The English Breakfast ☕
Hi there,
Welcome back to The English Breakfast — the newsletter for Italian professionals who want to feel more confident in English at work.
If you’ve glanced at the headlines lately, you’d be forgiven for thinking the world is in permanent 'crisis mode.' I’m hitting the pause button on the gloom this morning. This edition is dedicated entirely to the bright side of business: growth, wins, and the language of success.
Let's kick things off with a challenge. Can you identify these 5 phrasal verbs used to deliver good news in the office? Do the quiz and let's see!
La dolce vita?
I came across this BBC article recently about the influx of the global rich moving to Italy. While I’m still undecided as to whether this is actually good news or not, the business vocabulary in the story is gold.
Before you read the text, here are 5 key phrases to upgrade your professional vocabulary. Pay close attention to number 4—it’s a classic C1 grammar trap!
Tax haven (Paradiso fiscale): A country or jurisdiction with very low taxes.
The advantages are clear (I vantaggi sono evidenti): A high-level way to say a proposal is an obvious "win."
They were keen to move (Erano entusiasti di trasferirsi): "Keen" is a fantastic alternative to "interested" or "excited." It shows a proactive eagerness.
They are used to spending... (Sono abituati a spendere...): Remember the formula: To be + used to + [Verb]-ing. It describes a current habit or lifestyle.
A sympathetic regime (Un regime favorevole): CAREFUL! This is a classic "False Friend." In a business or legal context, "sympathetic" means favorable or supportive, not "nice" (simpatico).
💬 What do you think?
Is this "flat tax" a brilliant move for the Italian economy, or is it a "paradise" only for the few? I’d love to hear your take.
Reply to this email and let me know! I’ll personally reply with feedback and corrections if you make any mistakes. It’s a great chance to practice your business English! 😀
Come si dice "partecipare a un meeting" in inglese?
I hear a very common mistake from my clients almost every week when we discuss their calendars. It’s one of those "false friends" that sounds correct but feels a bit "off" to a native speaker.
Watch this week’s mini-lesson to find out which verb we actually use 90% of the time in a professional setting, and make sure you're not making this mistake yourself.
All right, that’s it for this week’s edition.
It’s Piano City this weekend in Milan, so I’m heading out to see if we can find something jazzy to listen to.
If you’re in the city, I hope you manage to catch a live performance or two as well!
Have a great week and I’ll see you next time.
All the best,
Dan
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