mr. niall douglas. i have worked in the following sectors: information systems used by the british...

Week 4: International Business

Mr. Niall Douglas

Highlights of My Background 1/2 I have worked in the following sectors:

Information systems used by the British National Health System (NHS)

Mobile phone hardware and software systems Missile guidance systems Was the Chief Software Architect of the

EuroFighter defence aircraft’s test benches – working with EADS, British Aerospace etc.

Taught at university and post-secondary levels Also run my own consultancy firm which does a

little bit of everything from research to import/exports!

Highlights of My Background 2/2 I hold the following qualifications:

BSc Software Engineering MA Joint Honours in Economics & Management MBS Business Information Systems▪ Won the National Student Entrepreneurship Award

I am currently taking (part-time): MRes Educational & Social Research

I have lived and worked in UK, Spain, Canada. Had to work in Spanish – so I honestly get how

hard doing Business in English is for you guys!

Teaching Method 1/2

Business has always needed initiative, taking measured risks, teamwork and planning

Modern Business needs fluency in quickly absorbing complex English documents

Modern Business needs “thinking on your feet” – proaction, not reaction

The best way of learning English is doing The best way of learning Business is also doing

So we are going to learn English by doing Business.

Questions?

Teaching Method 2/2

By the end of your time here I hope (in order of priority):1. That your self-confidence in doing Business

through English will be much better2. That your Business English vocabulary will

have significantly improved3. That you will have improved your knowledge

of the near-future Business environment in Europe

Questions?

Teaching Structure 1/4

When I will be teaching you: Week 4 (14th-18th Feb): International

Business Week 6 (28th Feb-3rd Mar): International

Law Week 10 (28th-31st Mar): Advertising,

Marketing, Banking, Finance Week 12 (11th-14th Apr): The European

Union

Questions?


Each week has a Group Project related to the topic of the week

This project will be due 11.20am-12.20pm each Thursday

It will take the form of giving a presentation in English to the class

The class will vote on who gave the best presentation each week

The group who wins gets a prize!

Questions?


Each night you will be given a piece of Business writing which presents evidence useful for your Group Project e.g. facts, figures, arguments. It will have a comprehension and vocabulary based

task which is examined the following morning

Your group must use this evidence to build a Business proposition to beat the other groups

Questions?


The rest of the class time we will be analysing Business videos, readings, case studies

But remember: you are the customer, and I am your employee!

If you want something different, or something changed – just ask!

Questions?

Task 1: You and Business

Answer these questions:1. Why did you decide to study Business? (50

words)2. What do you hope to do when you graduate?

(50 words)3. Do you think that English will be important

in your life after you graduate? If so, why and in what ways. If not, why not? (50 words)

Don’t forget to write your name at the top!

Task 2a: Practice Reading

Each person reads one paragraph from the article “France’s lost decade”

Task 2b: French Competitiveness Discuss the article on “France’s lost decade”

1. How much do you think it ought to cost a company to employ a worker?

2. Do you think that France is good at doing Research and Development (R&D)?

3. Do you think that France should copy Germany (industrial specialisation) or copy Britain (services specialisation)? Or should it do something else? If so, what else should France do?

4. Do you think it is true that there is “a culture of entitlement” in France? If so, does it make France uncompetitive?

Group Task: International Business

Random Group allocation:

1. Camille Paris, Rachida Sadoun, Leslie Foissier, Maxime David.

2. Tanguy Trouche, Jeremy Thurel, Anne-Charlotte Maggio, Louis Charpigny

3. Hubert Julien, Sitra Soubramanien, Clemence Fremaux, Romain Blanchet

4. Julie Rousselet, Steven Desplanques, Manon Solviche, Calvin Ecoue, Alexandre Holtzmann

Coffee Break

Enjoy your cigarette!

Task 3: Analysing Business Presentations

Dragon’s Den UK intro

What is this show about?


Watch and listen to the first half of the business proposition

It will be played twice, so don’t worry if you miss it the first time!


1. What is their business proposition?

2. What were their projected financial figures?

3. What value did they say is in their business?

4. Who are their main competitors?

Questions?


Watch and listen to the second half of the business proposition

Again, it will be played twice


1. Describe the competitive situation for their business. What are their advantages and disadvantages?

2. Why do you think that the Dragons thought the investment worth the risk?

3. Do you think that the Dragons tricked the entrepreneurs, or did they “incentivise” them?

Questions?

Task 4: Group Task for this week

Discuss the reading for tonight

Discuss the group task for the week

Task 4: Group Task for this week

Groups should join together and design a work plan

I will move from group to group to see how you are getting on

mr. niall douglas. i have worked in the following sectors: information systems used by the british...

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