Business English Development

Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

May 7- May 31, 2018

Monday-Thursday (6-8pm)
Zion’s Bank Bldg. 1060 N. University Ave.

Teachers: Lizzy Hanks: lizzy21briggs@gmail.com

Rebecca Knowles: becca.knowles11@gmail.com
Tess Richards: tesslorraine13@gmail.com

Course Goals:
1. Students will feel confident in their ability to communicate effectively with various
business colleagues (current co-workers, supervisors, and potential network
contacts) through written and oral communication.
2. Students will develop the skills necessary to confidently and competently develop
and deliver presentations on a range of topics.
3. Students will practice developing ideas relating to business culture and practices in
English, especially in group settings.

Course Objectives:
1. Students will be able to effectively work in groups with members of differing
educational and professional backgrounds to create and give presentations on
business-related topics.
2. Students will recognize and apply principles of effectively developing and
facilitating a group discussion by practicing negotiation with a group and between
groups.
3. Students will be able to give meaningful, concise business presentations and
respond to questions that may or may not be relevant to the topic and hand or their
background knowledge by applying cultural speech acts.
4. Students will be able to independently identify, learn, and incorporate into their
speech new vocabulary words related to business English.

Class Expectations:
1. Be a good team player.
2. Be attentive. Participate during class time--there will be no work required outside of
class, so using class time efficiently is crucial
3. Bring something to write with (a laptop, notebook and pen, etc.).
4. Be confident in contributing to class discussions on any topic. We all have different
experiences, and your voice matters!
5. Please put your phone away during class time if you are not using them to look
something up. Again, every moment of class time is important.
Textbook:
We will be using an open source, online textbook found at mcom320.net. Readings are
optional, yet are highly recommended to help preview, review, and solidify information
learned in class.

Class Grades:
Number grades will not be administered in this course, but each project and assignment
will be given constructive feedback as to how you may best improve. Rubrics will be scored
on a check scale. A single check (✔) means the target task was done satisfactorily by
hitting main objectives, a check plus (✔+) means the target task was accomplished
excellently, and a check minus (✔-) means the target task was done below expectations
and could use some work.

Schedule

Week Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday

1 5/7 5/8 5/9 5/10

Hiring and -Welcome and -Mock -Writing -Speech acts:
Business overview of interviews business disagreeing
Writing syllabus -Writing cover emails and politely
-Speech acts: letters memos -Write team
READ: making small -Polishing charters
mcom320.net ch talk, starting LinkedIn -Business
1-5 and ending profiles Writing
specific Portfolio
conversations
-Pronunciation
practice: filler
words, tag
phrases

2 5/14 5/15 5/16 5/17

Leading and -Effective -Answering -Speech acts: -Answering
participating meetings questions and negotiations questions (Part
in discussions -How to lead a interacting and II)
team professionally interrupting -Present:
READ: -Group work: with an -Avoid solutions for
mcom320.net Case Study #1 audience digressions Case Study #2
ch 9-10 -Present: when leading -Pronunciation
solutions for a team practice:
Case Study #1 -Group work: pausing
-Pronunciation Case Study #2
practice:
 intonation and
stress patterns

3 5/21 5/22 5/23 5/24

Presenting -Preparing an -Beginning a -Ending a -Presentation 2
effective presentation presentation (article)
READ: presentation -Presentation -Group work:
mcom320.net -Group work: visuals Presentation
ch 11-12 Presentation -Group work:
Presentation

4 5/28 5/29 5/30 5/31

Networking -Elevator pitch-Conference -Business -Networking
-Resume calls and talking pragmatics in event with
READ: workshop on the phone American refreshments!
mcom320.net -Speech acts: culture
ch 7-8, 13-14 BRING: resume navigating -Prepare for
(electronic or sticky situations networking BRING:
hard copy) (ending event: list of Business cards
conversations) attendees, (if applicable)
how to and formal
present self dress
BRING: final
business
writing
portfolio

Assignments
Vocabulary Presentations:
You will have the opportunity to focus on a new vocabulary word every week. On Mondays,
we will do individual research to find the word’s definition, part of speech, common usages,
and any other information you find helpful. Throughout each week, you will listen for that
word in day-to-day usage and try to use it yourself.

Each student will present their findings on one of their words in a 1- to 2- minute
presentation. Presentations are informal, as they are mainly meant to help you practice
good principles of presenting.

Try to choose a word that you hear often in your business or everyday dealings, but may
not understand its complete meaning. Some example words are listed below:
 Expand Guidance Clause Commercial
Null and void Competitor Invoice Counter offer
Trademark Consensus Public Relations Agenda
Visual aids After-sales service Strategy Estimate
Equipment Branch Dress code Guarantee
Market research Authorization Penalty Headquarters

Business Writing Portfolio:

At the end of the first week, students will complete a portfolio containing samples of
business writing. Each student will submit three emails, a resume, and a cover letter. The
writing samples will be evaluated in five areas: organization, mechanics, syntax, formatting,
and professionalism. The portfolios will not be given a final grade per se, but will receive
corrections and criticism according to the five areas. Students will be given the opportunity
to peer evaluate each other’s work in class. Specific requirements for each of the writing
samples are outlined below:

• Resume: Students are encouraged to edit and refine their existing resume rather
than create a new resume from scratch.
• Cover letter: Students will find a job posting that they would potentially be
interested in applying for or that is applicable to their experience and qualifications.
• Emails: 1) Interview follow-up
2) Requesting information
3) Catching a co-worker up on a missed meeting and their assignments

For the portfolio submission, students are encouraged to edit and improve their existing
resume rather than create a new resume from scratch. The cover letter will be written for a
job posting that students would potentially be interested in applying for.

Presentations:
Students will work in teams throughout the program to give three presentations.

The first two presentations will be team-led discussions on a certain topic. Teams will
receive a case study for which they must find a workable solution. They will then present
their solution to the class, responding to questions effectively and fairly using the
principles of response we discuss in class.

The third presentation will be a formal presentation of a business article. Teams must work
together to summarize the main points of a business article in a 20-minute presentation.
Use visual aids and follow good principles of presentation that we discuss in class.
Networking Event:
The culmination of this course will be an opportunity to demonstrate your business and
English skills in a networking event, to be held where we have class on the last day of class,
Thursday, May 31.

For this event, we will be inviting business professionals from the Provo area to network
with you: representatives from the Marriott chain of hotels, Novell, Nu Skin, Doterra, and
Provo City. You will have a chance to mingle with them, make new acquaintances, and
learn about potential employment opportunities.

For this networking event, please dress professionally. Bring a revised copy of your resume
and business cards if you have them.

Special thanks to the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for sponsoring this English
development course. We hope to continue to have a long and happy partnership with this
outstanding group of citizens.