Business English Essentials with Higher English

Episódios

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  Hearing vs. Listening: The English Skill You've Been Missing 12.09.2026 4min

  There's a difference between hearing someone and actually listening to them — and most of us don't notice which one we're doing. This week's video looks at a few natural phrases that signal real listening in English, and why they matter more in business settings than most people realise.
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  Stop Starting Your Presentations Like This 05.09.2026 2min

  Most presentations lose people before the first slide even loads. This episode covers 8 ways to open that keep the room with you from the first line — sharp, practical, no fluff.
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  What Colour Sounds Like — The Language Room, Episode 2 03.09.2026 1min

  What Colour Sounds Like — The Language Room, Episode 2.Colour words in English carry far more than their dictionarymeaning. In this episode we explore ten iconic songs — from Elvis Presley toJimi Hendrix to Fleetwood Mac — and ask what the colour in each title is really telling us.This episode is part of The Language Room — a free monthlyvideo series for curious English learners, available on Substack.Subscribe for free:https://open.substack.com/pub/thelanguageroom
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  Is your social media strategy actually working? 31.08.2026 3min

  That's the question two colleagues are trying to answer in this week's Higher English lesson.Rather than simply studying a list of vocabulary, you'll hear a realistic workplace conversation about social media marketing and the language professionals use when discussing campaigns and results.A practical way to develop your Business English through realistic workplace communication.
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  Numbers. Results. Performance. 22.08.2026 1min

  How do you talk about quantities and results naturally in English?It's not always as straightforward as it looks.When you're discussing things like performance, activity and results, the language you use depends on what exactly you're talking about.This week's Higher English lesson explores that problem through social media marketing, giving you practical language you can use when discussing results at work.
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  Want your Business English to sound more natural? 16.08.2026 1min

  Knowing the vocabulary doesn't necessarily mean you can use it naturally.One of the secrets of fluent English is knowing which words naturally belong together.That's where collocations come in.This week's Higher English lesson focuses on useful collocations for talking about social media marketing, giving you practical language you can use in professional conversations.
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  What Are Phrasal Verbs? | Business English Focus 08.08.2026 2min

  Why can you know the words but still not understand what someone means?Phrasal verbs are often part of the problem.They're a huge part of everyday spoken English, including the English you hear at work — but they're not always as easy to understand or use as they look.In this Higher English lesson, we take a practical look at phrasal verbs and how you can use them more naturally in a business context.No endless vocabulary lists. Just useful English you can take into your next conversation.
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  Introducing The Language Room — A New Free Monthly Series for English Learners 05.08.2026 1min

  Welcome to The Language Room — a free monthly video seriesfor curious English learners.Each month I explore English from a different angle.Sometimes through music. Sometimes through culture. Sometimes through thefascinating stories behind the language we use every day.This introduction tells you exactly what The Language Roomis, what you'll get as a subscriber, and why I built it.The full series — including exclusive videos, companionworkbooks, and curated playlists — is available completely free on Substack.🎧 Subscribe at:https://open.substack.com/pub/thelanguageroom
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  What Are Phrasal Verbs? | Business English Focus 01.08.2026 2min

  There are some parts of English that simply don't behave the way you expect.Phrasal verbs are a perfect example.You can know the verb. You can know the small word that follows it. And yet the meaning of the expression can still be unclear.They're also a huge part of everyday spoken English, including the English used in professional situations.In this Higher English lesson, we look at why phrasal verbs can be so confusing, what makes them different from ordinary verb combinations, and why learning them can make such a difference to your Business English.
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  What Are Idioms? (And How Should Professionals Use Them?) 24.07.2026 3min

  Idioms are everywhere in English.From meetings and presentations to everyday conversations, native speakers use them constantly—often without even noticing.In this episode, we explore what idioms really are, why they can be confusing, and how professionals can use them naturally and appropriately in the workplace.
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  Narrative Tenses for Business English 18.07.2026 4min

  Explaining what happened isn't always easy—especially in English.In this episode, we explore narrative tenses and show how they help professionals explain meetings, projects, unexpected changes, and workplace situations more clearly.Whether you're preparing for presentations or simply want to sound more confident at work, this episode will help you tell clearer, more natural stories.
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  Sound More Natural in English Using Football Expressions 12.07.2026 2min

  Football has influenced English far beyond the pitch.In this episode, you'll learn six common football expressions that native speakers regularly use in business and everyday conversations.Perfect for English learners who want to sound more natural and confident.
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  What Football Teaches You About Communication at Work 05.07.2026 3min

  Football isn't just about scoring goals.Every match is a lesson in teamwork, leadership, communication, and decision-making under pressure.In this episode, we explore five practical communication lessons from the football pitch that can help you become a better professional communicator at work.
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  Say It Early (Gilbert's Law) 28.06.2026 1min

  A surprising number of workplace problems aren't caused by incompetence, poor planning, or bad intentions.They're caused by silence.In this episode, we explore Gilbert's Law: the idea that the biggest problem in organisations is often people's reluctance to discuss problems while they're still small.Learn why people hesitate to speak up, how communication delays create larger issues, and what professionals can do to build a more open workplace culture.
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  Sometimes the Smartest Decision Is No Decision 21.06.2026 1min

  In this episode of Higher English, we explore Falkland's Law—the idea that if a decision doesn't need to be made yet, it may be better not to make it.We'll look at how this principle applies to meetings, leadership, workplace communication, and professional decision-making.You'll also hear practical Business English language and discourse markers that help native speakers discuss uncertainty, risk, and future actions naturally.Perfect for:Business English learnersInternational professionalsTeam leadersAnyone interested in better communication and decision-making
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  Don't Overcomplicate: What Occam's Razor Can Teach Us About Workplace Communication 14.06.2026 1min

  Most workplace problems aren't as complicated as they first appear.However, the language we use often makes them feel more complicated than they really are.This is where Occam's Razor can help.Occam's Razor is a simple principle:The simplest explanation or solution is usually the best one.In professional environments, people often add unnecessary complexity to discussions, reports, meetings, and problem-solving processes.The result?Confusion, delays, and misunderstandings.In this week's Workplace Thinking in English lesson, we explore how simpler thinking can improve:communicationproblem-solvingworkplace discussionsdecision-makingprofessional EnglishWe also look at practical examples that show how defining a problem clearly often leads naturally to a simpler solution.Watch the full lesson here:
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  Clarity Solves Problems (Kidlin's Law) 07.06.2026 1min

  Why do some people seem to solve difficult problems more quickly than others?One possible answer is clarity.In this episode of Higher English, we explore Kidlin's Law—the idea that if you can clearly define a problem, you're already halfway to solving it.We'll also look at the natural language patterns and discourse markers that help native speakers organise ideas and communicate more effectively.Perfect for:Business English learnersInternational professionalsLeaders and managersAnyone interested in better communication
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  How Native Speakers Sound More Natural Without Thinking 31.05.2026 4min

  Why do native speakers sound so natural in English?Very often, it’s because of the small words they use between ideas.In this episode of Higher English, we explore discourse markers — the tiny words and phrases that make spoken English sound smoother, softer, more connected, and more natural.Perfect for:Business English learnersInternational professionalsIntermediate and advanced learnersAnyone who wants more natural spoken English
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  Speak Like a Great Manager: 10 Phrases That Build Trust 24.05.2026 4min

  Speaking like a great manager isn’t about sounding powerful.It’s about building trust.In this episode of Higher English, we explore 10 powerful workplace phrases that strong managers use to create clarity, psychological safety, accountability, and stronger communication.Perfect for international professionals, Business English learners, managers, and anyone working in English-speaking environments.
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  Should you be direct at work — or more polite? 17.05.2026 3min

  In this episode, we explore one of the most important workplace communication questions:Is it better to be direct — or polite?You’ll learn the advantages and disadvantages of both communication styles, along with practical examples and professional phrases you can use immediately in meetings, negotiations, and workplace conversations.