Curriculum Overview:
- Target Level: B1-B2 (Intermediate)
- Number of Meetings: 10
- Class Duration: 60 minutes per meeting
- Objective: To help students build foundational professional communication skills, with a focus on basic workplace vocabulary, simple instructions, and functional communication. (10 Meetings)
Session 1: Introduction to Business Communication
- Objectives: Build confidence in speaking, introduce business communication.
- Key Vocabulary: business terms, company structure, departments.
- Activities:
- Ice-breaking introductions: “Talk about your job and company.”
- Vocabulary matching (e.g., roles and departments).
- Role-play: Introducing yourself and your company to a new client.
Session 2: Telephoning Skills
- Objectives: Improve phone conversation skills, focusing on clarity and professionalism.
- Key Vocabulary: phrases for answering, transferring calls, taking messages.
- Activities:
- Discuss common issues with phone calls.
- Role-play: Taking and giving phone messages, scheduling a meeting.
- Listening practice: Identifying important information from phone conversations.
Session 3: Networking and Small Talk
- Objectives: Learn how to engage in small talk in a business context.
- Key Vocabulary: greeting clients, making connections, building rapport.
- Activities:
- Practice initiating and maintaining small talk.
- Role-play: Networking at a business event.
- Discussion: Appropriate topics for business small talk.
Session 4: Business Presentations
- Objectives: Practice delivering professional presentations.
- Key Vocabulary: introduction phrases, signposting, summarizing.
- Activities:
- Discuss the structure of effective presentations.
- Mini-presentations: Practice presenting on a simple business topic.
- Group feedback and improvement tips.
Session 5: Negotiation Skills
- Objectives: Develop negotiation language and strategies.
- Key Vocabulary: bargaining, making offers, rejecting politely, agreeing.
- Activities:
- Discussion: Key phrases and techniques for successful negotiation.
- Role-play: Negotiating a business deal.
- Reflection: What went well in the negotiation and how to improve.
Session 6: Meetings and Discussions
- Objectives: Practice leading and participating in meetings.
- Key Vocabulary: agenda, chairing, turn-taking, reaching consensus.
- Activities:
- Practice making suggestions, agreeing, and disagreeing.
- Role-play: Leading a meeting to discuss a business project.
- Group work: Planning a business meeting agenda.
Session 7: Customer Service Communication
- Objectives: Improve communication with clients and customers.
- Key Vocabulary: handling complaints, offering solutions, follow-up.
- Activities:
- Role-play: Dealing with difficult customers.
- Group discussion: Best practices in customer service communication.
- Case study: Analyze a customer service scenario and suggest improvements.
Session 8: Email and Written Communication
- Objectives: Enhance business writing skills for emails and reports.
- Key Vocabulary: formal vs. informal language, structuring an email.
- Activities:
- Writing exercise: Compose formal and informal business emails.
- Role-play: Responding to email inquiries or complaints.
- Review: Tips for clear and professional written communication.
Session 9: Handling Job Interviews
- Objectives: Practice answering common interview questions confidently.
- Key Vocabulary: strengths, weaknesses, job requirements, qualifications.
- Activities:
- Role-play: Mock job interviews in pairs.
- Group discussion: Interview techniques and common mistakes.
- Vocabulary exercise: Phrases for talking about skills and experience.
Session 10: Review and Final Practice
- Objectives: Reinforce key speaking skills and practice for real business situations.
- Activities:
- Group role-play: Conducting a business meeting or negotiation.
- Feedback session: Group feedback on speaking performance.
- Reflection and review: Key takeaways from the course and areas for improvement.
Additional Notes:
- Materials: Business vocabulary lists, example dialogues, business scenarios.
This curriculum will help intermediate learners enhance their confidence in business communication, focusing on practical, real-world applications.
