Acknowledgements
Introduction
PART ONE: INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS ENGLISH
1. What is Business English? ; Background ; What characterizes the language of business? ; Sense of purpose ; Social aspects ; Clear communication ; The Business English syllabus ; Business and General English courses
2. Who wants to learn Business English? ; Pre-experience learners ; Low-experience learners ; Junior company members; Learners who are moving jobs ; Job-experienced learners ; Reasons for learning English ; Characteristics of the learners ; Cultural differences
3. Where is Business English taught? ; Types of institution ; Public and private sector educational institutions ; Adult learning centres and Chambers of Commerce ; British Council and American-sponsored centres ; Language schools ; Training and consulting groups and individual consultants ; In-company ; Some implications ; For the pre-experience learner ; For the job-experienced learner ; For the training manager
4. Resources ; The Business English trainer ; Background and experience ; Personal skills ; Acquiring the resources ; Skills ; Knowledge
5.Performance objectives for Business English ; The need to emphasize performance ; Skills training: basic principles ; The communicative approach ; Learner involvement in course design ; Input v. output ;Task-based learning ; Feedback
PART TWO: ANALYSING THE NEEDS OF THE LEARNERS ;
6. Describing levels of performance ; Who needs to define levels of performance and why? ; Performance scales ; Testing and assessment ; Published tests and examinations ; Carrying out assessment yourself ; The training gap
7. Job analysis ; Job categories ; Managers as learners ; Technical staff as learners ; Secretaries and clerical workers as learners ; Departmental differences ; Marketing and sales ; Human resources ; Finance ; Production
8. Information gathering ; What do we need to know? ; Information about the learner ; Defining the learning purpose ; Information about the learning situation ; Ways of gathering information ; Job-experienced learners ; Pre-experience learners ; Practical problems in needs analysis ; Examples of interview task sheets ;
9. Determining the content of the course ; Breakdown of performance areas ; Meetings and discussions ; Giving information ; Telephoning ; Business correspondence ; Socializing ; Language analysis ; Company documentation ; Learner output ; Training videos ; The focus of training
PART THREE: ACTIVITIES AND MATERIALS ;
10. Published materials ; Business English materials ; General Business English coursebook packages ; Supplementary materials ; Job-specific materials ; Reference books ; Self-access materials ; Business skills training materials ; Video materials ; Business simulation games ; Selection and evaluation ; Criteria for selection
11. Framework materials ; What are framework materials? ; Advantages ; When should framework materials be used? ; Frameworks for different purposes ; Analysing ; Describing contrast and similarity ; Describing change ; Describing cause and effect ; Describing sequence ; The setting box ; For meetings and discussions ; A customer-supplier simulation ; Describing production processes ; Problem-solving ; Conversation ; Conclusion
12. Authentic materials ; Definition and use ; Types and sources ; Selection and exploitation of authentic materials ; Text materials ; Audio and video materials ; Examples of tasks and activities ; 1 Using authentic materials to develop speaking skills ; 2 Using authentic materials to practise extracting information ; 3 Using authentic materials to develop listening skills ; 4 Using authentic materials to improve learners' comprehension of presentations ; 5 Using authentic materials to extend letter-writing vocabulary
13. Managing activities in the classroom ; One-to-one v. group training ; Dealing with individuals ; Course design and the individual learner ; Some examples of learners' work ; Role play and simulation ; Setting up the activity ; What can go wrong? ; Strategies for reducing the risks ; Giving feedback ; Course design: putting it all together ; An intensive general Business English course plan ; An extensive general Business English course plan ; Specific Business English course plans
14. Current trends in Business English ; Language training v. skills training ; The influence of management training ; Methodologies ; Cross-cultural awareness ; Growing professionalism
Glossary
Bibliography
Appendix ;
Suggestions for further reading
Suggestions for further viewing
Business English examinations
Performance scales ; Professional associations
Business skills training materials: sources
Index