Hi Y'all,

I need your help or suggestions about how to improve English. 

Here is some info about my background:  I have been in the States for
a couple of years, during which I attended school to get my degree but
didn't allocate any time to systematically study English. I didn?t
speak any English before coming to the States. For now, I rate my
English level as intermediate, as i have no problem understanding
conversations, reading news and articles, and communicating with
others about leisure matters.

But often times I?d find it difficult to express myself or to grasp
the essence of a business meeting.  For a long time I?ve felt and come
to believe that my ability is limited by my lack of sophisticated
communication skills. Now it?s time for me to take action.

Specially, I am looking for ways to effectively improve my business
English. I need to be able to communicate with others professionally,
both orally and in writing. I need to talk to people in a professional
manner where the listener will feel that i cordial and tactful.

Any opinion or suggestion is welcomed, whether it be good
enlgish-learning books, websites, local resources such as libraries,
community programs, coaches, etc, or from your own english-learning
experience. I just wanted you to be creative. Myself have thought
about finding a business professional as a mentor, but just don?t know
here to look for one.

Areas I need help with are: 
1. effective ways to build up vocabularies.
2. business speaking and writing
3. telephone manners
4. expressing ideas.  How to appear to be polite in times of disputes?

Tips will be given for useful info or suggestion! Thanks a million!

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Request for Question Clarification by czh-ga on 28 May 2006 11:49 PDT

Hello llgg-ga,

Here in Silicon Valley I know that there are a lot of classes,
workshops, training programs offered for people like you. Here is an
example.

http://www.outreach.usf.edu/conted/LAN2.html
English Language Skills For Non-Native Speakers   

Where are you located?

~ czh ~

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Clarification of Question by llgg-ga on 28 May 2006 22:04 PDT

Thanks for your comment, czh. I am in New Jersey. I checked out the
website. Looks like they have something great to offer. While it'll be
great if there are some courses like this in the east coast, I perfer
not to throw a big amount of money in this. - taking these courses can
get really costly, both financially and time wise. I am really looking
into finding something less expensive, yet as helpful. Thanks!

I'm in Silicon Valley, too (hi there, czh), and I've seen classes of
the sort I think you mean listed in university extension catalogs and
community college catalogs:  business English, accent improvement,
intermediate writing skills, etc.  I have also seen at least one class
listed that was designed specifically to help people learn American
customs and conventions of personal interactions in a business
setting.

If any universities near you have extension courses, you might start
there.  Classes are typically not terribly expensive.

Archae0pteryx
(not a researcher)

Hey, I live in New Jersey too! Hudson County offers great progrmams
called ESL for Adults in Hudson Commnity College.. check out their
website
Google: HCCC Jersey city :)