Hi, Tim here with another 925English lesson! In our last two lessons, we looked at how to talk about your job and your work. Today, we’re going to learn how to talk about your company.
Any time you talk about your work, you’re probably also going to talk about your company. So what exactly do we talk about? what are the important aspects of your company that might be interesting to people?
Well, to begin with you can talk about what your company actually does. That’s probably the most important piece of information. And when we talk about what our company does, we usually say “we,” because that shows that we’re a part of the company.
It’s also a good idea to use a strong verb, like manufacture or develop. or you can say what kind of company it is, such as a manufacturer. And finally, you might want to mention what industry or field your company works in. All of that information will give people a good sense of waht your company does.
Let’s practice some examples of talking about your company in this way. Listen to each example, then repeat it yourself. Ready? Let’s get started.
A: We produce electric motors for the automobile industry.
B: We’re an OEM manufacturer for the computer industry.
C: We develop software for the education market.
D: We make branded merchandise for small businesses
There are lots of other great verbs you can use depending on what kind of work your company does. you might use design or sell or represent or distribute to describe the company’s main activity.
So that’s how we explain what our company does. But what else can you mention about your company?
Well, one thing you might want to talk about is your company’s reputation. That means how the public or the industry think about your company. You might mention awards or distinctions which show how great the company is. Or you might say what your company is known for. And once again, pay attention to the verbs you choose.
Let’s try a little practice talking about your company’s reputation. once again, I want you to repeat the examples after you hear them.
A: My company is known for its excellent customer service.
B: We have won several awards for our advertising campaigns.
C: We’re seen as one of the majoy players in our industry.
D: Our company is rated #1 for safety and reliability.
One thing you might have noticed in those examples is waht we called passive voice. That’s when we say things like is known for and are seen as and is rated. That’s a useful way to talk about reputation because it shows how the company is generally seen or thought of.
So, besides what your company does and its reputation, another useful bit of information is about your company’s customers. To understand a company, it helps to know who its customers are.
And how can you talk about that? Well, there are a couple of ways. First, you can use an expression like “we serve” or “we sell to” before mentioning the kinds of customer you help. Or you can start with “our customers are” and name the industry or type of customer.
How about giving this a try? Listen to the examples and repeat what you hear.
A: We serve small and medium-sized businesses throughout California.
B: our customers are mainly in the automobile market.
C: We sell mostly to large retailers like department stores.
D: Most of our customers are schools and universities in Europe.
Okay, so when we talk about our company, we mention what the company does, its reputation, and its customers. Now how does this information fit into a normal conversation?
Let;s listen to a short dialog. A women is curious about David’s company. Let’s hear what they have to say.
A: So David, what exactly does your company do?
B: We make engines for farm and construction equipment
A: Oh, really? My brother’s in construction. I wonder if he’s heard of you.
B: Yeah, he probably has. We’re a majoy player in the industry.
How did that sound? David started by explaining what his company does. Then when the women wonders if her brother knows about his company, David mentions its reputation by calling it a “majoy player”. That means its an important or large company in its industry.
Now it’s your turn to practice. We’ll repeat the dialog, but this time we’ll beep out David’s words. You’ll have to say those parts yourself. Remember: start by mentioning what the company does. Then mention the reputation.
Nice work! so that’s how we talk about our company. And if you’ve looked at the past few lessons, you can now talk about your job, your walk, and your company. Be sure to tune in to our next lesson, when we’ll start talking about likes and dislikes and ideas.
Util then, so long and happy learning.
In our last two lessons, we looked at how to talk about your job and your work. Today, we’re going to learn how to talk about your company.
Example Phrases:
Practice Examples:
Note on Passive Voice:
Examples for Practice:
Dialogue Example:
A: “So David, what exactly does your company do?”
B: “We make engines for farm and construction equipment.”
A: “Oh, really? My brother’s in construction. I wonder if he’s heard of you.”
B: “Yeah, he probably has. We’re a major player in the industry.”
Note: David starts by explaining what his company does and then mentions its reputation as a “major player.”
Closing:
Until then, so long and happy learning.