Fatmabakeer's Blog

Learning Business English is important because students are encouraged to improve their abilities to understand and use words and phrases are very common in areas of talking business as well as they are encouraged to develop essential business communication as making telephone calls, the etiquette in business and learning adjectives through various multimedia elements are offered in this courseware as well as an interactive tutorials, lessons and quizzes.

This courseware is dedicated to learning business English as well as to become a more globally-viable businessperson: In the world of business, communication is king. It does not matter how well you can program a computer, do accounting, or design new products: if you cannot communicate with other people, you will not find the success you deserve in the business world. Learning to communicate in a foreign language effectively increases your value as a communicator. And, many people who become proficient in a foreign language end up actually improving their skills as a communicator in their native language, as well. Learning a foreign language makes you a better communicator overall, and it therefore makes you a more attractive employee or partner in the world of business.

Just click on one of them and enjoy your learning. Good Luck!!!

The lesson plan below is to help teachers and provides a guideline in the classroom about using the blog. However, you might want to do your own lesson plan in order to meet the needs of your students..

Lesson plan

Topic: Learning Business English.

Target group: ESL/EFL secondary school students.

Age: 18 years old

Proficiency level: Intermediate

Duration: 2 hours.

Venue: Computer laboratory.

Skills: Listening, reading and writing.

Objectives

To learn about Business English and how to communicate easily in an English speaking atmosphere.
To introduce some useful topics in Business English so that students have the opportunity to understand the real life in Business area.
To enable the non native learners to learn it in easy way.
To enable students to experience interactive learning.

Pre- activities (5 minutes).

Read through the materials offered .

Tutorial: 15 minutes

Read through the tutorials. It will give some information about the topics covered :

Tutorial 1:Telephone calls, telephone messages, telephone appointments.

Tutorial 2: Business etiquette.

Tutorial 3: Adjectives.

Lessons: (1 hour and 30 minutes)

Start with the lessons about telephone calls, telephone messages and telephone appointments. It is better to fellow the sequences of the lessons and exercises.

Lesson 1: Telephone calls, telephone message and telephone appointments.

Ask the students to listen to the audio on telephone calls, telephone massages and telephone appointments.
Teach the students how to talk on the telephone.
Teach them how they use the standard phrases during a phone call.
Ask them for the difficult words and explain the meanings of words to them .
After that, enter the exercise page and ask students to answer the quizzes:

Quiz1: (Choose the correct answer)& Quiz 2(Re-arrange the sentences)& Quiz3 (Fill in the blanks) & Quiz 4(Choose the correct word) & Quiz5 (What is the appropriate answer).After that check their answers.

Lesson 2: Business Etiquette

Ask the students to read the passages about etiquette and explain the difficult words to them .
Ask the students watch the video on Business etiquette.
After that, enter the exercise page and ask students to answer the quizzes:

(JQUIZ)

Lesson 3: Adjectives

Explain the meaning, definition, types of adjectives and ed /ing adjectives …etc.
Ask them to watch the video on adjectives.
Explain the things that you feel students can not understand.
Enter the exercise page and ask the students to answer the six quizzes related to adjectives:

Quiz 1: (JQUIZ)& (JMATCH)

Closure: 15 minutes

Ask the students to click on “AUTHOR” and “ACKNOWLEDEMENTS” in order to know the designer of the courseware and ask them to email their comments or any extra ideas on the content and the design of this courseware.

Home

fatmabakeer — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:34:00 +0000

Learning Business English

Join us you will like it

Telephone Connection, Business Etiquette, Adjectives

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Introduction
Tutorial
Lessons
Video
References
About the author
Acknowledgements

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Improve your communication Useful language for business

Video

fatmabakeer — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:16:01 +0000

Hi, evry body. This is the link to the video of Business Etiquette. Watch and enjoy your time!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8bG2Lb5fv8

This is the link to the video of adjectives. Watch you will get benefit from it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEdK_DSf9o0&feature=channel

Lesson 3

fatmabakeer — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:50:07 +0000

Lesson 3:

Welcome…..before you go over this lesson. It is better to watch this interesting video. Just feel free with us !!!!

Definition & Meaning of an adjective

Adjectives are descriptive words. An adjective is a word which qualifies a noun, that is, shows or points out some distinguishing mark or features of the noun.

Examples

A black bag

An angry man

Around table

List of Descriptive Adjectives

Descriptive adjective can be divided into different categories such as: colors, sizes, sound, taste, touch, shapes, qualities, time, personality and ages. The following lists provides a few examples of descriptive adjectives in each of their categories:

Colors are adjectives

Colors – examples: blue, black, white, red, …etc.

Size – examples: big, small, large, thin, thick.

Shapes – examples: triangular, round, square, circular.

Qualities- examples: good, bad, mediocre.

Personality traits- examples: happy, sad, angry, depressed.

Time related-examples: yearly, monthly, annually.

Age related- examples: new, young, brand-new, second hand.

Sound related- examples: loud, noisy, quiet, silent.

Touch related- examples: slippery, sticky, watery.

Taste related- examples: juicy, sweet.

Types of Adjectives

The positive

The comparative

The superlative

Positive Adjectives

The positive adjective is the simple form of the adjective with out expressing increase or diminution of the original quality: nice. Adjectives expressive of properties or circumstances which cannot be increased have only the positive form; a circular road; the chief end; an extreme measure.

Comparative adjective

The comparative adjective is that form of the adjective which expresses increase or diminution of the quality: nicer. Examples are older than or more expensive than or bigger than or faster than or taller than etc.

Adjectives are compared in two ways, either by adding (er) to the positive to form the comparative and (est) to the positive to form the superlative .However, there are exceptions to this rule (irregular) such as:

Bad becomes worse /worst

Good becomes better/best

Far becomes further/further

Comparative adjectives are also formed by prefixing( more) to the positive for the comparative and(most) to the positive for the superlative such as :expensive; more expensive; most expensive.

Superlative Adjective

The superlative adjective is that form which expresses the greatest increase or diminution of the quality: nicest. An adjective is in the superlative form when it expresses a comparison between one and a number of individuals taken separately;

Example: Malaysia’s airport is the largest airport in the world. An adjective is also in the positive form when it does not express comparison; as in “A rich man”. Adjective of two or more syllables are generally compared by prefixing more and most. Example: Paris is the most romantic city in the world.

Predicate Adjective

A predicate adjective is an adjective that function as a predicate, such as “John is handsome, handsome is being the predicate adjective.

Irregular adjectives and adverbs

There are some adjectives and adverbs that may students are confused with them when they use them in a sentence. These adjectives and adverbs like: expensive, dear, costly, dearly, etc.

Expensive / dear / costly

These adjectives are all synonyms though they are used in slightly different ways and in different collocations. It is also the case that dear as an adjective has two meanings, it means both expensive and well-liked, as well as featuring in expressions such as Oh dear! or in letters as in Dear Sir. The problem with costly may be that it looks like an adverb as it ends in -ly. This is confusing as most adverbs end in -ly, but costly is an exception and is an adjective. Compare the following uses and collocations in these examples:
Oh dear! I’ve forgotten to bring my ID and I shan’t be allowed to take the IELTS test.
It was a costly mistake and it meant I wouldn’t have another chance until the autumn.

It was an expensive suit, but if you want to work for this firm, you have to dress well.
These are very nice. ~ They’re a bit too dear / expensive, I’m afraid. Haven’t you got anything cheaper?
Agatha is a dear friend of mine. She is so kind and gentle in everything she does.

Dealy:

Dealy can only be used as an adverb and normally collocates with the verbs love / like and in this sense means a lot or very much.

He’s such a nice man . I love him dearly.
I would dearly like / love to be in your shoes and to have the whole summer free to travel around Europe.

Common adjectives ending in -ly

There are not very many, but other common adjectives apart from costly ending in -ly include: friendly, lively, lovely, silly, ugly, unlikely:

It was a lively party and there were lots of very friendly people there.
He was really quite ugly and unlikely to succeed in the blind date competition.

Adverbs formed by adding –ly

As you no doubt know, most adverbs are formed by adding -ly to the adjective:

He is a slow and careful driver.
He drives slowly and carefully.
I’m going to give a house a thorough clean.
I’m going to thoroughly clean the house.

But note that we cannot form adverbs in this way when the adjective ends in -ly. We cannot say: friendlily or uglily or sillily. We have to find some other way of modifying the verb, e.g:

They greeted us in a very friendly / silly manner.

Adjective and adverb with the same form

A number of adverbs have the same form as adjectives. The most common include: hard, fast, straight, early:

I know he has a fast car, but he doesn’t need to drive so fast.
It’s hard work, but if you work hard and really concentrate, you’ll finish it by bedtime.
I caught the early bus to be sure of arriving early.
The Aurelian Way is a very straight Roman road which goes straight from Rome to Pisa.

‘ed’ and ‘ing adjectives

There are several adjectives in English that have 2 forms: an -ed form and an –ing form. The -ing form is for things, and the -ed form is used to describe our feelings.
-ed form: amazed, amused, annoyed, astonished, bored, confused, depressed, disappointed, disgusted, embarrassed, excited, exhausted, frightened, insulted, interested, intrigued, satisfied, shocked, surprised, tempted, terrified, tired, worried.
-ing form: amazing, amusing, annoying, astonishing, boring, confusing, depressing, disappointing, disgusting, embarrassing, exciting, exhausting, frightening, insulting, interesting, intriguing, satisfying, shocking, surprising, tempting, terrifying, tiring, worrying.

Adjectives are used to give more information about nouns. They’re used with the verb ‘to be’ or with verbs like look, seem, feel, sound, appear, etc.
-ed adjectives: example sentences
I’m not interested in football.
We were all surprised when they got married.
He was shocked at the news.
The lecture made me feel really bored.
She felt very disappointed with her exam results.
The children looked very tired when they got back from the trip
. -ing adjectives: example sentences
I don’t think football is a very interesting game.
Their marriage was very surprising.
They thought the news was shocking.
I’m not going to that lecture: it sounds really boring.
Her exam results seemed disappointing, but the university accepted her anyway.
The trip looks very tiring. We’d better go to bed early tonight.

Welcome to the activity we learn how to be able to comprehend this passage and we learn some of English business expressions and some adjectives as well.

Lesson 2

fatmabakeer — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 02:06:59 +0000

Lesson 2:

Welcome…..before you go over this lesson. It is better to watch this interesting video. Just feel free with us !!!!

Business Etiquette

1) The Importance of Etiquette

Etiquette has always been an important part of life, be it social or business. However, it seems that business etiquette is has become more important in the last decade. This is mainly due to the fact that the business world is becoming more global and that ?relationship selling? has become must for success. Etiquette is important for a variety of reasons. It helps to ease what might become and uneasy situation and can make or break business relationships that are worth millions of dollars. In essence, etiquette helps people to understand what is appropriate in any situation. It is also important to know the difference between business protocol and business etiquette. Business protocol determines what actions you take in a situation. Etiquette tells you how to take those actions. According to Ann Marie Sabath, there are a few guidelines that professionals should follow. Firstly, be proactive. Find ways to establish relationships with clients before they need to purchase something from you. Secondly, send a thank-you note. If someone is willing to give you 15 minutes of their time than they deserve a written thank-you. And thirdly, be a good sport. Even if you have been turned down by a client, thank them for giving consideration to your company (Bass, 2000).

2) The Basics of Business Etiquette

The way you handle yourself in a business and social environment can reveal a lot about you, and your position within an organization. From meetings with the boss to meetings with clients and customers, knowing the right things to do and say can make a tremendous difference in helping you and your company reach its goals.

How Do Your Business Manners Rate?

Business manners matter. Besides adding to your own confidence by providing a guide to behavior, business etiquette guides and smooths relationships between people, creating the kind of favorable impression that gets the deal or the contract.

How To Practice Business Office Etiquette and Manners

1. Monitor the volume of your conversations. Be sensitive to how loudly you may be speaking. Do you notice that people down the hall comment on your conversations? That might indicate your voice is too loud. Consider closing your office door and lowering your voice whenever speaking in person or on the telephone.
Keep personal telephone conversations-and emails-brief and at a minimum. Be ever mindful that others are nearby and that this is a place of business. Do not use the company telephone, fax, or email, for any inappropriate and personal matters.
Avoid the urge to be “helpful” in areas best left to the other person to handle on their own. In some workplaces, privacy is difficult to find. If you overhear a private conversation, practice selective hearing. Your best bet for being treated as a professional at work is to keep all workplace conversations professional.
Sharing professional information is wonderful, gossiping is not. Only discuss personnel matters directly with specific individuals, superiors, and management.
Avoid foods with strong smells and aromas that will travel throughout the office. When eating at your desk or in shared areas, as great as French fries, Chinese food, and Indian food are, smelling them together in the same room and office can become unpleasant. Dispose of empty food containers and other items where they won’t contribute negatively to the office atmosphere.
Keep your personal workspace clean and neat at all times. Generally, less is better when it comes to office and cubicle decor. Use discretion when displaying personal items such as family photos and mementos so as not to overdo, clutter, and obstruct your work area.
Use shared areas with respect and courtesy. Workplace kitchens can be the biggest source of co-worker tension. If you expect everyone you work with to cleanup after themselves, model that behavior yourself. Wash and return all kitchen items to their proper place, clean spills, and wipe countertops and tables as needed. Help maintain supplies as needed. When leaving food items in a shared refrigerator, mark all items with your name and date. Remove all items at the end of your work week and toss or recycle empty containers.
Restrooms run a close second to kitchens as annoyance spots. After use, wipe the countertop and sink of any spilled water or soap. Be sure the toilet is clean for the next user. Notify the proper attendant if supplies are low or out, and of any plumbing problems.
Maintain all shared items in “like new” condition and return borrowed supplies. Leave the photocopier in working condition and be sure to take back that borrowed stapler with at least a few staples left inside. If a machine stalls or jams, take time to undo the jam or to alert the proper person to attend to it. We all expect and want to be able to use items and equipment when needed.

References

fatmabakeer — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:13:18 +0000

Business Etiquette Information Business_ com.mht.
Business Etiquette Quiz-Test your Business Etiquette-Gradview.mht.
ESL Quiz-Adjectives Ending with-ed and-ing (Douglas Gilbert) I- TESL-J.mht.
Comparative and Superlative forms lesson plan.mht.
Quiz on Adjective.mht.
Business etiquette seminars, manners and protocol training, plan Beach, Florida.mht.
Making telephone calls-Business English articls . mht.
My English Times Grammar challenge ‘ed’ and ‘ing’ adjectives . mht.
BBC learning English Talking business . mht.

10. Business etiquette quiz from BPP Ireland . mht.

11. Quizmoz-Business phone Etiquette Quiz . mht.

12. Business Etiquette Quiz-Rate your Business Manners-Question1 . mht.

13. http://esl.about.com/library/reading/bl_read_communication1.htm

Lesson 1

fatmabakeer — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:24:07 +0000

Lesson 1: In this section I will introduce some useful topics about talking business. We will deal with: Telephone: connecting /Telephone: message /Telephone: appointments.

1)Telephone connection

Introduction

This lesson provides phrases you might hear when you telephone a company hoping to talk to someone. Here we have steps in order to be able to make telephone conversation. First of all: Think, Listen and check your understanding.

Think: Imagine you are calling a company and want to speak to some one who works there. Can you think of any phrases you might use, or that you might hear?

These are most of the common phrases used in the telephone conversation:

How can I help?
Who is calling please?
Can I speak to——-please?
I’ll just put you through?
Please hold.
Could I speak to ——-please?
Just a second.
I’ve got —on the phone for you.
Who shall I say is calling?
Hang on a moment.

Listen:

Now listen to two conversations. In the first conversation Richard Davies is calling the marketing department of a company and wants to be put through to Rosalind Wilson. In the second conversation Mike Andrews wants to talk to Jason Roberts in the marketing department. As you listen, see if you can hear some of the phrases above.

Check understanding

Check your understanding by reading the scripts below:

Michelle:	Hello, you’ve reached the marketing department. How can I help?
Male:	Yes can I speak to Rosalind Wilson, please?
Michelle:	Who’s calling please?
Male:	It’s Richard Davies here
Michelle:	Certainly. Please hold and I’ll put you through.
Male:	Thank you.

Michelle:	Hello, marketing. How can I help?
Male:	Could I speak to Jason Roberts please?
Michelle:	Certainly. Who shall I say is calling?
Male:	My name’s Mike Andrews.
Michelle:	Just a second - I’ll see if he’s in. Hello, Jason, I’ve got Mike Andrews on the phone for you … OK – I’ll put him through. Hang on a moment, I’m just putting you through.

2) Telephone: massage

Introduction

In this section we will learn some phrases you might hear if the person wish to speak to is busy. First of all: Think / listen /check your understanding. These are some useful phrases:

· Can I speak to——please?

· I ‘m afraid he is in a meeting.

· Can I help?

· Can you call back latter?

· Can I take a massage?

· Could you tell him that—–

· Can I take your number please?

· Okay, I’ll make sure he gets the message.

Listen

Now listen to a telephone conversation between the finance department of a company and Jennifer McAndrews. Jennifer wants to talk to Adrian Hopwood but he is not available so she has to leave a massage. As you listen, see if you can hear some of the phrases above.

Check understanding: Check your understanding by reading the script below:

Claire:	Hello, finance department
Female:	Hello, can I speak to Adrian Hopwood, please?
Claire:	I’m afraid he’s in a meeting at the moment. Can I help?
Female:	No I need to talk to Mr Hopwood, I think. What time will he be out of the meeting?
Claire:	In about an hour. Can you call back later?
Female:	Okay, I’ll do that.
Claire:	Or can I take a message?
Female:	Actually, would you mind? Could you tell him that Jennifer McAndrews called and that I’m in the office all day if he could call me back.
Claire:	Can I take your number, please?
Female:	Yes, it’s 5556872.
Claire:	5556872. Okay, I’ll make sure he gets the message.
Female:	Thanks very much for your help, bye!
Claire:	Goodbye

3)Telephone: appointments

Introduction

Making an appointment can be complicated if two people are very busy. How do find a time that is convenient for both of you?

Once again, imagine you are making a telephone call. This time you are arranging an appointment to see someone. What phrases might you use or hear ? These are some of them:

· Can I speak to —— please?

· I’m afraid he is in meeting.

· I’d like to arrange an appointment.

· I’ll just look in the diary.

· When’s convenient for you?

· Would next Wednesday by okay?

· He is free in the afternoon after about three.

· I could make it after four.

· So shall we say 4-15 next Wednesday?

Listen

Now listen to some one making a business appointment over the telephone.

Check your understanding by reading the script below:

Michelle:	Mr Hibberd’s office!
Peter:	Hello, can I speak to Brian Hibberd, please?
Michelle:	I’m afraid he’s in a meeting until lunchtime. Can I take a message?
Peter:	Well, I’d like to arrange an appointment to see him, please. It’s Peter Jefferson here.
Michelle:	Could you hold on for a minute, Mr Jefferson. I’ll just look in the diary. So when’s convenient for you?
Peter:	Some time next week if possible. I gather he’s away the following week.
Michelle:	Yes, that’s right, he’s on holiday for a fortnight.
Peter:	Well, I need to see him before he goes away. So would next Wednesday be okay?
Michelle:	Wednesday . let me see . he’s out of the office all morning. But he’s free in the afternoon, after about three.
Peter:	Three o’clock is difficult. But I could make it after four.
Michelle:	So shall we say 4.15 next Wednesday, in Mr Hibberd’s office?
Peter:	Yes, that sounds fine. Thanks very much.
Michelle:	Okay, then. Bye.

Tutorial 3

fatmabakeer — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:52:16 +0000

3.1 Adjectives

Lesson 3: Hi, This is Tutorial for Adjectives. In this section you are required to know how to form basic sentences using different forms of adjectives.

Remember:
An adjective is the superlative form when it expresses a comparison between one and a number of individuals taken separately; Malaysia’s airport is the tallest airport in the world.
Adjectives express of properties or circumstances which can not be increased have only the positive form; a circular road; the chief end; an extreme measure.
Adjectives are compared in two ways, either by adding er to the positive to form the comparative and est to the positive to form the superlative, or by prefixing more to the positive for the comparative and most to the positive for the superlative; expensive, more expensive, most expensive.
Adjectives of two or more syllables are generally compared by prefixing more and most.
Many adjectives are irregular in comparison, bad, worse, worst/ good, better, best/far, farther, farthest.
‘-ed’ adjectives:

Adjectives that end in -ed are used to describe how people feel:
          ‘He was surprised to find that he had been upgraded to first class.’
          ‘I was confused by the findings of the report.’
          ‘She felt tired after working hard all day.’

‘-ing’ adjectives

Adjectives that end in -ing are used to describe things and situations. Compare these example sentences to the ones above:
‘Being upgraded to first class is surprising.’
The findings of this report are confusing.’
‘Working hard all day is tiring.’

Tutorial 2

fatmabakeer — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:33:59 +0000

3.1 Business Etiquette

Lesson 2: Welcome to Tutorial Part 2 .In this section you learn the Etiquette requirements for Business environment.

Business etiquette covers a wide range of conduct in the office, with customers, on the phone (especially cell phones), in your emails, when traveling on business and at a business meal or event. Business etiquette is the one thing that places the small business owner or employee on a level playing field with a large corporation and its employees. Business etiquette applies to: Work Meeting people The use of telephones, Business etiquette applies to:

Work
Meeting people
The use of telephones, cell phones and email
Dining

Tune in business etiquette basics

Regardless of the country you are in, there are universally accepted rules that apply to implementing proper business etiquette. For instance, when arranging meetings, allow enough time for everyone. Greet people with a handshake and a smile, practice respectable table manners at business meals and events, and promptly return phone calls and e-mails. Be courteous to everyone.

Learn where office politics fit

Understand the unwritten rules of an office. Listening well is a good quality. Be positive and willing to take on challenges and give credit to everyone who contributed to a project.

Ensure proper business etiquette when traveling Remember, etiquette applies to business travel, too. This includes maintaining the appropriate behavior and keeping alert because you represent yourself and your company. Remember, you are an extension of your business.

Be courteous on the cell phone and via email, too

The dos and don’ts for business cell phone etiquette can help you maintain proper business decorum. Since business email is the property of the company, appropriate behavior and etiquette is required.

Social skills are important

To succeed in business today requires an understanding of social skills and the ability to communicate effectively.

Remember

Good manners are invisible, subtle, silent and effortless. It’s knowing what to do, when to do it, and how to do it. Having “etiquette and protocol intelligence” gives you the edge by allowing you to focus on substantive issues.

Etiquette is not for special occasions; it is for everyday use.
Etiquette is not snobbery; it is the art of not being a snob.
Etiquette is not phony; it puts people at ease.
Etiquette is not intimidating; it is user friendly.

Success is being noticed – for the right reason. Be noticed because you have reached the pinnacle of refinement with impeccable manners. Reach your goals with polish, poise and professionalism.