Developing Materials for Business Developing Materials for Business English: Learning by DoingEnglish: Learning by Doing

By Azra Ahmed and Faiza SaleemBy Azra Ahmed and Faiza Saleem

Aga Khan University Aga Khan University Centre of English LanguageCentre of English Language

Karachi, PakistanKarachi, Pakistan

BE Courses taught at AKUCELBE Courses taught at AKUCEL BE BE courses at AKUCEL are designed for courses at AKUCEL are designed for

professionals interested in working on professionals interested in working on basic basic business business

communication skills.communication skills.

The course components are based on 36-hour inputThe course components are based on 36-hour input

Each component is of 6 hours (e.g., letters, Each component is of 6 hours (e.g., letters,

presentation skills, business grammar, etc)presentation skills, business grammar, etc)

Only on SaturdaysOnly on Saturdays

Consultancy services for Consultancy services for

Corporate sector – are need-basedCorporate sector – are need-based

Profile of LearnersProfile of Learners

Middle to low management from Corporate Middle to low management from Corporate sectorsector

Professionals from schools, colleges, small Professionals from schools, colleges, small organizationsorganizations

Individuals interested in self actualization, Individuals interested in self actualization, continuous educationcontinuous education

Most often from challenged socio economic Most often from challenged socio economic backgroundsbackgrounds

Primary or secondary education not in EnglishPrimary or secondary education not in English Lack confidence communicating in EnglishLack confidence communicating in English

Presentation focus areasPresentation focus areas

Web based

•WebQuests – Memos, Presentation skills

•Trivia quiz – Information gathering

•Weblogs – Reading, Writing,

Communication skills

Paper based

•Content & format of professional letters

•Tone & Style of formal letters

WebQuest for WebQuest for Business EnglishBusiness English

A WebQuest is an inquiry-oriented A WebQuest is an inquiry-oriented lesson format in which some or all of lesson format in which some or all of the information that learners interact the information that learners interact with comes from resources on the with comes from resources on the internet. internet.

The model was developed by The model was developed by Bernie DodgeBernie Dodge (1995). (1995).

Why have WebQuests for BEWhy have WebQuests for BE Easy way to incorporate the internet into the Easy way to incorporate the internet into the

language classlanguage class No specialist technical knowledge is needed No specialist technical knowledge is needed

either to produce or use themeither to produce or use them Most often group activities – lend to Most often group activities – lend to

communication and sharing of knowledgecommunication and sharing of knowledge Cooperative learning – stimulate Cooperative learning – stimulate

conversationconversation Linguistic toolLinguistic tool Real world outlookReal world outlook Lend themselves to SDLLend themselves to SDL

Types of WebQuestsTypes of WebQuestsShort Term WebQuests

[Dimension 2]The instructional goal

is knowledge acquisition and integration.

Learners: deal withsignificant amounts

of new informationand makesense of it.

Time - one to three class

periods.

Longer Term WebQuest

[Dimension 3]The instructional goal

is extending and refining knowledge. Learners:

analyze a body of knowledge, transform

it in some way, demonstratean understanding of the material

by creating something that others

can respond to, on-line or off. Time - between one week and a month in a classroom setting.

Short term WQ - MemosShort term WQ - Memos

Webquest Webquest Memowriting.pdfMemowriting.pdf

Long term WQ – Presentation skillsLong term WQ – Presentation skills

Harassment at the Harassment at the workplace.pdfworkplace.pdf

Trivia Quiz: Trivia Quiz:

Information Information gatheringgathering

Weblog for Business English:Weblog for Business English:Reading / Writing / Interpersonal SkillsReading / Writing / Interpersonal Skills

http://bizenglish.edublogs.org/page/2/http://bizenglish.edublogs.org/page/2/

Paper-based material for LettersPaper-based material for Letters

Types of lettersTypes of letters InquiryInquiry AdjustmentAdjustment Out of stockOut of stock InformationInformation ComplaintComplaint RequestRequest

OrganizationOrganization Tone and styleTone and style GrammarGrammar FormatFormat

Our expectations from the materialsOur expectations from the materials

Materials will:Materials will:

help develop critical thinkinghelp develop critical thinking

encourage cooperative learningencourage cooperative learning

enable authentic assessmentenable authentic assessment

optimize scaffolding of informationoptimize scaffolding of information

support integration of technologysupport integration of technology

Students’ commentsStudents’ comments

What aspects of this course were most beneficial?What aspects of this course were most beneficial? The “Business letter” writing exercise.The “Business letter” writing exercise. Formatting of the letter will be more beneficial.Formatting of the letter will be more beneficial. Letter writing and exercisesLetter writing and exercises It is diffinetly help for our office work.It is diffinetly help for our office work. The topic are good practical and would help us in our routine The topic are good practical and would help us in our routine

communications.communications.

““Besides, being knowledge enhancing, the search improved our Besides, being knowledge enhancing, the search improved our thinking capabilities..”thinking capabilities..”

““..webquest was really challenging.... ..webquest was really challenging.... ““...This student and teacher relationship is unforgettable. The assignment I can ...This student and teacher relationship is unforgettable. The assignment I can

say was a review of our course of self-directed learning..”say was a review of our course of self-directed learning..” I am feeling very happy after solving this webquest. Work on this project was a I am feeling very happy after solving this webquest. Work on this project was a

nice experience for me”nice experience for me”