English in 5 minutes! - Why are modal verbs useful for Business English? Find out! Book an Italki lesson with us: Rachel: https://teach.italki.com/teacher/1394345 Paul: https://www.italki.com/teacher/1657616 Modal verbs are words like can, could, should, may, might, and must have to. But describing what a modal verb is is actually quite a tricky thing. Modal verbs are words that we use to help us describe ability and probability. They don't actually mean anything. They just indicate to the listener whether something is likely to happen or not, whether there's an obligation. For example, if you say I must go to the meeting, I know it's important to you. If you say I have to go to the meeting, I know that somebody else has told you you've got to go. In business, usually, you're obliged to do something. So we can use these modal verbs to talk about being obliged to do something. I have to do something. I have to write this report. I must visit the customer next week. Those are obligations. But we also would use them to talk about the possibility of something happening, the probability of something happening, but also your ability to do something as well, which are all very relevant in business.

In this episode, I talk about interviewing in a second language. Speaking in a second language is tough; interviewing is tough. Doing both of them at the same time? Well, it can feel like walking into the lion’s den. It’s not for the faint of heart. And yet, there are a lot of brave souls out there who are willing to do what it takes to land a job in their second language. You will hear a story about when I interviewed in Spanish, which is my second language, and get my top five tips for how you can succeed in an interview in your second language. Then you'll learn the definitions for the English idioms and phrases I used in the episode. Originally published on April 10, 2020 Transcript available at https://www.express-to-impress.com/ep2-interview-in-english/. Infographics from podcast episodes available at https://www.pinterest.com/ExpresstoImpress/.

On the Express to Impress Podcast, I will show you how to express yourself in a way that people understand you, respect you, and give you what you want. So, if you want to learn how to present yourself in writing, say, in a resume, personal statement, or LinkedIn profile, this podcast is for you. If you want to learn how to introduce yourself, your ideas, or accomplishments during an interview, networking event, or presentation, this podcast is for you. If you want to learn general communication tips for the workplace, this podcast is also for you. So, what can you expect during a typical episode? You will hear stories from my career and my clients’ careers. I believe mistakes make the best teachers, and they can be funny, so some of my stories include examples of communication failures. I will also share communication techniques and steps you can take to be understood and advance your career. I will use everyday language as much as possible, and I’ll share definitions for idioms and phrases at the end of each episode. From time to time, I’ll invite guests. I cannot wait to talk to some inspiring folks and share those interviews with you! You can find transcripts for the episodes on my website at https://www.express-to-impress.com/podcast/. You can also send questions to me at [email protected].