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In this Business English News lesson on quantum computing, we look at business English vocabulary related to technology.

Quantum computing is emerging as a promising technology alongside AI. Unlike traditional computers, quantum computers use qubits, which can exist in multiple states at once. This allows them to solve certain complex problems much faster.

The technology is still developing, but investment is growing. The global quantum computing market is expected to increase from $700 million in 2026 to $1.7 billion by 2033. Several quantum computing companies have also entered, or are preparing to enter, public markets.

A major challenge has been errors that can destroy fragile quantum states. Recent progress in quantum error correction has helped researchers reduce these errors and move closer to reliable, large-scale quantum computers. This could make applications such as advanced materials and drug research more practical.

However, businesses should be careful about the hype. Quantum computing is unlikely to replace traditional computers or AI. Instead, experts expect hybrid systems that combine quantum computers with classical computing and AI. Potential applications include drug discovery, financial optimization, supply-chain planning, and energy-grid modeling.

Although progress is encouraging, commercial success is not guaranteed. The technology remains at an early stage, and companies themselves acknowledge that large-scale commercial use may still be many years away.

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Welcome back to Business English Pod for today’s lesson on making an appointment over the telephone.

Despite the many options for communication, the telephone is still the fastest and easiest way to do get some things done. This is true in business as much as it is in personal life. There are many reasons to skip the back and forth of email or texting and just call someone.

One good reason is to make an appointment. It could be a business meeting, a conversation with your lawyer, a visit to a client, or a doctor’s appointment. In this case, the real business needs to happen in person. But that in-person appointment needs to be arranged and agreed on.

When we make an appointment over the phone, we often say our reason for calling before asking for a meeting. And it’s a good idea to give a clear reason for that meeting or appointment. You’ll also have to discuss existing plans and suggest times for the meeting.

In today’s dialog, we’ll hear Gordon Knight calling to make an appointment with Penny Yip. Gordon works for a pension fund, while Penny works for an investment company. Gordon met Penny at a recent conference and now wants to follow up and meet her when he is in Malaysia.

Listening Questions

1. What does Gordon tell the assistant about his reason for calling?

2. What does Gordon tell Penny about his reason for meeting?

3. What time does Penny suggest they meet?

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Welcome back to Business English Pod for today’s lesson on making arrangements on the telephone.

Communication can be hard enough with a person who’s right in front of you. It gets even harder when you’re on the telephone and you can’t see the person. And if it’s all in a language other than your native language, well let’s just say things aren’t easy!

When talking on the telephone, clarity is critical. You can see how important it is to be clear when you make arrangements. If you’re talking about times and places and making plans, confusion could lead to missed appointments, missed flights, or missed opportunities.

Some skills are useful in all phone conversations, like asking if someone is busy when you call them. Other skills are especially useful for making arrangements, like interrupting someone to confirm information and asking about preferences. You might also have to reassure people and show flexibility when making arrangements.

In today’s dialog, we’ll join a telephone conversation between Marco and Adriana. Marco works for an Italian fashion company called Viva. Adriana works for Foxtrot, Viva’s distributor in the U.S. Marco is calling to make arrangements for a visit to the U.S. for an expo, or trade show.

Listening Questions

1. What does Marco ask Adriana before he begins discussing their travel arrangements?

2. When Marco begins telling Adriana about his flight plans, how does she interrupt him?

3. How does Marco respond to Adriana’s question about the kind of food they want to eat?

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Welcome back to Business English Pod. With the World Cup underway, we’re taking another look at one of our lessons on English idioms related to football.

People have been competing in and watching some form of sports for thousands of years. Sports enduring popularity has helped it grow into a $2.3 trillion a year industry. And it’s expected to just keep on growing.

Among all sports, there’s one that is far and away the most popular, and that’s football, or soccer. Almost half the global population counts themselves as fans of the sport. So it’s no wonder that something this popular has impacted the English language.

Listen to any conversation in a sales meeting, around the water cooler, in the boardroom, or over drinks between colleagues and you’re guaranteed to hear idioms related to football. These idioms are so common that most people don’t think for a second about where they came from. They’re just a natural part of everyday language.

In today’s dialog, we’ll rejoin Marilyn and Karl, two colleagues at a publishing firm. They are talking about Karl’s interest in a job at the company’s Sydney branch. Karl is hoping Marilyn can help him decide whether to apply for the job.

Listening Questions

1. How does Karl’s wife feel about moving to Sydney?

2. Why does Karl feel like he’s cheating on his own company?

3. What advice does Marilyn give at the end of the conversation?

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Welcome back to Business English Pod. With the World Cup about to kick off, we’re taking a fresh look at one of our lessons on business English idioms related to football.

What do you call an activity where groups of people compete strategically against each other as they strive to be the winner? I mean an activity with a clear goal where success requires strong teamwork and a commitment to excellent performance? Some of you might be thinking about sports. Some of you might be thinking about business. Well, you’re both right.

There are so many obvious similarities between sports and business, it’s no wonder that we see the language of sport come into play in the corporate world. And there’s a particular type of language that we’re going to focus on in this lesson, called idioms. Just like the expression “come into play,” which means to be involved or to be a factor in something.

Now when I say “football,” I’m referring to the game with the round ball that players kick into a net past a goalkeeper. It’s what North Americans tend to call “soccer,” to differentiate it from their own game of football, which is a whole different ball game altogether! Internationally, football – or soccer – is the most popular sport in the world. So it’s no wonder it has inspired so many idioms commonly used in business.

In the dialog, we’ll hear Karl and Marilyn, two friends who work at a publishing company. Karl is thinking about applying for a job at the company’s Sydney office. He has some doubts though, so he asks Marilyn what she thinks.

Listening Questions

1. How does Karl describe his approach to his career?

2. Why is Karl worried about the other candidates for the job he’s interested in?

3. What does Marilyn say happens at the Sidney office?

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