Download It
Transcript of Download It
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”