Everyday English Laura Marshallsay
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- Education
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English communication skills for business, tourism, heritage, and museum professionals.
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Is jargon hurting your ability to communicate clearly?
Abbreviations, acronyms, and nomenclatures can be useful communication tools for people within a group. The downside is that it’s a form of jargon and outsiders often have no idea what you are talking about. Learn why we use jargon and how to use it effectively (or not!) with your audience.
Get my free guide on using acronyms and abbreviations at www.marshallsayenglish.com/jargon. In it, I cover use, punctuation, and even those Latin abbreviations like i.e. and e.g.
Marshallsay English – Because words matter -
Should we simplify everything we write?
My core belief when it comes to communication is that we should meet people where they are, not where we think they should be. That means texts should be written so the greatest number of people can understand them. Others disagree with this idea. They think that by using overly simple language, we are not challenging people to learn. This week, I'd like to look at both sides of this argument by examining interpretive texts from art exhibits. However, is not just for museums. It is an issue I see every day - particularly in a global Business English context.
For more information or to leave a comment, please contact me on my website. I'd love to hear from you!
Marshallsay English - Because words matter.
Museums and exhibits mentioned in today's episode:
The Städel Museum, Frankfurt
The Schirn Museum, Frankfurt
Splendor & Misery in the Weimar Republic, Schirn Musuem, Frankfurt -
Keep it simple and speak to your audience.
For some reason, people think that to sound intelligent, or be taken seriously, they have to give long, complicated explanations. In fact, the opposite is true. There is a genius in simplicity. How do you achieve this? Stay tuned and find out.
Marshallsay English - Because words matter.
Contact me today for your English language needs or for more information. -
Customer service is everything - how to make your guests feel like VIPs
People are ready to travel again, and that means reading online reviews. But how you communicate with your guests can mean the difference between getting 1 star or 5 stars. Read on to get my top tips – as well as some functional language – that will leave all your guests feeling like VIPs.
Visit me at www.marshallsayenglish.com to find out more about the services I offer.
Marshallsay English - Because words matter
Interpretive planning - Proofreading - Language training -
Museum trends and Gen Z in a post-pandemic world
Generation Z (those 15-25 years old) feel invisible to those in power. How will this affect how you communicate with this age group? This week, we'll look at how young people feel about technology, relationships, and the future, as well as the role of museums in this conversation.
Contact me if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for an upcoming episode. I'd love to hear from you.
Marshallsay English - English services for those in the heritage and tourism industries. English language training, proofreading and copyediting, interpretive planning -
Tell me a story - How to develop a tour people will remember
Often, it isn't a guide’s language skills that determine the quality of the tour. It is their ability to tell a good story. How do you do that? Listen and find out! If you'd like to get in touch, have questions, comments, or if you need help developing a tour, please contact me on my website, www.marshallsayenglish.com. I'd love to hear from you!
To see the dining room at Hampton National Historic Site, which is mentioned in the podcast, click here.