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.