Business English 12.: IN THE OFFICE- Office supplies

Office supplies are all the supplies regularly used in offices. It includes small, daily use items such as pens, highlighters, paper clips, and post-it notes, small machines such as hole punches, binders, staplers and laminators, but also encompasses higher-cost equipment like computers, printers, fax machines, and photocopiers, as well as office furniture such as chairs, filing cabinet, and desks.

How do you call the following supplies in English?

a) calculator

b) paper clip

c) pen

d) legal pad

e) correction fluid

f) post-it note pad

g) pushpin

h) file folder

i) highlighter

j) scotch tape

k) staples

l) envelope

m) binder

n) glue stick

o) laminator

p) scissors

q) hole punch

r) stapler

Szókincs:

itt

Megoldás a képhez:
1.c; 2.i; 3.b; 4.f; 5.q; 6.r; 7.m; 8.o; 9.g; 10.k; 11.j; 12.n; 13.p; 14.e; 15.h; 16.d; 17.a; 18.l

Business English 11./ COMPLAINTS

MAKING A COMPLAINT/ PANASZTÉTEL ANGOLUL

toonpool.com

A complaint letter is a formal letter. Try to address it to the manager or owner of the company which made you dissatisfied. Clearly state the facts/ key details of your case for your complaint: e.g. problem with goods or services bought from the business at a particular location and date and that you want the problem fixed. Always keep your complaint professional. State that you expect to hear from the business with a solution. You should include your address in the letter.

Useful phrases for complaining:

This is a letter to notify you/ follow up on our conversation about a problem with your product/ service. / I am writing to give details of my dissatisfaction with your product/ service because...

This product/ service I bought/ rented/ had repaired at your location on <date>....

On using it for the first time, I found that...

When I returned your product to the store, your representatives said that they were unable to replace it or offer me a refund. This option is unsatisfactory.

To resolve the problem, I would appreciate it if you could refund the money/ exchange/ replace/ repair the product as soon as possible.

As your product  clearly does not function (as it should) and therefore does not comply with the legal standards of product quality, I am therefore writing to you to ask for a full refund of the price of x EUR. 

I have enclosed copies of my records as a proof of purchase.

Unfortunately, the problem remains unresolved.

I look forward to your reply and a resolution to my problem, and will wait until <date> before seeking help from a consumer protection agency.

Please contact me within 5 weekdays to confirm that you will honor my request/ to discuss this matter. 

Szókincs:

link

Feladat:
Egészítsd ki a panaszlevelet!

Dear Sir or Madam,

This is a letter to ______________________(1)  you about a problem. I am unhappy with the quality of the cabinet I bought at your store in London on 15th September 2014. 

The cabinet doors do not open and shut properly, with one half darker than the other. The cabinet was delivered on 17th September 2014 and I found this problem as soon as I unpacked it from the box.

The cabinet is not of acceptable ______________________(2) and does not match the sample cabinet I was shown in your store. I would like you to ______________________(3) it with one of the same quality and arrange for return of the faulty cabinet at no cost.

I have ______________________(4) a copy of the receipt as ______________________(5) of purchase.

I would like to have this problem fixed quickly please. If I do not hear from you within 10 ______________________(6), I will lodge a formal complaint with Consumer Affairs.

You can ______________________(7) me on 1234 5678 during working hours to ______________________(8) this matter further.

Yours faithfully,

Jane White

______________________(9): Copy of the receipt

Megoldás:

(1) inform; (2) quality; (3) replace; (4) enclosed/ attached; (5) proof; 
(6) workdays; (7) reach/ contact; (8) solve; (9) Attachment(s)

Business English 10./ COMMON MISTAKES IN BUSINESS ENGLISH II.

LEGGYAKORIBB HIBÁK AZ ÜZLETI ANGOLBAN II.

tvoyrost.com

1. look forward to doing

We say 'look forward to' if we are excited about something that is going to happen. Using gerund (-ing)  after this phrasal verb is obligatory.
e.g. We are looking forward to working with you.

2. Then or than?

'Then' describes time in the past or in the future. It can be used as an adjective or an adverb.
e.g. I go to the pharmacy then to the supermarket.

When we use 'than' we often compare things. 'Than' can be used as a conjunction or a preposition.
e.g. I am more qualified than my colleague.

3. Rise or raise?

We say 'rise' if something rises by itself, moves up.

'Raise' means 'lift something'; it describes an upward movement. It must have an object.

4. Which or what?

'Which' is used if you choose from some items, already defined.

'What' is used to ask when there are an unknown number or infinite possibilities for an answer. 'What' can be used as a relative pronoun if you can change it to 'the thing(s) that'.

5. Say (said) or tell (told)?

'Say' or its past form 'said' can be used in direct or reported speech. However, in indirect speech it is usually followed by 'that'.

'Tell' and 'told' are always followed by an object. e.g. He is telling you the truth.; I told them not to open that door.

Feladat:

a)  The boss _____________ us to finish all tasks today.

b) I must call the Sales Department _____________ you can delete this order.

c) The revenue has _____________ in the last few years.

d) Is the secretary more reliable _____________ her boss?

e) I am looking _____________ to hearing from you.

f) The factory will be closed, _____________ shocked all of us.

g) I love _____________ this company sells.

h) My colleague _____________ that he couldn't stay any longer.

i) He _____________ the box full of files above his head.

Megoldás:

a) told; b) then; c) risen; d) than; e) forward; f) which; g) what; h) said; i) raised

Business English 9./ COMMON MISTAKES IN BUSINESS ENGLISH I.

LEGGYAKORIBB HIBÁK AZ ÜZLETI ANGOLBAN I.

www.theguardian.com

English can be confusing. After this lesson you might be able to avoid making these ones ;-)

1. Compose or comprise?

'Compose'  means to make up: the parts compose the whole.

'Comprise' means to be made up, opposite to 'compose': the whole comprises its parts.

2. Affect or effect?

'Affect' is the verb of the action 'influence'.

'Effect' is the noun, it is the consequence of the action.

3. Most or mostly?

'Most' is an adjective and means: the largest part of something.

'Mostly' is an adverb and its meaning is mainly, generally.

4. Been or gone?

'Been' is used to describe completed trips.

'Gone' can be used to express the fact that you left but haven't returned yet.

5. In or at?

'In' is used to talk about position inside bigger places such as countries, cities etc.

'At' is used to express position inside small/ unimportant places or with names, e.g. at the company/ at B Bank.

Feladat:

a) The Sales Department _________________ 6 Sales Representatives, including a Sales Manager.

b) We can meet _________________ the pub.

c) Drugs have many side _________________.

d) Although my colleague made a lot of mistakes, he is _________________ a good person.

e) I have never _________________ in the company's headquarter.

f) He has _________________ to the shops.

g) The noise outside _________________ his performance.

h) _________________ people like short meetings.

i) The EU _________________ 28 member states.

j) I grew up _________________ the United States.

Megoldás:
a) is composed of; b) at; c) effects; d) mostly; e) been; f) gone;
g) affected; h) Most; i) comprises; j) in.

Business English 8./ PUNCTUATION MARKS

Punctuation marks are characters which are used to divide a piece of writing into sentences. They should be used differently in the English language than in Hungarian. For example, commas don't have so strict rules in English, and exclamation marks cannot be found at the end of imperative sentences etc,
How do you call the following marks in English?

a) ellipses

b) square brackets

c) dash

d) virgule

e) comma

f) colon

g) question mark

h) exclamation point

i) quotation marks

j) period

k) parentheses

l) semicolon

Szókincs:

itt

Feladat:
Melyik írásjelre gondoltam? :-)

a) This sign is used to introduce an example or an explanation: ____________ .

b) This sign is used in writing to separate two closely related parts of a sentence: ____________ .

c) You write this mark after a sentence/ word that expresses surprise, excitement or anger: ____________ .

d) These are round brackets: ____________ .

e) You write this sign after a sentence that gathers information: ____________ .

f)  This sign is a dividing line between two words indicating that whichever is appropriate to complete the sentence: ____________ .

Megoldás:
Kép

1. j; 2. k; 3. h; 4. f; 5. l; 6. i; 7. g; 8. b; 9. c; 10. a; 11. e; 12. d
Melyik írásjelre gondoltam? 
a) colon
b) comma
c) exclamation point
d) parentheses
e) question mark
f) virgule

Business English 7./ DESCRIBING TRENDS

DESCRIBING TRENDS/
TENDENCIÁK ELMONDÁSA ANGOLUL

                                          GRAPHS                                 CHARTS

TABLES

http://www.codeproject.com/ & http://www.worldstart.com/

Hogyan jellemezzünk egy diagramot angolul?

As you can see from the graph...
This graph shows the company's performance over the period 2010-2014.
On the horizontal axis we can see.... and ..... on the vertical axis.
Rises& falls:
to increase/ jump/ boom/ soar
to decrease/ drop/ shrink
to fluctuate
to improve
to double/ triple
to remain stable
It reached a peak.../ It reaches a low point.../ It remained steady.
... rises from x to y. It is a considerable rise./ ... decreases by x. It's a slight drop.

Szókincs:

http://savaborsa.blogspot.hu/p/uzleti-angol-business-english.html

Feladat:
Egészítsd ki angolul az alábbi grafikon jellemzését!

This graph shows the company's performance ______________________(1) a ten-month period. As you can see in the  ______________________(2), costs went down in the first two months. In the third month costs continued to ______________________(3) but more slightly, from 15 ______________________(4) 12. During the next one and the half months costs ______________________(5) stable. However, in May they ______________________(6) to 24, that's an ______________________(7) of 200%. They reached a ______________________(8) of 30 in July. And the trend only changed in September when costs started to hold steady. 

Megoldás:

1. during; 2. picture/ graph; 3. drop; 4. to; 5. remained; 6. increased; 7. increase; 8. peak

Business English 6./ OUT OF OFFICE MESSAGES

Out of office messages= "Házon kívül vagyok" üzenetek

http://www.kathylien.com/

Ha nem vagyunk e-mailben elérhetőek, mindenképp érdemes beállítani az automatikus válaszüzenetet a levelezőrendszerünkben, hogy tudják a nekünk e-mailezők, épp nem vagyunk bent és hova tudnak fordulni, ha mégis szükségük van sürgős segítségre/ válaszra.

Íme egy példa megszólítással és egy kollégánk elérhetőségének megadásával:

Dear Mail Sender,

Thank you for your e-mail.

I will be back in the office on 7th April and will contact you as soon as possible after that date. If you need immediate assistance, please contact my colleague, Mrs. Smith. Her email address is: mrs.smith@company.com

Best regards,

Tom White

Feladat:
Egészítsd ki az alábbi üzenetet!

Thank you for your mail. I am _______________(1) of the office from 1st April to 7th April and will have _______________(2) access to my e-mail _______________(3) this period. My emails are not _______________(4) forwarded. Alternatively _______________(5) send all urgent emails to Mrs. Smith _______________(6) mrs.smith@company.com

_______________(7) regards,
Tom White

Megoldás:
1. out; 2. no/ limited; 3. box; 4. being; 5. please; 6. at; 7. Best/ Kind

Business English 5./ How to write/ accept/ decline an invitation

1. How to write an invitation
Dear Colleagues, 

We would like to extend a personal invitation to each of you to attend our Family Sports Day. We will meet on Saturday 15th March, 2014 at 10: 00 in the Green Park (behind the office building). Delicious finger food will be provided by the famous Chef Catering and good music by the Melody Band.

If you are able to attend, please respond to this email by 5th March so that we can confirm numbers.

Please let us know any other questions you may have.

Kind regards,

Susan George
HR Coordinator

http://www.outsource.com.au/

2. How to accept an invitation
Dear Susan,

Thank you very much for your kind invitation to the Family Day. My family and I are happy to attend and looking forward to having a wonderful time with you.

Best regards,

Joe Morgan
Customer Service Representative

3. How to decline an invitation
Dear Susan,

Thank you for your invitation to the Family Sports Day. Unfortunately, we have already an engangement that weekend and will be unable to attend. 

May you enjoy a great event. 

Best regards,

Joe Morgan
Customer Service Representative

Feladat:

Fill in the gaps.

http://office.about.com/

Subject: Christmas Party

Dear Colleagues,

We would like to intvite you to ________________(1) our Annual Christmas Party located at Budapest Center on 18th December 2014 from 6 p.m. It is Christmas time once again and we cannot let this season pass without seeing you. Please ________________(2) with you your partner and kids. We have prepared a couple activities that for sure each of you/ us will enjoy. Please wear your most ________________(3) attire, just make yourselves ready even to play games.

Please ________________(4) by 6th December to the HR Team ________________(5) hr@company.com

Hoping to see you on that day. 

Merry Christmas!

Best ________________(6),

Peter Human

HR Manager


Megoldás:
1. attend; 2. bring; 3. comfortable; 4. RSVP; 5. at; 6. regards.

Business English 4./ Business expressions

BUSINESS EXPRESSIONS

What do the following expressions mean?

a) Working nine-to-five

b) Creditor

c) Hot-desking

d) Intern

e) Rush hour

f) Business card

http://marketing-works.net/

1. During … road traffic is at its highest, roads are congested and public transport is overcrowded.

2. A … is a person or a company that is owed money by another person.

3. .... means that people have job with normal daytime hours.

4. … is when workers don't have their own desks.

5. … bear business information about a company or an individual.

6. An … is someone who has a degree and is working to gain experience.

1. e; 2. b; 3. a; 4. c; 5. f; 6. d

Feladat:

http://swscmedia.com/

Which one is right from above?
a) In a _____________________ they don't work shifts or nights.
b) ______________ is the period of time at the beginning and end of the working day.
c) ______________ don't go to uni or college any more.
d) ______________ can work well if there are employees at the company who are often out of office.
e) A ______________ typically includes the giver's name and contactinformation.
f) A supplier is a _______________ of the company.

Megoldás:
a) nine-to-five work; b) Rush hour; c) Interns; d) Hot-desking;
e) business card; f) creditor

Business English 3./ How to apply for a job

HOW TO APPLY FOR A JOB

http://manpowersolution.vn/

When you decide to apply for a job you need to send in your application. This will probably consist of your CV and cover letter. If the company are interested in you they will ask you to attend an interview.

Useful expressions for email job applications:

I saw your your advertisement for the position of xy on the internet.

I am interested in this position./ I would like to express my interest in a position as xy for your company.

I would like to apply for this position.

Could you please send me an application form?

I have attached my resume.

I am looking forward to speaking with you about this employment opportunity in person.

Thank you very much for your time and consideration.

Feladat:

http://www.talentedladiesclub.com/

Complete the application letter. Use only one word in each space.

Dear HR Team,

I am _______________(1) in response to your _______________(2) in today's Metropol for an assistant. I would like to apply for this _______________(3).

I am a recent graduate of the Corvinus University in Budapest and I am currently working part-time _______________(4) a clerk for RTL. I am familiar with all aspects of office operations.

I have _______________(5) a copy of my _______________(6) and would very much appreciate an _______________(7) of an interview.

Thank you very much for your time and _______________(8).

I am looking _______________(9) to hearing from you.

_______________(10) faithfully,

Jane Smith

Megoldás (minta!):
(1) writing (2) advertisement (3) position (4) as (5) attached
(6) resume (7) opportunity (8) consideration (9) forward (10) yours

Business English 2./ Abbreviations

ABBREVIATIONS IN BUSINESS LETTERS

1. enc.

2. cc

3. asap

4. RSVP

5. pp

6. ps

7. c/o

8. i.e.

9. FYI

10. PTO

Mit jelentenek a fenti rövidítések?

a) visszajelzést kérek

b) információként

c) vagyis

d) lapozzon

e) csatolva

f) azonnal

g) utóirat

h) másolat
i) jelenleg tartózkodik valakinél
j) megbízásából

1. e; 2. h; 3. f; 4. a; 5. j; 6. g; 7. i; 8. c; 9. b; 10. d.

Feladat:

i.e/ cc/ FYI/ RSVP/ asap/ c/o

a) Please send me the new cataloge _______________.

b) I wrote _______________ in the letter and sent it to the other members of the staff.

c) The conference starts at 9:00 AM _______________ we cannot be late.

d) We have to  _______________ the email to my boss.

e) The invitation said _______________ so I sent a note I would attend the team building.

f) If we don't know Tom's address, we send a letter to him  _______________ his wife. 

Megoldás:

a) asap; b) FYI; c) i.e.; d) cc; e) RSVP; f) c/o.

Business English 1./ Telephone language

FORMAL TELEPHONE LANGUAGE

http://www.moneyintention.com/

Sarah: ABC Company, Sarah Weber speaking.

Peter: Good morning, this is Peter Smith from Richardson. I'd like to speak to Alex Roger, please.

Sarah: Certainly, Mr. Smith. I'll see if he's in the office now.

I'm afraid he's not here at the moment. Would you like to leave a message?

Peter: Yes, please say that Peter Smith called.

Sarah: OK. Shall I ask him to call you back?

Peter: No, thanks. I have to leave the office now. Please tell him I'll call again tomorrow.

Sarah: OK. I'll pass on your message. Have a nice day.

Peter: Thank you. Bye.

Kifejezések a szövegben:

..... speaking.= .... vagyok/ beszél.

This is .....= ..... vagyok.

Ha felveszem a telefont vagy bemutatkozom.

I'd like to speak TO....= I would like to speak TO...=
....-tal szeretnék beszélni.

Would you like to....?= Szeretne.....?

leave a message= üzenetet hagy

leave the office= elmegy/ elindul az irodából

I have to leave the office now.= Most el kell indulnom az irodából.

in the office= az irodában

He is in (the office) now.= Ő most bent van (az irodában).

I'll pass on your message.= I will pass on your message.=
Át fogom adni az üzenetét.

I'm afraid....= Attól tartok, hogy....

Shall I ask him/her/ them to call you back?= Megkérjem őt/ őket, hogy visszahívja/-ják Önt?

Ha udvariasan felajánlom, hogy megcsinálok valamit.

Egyéb kifejezések:

Who is this, please?/ Who is calling please?= Kivel beszélek?

Can I speak to...?= Beszélhetnék ...-tal?

I've got the wrong number.= Félretárcsáztam.

You've got the wrong number.= Ön rossz számot hívott.

Can I take a message?= Hagyhatnék üzenetet?

Just a moment.= Egy pillanat.

Hold on please while I find a pen.= Tartsa kérem, amíg keresek egy tollat.

I've made a note of that.= Felírtam.

Feladat:

Mi illik a szövegbe? 
(Több megoldás is lehetséges egy-egy helyre.)

this/ like/ shall/ take/ calling/ has/ help/ knows/ leave/ hold

Secretary: Good morning, this is Alissa Lord. How can I __________(1)?

Peter: Good morning. I would __________(2) to speak to the director, please.

Secretary: Could I ask who is __________(3)?

Peter: This is Peter Wilson from WilsonTech.                              

Secretary: Just a moment. I'm sorry our director's in a meeting at the moment.

Peter: Can I __________(4) a message?

Secretary: Of course. __________(5) on please while I find a pen.

Peter: Can you tell him Peter called and it's urgent, please?

Secretary: __________(6) I ask him to call you back?

Peter: Yes, thank you. I don't think he __________(7) my number. My number is 123-3456, extension 78.

Secretary: Let me repeat that just to make sure. Peter Wilson from WilsonTech, 123-3456, extention 78.

Peter: Exactly.

Secretary: I'll make sure he gets your message. __________(8) a nice day.

Peter: Many thanks. Bye.

Megoldás:

1. help; 2. like; 3. this/ calling; 4. take/ leave; 5. hold; 6. shall; 
7. knows/ has; 8. have

BUSINESS ENGLISH & GESCHÄFTSDEUTSCH

www.drwilliamconstantine.com

Újabb jó hír, hogy 2014. jan. 31-től indulnak a Business English & Geschäftsdeutsch heti leckék :)

Minden pénteken szaknyelvi fordulatokat, mini feladatokat találtok a bejegyzések között. A megoldások a következő heti bejegyzéssel együtt kerülnek majd fel a blogra.

www.freevector.com

Szívesen veszem a kérdéseiteket, tanácsaitokat, hogy miről szeretnétek olvasni. Használjátok a "Megjegyzés küldése" mezőt a bejegyzések alatt, amit bárki láthat, vagy a bal oldalon a "Kapcsolat" menüpontot ;-)

Jó tanulgatást!