Business English/Course Outlines
These are sample class plans originally developed for a Business English conversation class in Mexico City, Mexico.
Class 1
[edit | edit source]- Introduction of the teacher and the class
- Personal chatting
Class 2
[edit | edit source]- Discussion of course policies
- Students present selves to teacher
- Students explain company-related activities to teacher
- “Being (held) accountable for something”
- Discussion of book
Class 3
[edit | edit source]- Topic for discussion: the company; what makes it different, market challenges, biggest future opportunities.
- Student experiences with international (English-speaking) clients and any travels into English-speaking parts of the world.
- Student motivations for speaking English, related to and besides current work-related issues.
- Answer any specific language or culture questions.
- Assigned homework: Module 1, Business Grammar Book. Due on .
Class 4
[edit | edit source]- Discuss grammar homework.
- First student presentation (?)
- Students bring technical documents related to their work. These can be from professional magazines, Internet or books, but should be in English.
- Discuss significance of the documents, any practical application to current work, any difficult words, phrases or constructions.
- Discuss handout on business idioms.
- Answer any specific language or culture questions.
- Assigned homework: Module 2, Business Grammar Book. Due on .
Class 5
[edit | edit source]- Discuss grammar homework.
- Student presentation, followed by questions and answers by the class.
- Discuss Christmas/holiday plans and traditions in Mexico and US, in individual families, holiday food and/or recipes.
- Students bring articles about international trade.
- Answer any specific language or culture questions.
- Assigned homework: Module 3, Business Grammar Book. Due on .
Class 6
[edit | edit source]- Discuss grammar homework.
- Student presentation, followed by questions and answers by the class.
- Students bring articles about finance.
- Answer any specific language or culture questions.
- Assigned homework: Module 4, Business Grammar Book. Due on .
Class 7
[edit | edit source]- Discuss grammar homework.
- Student presentation, followed by questions and answers by the class.
- Students bring articles about business and organizational management.
- Discuss unfulfilled dreams.
- Answer any specific language or culture questions.
- Oral exams.
- Assigned homework: Module 5, Business Grammar Book. Due on .
Class 8
[edit | edit source]- Discuss grammar homework.
- Student presentation, followed by questions and answers by the class.
- Students bring articles about technology.
- Discuss, “What is the best advice that someone can give another person”.
- New year's resolutions.
- Answer any specific language or culture questions.
- Oral exams for those who did not take it on .
- Assigned homework: Module 6, Business Grammar Book. Due on .
Class 9
[edit | edit source]- Students bring articles about sports and sports heroes.
- Telephoning exercise.
- Student presentation by ______________________, followed by questions and answers by the class.
- Discuss grammar homework, Module 4, Business Grammar Book.
- Assigned homework: Module 5, Business Grammar Book.
- Answer any student questions about language, grammar, culture, etc.
Class 10
[edit | edit source]- Students bring articles about hobbies.
- Students bring any reports and proposals that they have written in English.
- Discuss, “Basic business letter formats”.
- Student presentation by ______________________, followed by questions and answers by the class.
- Discuss grammar homework, Module 5, Business Grammar Book.
- Assigned homework: Module 6, Business Grammar Book.
- Answer any student questions about language, grammar, culture, etc.
Class 11
[edit | edit source]- Students bring articles about culture and society.
- Discuss general values and customs in US and abroad (cultures working with the company).
- Student presentation by ______________________, followed by questions and answers by the class.
- Discuss grammar homework, Module 6, Business Grammar Book.
- Assigned homework: Module 7, Business Grammar Book.
- Answer any student questions about language, grammar, culture, etc.
Class 12
[edit | edit source]- Students bring articles about business etiquette.
- Discuss taboos in the US and other cultures doing business with the company.
- Student presentation by ______________________, followed by questions and answers by the class.
- Discuss grammar homework, Module 7, Business Grammar Book.
- Assigned homework: Module 8, Business Grammar Book.
- Answer any student questions about language, grammar, culture, etc.
Class 13
[edit | edit source]- Students bring articles about English and English learning.
- Review English résumés, students bring own résumés.
- Oral exams.
- Discuss grammar homework, Module 8, Business Grammar Book.
- No grammar homework assigned.
- Answer any student questions about language, grammar, culture, etc.
Class 14
[edit | edit source]- Students bring articles about branding.
- Discuss, “What is the best advice that someone can give another person”.
- Oral exams for those who did not take it on .
- Discuss grammar homework, Module 9, Business Grammar Book.
- No grammar homework assigned.
- Teacher/class feedback form.
The class will include surprise topics along the way as well, and the teacher is willing to be flexible and include specially suggested topics and/or deviate from the official class plans as the students request.
Note
[edit | edit source]You can search for great articles at the following websites: nytimes.com, economist.com, wikipedia.org, news.google.com, etc.