Why native English speakers can’t speak English!
OK, native English speakers actually CAN speak English. However, when presenting in English to an audience of non-native speakers, native English speakers are often misunderstood or not understood at all. Why? There are a variety of potential reasons. It could be the speaker’s accent. Perhaps the speaker is speaking too fast, or using jargon and […]
6 tips for speaking English to non-native speakers
Speaking English to an audience of non-native speakers is tricky. Because so many people speak English, many native English speakers forget how complicated English can be for others. The difference between the United Nations and the National Hockey League For 17 years, I worked in the United Nations system. I was based in Geneva, but […]
Grammar: "Less" is more except when it's "fewer"
This post is part of a series on grammar and vocabulary. From time to time, I will post short articles highlighting some of the common mistakes that people say during their presentation or write on their slides, and how to avoid them. Comparisons often appear in presentations. We compare the company’s performance this year to […]
Speaking in English
The German Chancellor, Otto von Bismarck (1815 – 1898), once said that the most significant aspect of the 20th century would be the fact that in North America, people speak English. When it comes to speaking in English, Bismarck was prescient. Over the past 100 years or so, English has become the preeminent language in […]
Tagged educationEnglishEnglish languagelanguageOtto von Bismarckpublic speakingspeaking in English