Teaching Business English
The world of English teaching is becoming more specialized, and Business English is a popular market requiring TESL/TEFL teachers who have become increasingly high in demand. For many global multinational firms and companies, employers now require that their employees worldwide learn English so they can better use resources which are available only in the global language of business: English!
As with all areas of teaching, students’ expectations are higher and the days are gone when a cursory glance through a copy of a business curriculum book was all it took to prepare for a business English lesson.
Working with business people demands special skills, knowledge, and interests. It is also an area of teaching that can favor the mature teacher. Students are highly motivated since the course has clear advantages for them within their companies or careers in general.
The teacher also needs to be highly flexible. Business English is a ‘catch all’ phrase, but each company will have specific demands and needs for their individual programs.
Course Content:
- Introduction and overview of what English for Specific Purposes is (ESP), who your target students are, and the process of teaching Business English
- Methods and approaches to teaching Business English
- The four language acquisition skills and how they apply to teaching Business English
- Case studies requiring analysis of previously developed material
- Progress evaluation
- Introduction and overview of development of business materials.
- Adapting business materials
- Developing business materials
- Developing business courses
Course Requirements
- Three case studies
- Material development assignment
- Progressive evaluation assignment
- Material evaluation task
- Marketing and strategy assignment
- Material framework assignment
- Marketing and strategy task
- Pilot lesson planning assignment
- Secretary lesson planning assignment
- Airline lesson planning assignment
- Conversation lesson planning assignment
- Final course assignment
One of the major questions teachers ask is “Do I have to be an expert in the area of business in order to teach Business English?”
No, you do not.
You are there to bridge the gap between general English and specific terminology. Of course, if you do have a background in the area where you plan to teach, you will save a lot of time researching materials for course development, and also feel more quickly at ease in the classroom. A business background is an advantage, but not a prerequisite; you can build that expertise if you do not have it to begin with.
