English for Business Communication

Course title: English for Business Communication
Full marks: 100

Course No: Eng. Ed. 334 (Elective) Pass marks: 35

Nature of the course: Theory Periods per week: 6

Level: B.Ed. Total periods: 150

Year: Third Time per period: 55 minutes

1. Course Description

This course aims at developing students’ business communication skills. The course consists of ten units. The first unit deals with the language of socialization whereas the second and third units enable learners to communicate through electronic and other means. Units four, five, six and seven deal with the language used in the meeting, negotiation, job and career and marketing. Likewise, unit eight aims at developing students’ presentation skills and unit nine deals with the language used while addressing a problem. Finally, the last unit deals with writing a business report.

2. General Objectives

The general objectives of the course are as follows:

• To socialize the students in the business setting.
• To enable the students to handle telephonic conversations on matters related with accommodation, travel, visit, reservation and other business transactions.
• To help the students correspond to various people and national and international companies and organizations through letters, applications, short messages (telegram, telex, memos, etc.), invitations and through reports on various businesses related matters.
• To help the students conduct meetings and keep the minutes.
• To familiarize the students with the language of negotiation.
• To enable the students to communicate with people effectively on various matters related with jobs and careers.
• To familiarize the students with the language of initiating and organizing business marketing like buying and selling.
• To equip the students with presentation skills.
• To help the students deal with problems and complaints in business.
• To enrich the students with report writing skills.

3. Specific Objectives and Contents

Specific Objectives	Contents
Use appropriate language in business socialisation. Show appropriate behaviour with people from different cultures.	Unit I: Socialising                                                                  (7) 1.1 Language of the first day at work 1.2 Getting to know 1.3 Meeting face to face 1.4 Building a relationship 1.5 Culture and entertainment
Use telephone language Respond to telephone calls and handle the messages. Write replies, make inquiries, fix appointments, and express apologies. Give directions and express refusals.	Unit II: Handling Telephones                                               (7) Handling phones Receiving/ giving information Messages Replies and inquiries Following up inquiries Appointments Directions Apologies   Refusals
Prepare letter templates. Write various types of business letters. Prepare memos. Place an order and respond to it. Compose emails.	Unit III: Business Correspondence                                      (22) 3.1 Templates 3.1.1 Types 3.1.2 Parts 3.1.3 Placement Types of letter Formal/ informal letters Official/ business letters Letter of apologies/ refusals Letter of invitations (Formal & Informal) Reminder letter A letter of thanks A circular letter Letter of complaint 3.3 Memos 3.4    Placing an order/responding to an order 3.5    E-communication
Explain various types of meetings. Organise meeting successfully. Prepare minutes of meeting. Manage meeting effectively. Conduct and end the meeting.	Unit IV:  Meetings                                                                (15) Different types of meeting Sending invitations to a meeting Making meeting effective Chairing a meeting Structure of decision making Keeping/writing minutes Stating and asking for opinion Interrupting and handing interruption  Ending the meeting
Explain various types of negotiations and negotiators. Use appropriate language in negotiations. Deal with conflict. Use appropriate language to end negotiation, and sell and buy products.	Unit V:  Negotiations                                                          (15) 5.1 Types of negotiations and negotiators 5.2 Preparation for a negotiation 5.3 Bargaining and making concessions 5.4 Accepting and confirming 5.5 Dealing with conflict 5.6 Ending the negotiation 5.7 Selling and buying products
Make an enquiry for jobs.   Prepare a resume. Write job applications. Face job interviews successfully. Write letters of job acceptance, transfer, promotion and resignation.	Unit VI: Jobs and Careers                                                 (15) 6. 1 Job opportunities Writing resume Applying for a job Participating in interviews Writing letters to successful/ unsuccessful  candidates Writing an acceptation and regret letter Resignation letter Transfer letter Promotion letter
Use appropriate language for marketing and promoting products including market research and electronic marketing.	Unit VII: Marketing                                                             (15) Marketing a product Promotion and advertisements Market research E-marketing
Plan presentations Carry out effective presentations.	Unit VIII: Making Presentations                                       (23) 8.1 Planning presentations 8.2 Using visuals and equipment 8.3 Presentation etiquette and holding the audience      8.4 Ending presentation
Write complaints. Deal with complaints. Handle sales and delivery problems.	Unit IX: Dealing with Problems and Complaints             (8) Complaining and apologizing Delivery and after sales problems Handling complaints
Write various business reports. Make notes and write summaries.	Unit X: Reports                                                                   (23)                      Types of reports Basic skills and techniques for writing reports Making notes and summaries

Note: The figures in the parentheses indicate the approximate periods for the respective units.

4. Instructional Techniques

The instructional techniques for this course are divided into two groups. The first group consists of general instructional techniques applicable to most of the units. The second group consists of specific instructional techniques applicable to specific units.

4.1. General Instructional Techniques

• Lecture and discussion
• Demonstration

4.2. Specific Instructional Techniques

• Units I-IV: Role Play
• Unit VIII: Presentation
• Unit X: Report writing

5. Evaluation

Units Marks

Unit I: Socialising

Unit II: Handling telephones                         30

Unit III: Business correspondence

Unit IV: Meetings

Unit V: Negotiations                                      30

Unit VI: Jobs and careers

Unit VII: Marketing      20

Unit VIII: Making Presentations                        

Unit IX: Dealing with problems and complaints

Unit X: Reports                                                                    20

There will be a written examination of 100 marks which will be conducted by the Office of the Controller of Examinations. The types and number of test items to be asked in the annual examination are as follows:

Types of questions	Total questions to be asked	Number of questions to be answered and marks allocated	Total marks
Group A: Multiple choice items	20 questions	20 x 1 mark	20
Group B: Short answer questions	8 with 3 ‘or’ questions	8 x 7 marks	56
Group C: Long answer questions	2 with 1 ‘or’ question	2 x 12 marks	24

6. Recommended Books and References

Recommended Books

Sweeney, S. (2008). English for business communication. Cambridge: CUP. (For units I, II, IV, V, VI, and VIII)

Jones L. & Alexander, R. (2003). New international business English: A course in communication skills (students’ book). Cambridge: CUP. (For units I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, IX, X)

Samson, T. (2009). Business English. New Delhi: The McGraw-Hill. (For units I, II, IV, V, VI, VIII, and IX )

References

Brieger, N. & Comfort, J. (1989). Early business contacts. London: Prentice Hall.

Carrier, M. & Sheyd, M. (1992). Business connections. Surrey: Nelson.

Comfort, J. et al. (1983). Business reports in English. Cambridge: CUP.  

Naterop, B.J. &  Revell, R. (1997). Telephoning in English. Cambridge: CUP

Horner, D. & Strutt, P. (1997). Words at work. Cambridge: CUP.

Norman, S. (1983). We’re in business. London: Longman.