Professional Business Communications

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Increase your Vocabulary

You can effectively increase your Vocabulary by:

Reading Books
Many of our clients are engineers and don’t have the habit of reading books. Or if they do, the book are mainly non-fiction. Read fiction books on the New York Times Bestseller List or books on fictional topics that interest you (historical fiction, detective novels, mysteries). You will learn new words that are frequently used and also read dialogs which will make your own conversations more fluent. And, you don’t have to buy the books, your local library has all the current popular fiction and if you don’t like a book, you can check out another.

Listening to Audio Books
While driving to and from work, take the opportunity to listen to books on tape. The library as CDs and on places such as audible.com you can download books directly to your iPod.

Joining Toastmasters
If you want to be around a variety of topics and vocabulary, join your local Toastmasters. You will have a chance to use any words you have learned and be around new ones.

Watching news, nature, technical or political shows on TV
The TV can be a good friend if you choose shows that interest you. Listen actively to the words and expressions that people use and write down any that are new to you.

Listening to NPR
In the San Francisco Bay Area, National Public Radio is on FM 88.5, the discussions and shows are very interesting and the educational niveau is high.

Joining a book club
If you have time, join a book club. This will “force” you to read since the club members will expect you to participate in the discussions.

Going to lectures and events on topics that are new to you
There are so many opportunities to go to events on current business or political issues, that it should be easy for you to find venues that interest you.
Possible sources are: a university or college, your local chamber of commerce, meetup.com, Craig’s List, alumni groups, US and international business organizations (in the Silicon Valley alone, we at one time identified over 200 at http://www.svhub.org/). Groups such as SiliconFrench, CSPA, GABA, Hispanic Net, SIPA, Hysta, SVASE, SD Forum and so on, are very active in Silicon Valley, there are such groups where you live as well - go out and find them.

Watching out for and learning idiomatic expressions
When you actively listen to Americans speaking, write down the expressions that are frequently used. Make sure you know what they mean and how they are used before you make them a part of your own vocabulary.

Making a list of frequently used words and finding their synonyms
When you are at a meeting and are impressed by a VP’s or CEO’s vocabulary, write down the words used. Keep a list that you can add to and if you want to further benefit from the exercise, look up the synonyms and practice them as well.

Taking continuing studies/education classes
Most bigger universities have continuing studies or extension courses they offer in the evenings. Go take classes there, you will pick up lots of new vocabulary and maybe some new friends as well.

Using new words in a correct context, making up sentences
Now that you have learned so many new words, use them in sentences, look for them in books you are reading. Have a native speaker check your sentences to see that you are using the words correctly.

Studying SAT vocabulary books (with example sentences)
If you want more words, go out and buy yourself a book with SAT vocabulary. These are the words that high school seniors are expected to know.

Making flash cards
In order to keep the words memorized, make yourself flash cards and go through them every day in the beginning; as you get better at them, you can study the cards once a week and keep them active.

Studying with someone
It is really helpful to find someone who will remind you to look at your new vocabulary once a week (or so). If your friend is also looking to improve her/his own vocabulary, this can benefit you both.

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