Warm-up for the English language Immersion Week


🚀 Hello, SMC employee! 🚀


As we prepare to embark on our English Language Immersion Week, we've prepared a little something for you: a "warm-up" page to get you in the right mindset.

Below, we'll offer some insights into the topics we'll delve into, all presented in an engaging and interactive format.

Let's dive in! 📘🌟

PART 1

  REVIEW OF TOPICS

In a straightforward manner, we'll revisit certain rules of the English language!
PAST PERFECT
PRESENT PERFECT
CONDITIONALS
COMPARATIVES
Usage: When you're discussing an event that happened before another past event. It's the "flashback within a flashback" in the corporate saga.

Structure: Subject + had + past participle.

Example: "Before the board finalized their decision, the finance team had already conducted a thorough cost analysis."
Usage: This is the bridge connecting past actions with the present, often emphasizing the result or ongoing relevance.

Structure:
Subject + have/has + past participle.

Example:
"We've entered ten new markets since the new CEO took charge."
Zero Conditional (facts or general truths):

Usage: Describes situations that are always true if something happens.

Structure: "If + present simple..., present simple."

Example:
"If you heat ice, it melts."

First Conditional (real possibilities in the future):

Usage: Describes real future possibilities.

Structure: "If + present simple..., will + base verb."

Example: "If we expand to Asia, we'll likely see a 20% increase in profits."

Second Conditional (unreal situations or unlikely possibilities in the future):

Usage: Imagines future situations that are unlikely to happen or are purely theoretical.

Structure: "If + past simple..., would + base verb."

Example: "If we had limitless resources, we would launch products in every category."

Third Conditional (imaginary past situations):

Usage: Reflects on past events that didn't happen and imagines the outcome.

Structure: "If + past perfect..., would have + past participle."

Example: "If we had known about the market crash, we would have postponed the product launch."
Usage: Comparatives enable you to differentiate items, services, or data by directly comparing them. This is essential for emphasizing a brand's strengths or spotting growth areas.

Superlatives, on the other hand, highlight the pinnacle or the absolute bottom in a set. In business lingo, this could mean the 'best-selling product' or the 'least profitable quarter.'

Structure: Multi-syllable adjectives: Use "more" or "less" before the adjective for the comparative form and "most" or "least" for the superlative form.

Comparative: more/less + adjective

Superlative: most/least + adjective

Short adjectives (usually one syllable): Add "-er" for the comparative form and "-est" for the superlative form.

Comparative: adjective + -er

Superlative: adjective + -est

Some adjectives have irregular comparative and superlative forms (e.g., good/better/best, bad/worse/worst).

Examples: "Our tech team is larger than theirs, allowing for more comprehensive support."
"This quarter was the most profitable one in the last fiscal year."
"Our research methods are more meticulous than those of our immediate rivals."
"Despite being newer to the market, our product has the highest customer retention rate."

  PRONUNCIATION PRACTICE

In the interaction below, we've picked some sentences from the topics shown for you to practice your speaking skills.

Listen to the reference audio and speak out loud to get your pronunciation score.

PART 2

  REVIEW OF TOPICS

Now, let's go over some more English language rules!
INTENSIFIERS
EXPRESSIONS & IDIOMS
PHRASAL VERBS
Usage: Intensifiers are adverbs that modify adjectives or other adverbs to amplify or reduce their intensity. In the corporate setting, they're instrumental in driving a point home, adding weight to statements, and persuading stakeholders. They make your claims more compelling in pitches, presentations, and discussions.

Common Intensifiers: Amplifying Intensifiers: very, absolutely, extremely, totally, utterly, thoroughly, perfectly, quite, pretty (informal), really, completely, entirely, and wildly.

Diminishing Intensifiers: somewhat, slightly, kind of (informal), sort of (informal), a bit, and a little.

Examples: "We are absolutely certain about the feasibility of this project."
"The feedback from the focus groups was extremely positive."
"I'm totally convinced that our marketing approach will yield results."
"The new software update is quite impressive in terms of performance."
"Profits this quarter have been somewhat lower than projected."
"I'm slightly concerned about the upcoming regulatory changes."
"The sales figures for last month were pretty good."
"The product recall had an utterly negative impact on our brand reputation."
Usage: Expressions and idioms in the English language are phrases that convey meanings beyond the literal interpretations of the individual words. 

Expressions & Idioms and Their Meanings:

Circle back: To revisit or discuss a topic at a later time.
Example: "We're running out of time now, so let's circle back to this agenda item next week."

Ballpark figure: An approximate number or range.
Example: "I don't need the exact amount, just give me a ballpark figure for the budget."

Touch base:
To briefly meet or check in.
Example: "I'll touch base with the marketing team and see where they stand on the campaign."

Get the ball rolling:
To start a process or project.
Example: "We've finalized our plans, so let's get the ball rolling on the new initiative."

Back to the drawing board: To start over because the current idea or plan isn't working.
Example: "The prototype wasn't successful, so it's back to the drawing board for us."

Think outside the box: To think creatively or differently.
Example: "For our next advertising campaign, I want everyone to think outside the box and come up with unconventional ideas."

Elevator pitch: A brief and persuasive speech to spark interest in an idea, product, or project.
Example: "If you had to summarize our company's mission in 30 seconds, what would be your elevator pitch?"

The ball is in your court: It's up to you to make the next move or decision.
Example: "We've sent the proposal; now the ball is in their court."

Reading between the lines: Understanding the implied meaning, not just the explicit one.
Example: "The client didn't say they were unhappy, but reading between the lines, we should probably revisit our proposal."
Usage: Combinations of verbs with prepositions or adverbs that bring about new meanings, they're frequently used in business scenarios to communicate varied actions or situations. They can often be tricky as their meanings aren't always intuitive based on the individual words.

Examples and Their Meanings:

Ramp up: To increase or accelerate something.
Example: "Our marketing efforts have been successful, so it's time to ramp up our production to meet demand."

Weigh in: To give an opinion or advice on a subject.
Example: "I'd like our finance team to weigh in on this budget proposal before we finalize it."

Branch out: To expand or diversify in new directions.
Example: "Our software products are solid, but we're looking to branch out into cloud solutions."

Break down: To separate something into parts; it can also mean to stop functioning (when talking about machinery).
Example: "Can you break down the revenue figures by region?"
Example: "Our main server broke down last night, but it's back up now."

Follow through: To continue an action to its conclusion.
Example: "She always follows through on her promises, which is why clients trust her."

Run by: To inform someone or get someone's opinion.
Example: "Let me run these plans by our legal team before we move forward."

Kick off: To begin or start, usually associated with events or initiatives.
Example: "We'll kick off the annual conference with a speech from the CEO."

Cut back: To reduce in number or amount.
Example: "Due to budget constraints, we might have to cut back on our advertising costs."

Wrap up: To conclude or finish something.
Example: "Let's wrap up this meeting with some final thoughts from everyone."

Take on: To accept responsibility or to hire someone.
Example: "We're excited to take on this new project."
Example: "The company is taking on new engineers next month."

  PRONUNCIATION PRACTICE

In the interaction below, we've picked some sentences from the topics shown for you to practice your speaking skills.

Listen to the reference audio and speak out loud to get your pronunciation score.

UNDERSTAND AND BE UNDERSTOOD

That's what really matters!