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Updates and Demos

Our new ANDROID App now available – Download from the Google Play Store

Take a sneak peek at our new BEP Android app that will soon be available in the Google Play Store (most likely in the 1st week of October). The Android app design closely follows the new BEP iOS app and includes a login for BEP premium members to access all the lessons plus all the other features you’ll find in the iOS app.

Introducing the new BEP iOS (iPhone/iPad) App with member login

The completely redesigned BEP app is now available in the Apple App Store. Beside a new design, the app has been completely re-coded and includes a login for BEP premium members to access all the lessons.

BEP V2 Mobile App

iOS eCourse Apps with Member Login

Download the app from the Apple App Store: English for Meetings

English for Meetings iTunesArtwork

We have developed a completely new app template for a series of eCourse apps based on our existing eBooks. One great feature in the new apps, and something that many members have requested, is a login form for BEP members so that you can access the app without having to buy the lessons.

Along with the members login form, the app also features a new audio player (with the ability to slow down the playback speed by 20%) and progress quizzes for each lesson. The first app in this series is focused on meetings and we plan on publishing 4 more apps based on our eBooks over the next 12-months.
 

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New Mobile-friendly Quiz & Lesson Modules

Take a look at all the new mobile-friendly quizzes and lesson modules already available: mLearning

We have created a new lesson module format based on the podcast audio and transcript. The goal is to present the lesson content in a study-friendly format with both the text and audio available in one interface. The lesson modules work great on desktops and just as great on mobile devices (iOS & Android). Check out these new modules on the links below and let us know what you think in the comments section below.

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Lesson Module:

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Resources for Teachers (via our training partner, Becourse).

Lesson Plan:

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Teacher’s Notes:

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Business English eBooks

Choose from five popular eBooks covering essential Business English Skills.

Each e-book contains:

  • MP3 audio lessons including an introduction to the topic, a role-play demonstrating the target language, a detailed explanation of the language with further examples, and speaking practice drills.
  • PDF study notes with a full transcript of each lesson, extra vocabulary and language exercises.
  • Online interactive exercises including listening quizzes, language and vocabulary practice and flashcards.

All e-books are Free for all Premium Members and can be purchased by non-members for $19.95 each or just $29.95 for both e-books.

or Premium Members: click an e-book cover to open the page and download the files using the content table at the bottom of the page.

Meetings Essentials for ESL e-Book features MP3 audio, PDF and online lessons on the following essentials English skills for business meetings:

  • Expressing opinions in meetings
  • Agreeing
  • Disagreeing
  • Making suggestions
  • Accepting or rejecting suggestions
  • Clarifying what was said
  • Clarifying what was meant
  • Charing a meeting – starting off
  • Chairing a meeting – managing the discussion
  • Interrupting and resisting interruption
  • Finishing up and action points

Presenting for Success for ESL e-Book features MP3 audio, PDF and online lessons on the following essentials English skills for business presentations:

  • Introducing your presentation
  • Signposting your presentation
  • Describing visuals and charts
  • Talking about trends and rates of change
  • Interpreting trends – making predictions
  • Using your voice
  • Pausing and stress
  • Summarizing and finishing off
  • Starting the Q&A
  • Answering questions
  • Redirecting questions

Business English Pod

Learn business English with your favorite business English lessons from Business English Pod!

Business English Pod

With over 75 million lessons delivered since 2006, Business English Pod is the go-to source for Business English lessons, podcasts and mobile apps for intermediate and advanced Business English learners.

Learn English conversation and listening skills, business vocabulary, idioms, and more, with effective business English lessons on everything from meetings, presentations, negotiations to sales, job interviews and finance. Our Business English lessons are designed to help you understand the language that we use to communicate and the reasons why we use it. Our goal is to teach natural and effective English for business.

Our Business English Pod lessons (BEP) include a natural dialog featuring common and effective business English vocabulary, idioms, and phrases. It also includes a clear and complete explanation of the dialog. You will learn what the speakers are saying, why they are saying it, and other ways you can express the same ideas. The PDF transcript and practice exercises will help you understand and remember everything you learn in the podcast.

PDF transcripts for each lesson are available to premium members. Premium members can also access our online quizzes and lesson modules – take a free trial to preview the lesson resources.

Business English Pod publishes a variety of business English lessons for speaking, vocabulary and listening skills. Try Video Vocab to learn business English vocabulary for different business and technical topics. Listen to Skills 360 for advice on everything from using the telephone to high-level negotiations. Tune in to Business English News to learn advanced English vocabulary. And use our core Business English Pod lessons to study business English conversations, English speaking skills, and English vocabulary and idioms.

Our Business English lessons are designed to help you understand the language that we use to communicate and the reasons why we use it. We want our learners to be able to face different business and work situations with confidence in their English abilities.

Business English Pod lessons are carefully created by an expert team of trainers with over 50 years of frontline experience in Business English training. Our developers have worked with some of the world’s leading companies in a variety of fields including engineering, telecommunications, aerospace, financial services, and medicine. We don’t just understand English, we understand how to use English effectively for business.

Learning Process

Business English Pod lessons follow a consistent and effective format. Each podcast begins with an introduction that tells you about the topic and situation for the dialog. Then you hear the dialog, which is a natural and realistic example of a conversation in a common business situation. Then, in the “debrief” section, a teacher reviews each part of the dialog and explains what the speakers are saying, why they are saying it, and other ways to express similar ideas. Finally, in the “practice” section, you have the chance to use the language you learned.

Business English Pod is aimed at intermediate and advanced English learners, with a TOEIC score of between 400 and 700 or CEF B1-C2. However, the lessons are designed to be useful to learners at a variety of levels. Lower and intermediate learners can focus more on language development, and advanced learners can concentrate on skills, fluency, and enhancement of professionalism.

BEP 255 – English for Meetings: Decision-Making Meetings (3)

Business English, English for Meetings /

Business English Meetings - Making Decisions 3

Welcome back to Business English Pod for today’s lesson on decision-making meetings in English.

In business, groups need to be able to come together to make good decisions. And with the right group of people who have the right information and the opportunity to discuss it, there’s a good chance that a decision is going to lead to success. There’s a lot riding on every decision-making meeting, and when that decision is made, it’s important that the team move forward together.

Fortunately, there are skills and techniques that we can learn to make group decision-making work well. In today’s lesson, we’ll look at asking for dissenting opinions, agreeing with reservations, and asking for buy-in. We’ll also look at identifying action items and delegating responsibilities stemming from a decision.

In the dialog, we’ll rejoin a group of people at an engineering company that has been deciding on a new vendor for tech support. Scott has been leading the meeting, while Anne, David, and Kelly have all been contributing their opinions. The group is about to settle on their final choice.

Listening Questions

1. What does Kelly not like about Alamo?
2. What is one of the actions that Scott mentions must be taken after the meeting?
3. What does Scott ask Kelly to do following the meeting?

Premium Members: PDF Transcript | Online Practice | PhraseCast | Lesson Module

Download: Podcast MP3

BEP 254 – English for Meetings: Decision-Making Meetings (2)

Business English, English for Meetings /

Business English Meetings - Making Decisions 2

Welcome back to Business English Pod for today’s lesson on decision-making meetings in English.

Making a group of people agree on an important business decision can seem like a difficult task. And it is. People come to the table with different values, visions, opinions, experiences, and priorities. But these differences also make decisions stronger. If we can get groups to agree, to reach consensus, then our decisions are, on the whole, wiser and better.

So how do we bring a group to consensus on a decision? There are a variety of techniques that we can use. In this lesson we’ll look at eliminating an option, highlighting a final choice, and testing for consensus. We’ll also cover expressing reservations and presenting an alternative.

In the dialog, we’ll rejoin Scott, Anne, David, and Kelly, who work at an engineering firm that needs to choose a new tech support company. With Scott leading the meeting, the group has been discussing four different options. In our last lesson, the group already eliminated one option, and at the beginning of this lesson, you’ll hear them eliminate one more, bringing the options down to two.

Listening Questions

1. What does Scott say the discussion has focused on?
2. Why does Kelly suggest they choose Brightstar?
3. What two advantages does David mention about Alamo?

Premium Members: PDF Transcript | Online Practice | PhraseCast | Lesson Module

Download: Podcast MP3

BEP 253 – English for Meetings: Decision-Making Meetings (1)

Business English, English for Meetings, Popular Lessons /

Business English Meetings - Making Decisions 1

Welcome back to Business English Pod for today’s lesson on decision-making in English meetings.

Success in business depends on making good decisions. But making good decisions is not just an individual skill. It’s a group skill. Several people come together to discuss an issue, explore options, and decide which path to follow. With good information, a good decision-making process, and good meeting skills, the participants should be able to make the best decision possible.

So what kind of skills might be useful in decision-making meetings? Today we’ll explore techniques such as framing a decision, inviting discussion, and referencing criteria. We’ll also cover raising concerns and requesting more information.

In the dialog, we’ll hear a group of people at an engineering firm trying to decide on a tech support company to hire. Scott, as senior partner, is leading the meeting, while Anne and David and Kelly are participating. The group discusses their options in order to figure out the best company to hire.

Listening Questions

1. What does Scott say is the basic question they have to answer?
2. What consideration does Kelly bring up in the discussion?
3. What piece of information about City Tech does David want to know?

Premium Members: PDF Transcript | Quizzes | PhraseCast | Lesson Module

Download: Podcast MP3

English for Telephoning

This business English eBook on Telephone English features MP3 audio, PDF and online lessons on key English language skills for working on the telephone in English.

These business English lessons are also available in our English for Telephoning eCourse App:
Download from the Apple App Store (iOS).

Telephone English eBook Course

  • Unit 501 – Answering the Phone
  • Unit 502 – Taking a Message
  • Unit 503 – Leaving a Voicemail Message
  • Unit 504 – Making an Appointment
  • Unit 505 – Discussing Travel Arrangements
  • Unit 506 – Checking on an Order
  • Unit 507 – Dealing with Customers (Part 1)
  • Unit 508 – Dealing with Customers (Part 2)
  • Unit 509 – Handling Sales Calls
  • Unit 510 – Handling a Problem on the Phone
  • Unit 511 – Dealing with an Angry Caller (Part 1)
  • Unit 512 – Dealing with an Angry Caller (Part 2)
Sample PDF Transcript Sample Quiz Sample MP3

eBook & Members: use the links below to access the resources (right-click to save MP3/PDF).

Title
Transcripts
Podcasts
PhraseCasts
Quizzes
Complete Set/ZIP
Answering Calls
Taking a Message
Voicemail
Appointments
Arrangements
Checking an Order
Inquiries 1
Inquiries 2
Sales Calls
Handling Problems
Angry Customers 1
Angry Customers 2

Meeting Essentials

The English for Meetings eBook features MP3 audio, PDF study notes and online quizzes on essential Business English skills for conducting and participating in meeting in English.

These lessons are also available in our English for Meetings eCourse App:
Download from the Apple App Store (iOS).

English for Meetings eBook Course

  • Expressing opinions in meetings
  • Agreeing
  • Disagreeing
  • Making suggestions
  • Accepting or rejecting suggestions
  • Clarifying what was said
  • Clarifying what was meant
  • Chairing a meeting – starting off
  • Chairing a meeting – managing the discussion
  • Interrupting and resisting interruption
  • Problem Solving Meetings
  • Finishing up and action points

Premium Members: click a link below to view and download files (right-click to save).

Title
Transcripts
Podcasts
PhraseCasts
Quizzes
Complete Set/ZIP
Course Introduction
Expressing Opinions
Agreeing
Disagreeing
Suggestions
Accepting/Rejecting
Clarifying 1
Clarifying 2
Opening
Managing
Interrupting
Problem Solving 1
Problem Solving 2
Finishing

BEP 220 – Arguing in Meetings in English (2)

Business English, Communication, English for Meetings /

BEP 220 - Business English Meeting Lesson on Arguing

In today’s Business English Pod lesson, we continue our look at the language and techniques of arguing in meetings.

Imagine you’re in a meeting. You are expressing your opinion about something, when a colleague across the table interrupts you. He disagrees with what you’re saying, and he’s determined to make his point. What do you do? Do you sit back and smile? Or do you accept the challenge and defend what you’re saying?

This situation plays out every day in every office. Sometimes the discussion remains calm and the people remain diplomatic. But other times the conversation becomes more heated. At a certain point, it doesn’t seem like a conversation any more but an argument. People interrupt each other, they criticize and accuse, they defend themselves, and they become emotional.

Arguments are a normal part of working life. You can’t avoid them, so you’d better be prepared for them. In our last episode, we looked at several techniques for holding your own in an argument. Today we’ll look at several more key skills, including how to defend yourself against an accusation, how to correct someone, and how to dismiss trivial points. We’ll also learn about rephrasing another person’s words in an argument and bringing an argument back to a reasonable place.

We are going to rejoin Paula, Gavin, and Matt, who have been talking about a promotional event put on by their department store. The event wasn’t as successful as they had hoped for and Matt, Gavin and Paula’s boss, wants to figure out the reasons why the event failed. However, Paula and Gavin seem more intent on arguing about who is responsible rather than why the event was a failure.

Listening Questions

1. What does Paula think Gavin could have done to give input on the planning of the event?
2. What does Paula think is not worth discussing?
3. What does Matt want to figure out?

Premium Members: PDF Study Notes | Quizzes | PhraseCast | Lesson Module

Download: Podcast MP3

BEP 219 – Arguing in Meetings in English (1)

Business English, Communication, English for Meetings /

BEP 219 -Arguing in Meetings in English 1

In this Business English Pod lesson, we’re going to look at language and skills for arguing in meetings in English.

Does everyone in your office always agree all the time? When someone makes a suggestion, does everyone just smile and nod in agreement? When you bring forward an idea, do people just accept it? Well, if you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you are in an extremely unusual workplace. People are people. And people butt heads. They disagree, they argue, and they fight. You can’t get around it. But you can learn to deal with it.

To hold your own, you need to learn how to argue effectively. If you’ve got an opinion, you need to defend it. And if you have a problem with something a colleague has done, you need to let them know. This can make for some difficult discussions and meetings, but this is just a part of life and business.

So how can you argue effectively? Well, you need several skills which we’ll look at today. We’ll learn how to interrupt someone, finish something we’re saying after someone else has interrupted us, and cast doubt on something someone has said. We’ll also learn some useful expressions for backing up an accusation and trying to keep the discussion focused. When an argument breaks out, these are the kinds of skills you need.

In this lesson, we will hear a meeting between three people in the retail business talking about a recent promotional event. Apparently, the event wasn’t a great success. Paula and Gavin disagree about why things didn’t work out, while their boss Matt tries to work out the truth and keep the discussion focused.

Listening Questions

1. What does Gavin think was the general reason for the event’s failure?
2. Why does Gavin mention “the papers and the radio spots”?
3. At the end of the dialog, what does Matt want to do?

Premium Members: PDF Study Notes | Quizzes | PhraseCast | Lesson Module

Download: Podcast MP3