VOA慢速英语2011-Business English Speakers Can Still Be Di

Business is the most popular subject for international students in the United States. At last count, twenty-one percent of foreign students at American colleges and universities were studying business and management.

The Institute of International Education in New York says engineering is the second most popular field, in case you were wondering.

Thomas Cossé is a professor of marketing¹ and business at the University of Richmond in Virginia. He says international students who want to study business need to have good English skills -- and not just to study at his school.

THOMAS COSSé: "At least among business schools, more and more worldwide are requiring that their students take English, and they are teaching more in English."

But the world has more non-native speakers of English than native speakers. As a result, Americans working with foreign companies may need to learn some new English skills themselves.

English is a common language for business, but communication is not just about language

At the University of Richmond, teams of graduate students work with companies seeking to enter the American market. The students learn about writing market entry studies. The reports are written in English. But Professor Cossé tells his students to consider who will read them.

THOMAS COSSé: "My students have to write the report in such a way that it can be understood by someone who is an English speaker but not a native English speaker."

For example, he tells his students to avoid jargon² and other specialized³ terms that people might not know in their own language. This can be good advice even when writing for other native speakers.

But effective communication involves more than just words. Kay Westerfield is director of the international business communication program at the University of Oregon.

KAY WESTERFIELD: "If you just have the language awareness⁴ or the skills without culture, you can easily be a fluent fool."

Cultural intelligence means the need to consider local behaviors in everything from simple handshakes to speaking to large groups.

Still, Kay Westerfield says the ability of local workers to speak English is becoming more important to companies looking to move operations to other countries. Or, as she puts it, to "off-source."

KAY WESTERFIELD: "While cost remains⁵ a major factor in decisions about where to off-source, the quality of the labor⁶ pool is gaining importance, and this includes English language skills."

Also, she says English skills often provide a competitive⁷ edge for business students when they seek jobs.

KAY WESTERFIELD: "As one business student in West Africa put it, 'English is a lifeline.'"

And that's the VOA Special English Economics⁸ Report, written by Mario Ritter. You can read and listen to our programs and find activities for English learners at voaspecialenglish.com. We're also on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube at VOA Learning English. I’m Steve Ember.

　

1 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。

2 jargon   

n.术语，行话

参考例句：

• They will not hear critics with their horrible jargon.他们不愿意听到评论家们那些可怕的行话。
• It is important not to be overawed by the mathematical jargon.要紧的是不要被数学的术语所吓倒.

3 specialized   

adj.专门的，专业化的

参考例句：

• There are many specialized agencies in the United Nations.联合国有许多专门机构。
• These tools are very specialized.这些是专用工具。

4 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

5 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

6 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

7 competitive   

adj.竞争的，比赛的，好竞争的，有竞争力的

参考例句：

• Some kinds of business are competitive.有些商业是要竞争的。
• These businessmen are both competitive and honourable.这些商人既有竞争性又很诚实。

8 economics   

n.经济学，经济情况

参考例句：

• He is studying economics,which subject is very important.他正在学习经济学，该学科是很重要的。
• One can't separate politics from economics.不能把政治与经济割裂开来。