I see no reason why we can’t do Friday’s AOB in a pub over a couple of post-course pints. This will also be a good opportunity to toast George on his birthday!

Shall we say 16.30?

Any suggestions on venue would be welcome.

Phil

As one or two of you were perhaps not 100% clear on Task Based Teaching yesterday, I thought you might appreciate an example lesson . . .

Task based business English speaking

This is a speaking lesson form an in-company group on the theme of planning a conference that uses a listening exercise to provide language input.

• Preparation and materials
  You will need to record two people planning a conference in a resort town.
• Pre-task (15-20min)
  Aim: To introduce the topic of conferences and to give the class exposure to language related to it. To highlight words and phrases.
  • Show sts pictures of a conference venue including seminar halls and rooms, equipment, a restaurant / bar and ask them about conferences they have been to.
  • Brainstorm words/phrases onto the board related to the topic; people / verbs / feelings / places / presentation tools etc.
  • Introduce the listening of two people planning a conference. Write up different alternatives on the board to give them a reason for listening e.g. (a) seaside / country (b) hotel / branch office (c) Outside speakers / Speakers from the company (d) Plenaries / Workshops. Play it a few times, first time to select from the alternatives, second time to note down some language.
  • Tell them that they are going to plan a conference for their company and give them a few minutes to think it over.
• Task (10min)
  • Students do the task in twos and plan the conference. Match them with another pair to discuss their ideas and any similarities and differences.
• Planning (10min)
  • Each pair rehearses presenting their night out. Teacher walks around, helps them if they need it and notes down any language points to be highlighted later.
• Report (15 min)
  • Class listen to the plans, their task is to choose one of them. They can ask questions after the presentation.
  • Teacher gives feedback on the content and quickly reviews what was suggested. Students vote and choose one of the conference plans.
• Language Focus (20min)
  • Write on the board fives good phrases used by the students during the task and five incorrect phrases/sentences from the task without the word that caused the problem. Students discuss the meaning and how to complete the sentences.
  • Hand out the tapescript from the listening and ask the students to underline the useful words and phrases.
  • Highlight any language you wish to draw attention to e.g. language for making suggestions, collocations etc.

o        Students write down any other language they wish to remember.

Phil M (adpt from an activity by Richard Frost)

Please be reminded that you should bring ID with you on Saturday for the exam and that you are required to be here in good time - no later than 10.00 - for exam admin purposes.

Good luck on Saturday morning!

Phil

If anyone wanted to do some further reading on NLP, TBT, TTT etc. there are several short articles on the British Council/BBC website below in the ‘think’ section.

http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/think/think.shtml

Happy reading!

Phil

Just clarifying that your homework today is to create an BET activity combining two of the areas we have covered in the course so far i.e. Business Writing, Telephoning, Social English, Using Visual Aids, Fact and Figures, Presentations.

The scenario, level of students etc. are for you to determine.

You can fly solo or do this in pairs if you wish.

You’ll have 2-3 mins to present your activity tomorrow and can use the projector if you like.

2-3 of you will present in the morning and the rest in the afternoon.

cheers

Phil

Please can you make time to do this short exercise, print out the result and bring it along to the session which is scheduled for Thursday afternoon.

http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks3/ict/multiple_int/questions/choose_lang.cfm

Thanks

Phil

Just letting you know about a couple of other sources. Please feel free to add more links etc. if you know of any.

• An essay on needs analysis can be found at http://www.onestopenglish.com/Business/Analysis/introduction.htm
• There are one or two decent example of needs analyses in chapter 2 of ‘Teach Business English’ by Sylvie Donna (CUP). A coupld of copies of this book are availaby in the teachers room this week.

Phil

Welcome to the course blog. This is a place for us to keep in touch with each other during the course.

Please feel free to voice your opinions, ask questions and make suggestions here.

You’ll also find the occasional addendum to a session here in the form of comments, uploads and links from the course tutors.

all the best

Phil