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Since Business English is a specific course, any skills need to be taught in a certain context. Activities should be directly linked to what the student will actually use the language for. The student’s time is very valuable, not only because they are usually paying for the course themselves, but BE courses tend to be shorter in length. This is why it is important to conduct a needs analysis at the beginning of a course to find out exactly what the students will be using English for. This will help you as a teach to only focus activities on certain activities and real-life scenarios. The two receptive skills are listening and reading. Listening is a very important aspect of business, especially for those whose first language is not English. Fine details and important information can be communicated quickly through listening. Listening can be used in meetings or on the telephone. It can be implemented during conversation, listening to recordings, or verbal instructions. Classroom activities should mimic listening scenarios, like mock phone calls or the game telephone. Reading is a key foundation of any language knowledge. There are different types of reading, such as skimming (overall idea of text), or scanning (looking for specific information). Reading can be used in the context of annual reports, mail, faxes, memos, or business publications. Authentic materials provide the best resource for students to practice reading business terms. Non-authentic materials can also be used to understand vocabulary and grammar. Activities should be based on the level of comprehension desired for the students. The two productive skills are speaking and writing. Speaking will be used the most out of any language. It can be used in telephoning, presenting, messaging, meetings, and everyday conversations. When creating speaking activities, students may not be able to directly create dialogues in English. It is important to give students time to think about their dialogue in their first language and then convert it to English. Visual aids and props are always helpful, and correct pronunciation is key. Writing is used in many of the same scenarios, such as mail, meetings, presentations, notes, and reports. The focus should be on the format when dealing with mail, making it effective and efficient. A flowchart can be a helpful activity for writing. In today’s technology age, it can be helpful to do both handwriting and computer typing so as they have exposure to both common writing techniques. All four of these skills are very important in a Business English class. Adapting the activities to teach these skills in the classroom is important for student success. Lacking one of these English skills may result in the student not getting a job or passing a test. Not one skill is more important than the other, yet all work together to form the basis of using the English language. Reading, writing, speaking, and listening are keys to success in any job, and the main reason the students are taking a Business English class in the first place.
