Improve Your Business English.
Suitable for People with English as a Second Language, or if you want to improve your English as a high priority.
This course is more advanced than most introductory ESL courses, and as such is appropriate for both -
- People from English speaking countries, who need to improve their skills, particularly with writing.
- People from non English speaking countries who seek to improve their ability to communicate with colleagues and business associates in the English speaking world; again particularly through writing.
Study Business English and improve your writing skills:
- There are 12 lessons in course.
- The course duration is 100 hours.
- Study is self-paced, so you study how and when you want to.
- You are supported in your studies by our highly expeienced tutors.
COURSE STRUCTURE AND CONTENT
The 12 lessons comprise:
Lesson 1. Parts of speech
- Parts of speech, singular and plural forms, and subject-verb agreement.
Lesson 2. Verbs
- Verb tense, infinitives, participles, phrasal verbs.
Lesson 3. Parts of a sentence
- Subject and predicate, object, clauses and phrases.
Lesson 4. Building and combining sentences
- Structure and meaning, sentence variety, linking words.
Lesson 5. Vocabulary
- Related words, word origins, prefixes, suffixes, word combinations.
Lesson 6. Developing vocabulary
- Context, formal and informal language, connotative and de-notative language.
Lesson 7. Writing for different purposes Part 1
- Writing to obtain and clarify information.
Lesson 8. Writing for different purposes Part 2
- Writing to provide information.
Lesson 9. Writing for business
- Writing letters, short reports, submissions.
Lesson 10. Study skills
- Understanding concepts, essay structure, addressing all parts of a topic, understanding what is required, referencing.
Lesson 11. Proof reading and editing
- Correcting and refining your document, targeting the intended reader
Lesson 12. Special project
- Reading, researching and writing for three different contexts – work, study, business.
COURSE AIMS
- Understand the basic rules of grammar.
- Apply rules of grammar to construct correct sentences.
- Identify word parts – word roots, prefixes and suffixes.
- Use word parts to develop vocabulary.
- Name the parts of speech.
- Understand basic principles of correct sentence construction.
- Understand the nature and purpose of a paragraph.
- Identify different kinds of language - formal/informal, direct/indirect.
- Identify appropriate language for different writing contexts.
- Use correct formats for business writing.
- Use correct formats for writing for study.
- Improve pronunciation.
WHAT YOU WILL DO IN THIS COURSE
Students will learn:
- Basic principles and terms of English grammar.
- What are the parts of speech in English, and the forms in which they can be used.
- How to correctly use parts of speech, including as adverbs and pronouns.
- What are the basic building blocks of English sentences.
- How to construct correct sentences.
- How to vary sentence structure.
- What is a paragraph, and how to construct one.
- Common work roots and how they are used to create different English words.
- The role and meanings of suffixes and prefixes.
- When and how to use direct (denotative) and indirect (connotative) language in business or study.
- How to write correctly for different purposes.
- Correct business writing.
- How to respond appropriately to different study tasks.
- Different writing formats for workplace and study.
- How and why to reference.
- How to edit a piece of writing to improve its organisation and readability.
- How to proof read a piece of writing to eliminate errors.
- What to consider when planning a piece of writing.
HOW IS WRITING USED?
The written word is more important than ever in today's world. Business activity is stronger every year, on the internet; through web sites, blogs and social media. This is where people connect with colleagues and clients; and more in English than any other language.
Limited English skills can mean a limited ability to connect; and that can diminish the potential of your business.
Writing is a learned activity. We learn not only how to write, but how to write in established and accepted formats, depending on what we are writing. A person who wants to write more effectively and efficiently, must learn to use the appropriate forms of writing for different situations, for example: to use correct business forms for business, correct academic forms for study, and appropriate forms for creative writing.
So writing forms change to suit the situation, for instance, you might write business memos or business reports at work, short stories for publication in magazines as a hobby, and essays as part of your academic studies – each time using different ‘conventions’ for each form. And you will use informal and formal styles of writing according to your target reader. Writing that does NOT conform to conventions of form and take into account the right style to suit the situation, may not be taken seriously, and may reflect negatively on the writer’s ability and image.
All writing should be clearly understood by the reader. Whether you are dashing off a quick email to your workmates, preparing a complex business report, or writing an essay or short story, your writing needs to be clear and concise, well structured, and with correct spelling and grammar.
Some forms of writing for different situations are listed below:
Writing for Business
- memos
- business letters
- contracts, agreements and other legal documents
- advertisements and signs
- workplace reports
- emails
- proposals and applications
- policy and procedure manuals
- newsletters
Writing for Study
- essays
- reports
- dissertations or theses
- reviews and critiques
- summaries
- bibliographies
- short answers
Writing for Enjoyment or Self-Expression
- short stories
- novels
- screenplays
- theatre play-scripts
- children’s books
- poems
- personal letters
- diary entries
In addition to the above, we write notes, directions, shopping lists, instructions, and many other kinds of documents in our daily lives, most of which are written in a fairly conventional form.
Some of these forms of writing are practical in nature. The purpose of a shopping list (for instance) is to list items; therefore we wouldn't use sentences in a shopping list because its purpose is to give us clear and instant information - rather than a dialogue or narrative.
WHAT NEXT?
- This course is useful for anyone working in business and organisations or even for personal reasons. Many of us today have to communicate electronically and by post and a good overall business English is essential to present a good impression.
- If you would like to improve your English grammar and spelling, if you would like to improve your business writing skills, then this course is the one for you. It will help you improve your own work and job prospects.
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