Ten Top Tipsfor Business English

for teachers for learners

for teachers for learners

Tip 1: Focus on words already known passively

All reading texts and listening scripts contain :

1.Known words, actively used (dog, company, marketing)2.Known words, not actively used (feature, revenue, ‘meet’ a target)3.Unknown words (smattering, sturdy, reviled)

for teachers for learners

Tip 2: Make a mind map of an authentic text

for teachers for learners

Tip 3: websites for classroom material

http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/

for teachers for learners

www.ted.com/talks

for teachers for learners

www.slideshare.net/explore

for teachers for learners

www.bloomberg.com/businessweek

for teachers for learners

http://www.mckinsey.com/insights

for teachers for learners

Tip 4: a warmer for Social EnglishWrite this on the board:

Student A1.Really? Right/Yuh.2.Echo key words/phrases.3.Ask questions.4.Little words:

No! Wow! Fantastic!That’s amazing!

Student B

… And what about you?

for teachers for learners

Tip 5: Use silence and calm

I think that the biggest difference between how I teach now and how I taught ten or twenty years ago is my use of silence in class.

for teachers for learners

Tip 6: Use ‘Teacher Talking Time’ mindfullyYes, teachers talk too much in class. Students need speaking practice, not us. But, it’s also true that YOU are the best listening material in the class. Take an active, mindful, part in discussions. Students will be listening to your words with high levels of attention and noticing.

for teachers for learners

Tip 7: Record One-to-One studentsRecord 1:1 students whenever they are speaking (you don’t have to use it).

After a useful/interesting bit of speaking, playback the recording to them as soon as they finish. Pause the recording frequently to correct and extend language.

for teachers for learners

Tip 8: Explain the learning processA student sighs and says they are making no progress. Others agree. The mood is the room is suddenly subdued. The students need motivating. What can you do?

for teachers for learners

for teachers for learners

for teachers for learners

Tip 9: a lesson on Intercultural AwarenessHere is my standard lesson on Intercultural Awareness. It is based on the Richard Lewis model of culture. You don’t have to agree with the model to use it in class: the whole point is to provoke discussion. For the record, I do largely accept it.

for teachers for learners

Tip 10: Remember pronunciation!Drilling of word stress to help retention in memory.Drilling of whole functional phrases to help retention in memory.Using sentence stress to bring out meaning.Use pausing for dramatic effect.Combine sentence stress + pausing for maximum impact.

That’s all, folks!Please check out my two websites.

For teachers: tips and techniques

For learners: eLearning