Anyone who’s ever taught a business English class knows that their students are busy people. Sometimes they get sidetracked by their other tasks - even during class. This means we have to make the most of the time we have with our learners and focus on what they really need.
How you do this depends on the sector your students work in (or plan to work in), their previous experiences studying English and their own strengths and weaknesses.
Teachers often focus on teaching hard skills, such as writing reports or running meetings. We do this because it can be challenging for many business students to do these things in English and also because hard skills have an immediate and positive impact on their workdays.
But, if there’s one thing that all business people can benefit from, it’s soft skills.
Soft skills are interpersonal or people skills. They include things like active listening, teamwork, decision-making and influencing skills. Mastering these skills will help students progress more rapidly and become more independent learners. However, isolating the specific vocabulary or grammar structures that these skills use is complex and they often get overlooked in language learning classes as a result.
Play
1. Listening actively
People mistakenly think that communication is just about speaking. However, one of the best ways to be a good communicator is to listen to the person you are talking to. Learners can show interest in what someone is saying by asking clarifying questions and rephrasing what they've said to ensure they've fully understood.
2. Influencing others
In order to manage employees and clients effectively your students will need to be able to influence others. This can be done by building rapport, explaining why they are doing something, asking the right questions and selling themselves in a certain way.
3. Negotiating successfully
The key to closing sales, obtaining a favorable price for a product or service, or maintaining a cohesive team lies in the art of negotiation. Successful negotiators determine their objectives before starting, prepare fully to support their positions and always leave their emotions at home (or in the office).
4. Dealing with different communication styles
In the world of business, students will come across people who communicate differently. The three basic communication styles are aggressive, passive and assertive. They’ll need to know how to deal with these different styles if they want to succeed.
5. Speaking clearly and concisely
Students need to learn to express themselves clearly and convey their message in as few words as possible. It’s easy to ramble when you are nervous, so encourage them to think about what they want to say and, if necessary, make some brief notes beforehand.
How they apply these skills will depend on the issue at stake, the situation and who they're talking to, so they will need to adjust their behaviour accordingly. The more time you spend on this in class, the easier it will become.
If you need any guidance there are courses like Business Partner, which is a business English course that teaches real-world language and business skills which helps to teach the above skills mentioned. The course raises students’ awareness of different communication styles to help avoid misunderstandings and so they can be more perceptive and adapt their own styles according to the audience.
As the leaves turn golden and the air becomes crisp, it's not only the ghosts and ghouls that come out to play. Halloween may happen only once a year, but learning about spooky idioms and phrases can add an exciting twist to your language journey throughout the year. So, grab your torch and let's delve in.
The English language is a fascinating mix of regional dialects and unique slang, shaped by centuries of history and cultural influences. Throughout its long history, the UK has had many invasions and visitors. From the Romans in ancient Londinium to the rolling hills of the Saxon heartland, and from the Viking raiders of the north to the Norman conquerors of the south, each wave of historical influence has shaped the dialects of the UK. Each region of the United Kingdom has its own distinct flavor of language and accent. Today, we embark on a slang tour to explore some of the expressions from different regions.
Are you a fan of science fiction and fantasy books? These genres are not only very entertaining but can also help you improve your English skills. You can enhance your language proficiency by reading books with captivating storytelling, unique vocabulary and imaginative concepts.
Following on from 9 great novels to help improve your English, we've gathered a list of great sci-fi and fantasy books that will transport you to amazing worlds and improve your language skills.
