Mastering Follow-Up Questions: A Must-Have Skill for International Professionals
Being able to ask effective follow-up questions can be a game-changer in the workplace, but a tough skill to master. Find out more about it.
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The TransAtlantic Blog
Free cultural insights and communication tips you can use right away.
Dr. Elke Framson
- Aug 23
- 4 min
Directness the American Way: Nine Essential Features of Effective Communication
How direct are Americans? Discover nine essential features of US directness and what makes you a great communicator in the United States.
Dr. Elke Framson
- Aug 11
- 5 min
Don't Leave Your Audience Behind: Connect the Dots
Whether you speak or write, connecting the dots for your foreign audience is crucial if you want to reach them. Three simple steps can help.
Dr. Elke Framson
- Jul 31
- 5 min
Fluency in English: Three Essential Competencies for Non-Native-Speaking Leaders
Leading in English doesn't require complicated grammar or elevated vocabulary. Learn what it takes to be effective as a non-native speaker.
Dr. Elke Framson
- Jul 8
- 6 min
PTO: Understanding American Vacation Culture
Learn more about US vacation culture and why it can be hard for Americans to take time off.
Dr. Elke Framson
- Jun 17
- 4 min
The Single Most Important Communication Skill: Spontaneous Speaking.
Wouldn't it be great if you could handle spontaneous speaking situations in English with more ease and confidence? Find out how you can.
Dr. Elke Framson
- May 27
- 4 min
My Trade Show Takeaway: To Have Great Conversations, Be Curious!
How your desire to learn more about your potential clients can help you be more effective and successful.
Dr. Elke Framson
- May 13
- 4 min
Hedging in US Business Communication: How to Do it the Right Way
Read about the upsides and downsides of verbal hedging. Learn why and when Americans use it and how it can work for and against you.
Dr. Elke Framson
- Apr 25
- 6 min
Doing Business in the US: The Importance of the Convenience Factor
Understanding the importance of convenience is crucial for anyone who wants to do business in the United States.
Dr. Elke Framson
- Apr 16
- 5 min
The Myth of Global English: How to Adapt your Skills for Better Cross-Cultural Communication
How international is English really? And what can organizations do to ensure that their communication is effective on a global level?
Dr. Elke Framson
- Apr 1
- 4 min
Why you should worry about your English pronunciation
But not stress out about your foreign accent. Pronunciation can be wrong. Accent cannot. I have no idea what he's talking about... A few...
Dr. Elke Framson
- Mar 18
- 5 min
Compliment Giving in the United States.
Whether, how, and how often we give compliments is not just a matter of personality. Like so many of our behaviors, compliment giving is...
Dr. Elke Framson
- Feb 25
- 3 min
Doing business in the US: Do you know what your partners know about you?
Whether you’re preparing to negotiate a deal with a distributor, make a pitch to a group of investors, or exhibit at a trade show, it's...
Dr. Elke Framson
- Feb 4
- 4 min
Eyes and ears on you: the pressure to say something intelligent on the spot.
The pressure to say something intelligent in an ad-hoc situation can be stressful, but there are ways to prepare and grow your confidence.
Dr. Elke Framson
- Jan 21
- 4 min
US conversation style: It’s tennis, not golf.
Insights into US conversation style and how you can successfully join in as a non-native English speaker.
Dr. Elke Framson
- Jan 8
- 5 min
Working abroad: Do you need to choose between authenticity and effectiveness?
Professionals who work in and with foreign cultures can easily feel torn between being authentic and being effective. Can you be both?
Dr. Elke Framson
- Dec 19, 2023
- 5 min
Expressing gratitude: Say thank you loud and clear - and frequently
Guidelines, tips, and phrases for expressing gratitude and saying thank you in American English.
Dr. Elke Framson
- Nov 28, 2023
- 5 min
Help! My conversation partner didn’t understand what I said!
You speak English well, and yet, the native speaker across from you is struggling to understand you. How to speak to be understood.
Dr. Elke Framson
- Nov 9, 2023
- 5 min
Navigating trade shows in the US: 12 tips for effective communication
How to communicate with your visitors to not bore them or scare them away. Exhibiting at a US trade show is an investment of many...
Dr. Elke Framson
- Oct 5, 2023
- 5 min
Smile! You're doing business in the United States
Why do Americans smile so much? And to what extent should you adjust to the American way and put on a smile when you do business in the US?
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