You sit there and hold your breath. The time ticks on. They have just said something important, but you did not quite understand. It might have been the English phrase they used, the way they said it, you are not used to their accent, the connection or the background noise. But under no circumstances do […]
The top 12 professional ways to say you don’t understand in English Read More
I remember endlessly learning. I studied languages at university, German and Russian, and I used to spend hours learning the structures, vocabulary and grammar. Trying to understand the logic of the language and I had a perfectionist streak, which meant that I always wanted to get it right and make no mistakes. It was what
Agility, not perfectionism Read More
by Victoria Rennoldson and Gill McKay When working in international teams it’s important to be able to communicate confidently & effectively in English, whatever the situation or the audience. What if you could understand the neuroscience & how your brain works to fast track your English communication development? I was delighted to collaborate recently with
Using neuroscience to upgrade your English communication Read More
Do you have your head in the clouds? Is this a positive or a negative expression for you? I was having a really interesting conversation with a group recently about the meaning of this English idiom & its connotations. For some in the group, it meant somebody was innovative, creative & able to helicopter out
Head in the clouds & thinking idioms Read More
I will let you into a little secret. Wednesday 26th May is my birthday so I am going to take a day off & enjoy catching up with some friends & family, now lockdown has started to ease & we can see people again. I often share with you through my blog lots of ideas,
All about Victoria Q&A Read More
Imagine you are in an important meeting & you are asked to comment or answer a question, but you are not sure what to say, or how to express yourself well in the moment. You want to sound professional, confident & share your point concisely in English. Sound familiar? There is nothing worse than feeling
English Meeting Communication: what to say when you don’t know what to say next Read More
Whenever I speak to a new international client about their situation & needs, there is usually one word that consistently comes up. It is a word that is critical in their mind to reach their ultimate goal of being an effective & professional communicator in English: in meetings, presentations, writing, or whatever their personal business
The 8 Keys to Confident English Communication Read More
Seek first to understand, then to be understood. Stephen Covey Small talk is a critical business skill, and if English is your second or third language, then you may experience challenges sometimes in feeling relaxed & confident when talking with people for the first time or networking, whether that is face to face, or online.
English Small Talk Success Read More
I had a client a few years ago who came to me because he felt he needed to improve his English writing skills. On the surface, he appeared to be a confident English speaker, able to express himself clearly & appropriately, with a good range of phrases & little hesitation. However, his writing was another
Are you making these common email mistakes? Read More
Why is it that British people have such a reputation for being indirect & avoiding saying ‘no’? It is like a national joke, with those tables circulated every so often showing what the British person said & what they actually mean. Clearly everybody is individual, with their own communication style preferences which can be influenced
How British people disagree Read More
