Improving Listening Skills

Pretend you're a real estate agent, showing a five million dollar home to a nationally known sports star. This sports star and his beautiful actress wife really like the house. If the sale is made, the commission will allow you to buy a new luxury car and pay off a lot of bills.
As the sale is about to be closed, the athlete's cell phone rings and his smile turns to a frown. He has just been traded and will be leaving town. He relays the message to his wife who breaks down and cries. Question: how old is the real estate person?
Give up? It's not a trick. You might want to re-read the scenario. It says pretend you are a real estate sales person. So how old are you?
Okay, it was a trick, but no trickier than listening to your clients whether you're on the phone or in person. Listening is an art, not a science. While we usually can hear prospects or clients, the real question is if we're really listening to them.
You might think listening is easy. After all, doesn't everybody listen? Listening isn't the same as hearing. Think about a commercial for a product you have no interest in. It's easy to tune that information out, isn't it?
Hearing is one thing, but listening is another. While it's easy to hear what the client or prospect says, great service begins with great listening skills. Here are our six steps to becoming a better listener:
Tip #1 - Decide to be a Better Listener: In school, you're taught to read, write, do math, and dozens of other topics. But in all my schooling, I don't ever recall having a course on listening. Yet as we all know, listening is a crucial skill. The first step is all about you – your personal commitment to becoming a better listener. You need to decide to be a better listener.
Tip # 2 - Welcome the Client or Prospect: Be overtly friendly. By being obviously friendly and welcoming the person, it immediately sets the stage to let the caller know that you're interested and actively listening. One effective way to show you're listening is to say, "You've come to the right place."
Tip #3 - Concentrate: Your mind processes information much faster than the normal rate of speech and therefore, you half-listen and do other things too. Your brain tends to solve other problems, to think about what you're going to say next, other calls you need to make, lunch plans, or a host of other activities.
The mind needs to be disciplined to pay full attention to others and to listen closely. Even when you try to listen closely, little things can distract you, like a regional accent, someone who speaks too rapidly, or when the prospect is discussing a topic you don't find interesting. It's easy to be distracted by many things, but don't let that happen. Concentrate instead.
Tip #4 - Keep An Open Mind: We'd go a long way toward curing the problem of poor listening habits by not interrupting people. By carefully listening and letting them finish their thoughts, you hear them out completely and avoid jumping to conclusions.
Also, remember the difference between a fact and an assumption. A statement of fact is normally made after an observation. An assumption can be made any time – before, during, or after an observation (or with no observation at all).
We want to operate as closely as we can with facts rather than assumptions. A good listener tries to stay objective and not be judgmental. Try not to let personal impressions modify what you hear. Remember to keep an open mind.
Tip #5 - Give Feedback That You're Listening: Often, when the person on the other end of the line doesn't give you feedback, you think you've been disconnected. Remember, with the phone there are no visual signals. Too much silence gives the impression you're not listening.
Even when you're thinking or looking for something, you need to send feedback through a variety of short replies acknowledging the caller. Give them a spoken signal that you're receiving the message. Phrases like "bear with me while I look that up," or "let's see what the notes say," are good examples. Also, use a variety of replies, not repeating one word like okay, okay, okay.
Tip #6 - Make Notes While You Listen and Review Notes with the Caller: This is basic, but it's very important. Document key words as people talk – their name, what they need, and any follow-up items. Please don't take a chance on forgetting when it's so easy to make a note.
If the caller gives you extra information, eliminate the unnecessary bits that can be safely discarded. Whether you're taking a telephone message, helping a client, or talking to a prospect, repeat and paraphrase the key information to be sure you've got it correct. It lets the caller know you've really listened.

Culun Funny Story

The Old Lady at the Supermarket Story
An old lady with a shopping trolley packed to the gunnels is waiting patiently in the checkout queue. To pass the time she engaged the man behind her in conversation.
Please could you help me load my groceries on to the belt?' She asks him. The young man was pleased to assist the woman. 'May ask what's your name' she said'. He told her was called Brett.
Then the old lady cracked up and began crying. 'Not only are you the spitting image of my son who was killed in Iraq', she blubbered, 'But also you are called Brett - the same as him.' Eventually the little old lady pulled herself together, and between the two of them, they put all her items on the belt and through the checkout. She mumbled something to the check-out assistant, and shuffled off out of the store and into the sunset.
Brett was in a bit of a daze; more so after he put his half dozen items through the checkout, only to be confronted with a bill for $257.82. When Brett queried the total with the assistant, she said that his mother whispered that he would be only too happy to pay for her groceries as well.
Awful word
A young couple gets married, goes on a cruise for their honeymoon. Back from the honeymoon, the bride immediately calls her mother.
"Well, darling," says her mom, "how was the honeymoon?"

"Oh, mother," the girl replies, "the honeymoon was wonderful! So romantic. We had a terrific time. But as soon as we returned, Sam began using really horrible language. Stuff I'd never heard before; really terrible words. You've got to come and get me and take me home. PLEASE, mother!"
And the bride begins to sob all over again.

"Poor darling," says the mother. "What words?"

"I can't tell you, mother -- they're too awful. Come and get
me, please!"

"Darling daughter," the mother continues," you must tell me what has you so upset. Tell mother. What were the words?"

Still sobbing, the bride says, "Words like 'dust,' 'wash,' 'iron', and 'cook'!"
BY:XXX

Part of Speech

PARTS OF SPEECH

Parts of speech dalam bahasa Indonesia dikenal dengan kelas kata atau jenis-jenis kata. Dalam bahasa Inggris kelas kata dibagi menjadi 8 (The Eight Parts of Speech) atau disebut dengan istilah PANCAVIP, yaitu:

1.      Pronouns               (kata ganti)                  : I, you, we, they, he, etc.

2.      Adjectives             (kata sifat)                   : good, beautiful, clever, etc.

3.      Nouns                    (kata benda)                : book, love, sugar freedom, etc.

4.      Conjunctions         (kata sambung)            : and, but, or, while, etc.

5.      Adverbs                (kata keterangan)        : now, slowly, in the garden Etc.

6.      Verbs                     (kata kerja)                  : eat, drink, is, gone. Etc.

7.      Interjections          (kata seru)                   : hi! Hello! Alas! Oh my god!, etc.

8.      Prepositions           (kata depan)                : in, on, at, before, after, etc.

1.      Macam-Macam Pronouns:

Subj-pro	Obj-Pro	Poss.Adj	Poss.Pro	Reflexive
I You We They She He It	Me You Us Them Her Him It	My ……. Your ….. Our ….. Their ….. Her ….. His ….. Its …..	Mine Yours Ours Theirs Hers His Its	Myself Yourself/selves Ourselves Themselves Herself Himself Itself

           

For instance : I bring my book for me by my self because the book is mine.

Demonstrative Pro.       :   This, that, these, those, the former, etc.

Relative Pro.                 :   Who, whom, which, that, where, when.

Interrogative Pro.          :   Who, whom, what, which, whose, how, why, where, when.

Reciprocal Pro.              :   Each other, one another.

Definite Pro.                 :   The other (s).

Indefinite Pro.               :   All, any, both, each, either, other(s), another, few, many, more, neither, none, some, someone, something, anything, one, ones, half.

Tata cara dan penggunaan pronoun:

• Subject pronouns diletakkan sebelum verbs. à I read a book.
• Object pronouns diletakkan setelah verbs. à Inayah gives us money.
• Possessive adjective selalu diikuti kata benda. à She needs your pen.
• Possessive pronoun tidak boleh diikuti kata benda. à This is mine book.
• Reflexive pronouns berfungsi:

a.       Menegaskan subject      :   I myself did it last night.

b.      Menegaskan object       :   Did you see her herself yesterday?

c.       Sebagai object(S=O)     :   they can help themselves.

d.      Jika ada by = alone       :   He did his homework by himself

e.       Bentuk yang lain           :   Aryo cooks himself noodles

Shella cooks noodles for her herself

2.      Macam-Macam Adjective:

§  Possessive Adjectives (untuk kepunyaan yang terletak sebelum kata benda)

My book, your bag, our course, their school ……….

§  Interrogative Adjectives (kata tanya sebagai kata sifat)

What subject, which boy, whose car, how many men ………

§  Demonstrative Adjective (kata sebagai petunjuk)

This dictionary, that boy, these bins, those tins ……..

§  Distributive Adjective (bersifat distribusi)

Each student, every mother, either you or I ………

§  Numeral Adjective (bilangan sebagai kata sifat)

One stick, two cans, the first love, the second change ………

§  Quantitative Adjective (jumlah)

Much money, many teachers, little water, few words …….

§  Descriptive Adjective (menggambarkan)

Aura is good, pretty, polite, kind, and cute ……..

Beberapa aturan dalam menyusun adjective adalah:

Ø  adjective yang menyatakan opini diletakan setelah determiner (article), setelah itu baru adjective yang menyatakan fakta.

Opinion adjectives  :   bright, beautiful, delicious …………….

Fact adjectives        :   new, red, round, wooden …………….

Contoh                    :   a bright red dress

      O    F

The strong Chinese boy

             O            F

Ø  Apabila fact adjective lebih dari satu, biasanya fact adjectives disusun sebagai berikut:

Determiner	1	2	3	4	5
Article Poss. Adj. Dem. Adj.	big	old	color	Where from	made of

-          a tall young man                          :   seorang pria muda tinggi.

-          the small black plastic bag          :   tas plastic hitam kecil itu.

-          his long new white Korean car   :   Mobil Korea putih baru panjang (milik) nya.

3.      Noun

berdasarkan wujud dibagi menjadi:

Ø  Concrete Noun (dapat dipanca indera) :

a.       Common Noun     (bentuk umum)            : people, person, book, pen.

b.      Proper Nouns        (nama sesuatu)            : Jacky, London, Jakarta.

c.       Collective Nouns  (kumpulan)                  : a bundle, a pair, a team …..

d.      Material Nouns     (benda alami)              : gold, stone, silver …..

Ø  Abstract Nouns,

Ada beberapa abstract noun yang mempunyai bentuk asli seperti kata love, water. Namun secara umum dapat dibuat melalui derivational word seperti berikut:

a.       Akhiran     - ment:                         e. Akhiran       - y:

Amaze       - amazement                    deliver         - delivery

Agree        - agreement                     injure           - injury

b.      Akhiran     - ion/tion                      f. akhiran         - ness:

Act                        - action                           clever            - cleverness

Prepare      - preparation                   happy           - happiness

c.       Akhiran     - ance/ence:                 g. Bentuk-bentuk lain:

Attend       - attendance                    able              - Ability

Differ        - difference                     brave           - bravery

d.      Akhiran     - t:                                    bore             - boredom

Complain   - complaint                      free              - freedom

Fly             - flight                             hope                        - hope

Berdasarkan jumlah, noun berbentuk tunggal dan jamak (lebih dari satu):

Ø  Umumnya ditambah s/es:

- pen                            - pens                           - fox-foxes

Ø  Akhiran ‘y’ yang didahului konsonan (“y” diganti:

- lady                           - ladies                         - baby-babies

Ø  Konsonan ‘y’ yang didahului vocal:

- boy                            - boys                          - toy-toys

Ø  Akhiran ‘o’ ditambah es:

- bamboo                     - bambooes                  - tomato-tomatoes

Ø  Akhiran ‘o’ ditambah s:

- memo                        - memos                       - radio-radios

Ø  Akhiran ‘o’ yang bisa ditambah s/es:

- mosquito-mosquitos/mosquitoes

- volcano-volcanos/volcanoes

Ø  Akhiran ‘f’ atau ‘fe’ menjadi  -ves:

- calf                            - calves                        - knife-knives

Ø  Bentuk tunggal dan jamaknya sama:

- deer                           - fish                            - means

- sheep                         - species                       - series

Ø  Beberapa noun yang bentuk jamaknya tidak beraturan, seperti:

- man – men                - woman-women         - child-children

- goose-geese               - foot-feet                    - louse-lice

- tooth-teeth                - mouse-mice

Ø  Beberapa noun yang dihukumi jamak dalam structure bahasa:

- people

-  Government

4.      Conjunction

berdasarkan arti dan penggunaannya:

A.    Co-ordinating conjunction (kata penghubung yang sederajat)

1.      Cumulative (penambahan); And, as well as, and also – not only… but also, than, besides, furthermore, further, moreover, both.

For instance : both Inayah and Dini can play piano well.

2.      Adversative (berlawanan); Yet, still, however, inspite of, nevertheless, no matter, though, despite that, whereas, while, but then, although, not withstanding, on the other hand, only.

For instance: This car is like this but expensive

3.      Alternative (pilihan): Either, or, neither, nor.

For instance : you do it or go from here.

4.      illusive (akibat): Because, since, for, as, so,  therefore, consequently, accordingly, hence.

For instance: Interisti was shocked because Zlatan Ibrahimovic moved to Barca.

B.     Sub-ordinative conjunction (kata penghubung induk kalimat dg anak kalimat

That, because, unless, as, so that, in case, in order that, after, such as, as soon as     , while, as long as, before, when, on condition that, till, until, whenever, though, although, however, whatever, whether, no matter, not whit standing, if, since, suppose, lest, than.

For instance: He said that Mourinho moved from Geuseppe Meazza.

5.      Adverb:

Ø  Adverb of place         (ket. tempat)                : here, in the school, etc.

Ø  Adverb of time           (ket. waktu)                 : now, next Wednesday, etc.

Ø  Adverb of manner       (ket. cara)                    : slowly, well, by car, etc.

Ø  Adverb of direction    (ket. arah)                    : yonder, to the west etc.

Ø  Adverb of degree        (ket. tingkatan)            : very, so, too, etc.

Ø  Distinguishing adv.     (menekankan)              : especially, only, etc.

Ø  Sentence adv.              (penjelas kalimat)        : actually, evidently, etc.

Ø  Conjunctive adv.         (hubungan)                  : therefore, nevertheless, etc.

Ø  Explanatory                 (penggambaran)          : namely, for example, etc.

Ø  Interrogative adv.       (penanya)                    : where, when, how, etc.

Ø  Relative adv.               (penghubung)              : when, where, etc.

For instance : Diego came to Appiano Gentile by car yesterday

Cara membuat adverb of time:

1. Menambahkan -ly pada kata sifat;  Serious à seriously (dengan serius)
2. Tidak ditambah –ly pada kata-kata: Hard (dengan keras), Fast (dengan cepat), Well (dengan baik)

For instance: I do it well.

3. Menggunakan – by + noun: By train (dengan baik kereta api)
4. Tidak beraturan: On foot (dengan jalan kaki)

f.       Verb

Dalam satu kalimat harus hanya ada satu verb ordinat  (pusat). Jika ada lebih dari satu kata kerja, maka dipilih hanya satu sebagai verb pusat.

Eg: Boaz had been scoring a goal since he moved from his injured.

              Aux verb          verb ord                                                                              verb phrase

Ø  V-1 (infinitive)                        : call, speak, write, put.

Ø  V-2 (past form)                       : called, spoke, wrote, put.

Ø  V-3 (past participle)                : called, spoken, written, put.

Ø  V-ing (present participle)        : calling, speaking, writing.

Ø  V-1 (s/es) (special verb)          : calls, speaks, writes, puts.

Ø  Transitive verb (perlu object)  : call, read, eat, write, drink.

Ø   Intransitive (tidak perlu Obj.): run, go, cry, fly, sleep.

Ø  Trans/intrans                            : study, fly.

Ø  Ordinary verb (k. kerja biasa) : eat, sit, go, read, keep.

Ø  Auxiliary verb (k. kerja bantu): do, does, have, has, did, is, was, been.

Ø  Linking verb (k. kerja yang tidak menunjukkan aktivitas): is, feel …

Kata kerja dalam bahasa Inggris bentuk V2 dan V3 ada yang beraturan yaitu tinggal menambahkan –ed pada akhir kata seperti wait à waited, dan ada juga yang irregular atau tidak beraturan, seperti

drink à drank à drunk.

g.      Macam-macam interjections:

-          kegembiraan                : hurray!           - Kesedihan     : alash!

-          persetujuan                  : bravo!            - kejemuan       : heigh-ho!

-          perhatian                     : hush!             - celaan            : fie! fie!

-          ketidaksabaran                        : pshaw!           - amarah          : damn it!

h.      prepositions (kata depan):

1. Free Preposition :

On       : On Sunday, on March 5, 2004, on the table.

In         : In March, in 1968, in the classroom.

at         : at 7o’clock, at jl. Pangeran Puger.

2. Bound preposition (terikat) à disesuaikan dengan kata-kata sebelumnya

- Angry with               - Agree with               - Smile at          - sick to

- Jealous of                  - Interested in             - Sick of 

ENGLISH-INDONESIAN SPECIAL EXPRESSION

ENGLISH-INDONESIAN SPECIAL EXPRESSION

Speedy recovery                                 : cepat sembuh

Puppy love                                          : cinta monyet

Could you spare for moment?                        : ada waktu luang?

Mother fucker                                     : orang tidak berguna

Go dutch!                                            : bayar sendiri-sendiri

Do you think I was born yesterday?   : memangnya aku percaya

Don’t let that get you down               : jangan berkecil hati

Don’t beat about the bush                  : jangan berbelit-belit

Tell it frankly                                      : ceritakan terus terang

Fees up                                                : ngaku aja dech

Don’t bother                                       : jangan repot-repot

In away it is                                        : ada betulnya juga

At a glance                                          : sekilas

Up to you                                            : terserah kamu

Cheers                                                 : selamat minum

Please have some more                       : silahkan tambah lagi

Please help yourself                            : silahkan ambil sendiri

Please help a second help                    : silahkan tambah lagi

I change my mind                               : tidak jadi

Any suggestions?                                : ada saran?

Innocent words                                   : kata-kata yang polos

Take your time                                    : tak perlu buru-buru

Have a good time                                : selamat bersenang-senang

Let’s turn the new leaf                        : berusahalah lagi

Let’s tur the new page                                    : berusahalah lagi

Make up yourself                                : berusahalah lagi

I get the air                                         : saya dipecat

I am retired                                         : say di PHK

Bingo                                                  : tepat

Monkey business                                 : kumpul kebo

Have an affair                                     : berselingkuh

Potato head                                         : otak getuk

Chicken / coward                                : pengecut

Cheeky                                                : kurang ajar

Gosh                                                    : keterlaluan/waduh

Fire/liquor                                            : minuman keras

Drugs                                                  : obat-obatan

Þ    You must be brave to say that you love her. Don’t be a chicken! (coward)

Kamu harus berani mengatakan bahwa kau mencintainya. Jangan jadi pengecut.

Sorry friend, i get an air sick because of riding without using jacket. Maaf

teman, saya kena masuk angin ni gara-gara naek motor tapi tidak pakai jaket.

Þ    I can’t read your writing because your writing is like the chicken track.

Aku tidak bisa membaca tulisanmu karena tulisanmu seperti cakar ayam.

Þ    Don’t be hopeless! Try and try again! Remember that it is no use crying over the split milk. You are still young and you still have much time to create in this world.

Jangan putus asa! Coba dan coba lagi! Ingat bahwa tidak ada gunanya menyesali apa yang sudah terjadi (nasi telah menjadi bubur). Kau masih muda dan punya banyak waktu untuk berkarya di dunia ini.

Þ    Don’t hang your lips if you see a beautiful girl in front of you.

Jangan mlongo jika kau melihat cewek cantik di depanmu.

Þ    Please trust me! If you tell your scret. I won’t let the cat out of the bag.

Percayalah padaku! Jika kau ceritakan rahasiamu, aku tidak akan membocorkannya.

Þ    Make hay while the sun shines. If you do this, you can solve your problem more easily.

Sedia payung sebelum hujan. Jika anda melakukan ini, anda dapat menyelesaikan masalah anda dengan lebih mudah.

Þ    It is to promise but hard to do. Don’t forget your promise because promise is debt.

Mudah berjanji tapi sulit untuk menepati. Jangan lupa janjimu karena janji adalah hutang.

Þ    Money is easy come, easy go. Don’t work for money but let money work for you.

Uang itu gampang didapat, gampang habis. Janganlah bekerja untuk uang tetapi biarkan uang bekerja untukmu.

Þ    Don’t put till tomorrow what you can do today.

Janganlah menunda pekerjaan yang dapat anda lakukan sekarang.

Þ    Bending without breaking is the wise way to save friendship and peace.

Mengalah bukanlah kalah adalah cara yang bijaksana untuk menyelamat kan persahabatan dan perdamaian.

Þ    Empty case has louder sound. Don’t ever trust this person.

Tong kosong nyaring bunyinya. Jangan pernah mempercayai orang ini.

Þ    He who swims in sins will sink in sorrow.

Barang siapa berenang dalam dosa akan tenggelam dalam duka.

Þ    Economy is the easy chair of old age. Don’t be wasteful!

Hemat pangkal kaya. Jangan boros!

Þ    Fall one time, stand up two times.

Tak kenal menyerah sampai berhasil

Þ    He would rap well must sow well.

Barang siapa yang ingin memetik hasil yang lebih baik haruslah menanam yang baik.

Þ    Working far from the fiancé makes me eat my heart out. 

Bekerja jauh dari tunangan membuat saya sangat menderita rindu.

Þ    I think he is dry behind the ears to make his own decision.

Saya kira dia cukup berpengalaman untuk membuat keputusan sendiri.

Þ    How could the boss be angry to you if you didn’t drop the ball?

Mengapa atasanmu bisa marah kepadamu jika kamu tidak membuat kesalahan?

Þ    Don’t drive me to the wall, because I have told honestly.

Jangan sudutkan saya, karena saya sudah menceritakannya dengan jujur.

Þ    Everything will soon be alright. Please don’t be down in the dumps.

Segalanya akan berjalan dengan baik. Janganlah merasa berkecil hati.

Þ    When i came home, i found my wife was dead to the world on the sofa.

Ketika aku pulang, aku menjumpai istriku tertidur pulas diatas sofa.

Þ    Nobody will make friends with you, if you always cut the quick.

Tak seoarangpun akan berteman dengan anda jika anda selalu melukai perasaan seseorang.