Mastering Statistics Talk: 10 Essential Phrasal Verbs for ESL Learners in English

For English learners, discussing statistics in English can be a challenging task. To empower you with the language skills needed to communicate effectively in the area of data and analytics, this blog post will explore the ten most important phrasal verbs related to statistics. As your English & U.S. culture coach, as well as intercultural communication trainer, my goal is to not only enhance your language proficiency but also to provide real-life examples that resonate with the nuances of American culture.

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Marike Korn
Navigating (Panel) Discussions in English for Non-Native Speakers: The Power of Transitional Phrases - Part Three: (Industry) Culture Matters

As we conclude this series, we turn our attention to a crucial aspect that often goes overlooked by non-native speakers: the influence of industry culture on communication. Understanding these nuances can significantly impact your performance in discussions. In this final installment, we will delve into three distinct cultures: Silicon Valley, the Manufacturing Industry, and the Insurance Sector, and provide examples of how transitional phrases can boost your impact:

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Marike Korn
Navigating Panel Discussions in English for Non-Native Speakers: The Power of Transitional Phrases - Part Two: Context Matters

As an English and US Culture Coach, I often work with clients who have to operate in English in their careers. They know that their success very much depends on being able to function in their non-native language. This can cause a lot of stress, that’s why I see myself as not only a teacher but a coach; as someone who supports my clients during all their ups and downs and throughout all their challenges. So, in today’s article, part two of my article from the previous week, I will focus on transitional phases and how to employ them in different contexts.

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Marike Korn
Elevating Your Narrative Skills: Mastering Talking about Past Events in English

In this article, I want to help English learners master the art of effectively using various tenses when discussing past events. We will explore a number of examples to demonstrate how to seamlessly construct narratives without encountering stumbling blocks.Just look at the different tenses as complementary building blocks that, when assembled correctly, form a cohesive whole! Proficiency in discussing past events fluently will empower ESL learners to excel in both business English and everyday communication.

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Marike Korn
Navigating Evaluation and Feedback Rounds in the US, One of the World’s Most Low Context Cultures

As an English and US Culture Coach, I have seen firsthand how these differences can lead to misunderstandings during evaluation and feedback rounds. In this article, I will explore what high context versus low context means, highlight the low context nature of US culture, and provide five vocabulary examples related to diplomatic and undiplomatic communication.

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Marike Korn
English Phrasal Verbs for Everyday Communication

Are you an ESL learner eager to take your English language skills to the next level? Phrasal verbs are an essential part of everyday English conversation, and mastering them will significantly enhance your language proficiency. As your English coach and teacher, I'm here to guide you through seven common English phrasal verbs used in everyday life.

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Marike Korn
Empower Your Business English with Motivational Phrasal Verbs

As ESL learners aiming to excel in the business world, mastering motivational phrasal verbs is essential to inspire and motivate others effectively. In this blog post, as your English coach and teacher, I will teach you seven Business English phrasal verbs that will help you to motivate your colleagues, clients, and team members. Let's get started!

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Marike Korn
Pronouncing Popular International Foods in English with Confidence!

Mastering the pronunciation of popular foods will enable you to avoid misunderstandings or the classic response, "What did you say?" making sure that English native speakers understand you. In this blog post, I will guide you through the correct pronunciation of foods like croissant, crêpe, pizza, lasagna, pain au chocolat, ricotta, mozzarella, feta, and spaghetti.

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Marike Korn
Decoding Leadership Success: How to Lead (North) American Teams – Cultural and English Language Insights

American leaders are known for their ability to make quick on-the-fly decisions without necessarily involving the entire team. This approach is driven by two main factors: a) Americans highly value flexibility and adaptability, prioritizing finding practical solutions rather than seeking the one perfect solution; b) they embrace trial and error methods, viewing decisions as adjustable goalposts as the project progresses. This stands in contrast to cultures that are more process and rule-oriented, where decisions require lengthy deliberation and are often viewed as set in stone.

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Marike Korn
American Hyperbole Part Three: Language in a Larger-Than-Life Culture

Americans love to go big. From huge trucks to enormous cereal boxes, the American way of life embraces a culture of abundance and grandeur. It's a country where ginormous food portions layering flavor on top of flavor are immensely popular (hello, chili fries and pumpkin chocolate cheesecake!), where houses in the suburbs sometimes truly deserve to be called MacMansions, where trucks better fit for a wilderness expedition than daily life are found on city streets and highways alike, and where stores sell huge packages of cereal next to burgers the size of a human’s head.

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Marike Korn
American Hyperbole: An Exploration of Everyday Conversations

American culture is well-known for its expressions of exaggerated positivity and optimism. From Business English to casual conversations, hyperbole, the use of exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally, permeates American culture. However, for non-native English speakers, it can often lead to confusion and misunderstandings.

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Marike Korn
American Hyperbole in Marketing and Business Pitches: The Power of Exaggeration

American culture, as a whole, is widely recognized for its common use of hyperbole (the art of exaggeration). Whether in political rhetoric or advertising slogans, hyperbole plays a significant role in American communication. Words like "amazing" and "fantastic" are frequently employed, along with statements such as "I love it!" even in everyday conversations; often to the confusion of foreigners thinking: “Do these people really always love everyone and everything?”

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Marike Korn