ESP learning circle task (Week 6)

Resources for ESP:

Collated items from Learning Circles at UoNUK:

A1.Free lessons & courses:http://www.english-online.org.uk/specialcourse.htm?name=biz&link=bizcourse.htm Here are some free Business Studies Courses in 3 areas: investing, marketing and the office.

http://www.business-english.com/ Through this website, we can ask for free business English lessons sent by email.

Materials on-line:http://www.businessenglishonline.net/index.htmMacmillan Business English: There are a variety of resources for teaching Business English (some of the materials are free). It also provides courses for Business English.

http://eleaston.com/biz/bizhome.html This website gathers various useful links in different areas of Business English, such as accounting, advertising, bankruptcy. It is also divided into reading, writing, listening, speaking, quizzes and teaching of Business English parts so that learners can get the resources they want easily.

http://beo-businessenglishonline.wikispaces.com/ This is a wide selection of online resources to help learners with their business English. It also contains audio-visual materials, chat room, game room, etc., which create a comfortable study environment and could thus improve learners motivation.

( the two websites actually includes innumerable websites about business English.)

Test:http://www.english-test.net/ Various tests and explanations for elementary level, intermediate level and advantage level are available on this website.

Resources as supplements

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?menuId=242&menuItemId=-1&view=SUMMARY&grid=F2&siteId=1&targetRule=2 This website could be used as a resource of extensive reading.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/portal/popup/ttv/business.jhtml;jsessionid=LLQWOH1TFRDGZQFIQMGSFFOAVCBQWIV0 telegraph TV video (rather visual and close to our daily life) In this way, learners could get in touch with more up-to-date information. Personally speaking, I like this way of learning best because it trains us not only listening, but also reading (on screen). But this is perhaps only for advantage level learners.

S1:

Case study approach to business English teaching (Reference?)

Case study was first adopted by Harvard business school. Its success as a teaching method results in popular use in other disciplines. ESP instructors have used this method in teaching business English for decades.Case study involves problems and decisions that companies face. It connects English language learning and business reality.

Benefits: 1) authentic materials are being used2) develop students communication skills3) improve their interpersonal and teamwork skills4) develop their analytical , problem solving and decision making skills5) give students ample opportunities to develop their reading, speaking, listening, writing skills

Problems: 1) lack of materials available with second language emphasis2) require knowledge of business concepts3) make lesson planning a challenge

D:http://www.world-english.org/business-index.htm

Generally speaking, this website is very helpful and practical, because it has separated business English into several main elements; and the exercises enable learners to reinforce their understanding of business English. For example, the business letter has shown a very clear structure, and particular ways of addressing men and women have been illustrated clearly. On the other hand, the example of CV is also very practical because it not only explains the basic information about CV, but also shows the sample of CV. The last example of writing a cover letter is also very clear like other examples in this website, because it enables learners to follow the clear guidance to write their own cover letter step by step. Therefore, I think this website is very useful and practical for business English learners.

M1:

ELT Journal, 62, 2008; Diana Eastment, Business English (offers many useful sites for teaching business English)ELT Journal, 60, 2006; Bill Reed, Business English CD-ROMSELT Journal, 59, 2005, pp 156-176 (offers a number of business English texbooks, emphasizing MacMillan material)

www.asian-esp-journal.com Vol 1, june 2006; Mansour Arvani A discourse analysis of business letters written by Iranians and native speakers (describes in detail steps how to write and what to include into a letter).

Asian ESP Journal, December 2005, vol 1; Z. N. Patil Oral presentation skills for prospective business executives http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/business (extremely useful, contains lesson plans with listening practice sections, negotiations, presentations, telephoning, meetings etc). Internet TESL Journal, vol XI, no 4, April 2005;

(http://iteslj.org/Techiques/Clifton-Business.html) Jonathan Clifton Using authentic business transcripts in the ESL classroom Internet TESL Journal,vol IX, no 12, December 2003;

(http://iteslj.org/Tecniques/Lau-Businesscommunication.html ) Ken Lau, Teaching business English communication to LEP students Internet TESL Journal, vol IX, no 10, October 2003;

(http://iteslj.org/Tecniques/Adamson-Frameworking ) John Adamson Frameworking in Business English

http://www.eslgold.com/business/textbooks.html (offers good suggestions for textbooks and many useful links)

http://www.englishclub.com/business-english/presentations.htm

http://www.better-english.com/exerciselist.html

http://www.businessenglishpod.com (useful podcasts)

S2:Online material for Business English Studyhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/business/: a good website for career-adults. The content is based on real life events, but in a more traditional way: listening to authentic dialogues and work out what is happening in the dialogue. http://www.englishclub.com/business-english/index.htm : includes sample business letters, presentations, cv and covering letters. Negotiation skills, language use for meetings and business vocabulary are also available for learners. Moreover, learners can easily get to know business news around the world and UK business through browsing this webpage.

http://businessenglishpod.com/ : a very good website which has got various authentic and up-to-date business topics to try your listening out! Transcripts are available.

http://www.cambridgeesol.org/exams/professional-english/bec.html: one of the important issue business English teacher and learners should be aware of is the cross-cultural working environment most business learners are facing or will face. And BEC will help you to use the English in an appropriate way in a multinational business context. BEC examination has getting worldwide popular, we can find a great number of websites relate to this area. This is the official one to look at.

http://www.economist.com/business/: Learners should also be familiar with the general knowledge about business itself, e.g. business events, latest legislations; and so on. The website of Economists is also a good place to get to know the latest business news around the world.

http://www.asian-esp-journal.com/key_word_index.php: it is a useful website from which you can find very interesting articles with regards to teaching business English in Asian countries, history and future prospect of esp development in those countries, business English teachers, course design etc.

A2:Journal articles:Maggie, J. (1996) Business is Booming: Business English in the 1990s. English for Specific Purposes Vol. 15 (1).

The book focuses on how to communicate with people from different countries.Jenkins, S and Hinds, J (1987) Business Letter Writing: English, French, and Japanese. TESOL Quarterly Vol. 21(2).

Online materials:

British Council learn English professional http://www.britishcouncil.org/professionals-business-and-work.htm

BBC Learning English-business English http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/business/

Business English Learning http://www.nonstopenglish.com/allexercises/business_english/

Business English examination:TOEIC: www.toeic.com

C1:Coursebooks & guide books:English for Business Purposes (Reference?)The book is for advanced level. There are a great amount of activities but few listening practice.

English for Business Communication (Reference?)This book is more practical and suitable for managers.

Five Minutes Activities for Business English (Reference?)There are a considerate amount of activities and can be a guide for teachers to adopt.

C2:

Website:

http://www.eslgo.com/classes/business/The website tries to help students to learn business English grammar, vocabulary, and communication.

http://www.teneric.co.uk/free_downloads.htmlThe website shows some business plan template and marketing plan template. Take a look at these business marketing plan template tools and get the ideas of what business planning is about and what you need to do to before your start doing a business plan for your organisation.

M2:Coursebooks & guide books:Business Grammar and Practice (Reference?)The book contains presentations, practice and production. It is suitable for both teachers and students. In addition, the arrangement of the book is from easy to difficult and students can choose what meets their needs.

Business English (Reference?)The book includes background knowledge of business English.

Business English examination:

The Business Language Testing Service (BULATS)The exam integrates listening, reading, writing and speaking skills. The BULATS Tests provides a range of tests to meet different needs. Cambridge Business English Certificate (BEC)