Month: December 2021

introducing yourself conversation

#1 Introducing yourself at the workplace

Posted on by Ms. Elle

Introducing yourself in the workplace

conversation between 2 people

scenario: new at the workplace

Dialogue

Jeff: (1)__________. Are you new here?

Jane: Yes, I just started on Monday.

Jeff: Really? That’s great. By the way, (2)_________________ Jeffrey. (3)_______________ Jeff. I’m an accountant.

Jane: (4)_______________________, Jeff. I’m Jane.

Jeff: Nice to meet you. (5)____________________, Jane?

Jane: I’m in marketing. Well, I’ll see you around.

Jeff: See you.

Possible answers: (1)Hi/Hello/Good morning… (2)My name is/I’m (3) Please call me/You can call me (4)Nice/Good/Great to meet you (5) What do you do

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English conversation at a party

Getting to know you at a party (fill in the missing phrases)

Posted on by Ms. Elle

Getting to know you dialogue

conversation between 2 people

scenario: at a party

Dialogue

Speaker 1: (1)_________, __________________.

Speaker 2: (2)_______________________. I’m Ben.

Speaker 1: This is a great party, isn’t it?

Speaker 2: It sure is. It’s really (3) ___________ to meet everybody.

Speaker 1: So Ben, (4) ____________________?

Speaker 2: I’m from Seoul, in Korea. (5) __________________?

Speaker 1: I’m from Taipei, in Taiwan.

Speaker 2: Interesting. (6)_________________?

Speaker 1: I’m 19. (7) _____________________?

Speaker 2: Well… I’d rather not say. Let’s just say I’m older than you.

Speaker 1: Come on. You can tell me.

Speaker 2: OK. I’m 21. Please don’t tell anybody.

Speaker 1: (8) ___________?

Speaker 2: Well, its’ personal.

Speaker 1: Sure. Well, thanks for (9) __________________.

Speaker 2: (10) _________________ . Talk to you later.

Speaker 1: Bye!

Possible answer: (1) Hi/Hello, I’m/My name is____. (2) Nice/Good to meet you. (3) good/nice/great (4) Where are you from? (5) What about you? (6) If you don’t mind, how old are you? (7) What about you? (8) Why not? (9) chatting with me (10) no problem

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business English

Dialogue: Partnership Collocation

Posted on by Ms. Elle

Carlos: Thanks for coming in today Rolland… and thanks for signing the NDA. I think Miranda’s already filled you in on some of the background, but may be you have some questions?

Rolland: Yes, for starters, I’d love to hear about how you got to this point? Get a sense of your goals and the potential of this alliance, if I can call it that. Then go from there.

Carlos: For sure. And I should make clear here that we haven’t actually entered into talks on a formal partnership or anything. Not yet anyway.

Rolland: Right, you mentioned in your email that you’ve really just been nurturing a relationship… with… Visser, right?

Miranda: Yes, Visser Hotels and Resorts. Out of Chicago.

Rolland: Okay. Some interesting changes in leadership there recently. Anyway, you’ve been meeting with them for how long?

Carlos: Ur.. about six months now… They paid a visit back in June and let us know they were looking to forge a partnership with a winery… so they were basically meeting with a bunch of different ones to find the right fit.

Rolland: And your initial response was… positive?

Miranda: Of course! we’ve been on the lookout for synergies with other industries… other companies.. to foster collaboration. And hotels are big for us. A really good way to broaden our reach. That’s why we brought you in to help with that event with the Marriot.

Rolland: Yes, and … I remember talking with you at that time about shared values. The importance of shared values.

Carlos: Right. That came up in a meeting last week too.

Rolland: Glad to hear it. I’ve seen companies rush to combine forces before they’ve figured out whether there’s a fit. And so, my question with Visser, have you got that values match?

Miranda: Definitely. We’re very well aligned. And so building on that, more specifically, they’ve floated the idea of a wine club. That’s something that needs some fleshing out, but we’ve discussed some of how it might work. And possibly a private label down the road. Clearly, these are mutually beneficial ventures.

Rolland: Yeah, these are good ideas if done right. And so, you’ve identified some common goals, they feel like a good fit, now…. you’re looking for help on next steps?

Miranda: That’s right. We’re very excited about this. It could become a very significant growth driver. But they’re talking to other wineries as well. So we need to play this smart, and… well, that’s what we’d like your help with.

Collocation

sign an NDA (non-disclosure agreement)

  • I’m sorry, I can’t tell you that. I’ve signed an NDA.
  • Please tell them to sign an NDA to protect our company.

Enter into talks (“talks is another word for negotiation). This is used when companies begin negotiations.

  • Wish us luck as we enter into talks with China’s biggest retail company.
  • After that big, successful collaboration, we’ve entered into talks on formal partnership with Bikerz Inc.

formal partnership is a formal arrangement by two or more parties to manage and operate a business and share its profits.

  • A formal partnership with Bikerz Inc. is underway, and we’re very excited.
  • Formal partnership entails more than just handshakes and promises.

nurture a relationship

  • Hosting dinners and soirées are important ways for nurturing relationships with business partners.
  • It’s beneficial to any private companies to nurture a relationship with the government.

the right fit (a good match)

  • We need to talk to many retail companies to find the right fit.
  • Networking with several companies in the industry is a good way to find the right fit.

forge a partnership means to put in a lot of hark work in developing the partnership and making it official.

  • After months of talks, we have finally forged a partnership with Bikerz Inc.
  • Microsoft forging a partnership with Apple is a wishful thinking.

foster collaboration means to promote the growth or development of

  • Bikerz Inc. is fostering collaboration with non-government organizations (NGO) to promote safe and healthy environment.
  • Foreign companies know that fostering collaboration with the government is essential.

broaden your reach means to make or become greater in extent, volume, size, or scope

  • A collaboration with local companies is one way to broaden our reach.
  • Bikerz Inc. has forged a partnership with Shimano International, this will surely broaden their reach.

shared values are policies and practices that enhance the competitiveness of companies while improving social and environmental conditions in the regions where they operate

  • Our companies have almost similar shared values, this company merger will not be difficult.
  • The shared values our companies have are what’s holding it from bankruptcy.

combined forces means to begin working together in order to achieve something

  • Thanachart Bank and The Military Bank have combined forces during the pandemic.
  • Companies need to combine forces to stay afloat in the business world.

well-matched/ well aligned means appropriate for or very similar to each other

  • Their values are well-matched, this is the reason why their partnership has been successful.
  • Before you get into formal partnership, you need to make sure your companies’ values are well-aligned.

flesh out means to make (something) more complete by adding details 

  • A project framework has been delineated but the rest of the plans need fleshing out.
  • Several aspects of this proposal have to be fleshed out if we want this approved by the board of directors.

mutually beneficial means an arrangement between two parties that will yield positive results for both parties involved

  • This collaboration seems promising especially that it’s mutually beneficial.
  • Could you please draft a proposal that’s mutually beneficial for all the people concern?

common goals refers to an aim shared by more than one person or organization

  • Before we continue with our talks, I would like to know if we have common goals moving forward.
  • Forging this partnership is difficult because as it turns out we do not have common goals.

play it smart or make a good decision

  • We need to step up our game and play it smart if we want this partnership badly.
  • If you play it smart, you could gain big from trading in stocks.

Other Vocabulary

Alliance is a relationship where two countries or companies work closely together.

Synergy is the extra impact that comes from the joining of two things or the natural fit between two things.

Sources:

Partnership. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/partnership.asp

Partnership Collocation. Business English Pod. https://www.businessenglishpod.com/

Bob Dignen. Communicating Business English. Compass Publishing.

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stainless steel temple

Phra Maha Chedi Tripob Trimongkol: Stainless Steel Temple

Posted on by Ms. Elle

Phra Maha Chedi Tripob Trimongkol is located up on a hill (Khao Kho Hong) behind Prince of Songkhla University in Hatyai City, Thailand. A chartered/private vehicle is the best way to come here. The already paved winding road is narrow, and traffic going up would have to yield to cars moving down.

I found this pagoda really fascinating. Hanging around are metals that chime as the wind breezes around. Together with the natural sound of the forest around, the overall ambience is that of calm and tranquility. Totally peaceful! A great place for meditation.

Here’s a short clip of Phra Maha Chedi Tripob Trimongkol. Watch this before you go to have an idea of what’s in store.

Phra Maha Chedi Tripob Trimongkol

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snorkeling in ao nang krabi

Snorkeling in Ao Nang Krabi: Reminiscing it this CoVid-19 Pandemic

Posted on by Ms. Elle

It was 2019 just a few months before the news of CoViD-19 broke when we and our families from the Philippines visited Ao Nang Krabi. One of the activities we had in mind was to go island hopping in a longtail boat in the morning, and snorkel in the afternoon.

And so we did.

We booked a day-long island hopping trip at one of the shops outside of Ao Nang Regent Hotel, the hotel where we stayed in. For 13 people, the longtail boat rent cost us 173USD. With this amount came a lunch set with fruits and bottled water, and snorkeling gears. Renting a long tail boat or a speed boat is the best way to go Island hopping if there are more than 10 people in your party. This way, you’ll have the entire boat to yourself and you can be yourself without having to worry about disturbing or offending other people, well, especially if you have children with you.

Our snorkeling experience was totally great. The children enjoyed it so much that they want to go back. Unfortunately, two years after this awesome experience the world was immobilized by the CoViD-19 pandemic.

Now (late 2021), Ao Nang and the whole of Thailand is starting to open its border. We had the chance to go and have our annual family staycation at Ao Nang. Although many shops and hotels were open, several have been hit economically hard by the pandemic. Ao Nang beach as well as Nopparat beach were quite, so quite. There weren’t many tourists, and there were little to none island hopping and snorkeling trips.

To have an idea how lonely and quite Ao Nang Beach and Nopparat Beach in 2021, watch this short clip.

Have you ever been to Ao Nang Krabi? If you have already, how did you find your visit then? Are you considering of coming back anytime soon? Tell us on the comment section.

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swimming pool at Phutara lanta resort

Phutara Lanta Resort Koh Lanta Krabi

We stayed in one of the Two-Bedroom Luxury Poolside Suites on the second floor of a two-storey  duplex building.

children looking at fishes in a big aquarium

Kids Fed the Fishes in Aquaria Phuket: Exploring the Largest Aquarium in Thailand

Aside from island hopping, this could be a great destination, especially for families or a group of friends. Aquaria Phuket is divided into four distinct zones, namely Station Aquarius, South China Sea, Coastal Heaven, and Mystic Forest.

Koh yai grand canyon park swimming pool

Koh Yai Grand Canyon Park: Krasaesin Songkhla Thailand

Koh Yai Grand Canyon Park is another great place to create memories with family and friends. It’s a refreshing recreational place amidst the greens of Krasaesin District Songkhla.

Two girls playing chairball

Chairball a Popular Game in Thailand

For someone who’s into basketball and maybe a bit of football, chairball sounds, well, odd and different. It’s different from chairbasketball and certainly not Tchoukball.

Koh yai grand canyon park swimming pool

Koh Yai Grand Canyon Park: Krasaesin Songkhla Thailand

Posted on by Ms. Elle

Koh Yai Grand Canyon Park is another great place to create memories with family and friends. It’s a refreshing recreational place amidst the greens of Krasaesin District Songkhla. It is quite and peaceful. From Songkhla City, Koh Yai Grand Canyon is an hour and twenty minute drive by private car. In your GPS or Google map just type in the name Koh Yai Grand Canyon or เกาะใหญ่แกรนด์แคนยอน, you’ll have no problem locating it.

We visited the park two years into the CoViD-19 pandemic. There were only a few visitors, and it seems like we had the whole place to ourselves. By the way admission is free! You get to enjoy nature at no cost at all.

Accommodation

The park has accommodations for guests who wish to stay overnight. It is quite big, and perfect for families and group of friends. There aren’t many of them, though we observed that constructions are still going on. So by the time when the world is totally free to move around, Koh Yai Grand Canyon Park would be more than ready to accommodate us.

Recreational Activities

Paddle Boat. One of the prominent feature of the park is its huge pond. So it’s but right to have paddle boating here, and feed the fish as you pedal the boat around. We wanted to do this but it seemed like they haven’t opened this to comply with the government’s CoViD 19 protocols.

Outdoor pool. Kids and adults alike could enjoy a good late afternoon lounging in their outdoor swimming pool. It’s not big though, but it has a medium size swimming pool slide that would surely draw attention. Our kids were thrilled but unfortunately due to social distancing they weren’t able to swim. There were group of friends who were already there when we arrived. One useful tip on travelling during the CoVid-19 pandemic is to keep our distance. Instead, we head on to the park’s restaurant and had a late lunch.

  • Koh Yai Grand Canyon Songkhla

Restaurant

The park’s two-storey restaurant has got both airconditioned and al fresco options. It also has lounging structures made of woven ropes, and these literally are the only ones holding you from falling down into the pond. Honestly, it’s quite exciting but surely not for people with acrophobia.

If you’d like to know how Koh Yai Grand Canyon looks now, and if you’d like to have an idea of what it is for future travel, have a glimpse of it through our experience in this short clip.

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ibis styles ao nang krabi hotel for family staycation

Krabi

Many businesses have closed down over these years, and we’re just glad Ibis Styles Ao Nang Krabi is still open. We’re the type of customers who prefer something that we already know, and are comfortable with for our 2021 family staycation.

Asian Cultural Village Sadao Thailand

Songkhla

The Asian Cultural Village is a theme park that consists of 5 different parks namely- Dinosaur park, Farm Animals, Rabbit Garden, Futuristic Park, and the Water Fun park

Chiang Rai

Zipline for the first time, and it is the most exhilarating outdoor activity we have done to date. That moment you realize “HOLY MOLLY I’M HANGING HERE” and that there’s no going back.

hotel landscape

Phattalung Thailand

Longkang Chomdaw Resort is a hotel by the river. The bungalows along the river are the best.

Ao Nang Beach Krabi 2021

2021 Family Staycation Ao Nang Krabi Thailand

Posted on by Ms. Elle

After the twelve-month lockdown restrictions have been partially lifted, we got to take our annual family staycation. Although it was short, it’s a much welcome interruption from the monotonous online work and classes. A 5-hour road trip was definitely a refreshing change of scenery from the four corners of our house to the natural beauty of Ao Nang Krabi. It’s also great to contribute to the eventual economic recovery of the country.

Let me say, it’s not as easy as before  because we have to be mindful of COVID-19 protocols like wearing of masks, sanitising our hands, and social distancing. We’re glad Ibis Styles Ao Nang Krabi is also taking these precautionary measures seriously, which is absolutely important.

The pandemic has taken a good two years of our lives, and has made havoc to the economy. Many businesses have closed down over these years, and we’re just glad Ibis Styles Ao Nang Krabi is still open. We’re the type of customers who prefer something that we already know, and are comfortable with.

Last year 2020, we came here for the first time, and was totally impressed. They’ve got the cleanest and clearest swimming pool we’ve ever gone to. The kids love to swim and play around the pool. If you’re planning of coming to Krabi and are trying to find a good place to stay that is easy on the budget here’s a detailed review of our experience at Ibis Styles Ao Nang Krabi.

We also visited Ao Nang Beach (a 2-minute ride from the hotel), and Nopparat Thara Beach (a 5-minute ride from the hotel). As usual the beaches here do not disappoint. They are still as gorgeous as before, in fact, the shores are cleaner.

What was so obvious though is that visitors have significantly dropped. There are lesser visitors than last year. Many of the hotels and commercial establishments have closed down including 7 11’s and Mc Donald’s. The Burger King place right in front of Ao Nang Beach has closed down. Luckily there’s another one, although smaller but it’s open. It’s near the police station right in front of the bus stop where monkey statues are.

To see how Ao Nang Krabi looks like these days, here’s a short video of our 2021 family staycation in Ao Nang Krabi.

From 0.00 to 2.03: A glimpse of Ibis Styles Ao Nang Krabi Hotel, where we stayed for the second time. From 2.04 to 5.30: A glimpse of Ao Nang Beach and Nopparat Thara Beach

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kids in the pool

Koh Lanta Krabi

Lanta Riviera Villa Resort as advertised online caught our attention as it was one of the cheapest family friendly resort. We booked through Booking.com.

disney-esque temple in Thailand

Chiang Rai

Chiang Rai’s Disney-esque Temple: Wat Huay Sai Khao has a Disneyland and Saint Basil’s Cathedral vibes. When inside, the mixtures of so many different styles and sizes of multi-colored stupas and shrines towering around will give you a feeling of being in a totally different place. 

United Residence Serviced Apartments

Bangkok

United Residence Serviced Apartments has the usual amenities you’d find in other hotels but what sets this apartment apart from other below 100USD accommodations is the fully-functioning mini kitchen. 

mermaid statue at samila beach

Songkhla

Samila Beach is one of the two beaches in Songkhla Province in Thailand, the land of smile. It is famous to locals and tourists alike; one’s visit to Songkhla is never complete without stopping by Samila Beach.