Welcome & Introduction
Welcome to our Business English course!
I'm excited to help you improve your business communication skills.
Before we start, can you please introduce yourself and share your reason for taking this course?
Course Overview
Let’s begin with an overview of the course. Our objectives are to improve your business vocabulary, develop professional communication skills, enhance your public speaking abilities, and understand cross-cultural communication. The course is structured as follows:
Week 1: Introduction & Basics
Week 2: Professional Communication ➼ Emails & Reports
Week 3: Public Speaking & Presentations
Week 4: Negotiation Skills
Week 5: Cross-Cultural Communication
Week 6: Review & Final Presentations
We will assess your progress through weekly assignments, class participation, and a final project or presentation.
Importance of Business English
Why is Business English so important?
It is essential for effective communication in the global business environment.
You will use Business English in:
◦ emails,
◦ meetings,
◦ presentations,
◦ negotiations,
◦ and reports.
For example, writing clear and professional emails to international clients or presenting business proposals to stakeholders are crucial skills.
Key Skills in Business English
Throughout this course, we'll focus on several key skills:
• Professional communication, including emails and reports
• Public speaking and presentations
• Negotiation and persuasion
• Cross-cultural communication
Mastering these skills will significantly enhance your ability to communicate effectively in a business setting.
Common Business Terminology
Let's start with some essential business terms. Understanding these will help you in various business contexts.
Agenda: A list of items to be discussed in a meeting.
Minutes: A written record of what was discussed during a meeting.
ROI ➼ Return on Investment: A measure of the profitability of an investment.
KPI ➼ Key Performance Indicator: A measurable value that shows how effectively a company is achieving key business objectives.
Benchmarking: Comparing one's business processes and performance metrics to industry bests and best practices from other companies.
How familiar are you with these terms?
Here are some examples and explanations for each of these terms in the context of a business English lesson:
Agenda:
An agenda outlines the topics and activities planned for a meeting or lesson. For a business English lesson, an agenda might include:
◦ Introduction and icebreaker activity
◦ Vocabulary and grammar focus
◦ Business communication practice
role plays ◦ case studies
◦ Review and feedback session
Example:
Business English Lesson Agenda
1. Welcome and Introduction (10 mins)
2. Vocabulary Building: Key Business Terms (20 mins)
3. Grammar Focus: Presentations and Reports (30 mins)
4. Communication Practice: Negotiation Role Play (40 mins)
5. Review and Feedback (10 mins)
Minutes:
Minutes are a formal written record of what was discussed and decided in a meeting. In a business English lesson, minutes might summarize key points covered, actions agreed upon, and any decisions made.
Example:
Business English Lesson Minutes
Date:
[Date of the Lesson]
Time:
[Start and End Time]
Present:
[List of Attendees]
Summary:
◦ Discussed vocabulary related to [topic].
◦ Practiced email writing for [specific scenario].
◦ Agreed to review [grammar rule] in the next session.
Actions:
◦ Attendees to complete [homework assignment].
◦ Next meeting scheduled for [date].
Approved by:
[Name of Teacher/Coordinator]
ROI ➼ Return on Investment:
In the context of business English lessons, ROI refers to the measurable outcomes or benefits gained from investing time and resources in improving English language skills.
This could include improved communication effectiveness, better understanding of business terminology, or increased confidence in using English in professional settings.
Example:
Increased efficiency in international communication leading to faster decision-making.
Improved client relationships due to clearer and more professional correspondence.
KPI ➼ Key Performance Indicator:
KPIs are metrics used to evaluate the success or effectiveness of a business English program. They could include:
◦ Attendance rates
◦ Test scores or assessments
◦ Feedback ratings from participants
◦ Improvement in specific language skills
Writing ◦ Speaking ◦ Listening ◦ Reading
Example:
Achieve a minimum of 90% attendance rate.
Increase average test scores by 15% over the course duration.
Maintain a participant satisfaction rating of 4.5 out of 5.
Benchmarking:
Benchmarking involves comparing performance metrics against industry standards or best practices to identify areas for improvement. In a business English context, benchmarking might involve comparing:
Performance against other similar language training programs.
Language proficiency levels before and after the course.
Effectiveness of teaching methods used compared to recognized educational benchmarks.
Example:
Benchmarking language proficiency levels of participants pre-course and post-course to assess improvement.
Comparing feedback on teaching methods with industry best practices to enhance program effectiveness.
These examples should help you frame your business English lessons with clear objectives, evaluation criteria, and measurement tools.
Interactive Vocabulary Exercise
Now, let's practice using these terms. I'll share a few sentences, and you fill in the blanks with the correct term.
1. The ___________ for today's meeting includes a discussion on sales targets.
2. The ___________ will be distributed after the meeting to summarize our discussion.
3. Our company achieved a high ___________ from the recent marketing campaign.
4. We need to set clear ___________ to measure our progress.
5. ___________ helps us identify areas for improvement by comparing with industry leaders.
Please fill in the blanks.1. Agenda 2. Minutes 3. ROI ➼ Return on Investment 4. KPIs ➼ Key Performance Indicators 5. Benchmarking
Professional Emails
Writing professional emails is a key business skill.
Here is the structure of a professional email:
Greeting:
Dear [Name],
Body:
Clearly introduce the main point.
Closing:
Best regards, [Your Name]
Dos and Don’ts:
Do: Use a clear subject line, be concise, and proofread your email.
Don’t: Use slang, write in all caps, or forget to attach necessary files.
Do you have any questions about this structure?
Email Writing Exercise
Let's look at an example of a poorly written email.
Example:
Subject: URGENT!!!
Hey,
I need those files now. U forgot to send them.
Thx.
[Your Name]
Task:
Rewrite this email to make it more professional. Take your time, and let me know when you're ready.
Business Meetings
Effective participation in business meetings is crucial.
Here are some common phrases used in meetings:
'Let’s get started.'
'Can we move on to the next point?'
'Any other business?'
Understanding cultural differences is also important.
For example, meetings in Japan may be more formal than in the USA, and decision-making processes can vary significantly.
Role-Play Exercise
Let's practice what we've learned with a role-play.
Imagine we're having a meeting to discuss a project update.
I'll start the meeting, and you can respond as if you were one of the participants.
Scenario:
You start with:
◦ Let's get started.
◦ Today, we need to discuss the progress on the XYZ project.
◦ Can you give me an update on the latest developments?
Student responds with an update.
Continue the role-play for a few minutes, using the phrases discussed.
Review & Q&A
Let's review the key points we covered today.
We learned about
◦ essential business terminology
◦ the structure of professional emails
◦ and common phrases used in meetings.
Do you have any questions or need any clarifications?
Homework Assignment
For your homework, please write a professional email introducing yourself and your business to a potential client.
Make sure to include a clear subject line, proper greeting, concise body, and appropriate closing.
Don't forget to proofread for errors.
This assignment will help you practice the skills we've discussed today.
Do you have any questions about the assignment?
Preview of Next Lesson
In our next class, we'll dive deeper into business communication skills, including report writing.
Please review today’s material and come prepared with any questions.
I look forward to seeing you next time!