Teach English in Guandao Zhen - Weinan Shi

75. Business English: What are three good reasons you should consider teaching Business English? When I started looking at teaching English as a foreign language, I first pictured myself in the classroom teaching university students. This was mainly because I’ve pretty much always taught university students—except for the programs I’ve done teaching seniors 55 and older. I assumed I would be teaching general English. However, since I had the opportunity to take ITTT’s course for teaching Business English, I’ve become more interested in going that route. While thinking about why I would recommend someone go into this field, I’ve come up with three good reasons. The first good reason to do this has to do with finding a job. So many people around the world are learning English! It’s a very, important language for business on a global scale. So, I believe that will help guarantee me a job. Finding a job has been a top priority for me, as I’m sure it is for many other people. Those people who are also trying to decide what route to take. It helps that there’s a big demand for this type of instruction, and it keeps me from thinking that I wasted my time with my studies. Think of all the college students who graduate and then can’t find a job. It’s especially devastating when you leave school with a large amount of student debt. And you find that the job market in your field is full of competition, that the jobs aren’t there. There’s an enormous demand for English as a Second/Foreign Language teachers right now. This is true not only in the business world, but also outside of the business world, as people move to English-speaking countries for a better life. The second good reason to teach Business English might also be a bit more on the selfish side—you don’t really need to know anything about business to do it. This is one thing I hadn’t thought of that this course tells you outright. You’re there to teach English, not business. I feel lucky that I have studied some business, but if you haven’t, you don’t have to worry. The teacher’s main task is to teach English, and the rest will come with time. It’s easy enough to do the research into what your students need—especially with the internet—and they will most likely tell you, as well. And like they also teach in the course, it’s a better idea to play a bit like you don’t know anything, so you can get your students to use English to explain it to you. It’s another way to increase STT (student talk time)! And lastly, the third good reason to teach Business English is one I consider to be less selfish. You’re not only helping people to learn to communicate to do their jobs, you’re helping them with their mental health and general well-being, too. From a basic communication standpoint, look at what learning English can do for someone in the job world/business world. Communication is so important at all levels, for all people involved. Someone needs to get out there to make the connections, then to make the deals and bring in the business. Someone needs to negotiate terms. And then someone needs to keep it all working properly. This usually means not just someone but many people, of course. They’re all working together to keep the business running, so it’s important that everyone can communicate. From a mental health and general well-being standpoint, learning a foreign language does so much more for our students than help them communicate in another language. It affects thinking and reasoning and helps make connection in our brains. It both physically and mentally helps the brain. It also exposes them to different cultures, different ways of living, of thinking. This can’t help but make our students more aware of the world around them and how to handle it—especially when working or traveling abroad. This should lead to less stress when trying to do one’s job. Do away with the communication troubles, do away with the misunderstanding of cultural differences, and you reduce the stress on the worker. So, I can’t help but gravitate towards teaching Business English to non-native speakers. I believe it will be fairly easy to find a job in the field, since there’s such a need for it. I know that, although I do have some business experience, I don’t need to know anything about business to teach Business English. And finally, while helping business students to learn how to communicate in English, I’m also helping them with their mental health and general well-being.