teaching business english
What are you teaching?
The first thing to remember is that you are teaching English in a business context, not teaching business in English. Many of the directors I have taught have talked about how patronizing they find it for a college graduate to walk into their office and start teaching them how to give a presentation! They know how to give a presentation, they need help with the tone and terminology in English - ensure your classes are never patronizing. Many of the teaching text books do fall into this trap so make sure you adapt your classes to your audience.
On the other hand, even with limited experience of business it means that you can be a good teacher to any student who needs business English. If you are teaching finance English for example, the majority of the help they will need is the English you already know, for everything else there are specialist books and dictionaries. Don't get me wrong, there are always students who need people with specialist knowledge and skills but it is the exception not the rule.
Hours
Business English classes tend to fit around the ebb and flow of business hours. Classes are normally early in the morning 7-9 or 9.30, lunchtime 1-4 and evening 7-9. The more senior the student, the more flexibility they have with their schedule but this is a double edged sword as they also have busy lives, constant meetings and often travel a lot which means they cancel more classes.
Whether you have got your hours directly with a Company or through a teaching agency, make sure you find out what the cancellation policy is. While it may seem glamorous to have lots of senior executives as your students, they are more likely to have one-to-one classes and as stated above, have higher than average cancellations. If you do have a large amount of one-to-one classes, it is very important to check this out in the contract to make sure you can still earn a decent living despite what goes on in your students' business lives.
Resources
When teaching business English, the internet is your new best friend. If your client works for a bank make sure you look at their internet site and the sites of their competitors. Do a search and find out what articles have been written about them which you can then use as reading material in the classroom. YouTube is another excellent resource for videos on meetings, presentations and negotiations (for both the right and wrong way to do it!).
The text book industry has really stepped up the pace in the last couple of years and there are a range of books to suit the most junior to the most senior employees. Lots of influential newspapers and magazines (the Financial Times, the Economist etc) have joined up with the publishers to produce some very comprehensive business text books with real articles, interviews and up to date news. Make sure you do a proper needs analysis with your student to see what they need before making the choice about a text book.
Finally, stay confident and calm. Students need to feel that you are in charge and know what you are doing. Read up on what you are teaching the night before and plan ahead. Do a comprehensive needs analysis and level test and stay one step ahead.
Business English is in high demand and most ESL teachers will be asked to teach a business English class at some point. There's more to teaching business English than just handing out lists of corporate-world vocabulary, though. Learn how to make sure your students are really prepared to use English in a business setting.
Difficulty: Moderate
Instructions
Things You'll Need: ·
- Business-related role plays
· Examples of business correspondence
· Examples of business presentations
- Learn exactly what your students expect. "Business English" means different things to different people. To some it means the language of international trade, while others define it as the language and communications skills office workers need. Ask your students how they plan to use their English knowledge in their work and business lives.
- Give your students realistic business English practice through role plays of meetings, business negotiations, telephone conversations and customer service. Students should come away from these with a collection of phrases they'll really be able to use. Don't overlook small talk, either. Arm your students with the vocabulary to chat with English-speaking colleagues at business lunches and during breaks at international conferences.
- Include work on business presentations. Many learners of business English find it useful to practice creating and giving presentations in English. These work well as longer term projects, too. To help your students create presentations, provide useful phrases for introducing a topic, transitioning from one idea to the next, concluding a presentation and taking questions.
- Teach business English correspondence skills. Almost all professionals who use English for business will need to write letters, memos, invitations and short reports. For each writing lesson, pick just one type of correspondence, such as a letter of inquiry, and provide good examples, useful phrases and practice writing a complete example.
- Provide problem-solving activities. For many high level professionals, drills and textbook exercises can be boring compared to the work they're used to. As an alternative, build your lessons on activities centered around solving problems and making decisions. Topics like this include deciding how to market a new product, planning a budget and choosing a new employee.
- Broaden your selection of discussion topics. Your students may work for a textile company, but that doesn't mean they want to talk about textiles all the time. To teach business English speaking skills, offer diverse topics like business etiquette in a multicultural settings, how job hunting has changed over the years or the pros and cons of working abroad.
Things to Consider
- Depending on the culture you're teaching in, your students may enjoy discussing problems like dealing with a difficult co-worker or boss, unfair policies in the workplace or problems in their industry. Because almost everyone has a strong opinion on such topics, they can encourage even the quietest class member to speak up.
- When you teach business correspondence, try to give your students a communication goal, rather than just having them turning their work in for a grade. You might even arrange with another teacher to have your classes write to each other.
- Business English students are typically adults with a lot of work and family responsibilities, so they may not have time for much homework. If you give homework, keep it short and simple.
Tips for Teaching Business English
Business Language
Focus on common vocabulary and phrases used in the business world
Types of Materials: Texts and articles which introduce business terminology
Business Interaction
Focus on business introductions, meetings, telephoning and negotiation
Types of Materials: Texts which provide interactional practice in varied situations
Business Correspondence
Focus on business and professional writing such as letters, memos, proposals, etc.
Types of Materials: Texts which provide examples and practice in various writing formats
Business Presentations
Focus on preparing and delivering professional presentations
Types of Materials: Texts and articles which provide tips on making formal presentations
Textbook Recommendations
Textbook Recommendations - Low Beginning
· Basic Survival
Textbook Recommendations - High Beginning
· Market Leader: Elementary
· Business Basics
· Business Vocabulary in Use: Elementary
· Business Venture 1
· Day by Day
· Survival English
Textbook Recommendations - Low Intermediate
· Market Leader: Pre-Intermediate
· Market Leader: Intermediate
· English for Global Business
· Business Options
· Business Vocabulary in Use: Intermediate
· Business Venture 2
· Company to Company
· Handshake: A Course in Communication
Textbook Recommendations - High Intermediate
· Market Leader: Upper Intermediate
· Communicating in Business
· Business Objectives
· Making Business Decisions
· Business Listening and Speaking
· The English You Need for Business
Textbook Recommendations - Advanced
· Market Leader: Advanced
· Business Opportunities
· New International Business English
· Business Vocabulary in Use: Advanced
· English for Corporate Communications
Lesson Plans and Ideas
Business English
Introductions
Social situations
Greetings, body language
Formality/Informality
Cultural differences
Asking appropriate questions
Describing Self, Company and Products
Using tenses appropriately
Business knowledge
Describing trends
Business Vocabulary
Workplace
Industry/Field
Procedures and Processes
Marketplace
Buying and Selling
Shopping
Bargaining
Presenting products
Asking about products
Using the telephone
Politeness
Appropriate speech
Making appointments
Taking and leaving messages
Business Meetings
Roles: leader, participants
Functional phrases
Focusing on topic
Concluding
Making assignments
Follow up
Analyzing Business Situations
Using facts and figures
Making recommendations
Agreeing/disagreeing
Marketing
Customer surveys
Target audience
Promotion
Location
Business Correspondence
Internal
Memos
Minutes
Reports
External
E-mail
Faxes
Business letters
Proposals
Contracts
Business Presentations
Know your stuff
Knowledge, facts, trends
Research and experience
Know your audience
Demographics
Background
Purpose
Body language
Gestures, posture
Eye contact
Voice, speed and volume
Organization
Clarity of Language
Highlighting
Signposting
Rehearsal
Handling questions
Understanding question
Referring to resources
Deflecting
The first thing to remember is that you are teaching English in a business context, not teaching business in English. Many of the directors I have taught have talked about how patronizing they find it for a college graduate to walk into their office and start teaching them how to give a presentation! They know how to give a presentation, they need help with the tone and terminology in English - ensure your classes are never patronizing. Many of the teaching text books do fall into this trap so make sure you adapt your classes to your audience.
On the other hand, even with limited experience of business it means that you can be a good teacher to any student who needs business English. If you are teaching finance English for example, the majority of the help they will need is the English you already know, for everything else there are specialist books and dictionaries. Don't get me wrong, there are always students who need people with specialist knowledge and skills but it is the exception not the rule.
Hours
Business English classes tend to fit around the ebb and flow of business hours. Classes are normally early in the morning 7-9 or 9.30, lunchtime 1-4 and evening 7-9. The more senior the student, the more flexibility they have with their schedule but this is a double edged sword as they also have busy lives, constant meetings and often travel a lot which means they cancel more classes.
Whether you have got your hours directly with a Company or through a teaching agency, make sure you find out what the cancellation policy is. While it may seem glamorous to have lots of senior executives as your students, they are more likely to have one-to-one classes and as stated above, have higher than average cancellations. If you do have a large amount of one-to-one classes, it is very important to check this out in the contract to make sure you can still earn a decent living despite what goes on in your students' business lives.
Resources
When teaching business English, the internet is your new best friend. If your client works for a bank make sure you look at their internet site and the sites of their competitors. Do a search and find out what articles have been written about them which you can then use as reading material in the classroom. YouTube is another excellent resource for videos on meetings, presentations and negotiations (for both the right and wrong way to do it!).
The text book industry has really stepped up the pace in the last couple of years and there are a range of books to suit the most junior to the most senior employees. Lots of influential newspapers and magazines (the Financial Times, the Economist etc) have joined up with the publishers to produce some very comprehensive business text books with real articles, interviews and up to date news. Make sure you do a proper needs analysis with your student to see what they need before making the choice about a text book.
Finally, stay confident and calm. Students need to feel that you are in charge and know what you are doing. Read up on what you are teaching the night before and plan ahead. Do a comprehensive needs analysis and level test and stay one step ahead.
Business English is in high demand and most ESL teachers will be asked to teach a business English class at some point. There's more to teaching business English than just handing out lists of corporate-world vocabulary, though. Learn how to make sure your students are really prepared to use English in a business setting.
Difficulty: Moderate
Instructions
Things You'll Need: ·
- Business-related role plays
· Examples of business correspondence
· Examples of business presentations
- Learn exactly what your students expect. "Business English" means different things to different people. To some it means the language of international trade, while others define it as the language and communications skills office workers need. Ask your students how they plan to use their English knowledge in their work and business lives.
- Give your students realistic business English practice through role plays of meetings, business negotiations, telephone conversations and customer service. Students should come away from these with a collection of phrases they'll really be able to use. Don't overlook small talk, either. Arm your students with the vocabulary to chat with English-speaking colleagues at business lunches and during breaks at international conferences.
- Include work on business presentations. Many learners of business English find it useful to practice creating and giving presentations in English. These work well as longer term projects, too. To help your students create presentations, provide useful phrases for introducing a topic, transitioning from one idea to the next, concluding a presentation and taking questions.
- Teach business English correspondence skills. Almost all professionals who use English for business will need to write letters, memos, invitations and short reports. For each writing lesson, pick just one type of correspondence, such as a letter of inquiry, and provide good examples, useful phrases and practice writing a complete example.
- Provide problem-solving activities. For many high level professionals, drills and textbook exercises can be boring compared to the work they're used to. As an alternative, build your lessons on activities centered around solving problems and making decisions. Topics like this include deciding how to market a new product, planning a budget and choosing a new employee.
- Broaden your selection of discussion topics. Your students may work for a textile company, but that doesn't mean they want to talk about textiles all the time. To teach business English speaking skills, offer diverse topics like business etiquette in a multicultural settings, how job hunting has changed over the years or the pros and cons of working abroad.
Things to Consider
- Depending on the culture you're teaching in, your students may enjoy discussing problems like dealing with a difficult co-worker or boss, unfair policies in the workplace or problems in their industry. Because almost everyone has a strong opinion on such topics, they can encourage even the quietest class member to speak up.
- When you teach business correspondence, try to give your students a communication goal, rather than just having them turning their work in for a grade. You might even arrange with another teacher to have your classes write to each other.
- Business English students are typically adults with a lot of work and family responsibilities, so they may not have time for much homework. If you give homework, keep it short and simple.
Tips for Teaching Business English
Business Language
Focus on common vocabulary and phrases used in the business world
Types of Materials: Texts and articles which introduce business terminology
Business Interaction
Focus on business introductions, meetings, telephoning and negotiation
Types of Materials: Texts which provide interactional practice in varied situations
Business Correspondence
Focus on business and professional writing such as letters, memos, proposals, etc.
Types of Materials: Texts which provide examples and practice in various writing formats
Business Presentations
Focus on preparing and delivering professional presentations
Types of Materials: Texts and articles which provide tips on making formal presentations
Textbook Recommendations
Textbook Recommendations - Low Beginning
· Basic Survival
Textbook Recommendations - High Beginning
· Market Leader: Elementary
· Business Basics
· Business Vocabulary in Use: Elementary
· Business Venture 1
· Day by Day
· Survival English
Textbook Recommendations - Low Intermediate
· Market Leader: Pre-Intermediate
· Market Leader: Intermediate
· English for Global Business
· Business Options
· Business Vocabulary in Use: Intermediate
· Business Venture 2
· Company to Company
· Handshake: A Course in Communication
Textbook Recommendations - High Intermediate
· Market Leader: Upper Intermediate
· Communicating in Business
· Business Objectives
· Making Business Decisions
· Business Listening and Speaking
· The English You Need for Business
Textbook Recommendations - Advanced
· Market Leader: Advanced
· Business Opportunities
· New International Business English
· Business Vocabulary in Use: Advanced
· English for Corporate Communications
Lesson Plans and Ideas
Business English
Introductions
Social situations
Greetings, body language
Formality/Informality
Cultural differences
Asking appropriate questions
Describing Self, Company and Products
Using tenses appropriately
Business knowledge
Describing trends
Business Vocabulary
Workplace
Industry/Field
Procedures and Processes
Marketplace
Buying and Selling
Shopping
Bargaining
Presenting products
Asking about products
Using the telephone
Politeness
Appropriate speech
Making appointments
Taking and leaving messages
Business Meetings
Roles: leader, participants
Functional phrases
Focusing on topic
Concluding
Making assignments
Follow up
Analyzing Business Situations
Using facts and figures
Making recommendations
Agreeing/disagreeing
Marketing
Customer surveys
Target audience
Promotion
Location
Business Correspondence
Internal
Memos
Minutes
Reports
External
Faxes
Business letters
Proposals
Contracts
Business Presentations
Know your stuff
Knowledge, facts, trends
Research and experience
Know your audience
Demographics
Background
Purpose
Body language
Gestures, posture
Eye contact
Voice, speed and volume
Organization
Clarity of Language
Highlighting
Signposting
Rehearsal
Handling questions
Understanding question
Referring to resources
Deflecting
