Business communication
The eTwinning entrepreneurs not only established their own business but they also started a fluent communication with other companies other eTwinners had set up. Here you can find some examples of this interaction. If you are interested in business English this can be helpful, you can get inspired on how to have a conversation on the phone, ask for products or services and also write a business mail requesting a quote. We have highlighted structures and useful language for the corporate world.
1. On the phone
Phone conversations are one of the most feared tasks when it comes to say what you need in English. Listen to some of the conversations the eTwinners entrepreneurs had in order get some inspiration and learn some of the most common structures on the phone. Then you can role-play similar conversations.
2. Questions about products and services
Many conversations in business English deal with products and services the companies provide. In order to help you master this kind of questions, you can read some examples below and practice them. Again, we have highlighted the structures and vocabulary that can be handy in, who knows, your next business conversation. eTwinners were pretending to have conversations on a chat, so this is written language.
Group 1
I would like to know when you are able to meet with clients .
Group 2
What kind of warranty do you have in your company?
Useful language
I would like to know...
Useful language
What kind of .... do you have in your company?
Useful vocabulary
To meet with: to come together with someone in order to discuss something.
Useful vocabulary
Warranty: A written guarantee of the integrity of the product
Group 3
How much would it cost to repair a glass and part of the car?
Group 4
Do the courses that you offer have any cost?
Useful language
How much would it cost...?
Useful language
Do .... have any cost?
Useful vocabulary
To repair: to restore by replacing a broken part
Useful vocabulary
Cost: the amount paid for something.
Group 5
Do you use a document for mutual agreement?
Group 6
I know your company offer services for remodelling. Do your company use special containers for storage?
Useful language
Do you use...?
Useful language
I know your company...
Useful vocabulary
Agreement: A contract legally binding
Useful language
Storage: Space or place for storing.
3. E-mails requesting a quote
A quotation, a business quote, or simply a quote, is a document that lists the prices proposed by a seller for their goods or services and offered to a potential customer. In business English quotes are important as they are sent to the client before the invoice and, therefore, form the first point of business contact with the client. Below you can see the structure of a quotation mail (with the subject line, the greeting, the body and the closing) and three examples given by the eTwinners entrepreneurs. As you can see the language used in this kind of mails is formal.
Here you can see three examples of e-mails written by three differente groups. As you will see they are all different, but the structure is similar. In all of them you will find the greeting, the body and the closing. Besides, formal language is used. You can write a similar one following the examples.
Quote mail. Sample 1
Quote mail. Sample 2
Quote mail. Sample 3
Group 7
Do you provide any service for maintenance outside of town?
Extra example
Do you use envirommentally-friendly products in your company?
Useful language
Do you provide...?
Useful language
Do you use environmmentally-friendly....?
Useful vocabulary
Maintenance: The work needed to keep a machine, a building, etc. in good condition.
Useful vocabulay
Envirommentally-friendly product: A product that causes little envirommental degradation.
