Business English Training / Dragados

(Intermediate to Advanced-Intermediate)

! Afternoon Classes: Tue 17:00-19:00 / Fri 16:00-18:00 (4hr x wk) - will follow the programme below

! Saturday Classes: Sat 9-12 (3hr x wk) - will include supplementary material on idiomatic expressions,
grammar and stylistics, as well as role-play and language practice.

Instructor: Rita Gagliano Email: r_gagliano@earthlink.net

Course Description:
Study methods of communication for business situations, emphasis on writing for business, effective
presentations, and other communicative strategies for business.

Objectives:
• Increase student’s working vocabulary of business terms
• Increase student’s knowledge of business communication concepts
• Use appropriate language to complete numerous activities related to various aspects of business such as:
- Telephone Conversations
- Presentations
- Meetings
- Writing emails
- Writing letters

Teaching and learning methods:

The assigned texts will function as a basic course syllabus. Students will complete the listening, speaking,
reading and writing exercises in class demonstrating their mastery of target terms and vocabulary related to
various aspects of business
communication.

Assignments: In-class activities and outside reading. All homework to be assigned.

Evaluation:
Short quizzes will be assigned after completion of unit topics when needed; larger tests will follow completion of
3 unit topics.

Grading Scale:
A 80-100% B+ 75-79% B 70-74% C+ 65-69% C 60-64% D+ 55-59% D 50-54% F 0-49%

1
 Unit Topic Vocabulary Area Function
Structure/Pronunciation

Company Job titles Describing your job

Structure Departments Describing people
Describing your company
Present Simple & continuous
Word combinations with “work”
Correct use of prepositions

Meetings Vocabulary for organizing meetings (minutes, Stating aims

secretary, chair, etc.) Agreeing / Disagreeing
Phrases for meetings Giving opinions
Conditionals Interrupting / Dealing with interruptions
Modals Asking for clarification, etc.

Telephoning Phrases for telephoning Requests

Politeness Offers
Opening and making a call Complaining
Transferring information Dealing with complaints
Communication difficulties Making arrangements
Making appointments

Modals (Could I, Would you like to, etc.)

Pron: Spelling names, addresses, etc.

Writing Emails Types of email (urgent, non-urgent, internal, Opening and closing
external ...) problem solving
missing words / abbreviations correct register
information, action, help, complaints, e-mail/voicemail 'genre switch'
apologies arranging a meeting
invitations and directions
verb forms negotiating a project
comparisons
sentence structure
common mistakes
punctuation and spelling

Management Question forms Talking about Total Quality Management

Imperatives Talking about different management
Levels of formality in requests/orders structures, philosophies
Role play - getting people to do things more
or less politely

Presentations Language of presentations, slides, etc.: giving a presentation

signalling language: dealing with questions handling questions
What makes a good presentation asking questions
Structure of a presentation Starting and signaling

2
 Highlighting and emphasizing
question forms closing

Negotiations Request, Offers Typical functions of negotiation: Requests,

Typical phrases; starting, making offers, Offers, Refusal, Acceptance etc.
refusing, accepting, asking for
clarification, bargaining

Conditionals

Corporate Comparatives Describing the culture of a business/a national

Culture/Cross- How to describe personality traits culture/regional culture
cultural Polite language Talking about experiences of culture
relations clash/misunderstanding
Talking about your ideal company culture
Practising polite language - greetings etc.

Describing Past tenses, Present Perfect Talking about the history of your
Company Key words - (was) launched, was established company/another company
History

Business Language of formal and informal letters
Writing Language for CVs (experience, qualifications,
etc.)
Language for reports (if requested)
report structure and key phrases
Describing working conditions-perks, benefits,
holidays, salary, income, K, promotions, etc.
describing character - hard-working, a team
player, a self-starter, etc.
Writing letters, emails and faxes
Writing CVs, letters of application
Writing letters of complaint, enquiry, etc
Writing short reports
Being interviewed and interviewing
Discussing advantages and disadvantages of
candidates

verb forms
linking words and relative clauses
comparisons
sentence structure
common mistakes
punctuation and spelling

Financial Talking about cash flow Requests

English Profit and loss accountants Offers
Terminology of finance Complaining
Dealing with complaints
Making arrangements

Marketing & Brands, awareness campaign, etc. Talking about adverts they know - what is
Advertising effective
Discussing marketing strategies - e.g. for
famous brands

3
4