How to improve your intonation

Intonation describes how the voice rises and falls in speech. A falling pitch is associated with certainty, and a rising pitch with uncertainty. The improper use of intonation can be very misleading. For this reason, it is perhaps better to speak in a monotone manner than to use intonation incorrectly. However, it is preferable to master intonation and use it as a tool to better express oneself in English.

Most of the time, you need to remember to start high and end low for declarative sentences. The emphasis (or stress) is normally placed on the first syllable of the last word.

“John didn’t tell her the password”

The same word or phrase can take on completely different meanings depending on which syllable is stressed. Take the phrase “John didn’t tell her the password” could imply several different things depending on the intonation.

“John didn’t tell her the password” - someone else told her the password.
“John didn’t tell her the password” - John told someone else the password.

“John didn’t tell her the password” - John told her something else, not the password.

Even with just a single-word statement, different meanings can be implied. If the word 'okay' is said with a rising pitch, it is likely to be heard as a question or as someone asking for confirmation. If the same word is said with a falling pitch, it is more likely to be heard as confirmation or a discourse marker.

In interrogative sentences, we generally start low and end high; however, the ‘peak’ of the sentence can also fall on the word with the most relevance. Take the following sentences.

“What was the address?”
“What was the address of that building?”

The stress stays with the word address in the second sentence, even though it is not the last word because it is more relevant to what the speaker wants to find out.

Some questions may give you a choice between two options, in which case the stress is placed on both options more or less equally, but the first option is said with a rising intonation and the second is said with a lower intonation.

“Was it number 13 or 31?” 

Although correcting intonation is relatively straight forward and does not require a long period of time, it does require concerted focus. Record yourself speaking, listen to it and make the necessary corrections. This might be tedious, but it is one of the fastest and most effective ways to correct your intonation. Mirror the pace at which natives speak as well. This will allow you to be better understood and should also contribute to mimicking their intonation too. 

The teachers Speakeasy can cover this topic with you more extensively than the tips in this article. Our teachers have real world experience of working in the business world, from the financial sector to NGOs. As long as you have a Skype account and internet access, you can attend classes and study in an environment most convenient for you.

Visit our website for more information on our one-to-one courses. Visit our successful video tutorial course on Udemy to practice your intonation and listen to native speakers, as well as for advice on speaking business English.

What’s the best way to start a business email?

A well-written business letter can potentially make or break a business deal, so you’ll want to create a good first impression with the salutation or start of the letter.

One of the best ways to engage your reader is by thanking them right from the start. It sets the right tone and makes the reader feel appreciated, which is particularly vital if you require future help from them. This is easier and more natural if you responding to an email. You can thank them simply for being aware of your product or service, for showing concern about something or constructive criticism; you can even thank them responding quickly to an earlier email that you had sent.
          “Thank you for showing an interest in our service/product.”

          “Thank you for your feedback.”
          “Thank you for swift response.”

If the email is formal, then ‘Dear + Mr/Mrs/Dr/etc. + Name’ is the safest way to begin. It is very neutral and will not ruffle any feathers. The worst case scenario is that the reader will think you are polite and formal. ‘Dear All’ or ‘Dear colleagues’ are good ways to start an email addressed to a group of people you work with.

Casual greetings such as ‘Hi + Name’ are more acceptable through email than in era when most business correspondence was done by letter. They are also a good ice breaker and can set the mood well for friendly, open and honest interaction. However, some people find these types of greetings to be a bit too casual. This is rather risky if you do not know the recipient and the letter is of a formal nature for example a job application or cover letter.

‘Good Morning/Good Afternoon/Good Evening’ are common and acceptable ways to begin an email with someone you already know and have some interaction with. In my personal opinion, they are a bit bland and there is no guarantee that the person will read your email at the time of day specified, simply because that is when you wrote it. That said, a bland or neutral opening will not overshadow the content of the letter, and there is a good chance that the reader will have some sort of immediate notification through their smartphone when the email arrives, thus reading it at the time of day it was sent.

The next important step is to make sure that you clearly state the purpose of your email in the first paragraph:

          “I would like to bring your attention to…”
          “I must apologize for…”

You can also use adverbs or adverb phrases as precursors to set the tone for the rest of the message:

          “Unfortunately, we will not be able deliver order on time…”
          “Regarding the information you requested…”

At Speakeasy, our teachers have real world experience of working in the business world, from the financial sector to NGOs. As long as you have a Skype account and internet access, you can attend classes and study in an environment most convenient for you.

Visit our website for more information on our one-to-one courses. Visit our video tutorial course on Udemy to learn more about the most commonly used idioms in English-speaking countries, as well as tips for business English.

The Advantage of English in the Workplace

Over the last decade, the importance of a second language in the global employment market has gained prominence. Many multinational companies have implemented English as their official language, some even if it is not entirely necessary. Many companies use English as a determinant of who to promote because the hire up the ladder you move, the more likely you are to need to communicate in English. The public awareness of this fact makes acquiring competency in English all the more necessary as more and more ambitious workers seek a competitive advantage.


Former Microsoft Japan president Makoto Naruke, claimed that only 10% of the Japanese workers that learn English actually need to speak it, but 100% of those with ambitions to excel in the corporate world will need to speak English. It is often given priority over skills that are more directly related to the profession. The reason for this is that multinational companies recognise that English is firmly the language of business and is a powerful tool when trying to compete in the global market; be it for market share or for the best employees.


The reality today is that it is impossible to progress through to the management ranks in most large organisations without a good command of the English language. Furthermore, as employees develop fluency, they gain more confidence and will feel more secure about the value they offer in the employment market. They may be able to take on more tasks and responsibilities for their existing employer, or apply for posts in other companies offering more competitive salaries for their skills. A limited skill level in English will in turn limit an employee’s prospects leaving them stuck in entry-level positions.


A global study by the British Council found that professionals proficient in English earned 25% more wages than those who were not. According to the annual JobStreet.com survey, many graduates lose out on good job opportunities because of their poor language skills, which can prove to be instrumental in breaking certain professional barriers such as communication and presentation.


Based on Bloomberg’s ranking system, Mandarin is the second most useful language for business after English, with 845 million speakers. However, Mandarin is also one of the hardest languages in the world to learn and is not the most computer friendly either. It is also reported that up to 400 million people in China do not speak Mandarin. Despite being the official language of 20 countries and being spoken by more than 329 million people worldwide, Spanish is ranked as low as fourth. French and Arabic follow Mandarin in third and fourth places respectively.  Russian, Japanese, German and Korean are also notably further down the list, despite boasting several market leading firms – almost all of which have adopted English as their official language.


A desire to improve your English is a great thing. Develop the essential practical skills that will give you greater advantage in the workplace. At Speakeasy, you receive personalized classes from native-speaking teachers who work with you to achieve your goals and stay motivated. You can benefit from teachers with real world experience of working in the business world, from the financial sector to NGOs. As long as you have a Skype account and internet access, you can attend classes and study in an environment most convenient for you.


Visit our website for more information on our one-to-one courses. Visit our video tutorial course on Udemy to learn more about the most commonly used idioms in English-speaking countries, as well as tips for business English.