4th October 2002 Reading Time: 5 minutes   October is a busy month, but I hope you'll find the time to read our latest newsletter and join us for a social event. Now we're all so busy, it's even more important to find the time to invest in yourself! If you have any colleagues or friends you think might enjoy our newsletter, why not forward it to them? If they enjoy our monthly dose of English humour, tips and news, they can sign-up themselves. Warm Regards,      Social Events We're going to see 'The Road to Perdition' (Camino a la Perdición) this month. The film stars Tom Hanks and is directed by Sam Mendes, the director of 'American Beauty'. Everyone's welcome, so feel free to bring friends or family. We'll be waiting outside the cinema from 20:10. We're also meeting for drinks and a chat on the 17th... Cinema: The Road to Perdition (20:30 on Thursday 10th October) Cine Renoir Floridablanca, C/Floridablanca, 135. (View Map) Visit our website for reviews of the film and links to the offical website. Drinks: The City Arms Thursday 24th October. 1930-2100. The City Arms, Plaza Narcís Oller, 9. Just off Via Augusta (View Map). A little English humour... The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), the FBI, and the CIA are all trying to prove that they are the best at catching criminals. The President decides to give them a test. He releases a rabbit into a forest and each of them has to catch it. The CIA go in. They place animal informants throughout the forest. They question all plant and mineral witnesses. After three months of extensive investigations they conclude that rabbits do not exist. The FBI go in. After two weeks with no leads they burn the forest, killing everything in it, including the rabbit, and they make no apologies. The rabbit had it coming. The LAPD go in. They come out two hours later with a badly beaten bear, which is shouting "Okay! Okay! I'm a rabbit! I'm a rabbit!" If you have any good jokes that you'd like to suggest for next month's newsletter, drop me an email with your suggestion and we'll publish the winning entry. Lydia's Top Tips Question: "How can I make a technical or scientific presentation more interesting and entertaining?" Answer: Analogy is one of the most useful techniques for technical or scientific presentations. An analogy lets you explain a new idea by comparing it with something familiar and simple. Benjamin Franklin said "Both fish and visitors start to smell in three days" and gave a concise picture of why people should not overstay their welcome. By comparing the complex with something ordinary and familiar, your audience will understand by association. "I've heard that there are special persuasive words in English? What are they and why are they persuasive?". Click here to read the answer. "I'm involved in sales. Where do you advise me to start in the preparation of my presentation?". Click here to read the answer. Upcoming Programs We are running a series of 1-Day Skills Seminars in association with the British Chamber of Commerce. These highly successful specialist seminars (within a framework of 'Essential Business Skills') are aimed at all professionals who work with people in English. Making Presentations (22 October) of products, projects, services or ideas to broad international audiences. Making formal and informal contacts with foreign colleagues or clients at Trade Fairs (31 October) and getting a visible return on investment. Communicating confidently on the phone, by email and in reports, thus avoiding common errors (Personal Assistants - 7 November). Negotiating (21 November) in a win-win world. Mastering protocol in Meetings (5 December) with culturally-diverse and cross-functional teams. To learn more about our programs, take a look at the full listing on our website, send us an email or give us a call at 93 238 7140. Advance Communication provides professional and personal development programs to executives and companies in Spain. These programs include specialised programs for departments or teams (presentations, meetings, negotiations etc), and Business English certification (with the British Chamber of Commerce), and one-on-one executive development. PRIVACY: We do NOT distribute your email address to any 3rd parties. Advance Communication, Via Augusta 2, 5º, 08006 Barcelona, Spain. Phone: 93 238 71 40 | Fax: 93 415 04 62 | Web: www.advancecommunication.biz Copyright © 2002 Advance Communication, S.L. All rights reserved.