Business English Intermediate Course

Working with Words

Business Communication

Practically Speaking

Language at Work

Case Study / Activity

1 WORKING LIFE

Learning Outcomes: Talk about yourself & your responsibilities, Introduce yourself & others, Express interest in conversations, Talk about routine activities

Describing work:

rewarding, stressful, challenging, etc.

Socializing:

Introductions & saying what you do

How to express interest

Present simple review

Frequency adverbs

Case study:

speed networking

2 PROJECTS

Learning Outcomes: Talk about projects, Update & delegate tasks, Start & end telephone calls, Talk about current activities

Projects:

ahead of schedule, meet the deadline, teamwork, resources, etc.

Meetings:

Updating & delegating tasks

How to start & end phone calls

resent simple & continuous

Case study:

Planning a launch party

3 LEISURE TIME

Learning Outcomes: Talk about your work-life balance, Talk about your likes & dislikes, Exchange contact details, End conversations politely, Talk about past experiences

Work-life balance:

take time off, work flexitime, relaxing, etc.

Exchanging information:

Talking about leisure, Exchanging contact details

How to end a conversation

Past simple & present perfect

Activity:

Corridor conversations

4 SERVICES & SYSTEMS

Learning Outcomes: Talk about services & systems, Explain how something works, Introduce information, Make comparisons

Service:

convenient, user-friendly, it allows me to..., etc.

Presenting:

Explaining how something works, Comparing new with old

How to introduce information

Comparative forms

Case study:

Improving systems

5 CUSTOMERS

Learning Outcomes: Talk about customer service, Get information, Make & change arrangements, Start a conversation on the phone, Talk about the future, Manage customer feedback

Customer service:

expectations, satisfaction, evaluate needs, etc.

Exchanging information:

Getting information, Making & changing arrangements

Starting a conversation on the phone

Present simple & continuous for future use

Case study:

Managing customer feedback

6 GUESTS & VISITORS

Learning Outcomes: Talk about business travel, Welcome visitors, Make & respond to offers, Talk about work rules & regulations

Business travel:

hospitality, venue, check in, etc.

Socializing:

Welcoming visitors

How to make & respond to offers

Obligation, necessity, & prohibition

Case study:

Solving an intercultural problem

7 SECURITY

Learning Outcomes: Talk about security in the workplace, Explain & ask about changes, Introduce & respond to news, Talk about changes & consequences at work

Security at work:

safeguard against, prevent...from, security breach, etc.

Presenting:

Explaining & asking about changes

How to introduce & respond to news

Present perfect simple & continuous

Connectors

Case study:

Improving data security

8 WORKING TOGETHER

Learning Outcomes: Talk about working in teams, Present & discuss plans, Encourage people, Talk about future plans

Teamwork & partnerships:

join forces, complementary skills, etc.

Meetings:

Presenting & discussing plans

How to encourage people

Talking about the future - going to, will, & modal verbs

Case study:

Creating a plan for effective teamwork

9 LOGISTICS

Learning Outcomes: Talk about logistics & supply chains, Place & handle orders, Leave a voicemail message, Report problems or disagreements

Logistics & supply chains:

warehouse, inventory, in / out of stock, etc.

Exchanging information:

Placing & handling orders

How to leave a voicemail message

Reported Speech

Case study:

Solving a logistics problem

10 FACILITIES

Learning Outcomes: Describe your place of work, Make suggestions & recommendations, Link ideas, Talk about work facilities

Describing a place of work:

well-equipped, cramped, etc.

Adverbs + adjectives

Meetings:

Making suggestions & recommendations

How to link ideas

Nouns & qualifiers

Case study:

Organizing a cause marketing event

11 DECISIONS

Learning Outcomes: Talk about decision-making, Participate in a discussion, Be persuasive, Talk about future possibilities

Decision-making:

put forward an idea, avoid confrontation, etc.

Meetings:

Participating in a discussion

How to be persuasive

First & second conditionals

Activity:

The decision game

12 INNOVATION

Learning Outcomes: Talk about innovative ideas, Give a formal presentation, Respond to difficult questions & comments, Talk about extremes

Innovation & new ideas:

come up with, concept, prototype, etc.

Presenting:

Giving a formal presentation

How to respond to difficult questions & comments

Superlative forms

Case study:

Presenting innovative products

13 BREAKDOWN

Learning Outcomes:  Talk about breakdowns & faults, discuss problems & offer advice, check if someone understands, advise & recommend

Breakdowns & faults:

let someone down, incompatible, unreliable, etc.

Exchanging information:

Discussing problems

How to check if someone understands

Advice & recommendation

too enough

Case study:

Managing a breakdown in service

14 PROCESSES

Learning Outcomes: Talk about processes, Make & change future plans, Get someone's attention, Describe processes

Processes:

basic procedure, first of all, having done..., etc.

Socializing:

Planning future contact

How to get someone's attention

Passive forms

Case study:

Introducing new processes

15 PERFORMANCE

Learning Outcomes: Talk about personal qualities, Appraise performance & set objectives, Give feedback, Tell a story, Talk about past events

Personal qualities:

enthusiastic, dependable, creative, etc.

Meetings: Appraising performance & setting objectives

How to give feedback

Past continuous & past perfect

Case study: Giving a successful presentation

16 SUCCESS

Learning Outcomes: Talk about achievements, Report back on & evaluate research, Generalize, Use contrasting language

Fact-finding & achievement:

a signification breakthrough, a real triumph, etc.

Meetings:

Reporting back

How to generalize

Contrasting language

Case study:

Acting on research