 to London is now boarding at Gate 15.”

On the Plane: Stowing Luggage “Please place your bag in the overhead compartment or under the seat in front of you.”

Requesting a Blanket “Excuse me, could I have a blanket, please?”

Ordering a Drink “Could I have some water, please?”

Special Meal Request “I ordered a vegetarian meal. Is it available?”

Asking About Arrival Time “What time will we arrive in Paris?”

Dealing with Turbulence “Please fasten your seatbelt. We are experiencing some turbulence.”

Using the Restroom “Is it okay to use the restroom now?”

Lost Luggage “My suitcase didn’t arrive. Where can I report lost baggage?”

Connecting Flights “Do I need to collect my luggage for my connecting flight?”

Customs Declaration “Do you have anything to declare?”
“No, I have nothing to declare.”

Asking for Help “Excuse me, could you help me find my gate?”

Thanking the Crew “Thank you for your help. Have a nice day!”

Self-Introduction “Good morning, my name is Anna Smith. Thank you for the opportunity to interview today.”

Greeting the Interviewer “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for having me.”

Job Interview Roleplay: Introduction Interviewer: “Tell me about yourself.”
Candidate: “I’m a marketing specialist with five years of experience in digital campaigns.”

Talking About Your Skills “I’m skilled in project management, data analysis, and effective communication.”

Describing Your Experience “In my previous role, I managed a team of six and increased sales by 30% in one year.”

Job Interview Roleplay: Skills Interviewer: “What are your strengths?”
Candidate: “I’m highly organized and excel at problem-solving.”

Discussing Weaknesses “One area I’m working on is delegating tasks more effectively.”

Job Interview Roleplay: Weaknesses Interviewer: “What is your biggest weakness?”
Candidate: “I can be a perfectionist, but I’ve learned to balance quality with efficiency.”

Questions to Ask the Interviewer “What does success look like in this position?”

Job Interview Roleplay: Asking Questions Candidate: “Could you tell me more about the team I would be working with?”

Handling Difficult Questions “Can you describe a time you failed and how you handled it?”

Model Answer: Difficult Question “I once missed a deadline, but I communicated early and worked overtime to deliver results.”

Job Interview Roleplay: Difficult Questions Interviewer: “Why should we hire you?”
Candidate: “My experience and passion for your industry make me a strong fit for this role.”

Explaining a Gap in Your Resume “I took time off to further my education and develop new skills relevant to this role.”

Describing Career Goals “My goal is to grow into a leadership position and contribute to the company’s success.”

Responding to ‘Why Do You Want This Job?’ “I’m excited about your company’s mission and believe my skills align with your needs.”

Handling Unsuccessful Interviews “Thank you for your time and feedback. I appreciate the opportunity to interview.”

Following Up After an Interview “Thank you for meeting with me. I look forward to hearing from you soon.”

Polite Closing “Thank you for your consideration. Have a great day!”

Body Language Tip Smile, make eye contact, and offer a confident handshake at the start and end of the interview.

Starting a Presentation “Good morning everyone, thank you for being here today.”

Introducing Yourself “My name is John Smith, and I’m the marketing manager.”

Outlining the Agenda “Today, I will cover three main points: market trends, our strategy, and next steps.”

Engaging the Audience “Please feel free to ask questions at any time.”

Using Visual Aids “Let’s look at this chart to understand the sales growth.”

Clarifying Points “To clarify, the increase is due to our new product launch.”

Asking for Feedback “What are your thoughts on this approach?”

Handling Questions “That’s a great question. Let me explain.”

Summarizing “To summarize, our key takeaways are…”

Concluding the Presentation “Thank you for your attention. I’m happy to take any final questions.”

Starting a Meeting “Let’s get started. The purpose of today’s meeting is…”

Introducing Participants “Let’s quickly introduce ourselves before we begin.”

Setting Ground Rules “Please keep your microphones muted unless speaking.”

Keeping the Meeting on Track “Let’s move on to the next agenda item.”

Encouraging Participation “Does anyone have any input on this topic?”

Dealing with Difficult Participants “Let’s ensure everyone has a chance to speak.”

Summarizing Decisions “To recap, we agreed to implement the new policy by next quarter.”

Assigning Action Items “John will prepare the report by Friday.”

Closing the Meeting “Thanks everyone for your time. The meeting is now adjourned.”

Follow-up “I will send the meeting minutes by the end of the day.”

Describing an Increase “Sales increased by 15% last quarter.”

Describing a Decrease “There was a sharp decline in profits in June.”

Describing Stability “The figures remained stable throughout the year.”

Describing Fluctuations “The data shows significant fluctuations over the period.”

Talking About Peaks “Revenue peaked at $2 million in March.”

Talking About Lows “The unemployment rate hit a low of 4% in April.”

Describing Gradual Change “We saw a gradual increase in user engagement.”

Describing Rapid Change “There was a rapid growth in online sales during the holiday season.”

Comparing Data “Compared to last year, production has doubled.”

Describing Percentages “Nearly 40% of respondents prefer this product.”

Using Visuals “As you can see in the chart, the trend is upward.”

Projecting Trends “We expect sales to continue rising over the next quarter.”

Describing Outliers “This data point is an outlier and does not follow the overall trend.”

Describing Correlation “There is a strong correlation between advertising and sales.”

Highlighting Key Numbers “The key takeaway is that our market share grew to 25%.”

Describing Proportions “A large proportion of our customers are under 30.”

Discussing Averages “On average, users spend 5 minutes per session.”

Describing a Plateau “Growth plateaued in the third quarter.”

Using Superlatives “This is our highest sales figure to date.”

Summarizing Data “In summary, the statistics show a positive trend for the company.”

Thanking Participants “Thank you all for attending today’s meeting.”

Stating the Purpose “Let’s quickly recap the purpose of today’s meeting.”

Reviewing the Agenda “We covered the following agenda items: project updates, budget, and next steps.”

Highlighting Key Points “The main discussion points included the new marketing strategy and timeline changes.”

Summarizing Decisions “We decided to launch the campaign in September and allocate extra resources.”

Listing Action Items “Action items: Sarah will update the project plan, and Tom will contact suppliers.”

Assigning Responsibilities “John is responsible for preparing the report by next Friday.”

Setting Deadlines “All action items should be completed by the end of the month.”

Clarifying Next Steps “Our next steps are to finalize the budget and schedule a follow-up meeting.”

Requesting Questions “Does anyone have any final questions or comments before we finish?”

Recapping Takeaways “To summarize, we’ve agreed on the main priorities and assigned key tasks.”

Confirming Understanding “Is everyone clear on their responsibilities and deadlines?”

Providing Additional Resources “I’ll share the meeting notes and presentation slides after this call.”

Scheduling the Next Meeting “Our next meeting will be on Tuesday at 10 a.m.”

Expressing Appreciation “I appreciate everyone’s input and collaboration today.”

Closing the Meeting “If there are no further questions, we’ll end the meeting here.”

Wishing a Good Day “Thank you again. Have a great rest of your day!”

Sharing Follow-up Tasks “I’ll send a summary of action items and deadlines by email.”

Encouraging Feedback “Please let me know if you have any feedback on today’s meeting or the process.”

Attaching Relevant Files “Attached are the documents we discussed for your reference.”

Profit “Profit is the money a company makes after paying all expenses.”

Loss “A loss occurs when expenses are greater than revenue.”

Revenue “Revenue is the total income generated from sales before expenses.”

Expenses “Expenses are the costs a business must pay to operate, such as salaries and rent.”

Break Even “To break even means revenue equals expenses—no profit, no loss.”

The Bottom Line “The bottom line shows whether the company made a profit or a loss this quarter.”

Gross Profit “Gross profit is revenue minus the cost of goods sold.”

Net Profit “Net profit is what remains after all expenses, taxes, and costs are deducted from revenue.”

Profit Margin “Our profit margin improved to 18% this year.”

Making a Profit “Last year, we made a profit of $50,000.”

Making a Loss “Unfortunately, the company made a loss in the first quarter.”

Operating Costs “Operating costs include wages, utilities, and insurance.”

Balance Sheet “The balance sheet shows assets, liabilities, and equity at a specific time.”

Income Statement “The income statement (profit & loss statement) summarizes revenue, expenses, and profit over a period.”

Cash Flow “Cash flow is the movement of money in and out of the business.”

Break-even Point “The break-even point is when sales cover all expenses, but there is no profit or loss.”

Reporting a Loss “We reported a loss due to higher than expected expenses.”

Reporting a Profit “The company reported a record profit for the fiscal year.”

Discussing Results “Despite increased revenue, our net profit remained the same because of rising costs.”

Forecasting “We expect to return to profitability by the end of the next quarter.”

Investment Putting money into something (like stocks, bonds, or property) to earn a profit or income.

Capital Money or assets used to start or grow a business.
Example: “The company raised capital to expand operations.”

Equity Ownership in a company, usually in the form of shares.
Example: “She owns 10% equity in the startup.”

Dividend A share of a company’s profits paid to shareholders.
Example: “The firm paid a $2 dividend per share.”

Bond A certificate representing a loan to a company or government, with interest paid to the investor.
Example: “Government bonds are considered low risk.”

Mutual Fund An investment fund that pools money from many investors to buy a diversified portfolio of stocks, bonds, or other assets.

Portfolio All the investments owned by an individual or organization.
Example: “Diversifying your portfolio reduces risk.”

Stock A share representing part ownership in a company.
Example: “He bought 100 shares of Apple stock.”

IPO (Initial Public Offering) The first sale of a company’s shares to the public.
Example: “The tech startup is planning an IPO next year.”

Yield The income return on an investment, usually shown as a percentage.
Example: “This bond has a 5% yield.”

Blue Chip Stock Shares of large, reputable companies with a history of stable growth.
Example: “Investors often prefer blue chip stocks for safety.”

Venture Capital Money invested in startups or small businesses with high growth potential.
Example: “They secured venture capital to launch their app.”

Speculator Someone who buys and sells assets hoping to make a quick profit from price changes.

Bid The price a buyer is willing to pay for a security.
Example: “The highest bid for the stock is $50.”

Ask The price a seller wants for a security.
Example: “The ask price is $51 per share.”

Futures Contracts to buy or sell assets at a future date and price.
Example: “Oil futures are traded on the commodities market.”

Option The right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell an asset at a set price by a certain date.

Asset Allocation Dividing investments among different asset types to balance risk and reward.
Example: “A balanced asset allocation includes stocks, bonds, and cash.”

Return on Investment (ROI) The gain or loss from an investment, expressed as a percentage of the original amount invested.
Example: “The project delivered a 12% ROI.”

Liquidity How easily an asset can be converted into cash.
Example: “Stocks are more liquid than real estate.”

Save up To accumulate money over time.
Example: “I’m saving up for a new laptop.”

Pay off To finish paying money that is owed.
Example: “She finally paid off her student loan.”

Run out of To use all of something and have none left.
Example: “We ran out of money before the end of the trip.”

Fork out To spend money, especially reluctantly.
Example: “I had to fork out $200 for repairs.”

Dip into To use some of your savings.
Example: “I had to dip into my savings to pay for the repairs.”

Pay back To return money that was borrowed.
Example: “I’ll pay you back next week.”

Splash out (on) To spend a lot of money on something enjoyable.
Example: “They splashed out on a new TV.”

Cough up To provide money, often reluctantly.
Example: “He finally coughed up the money he owed me.”

Shell out To spend a significant amount of money.
Example: “We had to shell out a fortune for the repairs.”

Bring in To earn or generate income.
Example: “Her freelance work brings in a decent income.”

Break even To neither make a profit nor a loss.
Example: “The business finally broke even after three years.”

Set aside To save money for a specific purpose.
Example: “I’ve set aside some money for our vacation.”

Take out To borrow money from a bank.
Example: “He took out a loan to buy a house.”

Cash in To exchange something for money.
Example: “He cashed in his old coins at the shop.”

Cut back (on) To spend less money.
Example: “We need to cut back on eating out.”

Run up To accumulate a bill or debt.
Example: “She ran up a huge credit card bill.”

Look into To investigate or research financial options.
Example: “I’ll look into getting a cheaper insurance plan.”

Pick up To increase or rise in price.
Example: “Prices have picked up since last year.”

Put aside To save money for later.
Example: “I put aside some money every month for emergencies.”

Live on To have a particular amount of money to use for essentials.
Example: “They live on their pension.”

Team player Someone who works well with others.
“She’s a real team player and always supports her colleagues.”

Go-getter A highly motivated and energetic person who achieves things.
“He’s a go-getter who always meets his targets.”

People person Someone who enjoys and is good at interacting with others.
“You need to be a people person to work in HR.”

Jack of all trades A person who can do many different types of work.
“She’s a jack of all trades in our office.”

Bigwig An important or influential person in a group or company.
“The bigwigs are meeting in the boardroom.”

Number cruncher Someone skilled at working with numbers or statistics.
“He’s the company’s top number cruncher.”

Entrepreneur Someone who starts and runs a business, taking risks.
“Many entrepreneurs are creative and ambitious.”

Reliable Can be trusted to do what is needed.
“You can always count on her—she’s very reliable.”

Ambitious Having a strong desire to succeed.
“He’s ambitious and wants to become a manager.”

Creative Good at thinking of new ideas.
“Our designer is very creative.”

Decisive Able to make decisions quickly and confidently.
“A good leader must be decisive.”

Hardworking Puts a lot of effort into their work.
“She’s a hardworking employee.”

Flexible Able to adapt to new situations easily.
“We need flexible staff for this project.”

Well-dressed Wears smart or stylish clothes.
“He’s always well-dressed for meetings.”

Blue-collar worker Someone who does manual labor or skilled trades.
“Electricians and mechanics are blue-collar workers.”

Big fish in a small pond Someone important in a small organization.
“He’s a big fish in a small pond at his company.”

Salt of the earth A good, honest, and trustworthy person.
“She’s the salt of the earth—always ready to help.”

Scatterbrained Disorganized or forgetful.
“I’m a bit scatterbrained before my first coffee.”

Fast talker A persuasive person, sometimes dishonest.
“Beware of fast talkers in sales.”

Know-it-all Someone who acts as if they know everything.
“Nobody likes a know-it-all in meetings.”

Office A place where administrative or professional work is done.
“I work in a modern office downtown.”

Warehouse A large building where goods are stored.
“The warehouse holds all our inventory.”

Factory A building where products are manufactured.
“The factory produces electronic components.”

Meeting Room A room used for group discussions or meetings.
“We have a meeting in the conference room at 3 pm.”

Reception The area where visitors are greeted.
“Please wait at reception until someone comes to see you.”

Break Room A place where employees relax and eat.
“We have coffee and snacks in the break room.”

Canteen A cafeteria or dining area for employees.
“Lunch is served daily in the canteen.”

Lobby The entrance area of a building.
“The lobby has comfortable seating for guests.”

Cubicle A small partitioned workspace.
“Most employees have their own cubicles.”

Conference Room A large room for formal meetings.
“The board meeting will be held in the conference room.”

Lobbyist A person who tries to influence decisions in a company or government.
“The lobbyist met with officials to discuss regulations.”

Receptionist The person who greets visitors and answers phones.
“The receptionist will direct you to the right office.”

Skyscraper A very tall building, usually in a city.
“Our headquarters is located in a skyscraper downtown.”

Open-plan Office A large room without walls dividing desks.
“Our office is open-plan to encourage collaboration.”

Hot Desking A system where employees share desks.
“We use hot desking because many people work remotely.”

Server Room A room housing computer servers.
“The IT team maintains the server room.”

Parking Lot An area where vehicles are parked.
“There is a large parking lot behind the building.”

Lobby The entrance hall of a building.
“The lobby features modern art and comfortable chairs.”

Reception Area The area where guests are welcomed.
“Please wait in the reception area.”

Workstation A desk or area where an employee works.
“Each employee has a personal workstation.”

I like + gerund “I like reading books in my free time.”

I enjoy + gerund “I enjoy playing tennis on weekends.”

I’m into + noun/gerund “I’m really into photography these days.”

My hobbies include… “My hobbies include cooking and gardening.”

I usually… “I usually go hiking every Saturday.”

I sometimes… “I sometimes paint in my free time.”

In my spare time, I… “In my spare time, I like to listen to music.”

I’m passionate about… “I’m passionate about learning new languages.”

One of my favorite activities is… “One of my favorite activities is cycling.”

How do you spend your weekends? “How do you spend your weekends?”

Do you have any hobbies? “Do you have any hobbies?”

What are your interests? “What are your interests outside of work?”

I love + gerund “I love cooking Italian food.”

I’m fond of + noun/gerund “I’m fond of playing chess.”

I’m keen on + noun/gerund “I’m keen on yoga and meditation.”

I spend most of my free time… “I spend most of my free time reading novels.”

I prefer + noun/gerund “I prefer hiking to swimming.”

Talking about frequency “I often go to the gym after work.”

Talking about dislikes “I don’t like noisy bars.”

Talking about interests “I’m interested in photography and history.”

Booking a Table “I’d like to make a reservation for two at 7 p.m., please.”

Asking for a Table “Do you have any free tables?”

Requesting the Menu “Could I see the menu, please?”

Ordering Drinks “Can I get you any drinks?”

Asking for Recommendations “What do you recommend?”

Dietary Restrictions “I’m allergic to nuts. Is there anything I should avoid?”

Ordering Food “I’ll have the chicken breast with a side salad, please.”

Steak Cooking Preference “How would you like your steak? Rare, medium, or well done?”

Asking About Wait Time “How long will the food take?”

Getting Waiter’s Attention “Excuse me!”

Requesting More “Could we have some more bread, please?”

Complimenting the Food “Thanks, that was delicious!”

Making a Complaint “Sorry, but this isn’t what I ordered.”

Asking for the Bill “Could we have the bill, please?”

Paying by Card “Do you take credit cards?”

Splitting the Bill “Can we pay separately?”

Offering to Pay “The meal is on me.”

Asking for Dessert Menu “Could I see the dessert menu, please?”

Ordering to Go “Can I get that to go, please?”

Thanking the Staff “Thank you for the excellent service.”

Do you have a reservation? “Yes, it’s under the name Smith.”

May I have your name, please? “Sure, it’s John Smith.”

How long will you be staying? “I’ll be here for three nights.”

Could I see your ID, please? “Here is my passport.”

Do you need help with your bags? “Yes, please. Thank you.”

Is breakfast included? “Yes, breakfast is served from 7 to 10 a.m.”

Do you have any rooms available? “Yes, we have a double room free.”

Can I see the room, please? “Of course, let me show you.”

Is there Wi-Fi in the room? “Yes, free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel.”

What time is check-out? “Check-out is at 11 a.m.”

Could I have a wake-up call at 7 a.m., please? “Certainly, we will arrange that for you.”

Is there a gym or pool? “Yes, both are located on the second floor.”

Can I have extra towels? “Of course, we will send some to your room.”

Sorry, pets are not allowed. “I understand, thank you.”

Here is your room key. “Thank you very much.”

Do you want a smoking or non-smoking room? “Non-smoking, please.”

Could we please check out a little late? “Late check-out is available for an extra fee.”

We’d like to stay for an extra day. “Let me check availability for you.”

Thank you for staying with us! “It was a wonderful stay, thank you.”

I’ve lost my room key. “We will issue you a new one at the front desk.”

Excuse me, could you help me? “Excuse me, could you help me, please?”

Can you tell me how to get to…? “Can you tell me how to get to the bank?”

Do you know where the… is? “Do you know where the museum is?”

Is it far from here? “Is the subway station far from here?”

Where can I find…? “Where can I find a park near here?”

Are we on the right road to…? “Are we on the right road to the city center?”

Is this the right way to…? “Is this the right way to the mall?”

What’s the best way to get to…? “What’s the best way to get to the airport?”

Go straight on “Go straight on for about one kilometer.”

Turn left/right at the crossroads “Turn left at the crossroads.”

Take the second right “Take the second right after the traffic lights.”

Go past the cinema “Go past the cinema and then turn left.”

It’s on your left/right “The bank is on your left.”

You’ll see it in front of you “You’ll see the station in front of you.”

It’s about two blocks from here “It’s about two blocks from here.”

Keep going for another 200 meters “Keep going for another 200 meters.”

At the roundabout, take the first exit “At the roundabout, take the first exit.”

You’re going the wrong way “You’re going the wrong way, turn back.”

Go through the tunnel “Go through the tunnel and then turn right.”

Follow the signs for… “Follow the signs for the town centre.”

Wake up “I usually wake up at 7 a.m.”

Wash your face “After waking up, I wash my face.”

Take a shower “I take a shower every morning.”

Brush your teeth “Don’t forget to brush your teeth twice a day.”

Eat breakfast “I eat breakfast before going to work.”

Get dressed “I get dressed after my shower.”

Go to work/school “I go to work by bus.”

Have lunch “We usually have lunch at noon.”

Study “I study English every evening.”

Do homework “Children do their homework after school.”

Get home “I get home at 6 p.m.”

Have dinner “We have dinner together as a family.”

Take a bath “Sometimes I take a bath instead of a shower.”

Go to bed “I usually go to bed at 10 p.m.”

Brush your hair “I brush my hair before leaving the house.”

Make your bed “I make my bed every morning.”

Take a nap “I sometimes take a nap in the afternoon.”

Do the laundry “I do the laundry on weekends.”

Read the newspaper “He reads the newspaper every morning.”

Go to the bathroom “I need to go to the bathroom before we leave.”

PRACTICE

Improve your Speaking

Business Telephone English Flash Cards

Airport & Airplane English Flash Cards

Job Interview Essentials Flash Cards

Business Presentations & Meetings Flash Cards

Describing Statistics & Trends Flash Cards

Summarizing & Ending Meetings Flash Cards

Language for Discussing Profits & Losses

Business English Vocabulary: Investment

Common Phrasal Verbs in Financial English

Describing People: Business English Flash Cards

Describing Places: Business English Flash Cards

Talking About Hobbies & Interests

Restaurant Conversations Flash Cards

Hotel Conversations Flash Cards

Asking for and Giving Directions

Daily Routines Flash Cards

Quick Links

Useful Links

Company Info