tesl 2011 making the stretch from esl to business english

Making the Stretch from ESL to Business English

TESL Ontario ConferenceTESL Ontario ConferenceTeresa McGillTeresa McGillOctober 29, 2011October 29, 2011

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Please introduce yourself to others and ask:

“Could you tell me about the ESL settings you’ve worked in?”

Making the Stretch from ESL to Business English

Welcome!Welcome!

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From ESL to Business English: ESL and Business English Learners 4 Curriculum Layers Corporate Case Study Your Presentations Comments and Questions

Today’s Agenda

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Your Burning Questions

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The Stretch

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Where? Who? Why?

Your Learners

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Where? Who? Why?

Gandy’s Learners

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4 Curriculum Layers™

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1. Context

4 Curriculum Layers™

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1. Context

2. Tactics

4 Curriculum Layers™

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1. Context

2. Tactics

3. Language

4 Curriculum Layers™

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1. Context

2. Tactics

3. Language

4. Culture

4 Curriculum Layers™

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Sample Business English Exercise

Gandy Course: Speaking Strategies for Technical Professionals

MINI-DIALOGUES – ENCOURAGEMENT AND APPRECIATION

1. LATEST REPORT Offer encouragementExpress appreciation / thank

2. WORKING LATEExpress appreciation / thankRespond to thanks

3. PROJECT HEADACHES

Etc.

Pronunciation: “th” soundIdiom: “a headache”

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Case Study: High Tech Company

17,000 employees From all continents 600 Gandy participants Technical professionals

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Layer 1: Context

Setting

Roles

Tasks

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Context: Setting

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Context: Roles

Quality Assurance Specialist

Software Tester

Data Network Specialist

Systems Analyst

Hardware Design Engineer

Software Engineer

Technical Product Lead

Software Programmer

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Software EngineerMain dutiesSoftware engineers and designers perform some or all of the following duties:

Collect and document user's requirements and develop logical and physical specifications Research, evaluate and synthesize technical information to design, develop and test computer-based systems Develop data, process and network models to optimize architecture and to evaluate the performance and reliability of designs Plan, design and co-ordinate the development, installation, integration and operation of computer-based systems Assess, test, troubleshoot, document, upgrade and develop maintenance procedures for operating systems, communications environments and applications software May lead and co-ordinate teams of information systems professionals in the development of software and integrated information systems, process control software and other embedded software control systems. (Reference: National Occupation Codes)

Context: Tasks

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Discussion: What context-specific communication tasks are crucial for a Software Engineer?

Speaking/Listening Writing/Reading

Context: Tasks

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150+ communicative functions Clarifying, conceding, interrupting, etc. Business ‘soft skills’ slant

Layer 2: Tactics

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Layers 1 + 2

1. Context

2. Tactics

3. Language

4. Culture

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Layers 1 + 2

Context + Tactics Scenarios

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Layers 1 + 2

Discussion:

With your group members, dream up a practice scenario for Programmer/ Developers.

Be sure to target a context-specific communication task (e.g., discuss software test results) and relevant communication tactics (e.g., ask probing questions).

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Zero in on specific:

Grammar Pronunciation Vocabulary

Layer 3: Language

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Layers 1 + 2 + 3

1. Context

2. Tactics

3. Language

4. Culture

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Discussion:

With your group members, find language topics that dovetail with your scenario’s context-specific task and tactics.

Layers 1 + 2 + 3

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Layer 4: Culture

Cultural Dimensions

Equality Hierarchy

Directness Indirectness

Individuality Collectivism

Task Relationship

Risk Caution

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All 4 Layers

1. Context

2. Tactics

3. Language

4. Culture

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All 4 Layers

Discussion:

Think of ways culture interplays with your scenario’s particular context-specific task, tactics and language.

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1. Context

2. Tactics

3. Language

4. Culture

All 4 Layers

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4 Layers Combined

Rich and …delicious!

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Using the 4-layer method, draft an exercise, lesson plan or curriculum outline to suit a Business English audience of your choice.

Applying the 4 Layers

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Your Presentations

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Reflections, Questions and Actions