About this course: This course aims to improve your Business English language skills by developing your vocabulary and reading skills and your understanding of tone, style and knowledge of communication methods. We'll also cover how these language skills can enhance audience analysis, business case analysis and basic business communication strategies. Skills learned in this course will often be referred to and needed to complete the speaking, writing and cross-cultural communications courses of this Specialization. After completing this course, you will be able to: - describe things and events in the context of Business English - make requests in the context of Business English - support arguments in the context of Business English - use appropriate tone and style according to the context of Business English - conduct an audience analysis - match audience with the purpose and medium of communication - analyse and summarise business data
Created by: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Taught by: Kin Tang, Instructor
Center for Language Education
Taught by: Delian Gaskell, Instructor
Center for Language Education
Taught by: Sean McMinn, Senior Insructor
Center for Language Education
| Basic Info | Course 1 of 5 in the Business English for Non-Native Speakers Specialization |
| Commitment | 6 weeks, 3 - 5 hours per week |
| Language | English |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Welcome module
Welcome to Week 1! This week, we will cover Module 1 where we introduce you to the objectives and structure of this Specialization and course.
3 videos, 4 readings
- Video: Welcome to our course
- Reading: Objectives and outcomes
- Video: Introduction to our Specialization
- Video: How this course is organized
- Discussion Prompt: How is this course relevant to you?
- Reading: Learning how to learn
- Reading: Learning vocabulary
- Discussion Prompt: How do you learn English?
- Reading: The HKUST English Grammar Guide
- Discussion Prompt: Introduce yourself
WEEK 2
Communication basics
Welcome to Week 2! This week we will cover Module 2 where we introduce you to basic communication and language skills you will use in general business situations. You will also be introduced to vocabulary and language skills common to business communications.
7 videos, 7 readings, 2 practice quizzes
- Reading: Objectives and outcomes
- Video: What is communication?
- Video: Communication channels
- Video: Verbal & non-verbal communication
- Reading: The Mehrabian Myth
- Discussion Prompt: Choosing the right communication method
- Reading: Objectives and outcomes
- Reading: Vocabulary list
- Practice Quiz: Vocabulary quiz
- Video: Describing things and events
- Reading: Peer review practice: sample text
- Practice Quiz: Peer review practice
- Peer Review: Describe this scene
- Video: Giving explanations
- Video: Role play: explanations
- Video: Challenging grammar: modals
- Reading: More on modals
- Reading: What if? Using modals in conditional statements
Graded: Module 2
WEEK 3
Genres and styles
Welcome to Week 3! This week we will cover Module 3 where we will introduce you to common styles of English you will use for different spoken and written situations in general business situations. You will also be introduced to vocabulary and language skills common to business communications.
7 videos, 6 readings, 2 practice quizzes
- Reading: Objectives and outcomes
- Video: Communication barriers
- Video: Understanding genres
- Video: Introduction to tone and style
- Video: Formal and informal communication
- Reading: Directness of communication
- Discussion Prompt: The practice of directness
- Reading: Objectives and outcomes
- Reading: Vocabulary list
- Practice Quiz: Vocabulary practice
- Video: Comparing and contrasting
- Video: Role play: comparing and contrasting
- Peer Review: Compare and contrast your job/school
- Video: Challenging grammar: concern
- Reading: Are you concerned?
- Reading: Peer review practice: sample text
- Practice Quiz: Peer review practice
Graded: Correct the grammar and rewrite
Graded: Module 3
WEEK 4
Audience and purpose
Welcome to Week 4! This week we will cover Module 4 where we will introduce you to ways of identifying the purpose and audience for spoken and written documents in general business situations and how this can affect language use. You will also be introduced to vocabulary and language skills common to business communications.
7 videos, 5 readings, 2 practice quizzes
- Reading: Objectives and outcomes
- Video: Spoken vs. written communication
- Video: Conducting an audience analysis
- Video: Defining purpose for spoken and written communication
- Video: Matching purpose, audience, medium, tone & style
- Reading: Peer review practice: sample pitch and text
- Practice Quiz: Peer-review practice
- Discussion Prompt: The audience always comes first
- Reading: Objectives and outcomes
- Reading: Vocabulary list
- Practice Quiz: Vocabulary practice
- Video: Making polite requests
- Video: Role play: making requests
- Video: Challenging grammar: relative clauses
- Reading: More on relative clauses
Graded: Using appropriate tone and style
Graded: Module 4
WEEK 5
Analyzing business cases
Welcome to Week 5! This week we will cover Module 5 where we will introduce you to ways of analyzing business cases and strategies for critical reading. You will also be introduced to vocabulary and language skills common to business communications.
5 videos, 8 readings, 2 practice quizzes
- Reading: Objectives and outcomes
- Video: Analyzing case studies
- Video: Strategies for critical reading
- Reading: Strategies for critical reading
- Reading: Business case: Renewable energy and the hotel industry
- Discussion Prompt: Building a sustainable future for Just So Resort
- Reading: Objectives and outcomes
- Reading: Vocabulary
- Practice Quiz: Vocabulary practice
- Video: Supporting arguments
- Video: Role play: supporting arguments
- Video: Challenging grammar: quantifiers
- Reading: A few or a little?
- Reading: More on quantifiers
- Reading: Peer-review practice: sample text
- Practice Quiz: Peer-review practice
Graded: Sustainable Resort Proposal
Graded: Module 5
WEEK 6
Concluding module
Welcome to Week 6! This week we will cover Module 6 where we will conclude the course and you will need to complete the final exam and post-course survey.
1 reading
- Reading: Post course survey
Graded: Final exam
FAQs
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Pricing
| Audit | Purchase Course | |
|---|---|---|
| Access to course materials | Available | Available |
| Access to graded materials | Not available | Available |
| Receive a final grade | Not available | Available |
| Earn a shareable Course Certificate | Not available | Available |
Ratings and Reviews
Excellent, I really improved myself
Great course
Thank you
Thank you very much. It was very useful course and lecturers provided very insightful information. I look forward to participate at your next course. All the best.
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