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Presenting Confidently and Clearly in a Non-native Language
by Matt Abrahams
For most of us, presenting confidently and clearly in our native language is hard enough, but communicating in another language is marked by unique challenges and opportunities for growth. What follows is specific advice that can help all non-native speakers…
Matt's favorite ELL podcasts
Wendy De La Rosa
01/06/2026
trigger (verb)
Definition: to cause something to start or happen
Example from the episode: “Can you give a specific example of how a leader or manager's communication framing of, let's say, a budget cut or some new financial policy can either trigger a scarcity mindset or inspire a problem-solving mindset?”
Example sentence: “Touching the red button will trigger the toy to move.”
cue (noun)
Definition: a sign or signal that tells someone to do something
Example from the episode: “But it's a cue to say there's a meaningful change happening.”
Example sentence: “The bell is a cue that class has ended.”
taboo (adjective)
Definition: not allowed or not talked about in a group or culture
Example from the episode: “I have found in my life with lots of topics that are taboo that just initiating the conversation opens up the opportunity for others to share.”
Example sentence: “People said it was taboo to ask her age.”
give credit where credit is due (idiom)
Definition: to say that someone deserves praise for something they did
Example from the episode: “I want to give credit where credit is due.”
Example sentence: “Always give credit where credit is due to your teammates.”