Business English: Basics
Description
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- Free plan: No certicification and/or audit only. You will have access to all course materials except graded items.
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About this course: This course aims to improve your Business English language skills by developing your vocabulary and reading skills and your understanding of tone, style and knowledge of communication methods. We'll also cover how these language skills can enhance audience analysis, business case analysis and basic business communication strategies. Skills learned in this course will often be referred to and needed to complete the speaking, writing and cross-cultural communications courses of this Specialization. After completing this course, you will be able to: - describe things and events in the context of Business English - make requests in the context of Business English - suppor…

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When you enroll for courses through Coursera you get to choose for a paid plan or for a free plan .
- Free plan: No certicification and/or audit only. You will have access to all course materials except graded items.
- Paid plan: Commit to earning a Certificate—it's a trusted, shareable way to showcase your new skills.
About this course: This course aims to improve your Business English language skills by developing your vocabulary and reading skills and your understanding of tone, style and knowledge of communication methods. We'll also cover how these language skills can enhance audience analysis, business case analysis and basic business communication strategies. Skills learned in this course will often be referred to and needed to complete the speaking, writing and cross-cultural communications courses of this Specialization. After completing this course, you will be able to: - describe things and events in the context of Business English - make requests in the context of Business English - support arguments in the context of Business English - use appropriate tone and style according to the context of Business English - conduct an audience analysis - match audience with the purpose and medium of communication - analyse and summarise business data
Created by: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology-
Taught by: Kin Tang, Instructor
Center for Language Education -
Taught by: Delian Gaskell, Instructor
Center for Language Education -
Taught by: Sean McMinn, Senior Insructor
Center for Language Education
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The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology HKUST - A dynamic, international research university, in relentless pursuit of excellence, leading the advance of science and technology, and educating the new generation of front-runners for Asia and the world.Syllabus
WEEK 1
Welcome module
Welcome to Week 1! This week, we will cover Module 1 where we introduce you to the objectives and structure of this Specialization and course.
3 videos, 4 readings expand
- Video: Welcome to our course
- Reading: Objectives and outcomes
- Video: Introduction to our Specialization
- Video: How this course is organized
- Discussion Prompt: How is this course relevant to you?
- Reading: Learning how to learn
- Reading: Learning vocabulary
- Discussion Prompt: How do you learn English?
- Reading: The HKUST English Grammar Guide
- Discussion Prompt: Introduce yourself
WEEK 2
Communication basics
Welcome to Week 2! This week we will cover Module 2 where we introduce you to basic communication and language skills you will use in general business situations. You will also be introduced to vocabulary and language skills common to business communications.
7 videos, 7 readings, 2 practice quizzes expand
- Reading: Objectives and outcomes
- Video: What is communication?
- Video: Communication channels
- Video: Verbal & non-verbal communication
- Reading: The Mehrabian Myth
- Discussion Prompt: Choosing the right communication method
- Reading: Objectives and outcomes
- Reading: Vocabulary list
- Practice Quiz: Vocabulary quiz
- Video: Describing things and events
- Reading: Peer review practice: sample text
- Practice Quiz: Peer review practice
- Peer Review: Describe this scene
- Video: Giving explanations
- Video: Role play: explanations
- Video: Challenging grammar: modals
- Reading: on modals
- Reading: What if? Using modals in conditional statements
Graded: Module 2
WEEK 3
Genres and styles
Welcome to Week 3! This week we will cover Module 3 where we will introduce you to common styles of English you will use for different spoken and written situations in general business situations. You will also be introduced to vocabulary and language skills common to business communications.
7 videos, 6 readings, 2 practice quizzes expand
- Reading: Objectives and outcomes
- Video: Communication barriers
- Video: Understanding genres
- Video: Introduction to tone and style
- Video: Formal and informal communication
- Reading: Directness of communication
- Discussion Prompt: The practice of directness
- Reading: Objectives and outcomes
- Reading: Vocabulary list
- Practice Quiz: Vocabulary practice
- Video: Comparing and contrasting
- Video: Role play: comparing and contrasting
- Peer Review: Compare and contrast your job/school
- Video: Challenging grammar: concern
- Reading: Are you concerned?
- Reading: Peer review practice: sample text
- Practice Quiz: Peer review practice
Graded: Correct the grammar and rewrite
Graded: Module 3
WEEK 4
Audience and purpose
Welcome to Week 4! This week we will cover Module 4 where we will introduce you to ways of identifying the purpose and audience for spoken and written documents in general business situations and how this can affect language use. You will also be introduced to vocabulary and language skills common to business communications.
7 videos, 5 readings, 2 practice quizzes expand
- Reading: Objectives and outcomes
- Video: Spoken vs. written communication
- Video: Conducting an audience analysis
- Video: Defining purpose for spoken and written communication
- Video: Matching purpose, audience, medium, tone & style
- Reading: Peer review practice: sample pitch and text
- Practice Quiz: Peer-review practice
- Discussion Prompt: The audience always comes first
- Reading: Objectives and outcomes
- Reading: Vocabulary list
- Practice Quiz: Vocabulary practice
- Video: Making polite requests
- Video: Role play: making requests
- Video: Challenging grammar: relative clauses
- Reading: on relative clauses
Graded: Using appropriate tone and style
Graded: Module 4
WEEK 5
Analyzing business cases
Welcome to Week 5! This week we will cover Module 5 where we will introduce you to ways of analyzing business cases and strategies for critical reading. You will also be introduced to vocabulary and language skills common to business communications.
5 videos, 8 readings, 2 practice quizzes expand
- Reading: Objectives and outcomes
- Video: Analyzing case studies
- Video: Strategies for critical reading
- Reading: Strategies for critical reading
- Reading: Business case: Renewable energy and the hotel industry
- Discussion Prompt: Building a sustainable future for Just So Resort
- Reading: Objectives and outcomes
- Reading: Vocabulary
- Practice Quiz: Vocabulary practice
- Video: Supporting arguments
- Video: Role play: supporting arguments
- Video: Challenging grammar: quantifiers
- Reading: A few or a little?
- Reading: on quantifiers
- Reading: Peer-review practice: sample text
- Practice Quiz: Peer-review practice
Graded: Sustainable Resort Proposal
Graded: Module 5
WEEK 6
Concluding module
Welcome to Week 6! This week we will cover Module 6 where we will conclude the course and you will need to complete the final exam and post-course survey.
1 reading expand
- Reading: Post course survey
Graded: Final exam
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