Posted By Webmaster on February 7, 2012

2012 The Year of Speaking English:-

As you are undoubtedly aware, there has recently been a large amount of press coverage on the Ministry of Education’s (MoE) plans to achieve better English communication skills among Thai school and university students. This extremely imperative objective to enhance the English language speaking skill of young Thai citizens, which is supported by leading academics, writers to the correspondence pages of the newspapers and, it goes without saying, by English Click, is in recognition of the need for Thais to be fully equipped for the start of the Asean Community in 2015.

Thailand’s Ministry of Education focusing on English skills development ahead of the Asean Economic Community formation in 2015

The Asean Community will open up a free labor market among the ten member countries of Asean, with professionals and skilled workers who possess an advanced level of English language proficiency having the edge on other applicants for a job position, since this language is the common medium for international communication in both the public and private sectors.

Thus the MoE is quite correctly and realistically working to an agenda that will assist and support Thais to become competitive in the deregulated Asean Community, to the benefit of their incomes and advancement within their particular profession.

The achievement of students acquiring advanced English communication skills requires a fundamental change in the teaching approach at both school and university level. As educational specialist Mr Paron Israsena was recently quoted in The Bangkok Post as saying: “The old way of teaching English, which starts with grammar, must be scrapped and replaced with an emphasis on listening and speaking skills so that students are encouraged to speak up.”

This is exactly the same way that English Click thinks and accordingly the way we conduct our conversation lessons! We can provide a wide range of courses to prathom and mathayom school students, university students and adults that are simultaneously instructive and enjoyable.

We urge you to participate with us in 2012 the Year of Speaking English, and thereby improve your own or your son’s or daughter’s future prospects within the Asean Community.

English language vocabulary

undoubtedly aware (adverb + adjective): almost certainly know

press (noun): newspaper

imperative (adjective): absolutely necessary

it goes without saying (expression): obviously

edge on (noun + preposition): advantage

agenda (noun): plan

deregulated (adjective): free, not limited by government rules

acquiring (verb-noun): getting

fundamental (adjective): basic and major

scrapped (verb past participle): thrown away, cancelled

emphasis (noun): main stress

accordingly (adverb): consequently in agreement

simultaneously (adverb): at the same time

urge (verb): strongly ask

participate (verb): join and take part

For a free, no obligation information pack on our English language training courses for children and younger people contact us via Email, or click here

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Tags: English for Asean free labor market, English language for children, English language skills, English language skills for students, English language training, English language vocabulary, General Business English Conversation Course, general English communications skills, speaking English, Talking Point

Posted By Webmaster on December 20, 2010

New Year resolution – Improve your English language skills

As the year draws to a close, it is common practice to make ‘new year resolutions’, that is – to decide and plan on certain actions for the coming year that will make your personal and professional life better and to eliminate habits that you think are undesirable.

There is a wide choice of resolutions that a person can make and the ones actually selected depend on the particular areas that an individual considers need to be attended to, for example: eat healthier food, be more tidy, get up earlier! The important factor is to try to keep to your resolutions for the whole year ahead.

Consider a commitment to improving your English language skills as a New Year's resolution.

At English Click would like to suggest to you that improving your English language skills makes for a very positive and highly rewarding new year resolution. Improving your English language skills will undoubtedly place you in a better position to succeed and make progress in your professional life, given that English is the international language of organizational and corporate activity.

We are also quick to point out that our lessons to improve your English language skills are designed to be an enjoyable experience, and not a dreary chore, and thus our suggested new year resolution to improve your English language skills”can brighten up your life as well as being extremely useful.

As a closing message to all our readers of Talking Point and to past, present and future clients and students of English Click, we wish you a merry Christmas and a happy, healthy, safe and prosperous New Year.

English language vocabulary

draws to (verb + preposition): comes to

eliminate (verb): put an end to

undesirable (adjective): not wanted

selected (verb / adjective): chosen

makes for (verb + preposition): provides

rewarding (adjective): giving one satisfaction or benefit (e.g. money, a gift)

undoubtedly (adverb): certainly

point out (verb + preposition): inform, indicate

dreary chore (adjective + noun): boring task

prosperous (adjective): rich

For a free, no obligation information pack on our various courses to improve your English language skills contact us via Email, or click here

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Tags: English for business, English for managers, English language skills, English language social communications, English language vocabulary, general English communications skills, speaking English, Talking Point

Posted By Webmaster on November 18, 2010

English language skills essential to securing jobs with foreign investors:-

This weekend (November 20 & 21) the Careers Expo is being held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center and strong English language skills will make job seekers significantly more appealing to potential employers.

English language skills will make job seekers significantly more appealing to potential employers – especially where the job sought is with a multi-national employer.

With increasing foreign investment in Thailand it’s reasonable to expect that this weekends expo will see an increase in the number of foreign companies looking for staff. While verbal and written English language skills look impressive on a resumé, there are a few other things that dovetail with good general English language communications skills.

As has been emphasized in previous Talking Points, possessing advanced English language skills will greatly improve the chances of career advancement for Thai people in any field they seek employment, and a position with a foreign company investing in Thailand opens the door to higher salaries, better career opportunities and the potential for working in foreign countries.

Applying for a job or new position and attending an interview is a crucial process that requires preparation, attention to detail and practice. With continuing globalization in the workplace an increasing number of employment interviews are being undertaken in English – especially where the job sought is with a multi-national employer.

For those wishing to submit a job application and attend an interview conducted in the English language, a short course of study requiring just a few hours is an ideal way to brush up on English language speaking skills and mean the difference between winning a coveted position, or not.

The range of professions and work pursuits available to people is huge – and one factor that makes life extremely interesting– with each area of work or profession having its own particular jargon or specialized language, often unknown to people outside the profession.

English Click offers a very wide selection of English language training courses that focus on the contexts and English vocabulary and expressions that apply to particular professions and industries, as well as general English language conversation courses and English language conversation courses for business.

Continuing job training, including English language instruction, is a win-win situation for both the organization that arranges the training sessions and the individual participants themselves, with increased knowledge and higher skills enabling both the organization and its staff to prosper.

English language vocabulary

Expo (noun): exhibition, fair
significantly (adjective): sufficiently great or important to be worthy of attention
dovetail (verb): fit or cause to fit together easily and conveniently
emphasized (noun): stressed
crucial (adjective): of great importance
sought (verb): attempt or desire to obtain or achieve (something)
crucial (adjective): extremely important
coveted (verb): yearn to possess or have (something)
pursuits (noun): followings
contexts (noun): situations
participants (noun): people taking part
prosper (verb): become richer

For a no-obligation information pack on our range of tailored English language communications courses for adults, English language courses for business, and English language courses for people employed in specific industry sectors, contact us via eMail, or click here

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Tags: English for business, English for managers, English language skills, English language skills for job seekers, English language training courses for specific industry sectors, English language vocabulary, General Business English Conversation Course, general English communications skills, speaking English, Talking Point

Posted By Webmaster on November 5, 2010

Effective English language skills essential for overseas business:-

In the event of an overseas trip effective English language skills are essential for successful communication outcomes, with this requirement applying equally to executives and staff of organizations, or spouses and assistants who may be intending to accompany them.

The strong baht means an increasing number of people are traveling for business placing increased focus on English language skills for executives, managers, assistants and spouses

With the Thai baht now at a foreign exchange level that it has not been at for a decade, overseas travel to England and the USA, for example, is now considerably lower than it was two years ago, with the British pound and US dollar having fallen in value by between 35 per cent and 40 per cent against the baht over this period.

On an overseas trip there will almost certainly be occasions when social conversations in English are part of the agenda, supplementing the work-related component. This more relaxed form of dialogue is a sure way to build up and strengthen relationships with international clients and colleagues, but again good English language social communications skills are required.

Irrespective of whether you are at a business dinner, an exhibition stand, showing a visitor around your organization, or attending an event after work, you need to be able to make conversation in an appropriate and confident way in order to establish and maintain successful relationships.

Ever since people first began trading and making deals, there has never been business without socializing. In many cultures the socializing is the business – people only do business with their friends, and if you are not friends already you have to become friends before you can make a deal.

Even in the more ‘business-like’ West, socializing is still extremely important. In fact, in some countries, such as Britain, not socializing with business contacts is seen as very impolite and could damage your relationship.

English Click can provide a wide choice of general English, business English and specialist English language training for executives and their colleagues, assistants, or family who will accompany them on international trips giving you and them the confidence to exchange words freely in this important aspect of business conversation.

English language vocabulary

spouses (noun): husbands or wives
intending (verb): planning
considerably (adverb): to a great extent
supplementing (verb): adding to
Irrespective (adjective): regardless of
appropriate (adjective): right for the occasion
maintain (verb): keep
business-like (adjective): formal and focussed 100% on business
damage (verb): hurt and harm
freely (adverb): extensively

For a free, no obligation information pack on our English language training courses contact us via Email, or click here

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Tags: English for business, English for executives, English for managers, English language skills, English language social communications, General Business English Conversation Course, general English communications skills, speaking English, Talking Point

Posted By Webmaster on October 10, 2010

Good English communication skills essential for public relations and presentations

The importance of good spoken English language skills for those working in public relations, marketing and presentation areas is highlighted very well in a pertinent article I have just read describing a presentation given to an audience of travel journalists from around the world promoting tourism in Bangkok.

High level English language proficiency is vital for those involved in public relations and marketing whose job is to promote the Thailand tourism industry. Photo: John Le Fevre

The core message of this commentary is that public relations campaigns and presentations in the international arena require high level English language speaking skills to ensure that they are truly effective. English Click, through its many professional training programs, can provide specific English language training courses that meet this need.

The particular presentation the writer was referring to happened to be in the extremely important tourism sector, and I quote some sentences from the article:

1. Most Thai companies and institutions have difficulty communicating to a non-Thai public.

2. The presenter had incredible difficulties understanding and speaking English in front of [the] foreign media.

3. The presenter admitted that he had not understood the question very well due to his poor English skills.

4. Most other questions, for example, about budgets for tourism, cooperation in tourism fields, etc. remained unanswered.

In the field of tourism, English Click is able to deliver effective, results-driven English Language Training Courses for the Hotel and Hospitality Industries and English Language Training Course for the Travel and Tourism Industries, with each course focusing on the specific vocabulary used by those working in (i) tourism in general, (ii) hotels and (iii) restaurants.

On a general level, making an effective English language presentation with good public relations expertise requires directing one’s attention to many different details in technique and practice, as well as the ability to speak English and listen with understanding.

Again, English Click can provide training courses in how to give effective presentations in English, adapting the detail of the course to any company or organization that wishes to avail itself of this program.

English language vocabulary

core (noun-adjective): central
pertinent (adjective): relevant to a particular subject
arena (noun): field
incredible (adjective): unbelievable
vocabulary (noun): the body of words used in a particular language
expertise (noun): advanced skill or knowledge
technique (noun): particular methods of doing something
adapting (verb): changing to make more suitable
avail itself (verb): make use of

For a free, no obligation information pack on our English language training courses contact us via Email, or click here

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Tags: English for business, English for hotel and hospitality, English for travel and tourism, English language skills, English language training courses for specific industry sectors, English language training for presentations, English language vocabulary, general English communications skills, Marketing and Advertising Industries, speaking English, Talking Point

Posted By Webmaster on September 3, 2010

Kasetsart University teams up with English Click for general English communications

The importance of general English communications skills in the workplace will be emphasized at a seminar/ workshop being conducted by English Click in conjunction with Kasetsart University on September 7.

The two and a half hour session is a realistic and positive initiative by the University’s teaching staff and recognizes that their students, once they enter the workforce after graduating, will advance further and faster in their chosen career if they possess high level English language skills.

The seminar will highlight a number of general situations and requirements that occur in all working organizations, whether they are in the government sector or in the private commercial field.

Clearly there is a host of particular vocabulary and expression sets applying to each individual work pursuit and the students at Kasetsart University will need to follow up with further specialized study to acquire the English language jargon of their own chosen profession.

The seminar is based on a special 24-page booklet divided into six modules and contains a number of activities that enable the students to practice their English skills.

Our general English communications skills workshop/ seminar modules comprise:

1. General introduction to English language
DVD illustrating English dialogue in the workplace.

2. Telephoning
Audio examples of x dialogues.
Activity – students practise a conversation in pairs.

3. Looking after visitors
Meeting, welcoming and looking after a visitor – offering refreshments.
Activity – students role play this scenario in pairs.

4. Writing
English language writing used in the workplace: e-mails and letters, reports and research documents, minutes of meetings.
Activity – students to complete a short writing exercise.

5. Presentations
Common English language used in presentations and basic rules for giving an effective presentation.

6. English language social communications in the workplace
Audio example of a work related English language social communications dialogue.
Activity – students hold a social conversation, e.g. at a conference, in groups.

The evening promises to be informative and rewarding, and we will post photographs of the seminar in a future Talking Point update next week.

English Click can provide fully tailored general English communications skills courses on each of the modules included in the seminar for companies or other education facilities wishing to duplicate the progressive approach taken by Kasetsart University on request.

English language vocabulary

initiative (noun): new and imaginative piece of action
graduating (gerund): obtaining a degree
career (noun): the course over time of a person’s job or profession
occur (verb): happen
host (noun): very large number
pursuit (noun): following, search
jargon (noun): specialised language used in a particular profession
modules (noun): sections

For a free, no obligation information pack on our English language training courses for specific industry sectors – click HERE.

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Tags: English language skills, English language social communications, English language training courses for specific industry sectors, English language training for presentations, English language vocabulary, English language writing, General Business English Conversation Course, general English communications skills, speaking English, Talking Point

Posted By Webmaster on August 19, 2010

English – “the language of knowledge”

A recent news item that caught my attention reported that former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad strongly supported the continuance of English language teaching in his country, saying this “will not make us less patriotic”. He also added: “People should accept the fact that English is currently the language of knowledge”.

English language skills provide access to the worlds knowledge

As an illustration to back up this statement, the internet is now a prime source of information across the whole spectrum of human knowledge and activity. Although the internet is available in various languages, English still remains the main language on websites around the world and the language people need to be fluent in if they want to take their company’s products or services to the international market, or work internationally.

Furthermore, we are living in an ever increasing technological environment and most of the scientific information and research is written in the English language. Commenting on this fact, Mahathir Mohamad stated: “You cannot rely on someone to translate the latest information for you as it changes every minute. If you master the English language, you can acquire the information by yourself and search for the information that will benefit you”.

Thailand is in a similar situation to Malaysia in as much that English language proficiency within the population is one of the key elements to achieving continuing economic, professional, scientific, commercial and social progress. Recognizing the importance of being able to read and write English, speak English and conduct presentations in English, the Thai Ministry of Education has shown is commitment to establishing an increasing number of international and English language programs within the country’s school system.

English Click has been teaching children English, Adults English and English for business managers for more than 50 years and is able to provide companies with English language training and knowledge building courses across a comprehensive range of disciplines.

Our broad range of specifically tailored English language courses include English language training for those working in the medical industry, English language training for those in the legal industry, English language training for engineers, English language training for those in banking and finance, English language training for travel and tourism industry staff and IELTS English language training for those planning on studying overseas, to name just a few.

English language vocabulary:
patriotic (adjective): loving one’s own country
illustration (noun): example (literally a picture)
back up (verb): support
prime (adjective): first or very important
spectrum (noun): range
acquire (verb): obtain
benefit (verb): help
proficiency (noun): skillful use
comprehensive (adjective): full, complete
disciplines (noun): subject areas

For a free, no obligation information pack on our English language training courses for adults, English language training courses for children, English language training courses for business or English language training courses for specific industry sectors – click HERE

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Tags: English for managers, English for travel and tourism, English language for engineers, English language for the banking and finance industry, English language skills, English language training courses for specific industry sectors, English language vocabulary, General Business English Conversation Course, Malaysia, speaking English, Talking Point