Business English/Course Outlines

These are sample class plans originally developed for a Business English conversation class in Mexico City, Mexico.

Class 1

Introduction of the teacher and the class

Personal chatting

Class 2

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

You can search for great articles at the following websites: nytimes.com, economist.com, wikipedia.org, news.google.com, etc.