English for Effective Business Speaking

About this course: This course aims to improve your Business English speaking skills by developing your use of vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, spoken communication skills within a Business context, and your ability to deliver professional business speeches for specific purposes. Skills learned in this course will be used in the cross-cultural communications course and help prepare you to deliver the professional business presentation in the Capstone project. After completing this course, you will be able to: - delivery effective job interviews - give persuasive business pitches - delivery informative business presentations - speak persuasively in English - adapt content to purpose, context and audience - use appropriate style and tone of writing for business purposes

Created by:  The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

• Taught by:  Sean McMinn, Senior Insructor

  Center for Language Education

• Taught by:  Kin Tang, Instructor

  Center for Language Education

• Taught by:  Delian Gaskell, Instructor

  Center for Language Education

Basic Info Course 3 of 5 in the Business English for Non-Native Speakers Specialization Commitment 6 weeks of study, 4-6 hours/week Language English How To Pass Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. User Ratings 4.5 stars Average User Rating 4.5See what learners said Coursework

Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.

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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

1. Video: Welcome to our course
2. Reading: Objectives and outcomes
3. Video: Introduction to our Specialization
4. Video: Guest Speaker-Prof.Caroline Wang-Effective Business Speaking
5. Discussion Prompt: How is this course relevant to you?
6. Reading: Learning how to learn
7. Reading: Learning vocabulary
8. Discussion Prompt: How do you improve your English speaking skills?
9. Reading: The HKUST English Grammar Guide (EGG)

WEEK 2


Introduction to business speaking
Welcome to Week 2! This week we will cover Module 2 where we introduce you to speaking skill you may need in the workplace. You will also be introduced to vocabulary and language skills common to business communications.


5 videos, 5 readings, 1 practice quiz expand

1. Reading: Objectives and outcomes
2. Reading: Elements of introducing yourself
3. Discussion Prompt: Meetings, meetings, meetings.
4. Video: From interviews to presentations
5. Video: Verbal and Non Verbal Communication Part 1- Verbal
6. Video: Verbal and Non Verbal Communication Part 2- Non Verbal
7. Reading: Objectives and outcomes
8. Reading: Vocabulary list
9. Practice Quiz: Vocabulary practice
10. Video: Challenging English grammar: redundant adjectives
11. Reading: Adjective and adverb word order
12. Video: Challenging English sound - /u/ "full" and /u:/ "fool" AND /I/ "sit" and /i:/ "seat"

Graded: Say it right.
Graded: Module 2

WEEK 3


Interviews
Welcome to Week 3! This week we will cover Module 3 where we introduce you to interviewing skills you may need in the workplace. You will also be introduced to vocabulary and language skills common to business communications.


8 videos, 10 readings, 3 practice quizzes expand

1. Reading: Objectives and outcomes
2. Video: Job Interviews
3. Video: Speaking to Inform & Persuade
4. Video: Context & Directness
5. Reading: Introduce yourself in a Job Interview
6. Reading: Peer-review practice- Introduce yourself in a Job Interview
7. Video: Peer-review practice: Sample Self Introduction
8. Practice Quiz: Peer-review practice: Introduce yourself in a Job Interview
9. Reading: Peer Practice Review - Describe your Strengths and Weaknesses
10. Video: Sample - Describe your Strengths and Weaknesses
11. Practice Quiz: Peer Practice Review - Describe your Strengths and Weaknesses
12. Discussion Prompt: Verbal or Non verbal communication
13. Reading: Objectives and outcomes
14. Reading: Vocabulary list
15. Practice Quiz: Vocabulary practice
16. Video: Challenging English grammar: 'the', 'a' and 'an'
17. Reading: Referring to something mentioned before
18. Reading: Before names of professions (articles & determiners)
19. Reading: Before singular countable nouns
20. Reading: Before uncountable nouns
21. Video: Challenging English Sounds -/ð/ "they" /d/ "day"
22. Video: Challenging English Sounds-/æ/ "man" /e/ "men"

Graded: Introduce yourself in a Job Interview
Graded: Describe your Strengths and Weaknesses
Graded: Module 3

WEEK 4


Business pitches
Welcome to Week 4! This week we will cover Module 4 where we introduce you to delivering business pitches and speaking persuasively. You will also be introduced to vocabulary and language skills common to business communications.


7 videos, 10 readings, 3 practice quizzes expand

1. Reading: Objectives and outcomes
2. Discussion Prompt: What persuades you?
3. Video: Elements of a persuasive presentation
4. Video: The elevator pitch
5. Video: Rhythm, stress and pausing
6. Reading: on stress and pausing
7. Reading: Peer review practice: stress and pausing
8. Practice Quiz: Peer review practice: stress and pausing
9. Video: Body language
10. Reading: What do we mean when we say 'rhetoric'?
11. Reading: Rhetorical devices in persuasive speeches
12. Reading: Objectives and outcomes
13. Reading: Vocabulary list
14. Practice Quiz: Vocabulary quiz
15. Video: Challenging English: giving opinions
16. Reading: on giving opinions
17. Reading: Discourse markers
18. Video: Challenging English sounds -/ð/ "then" /z/ "zen"
19. Video: Challenging English sounds - /θ/ "thin" /s/ "sin"
20. Reading: Peer review practice
21. Practice Quiz: Peer review practice

Graded: Practise your stress and pausing
Graded: Pitch it
Graded: Module 4

WEEK 5


Business presentations
Welcome to Week 5! This week we will cover Module 5 where we introduce you to presentations skills you may need in the workplace and effective visualizations. You will also be introduced to vocabulary and language skills common to business communications.


7 videos, 10 readings, 1 practice quiz expand

1. Reading: Objectives and outcomes
2. Discussion Prompt: You be the judge
3. Discussion Prompt: Evaluate your own presentation skills
4. Video: The differences between written and spoken English
5. Video: Preparing and planning presentations
6. Reading: Arranging and organizing presentations
7. Discussion Prompt: Making and using visual aids
8. Video: Designing effective visuals
9. Discussion Prompt: Ineffective visuals
10. Video: Engaging the audience
11. Reading: Presenting data in charts and graphs
12. Reading: Understanding the differences between seminars and conferences
13. Discussion Prompt: Past experiences with online presentations and meetings
14. Reading: Presenting online
15. Reading: Business Case: zAnta Boutique Hotel
16. Reading: Objectives and outcomes
17. Reading: Vocabulary list
18. Practice Quiz: Vocabulary quiz
19. Video: Hedging your language
20. Video: Challenging English grammar: prepositions
21. Reading: on prepositions
22. Reading: Common preposition errors
23. Video: Challenging English sounds /ɒ/ "not" and /ʌ/ "nut" AND /p/ "pit" and /b/ "bit"

Graded: Case Analysis Presentation
Graded: Module 5

WEEK 6


Concluding module
Welcome to Week 2! This week we will cover Module 2 where we wrap up the course. You will be asked to complete the final exam and post-course survey.

Graded: Final exam