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      Teaching business related language skills
      Submitted by Mehwesh on 20 May, 2011 - 03:11

      I am working with a group of sales people (aged 30 and above) in a company as a facilitator for language and communication needs. These sales people have Mandarin as their Mother Tongue but English is Second Language and they have studied it in their schools. The areas that I have identified are:

      -          Tenses

      -          Use of Possessive

      -          Singular and plural verb

      -          Wrong use of words

      -          Limited use of helping verbs

      Some of them have very poor writing skills as well.

      Now the issue is that I do not have a lot of time to spend with them. Sometimes if they are on visits, I do not get to spend time with them regularly. If I start teaching them grammar, I don’t think I will have enough time to explain the rules and make them practice. Can you suggest some activities that I can do with them to help them improve? They are fast learners and I am sure they will pick it quickly.

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      angol's picture
      angol
      Why not engage them in
      Submitted on 20 May, 2011 - 08:31

      Why not engage them in (distance) e-learning or m-learning in some form? This way your students could have greater exposure to English, practice more - especially if you have the time do provide differentiated tasks and resources, and even the students that have missed a session or two with you could be on track.

      Also perhaps try engaging them in group projects (related to their genuine tasks with the company) to be finalized by themselves on their own, outside the "classroom" - with you serving only as resource if necessary. 

      And you are lucky to have fast learners. Perhaps they could get to learn the rules at home, on their own, and only practice it in class through various business games.

      mceupc's picture
      mceupc
      Story telling...
      Submitted on 20 May, 2011 - 13:29

      Dear Mehwesh,

      Once you've asked, we would like to suggest this activity: let them tell some life stories - personal and/or business - related.By doing so, they would be to contribute to creating an authentic, exciting atmosphere, getting to know one another a little better. They would also improve listening & speaking skills - a must at business levels.

      As for you, the teacher/facilitator, that type of activity would help you to observe and assess the above identified language areas, and eventually others to be practised, consolidated, developed. Word collocation, e.g. could be highlighted.

      Cheers,

      Maria