I. HIGH SCHOOL / YOUNG ADULTS
TOPICS. A SUGESTED CURRICULUM
Self introductions and small talk
Classroom instructions and body language gestures
Introduce family/ friends and talking about people
Hobbies/Interests/Likes ( sports, movies etc.)
Daily habits ( adverbs of frequency)
Talk about hometown and giving directions
Project to compare Japan with other countries
Weather (present and future tenses, plus conditionals)
Holiday plans ( future tense)
Talk about vacations or weekend ( past tense)
Cultural topics e.g. Halloween, Xmas, Japanese
festivals
Homestay survival topics e.g. at bank, hotel,
station, cafe
Methodology
Warm up/news
Close practise exercise
Questionnaire/ group activity
Pair activity
Production activity/game
Homework?
II. BUSSINESS CURRICULUM
Notes:
If you have been requested to teach a business English
course to a class whose level is not ideal, then I
suggest you select only the most accessible business
contexts but relate them clearly to daily English
topics which the students can recognise (e.g. scheduling
appointments and invitations). This way you will have
a greater chance of success. Good luck! Following
guidelines are based on the text, `Business Venture`
by O.U.P.
Syllabus:
First meetings and smalltalk. Understanding cultural
differences.
Introducing you and your company. Formal and
informal protocol.
Telephone English, writing faxes and visiting
a client.
Describing business activities, company and personal
history
Scheduling appointments and making plans
Decision making. Offering opinions and preferences
Invitations and directions. Keeping memos. Entertaining
Formal greetings, speech making. Presentations.
Current business news, topics, discussion. Business
game project?
Option to take preparatory TOIEC mini test course
(ask school!).
Tips for teaching Business English:
Write your objectives on the board at start of lesson
and keep referring and reminding them of each unit`s
goals. Bring dry topics alive by pointing out situations
where they could use these topics in real life. Set
homework if they still haven`t got it!
Since the vocabulary will sometimes be tricky, please
research before class. Make sure they keep notes and
recycle the vocabulary.
Ideas to arouse interest for a project?: Bring international
magazines e.g. Business Week with articles about well
known companies. Ask them to do some research and
set some questions about those firms.
Make sure your text and listening is not way over
their heads or you will all get bored quickly. Try
to keep emphasis on communication!
Since you may be teaching executives, be aware that
seniors may not enjoy being corrected by younger staff.
General rule when correcting though is to see if student
can correct himself; if not, invite other students
to correct mistake and give them a clue. Finally correct
mistake yourself if need be and have students repeat
the answer.
Advanced Business English Skill Units:
Useful Business and legal Vocabulary
International Current Affairs
Design a business set up game/ virtual play the
stockmarket game
Office English Skills
Proper Business Manners
Living and Working Abroad (include. Customs)
Writing business letters, faxes. Email
Understanding contracts and negotiating/debating
skills
