Learner Styles Quiz

Hi Everyone,

Before Thursday could you please complete this learner style quiz and bring your results to the session on learner styles next Thursday?

Ta!

Phil

Admin matters

Hi

I thought I'd let you know about some admin and timetable issues for next week.

The course itself runs from 10.00 and the final session will finish at around 16.45. This is classroom time. However, you are welcome to arrive at 09.00 and stay until 18.00 if you wish to do some extra work and there will be some optional extra course work to do if you wish.

Please try to arrive a little early on Monday so you can meet the other course participants and find your workspace.

All of you have been allocated a desk in the ils teachers room and are welcome to use this and the school library & computers if you wish.

As the numbers of books in the library are rather limited, you should please not take them off the premises next week.

Thanks

Phil

Presentations

How should we approach the teaching of presentations? One technique I've often seen used involves giving a poor model like this one. Have a look and decide what's wrong with the presentation. Also think about what you would consider to be the pros and cons of using this teaching approach.

The Cultural Iceberg

What is Business English?

As we are about to embark on a course in teaching it, I thought it might be a good idea to ponder what exactly 'it' is.

In many schools, colleges and publishers a distinction is made between 'Business English' and 'Everyday English' or 'General English'

Does the following dialogue fall under the broad category of 'everyday' or 'business' English in your opinion?

a. What's 'kaugey'?
b. Sorry?
a. What's 'kaugey'?
b. Spell.
a. G-A-G-U-E
b. Oh 'Gauge'
a. Gauge?!
b. Yeah. Where is it? On a car?
a. On a plane
b. It's an instrument for showing something like oil pressure, fuel levels
a. The verb 'to gauge' means 'to measure'
b. Thanks
c. That's 5 euros.

The Iceberg - What do the two parts represent?

Have  a look at this commonly used image of an iceberg. What does the part above the water represent? What about the part below the water?

I'll post the solution at the end of the week :)

Phil

Cross Culture Task

Hi

On day one of the course we will be dealing with the area of cross-culture.

Before the course begins, I would like you to prepare your selves a little bit.

You will be asked to compare your own cultural background/country with another culture you know quite well.

There is no need to do a huge amount of research. Just please give this a little thought prior to the course.

Thanks

Phil

Exam Registration Complete

Dear all

Just to confirm that you are all now registered for the examination which will take place on Friday 7th January.

For your information, there are 8 course participants.

Phil

Welcome to the FTBE blog

Hi Everyone,

I'm pleased that you have decided to take the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry First Certificate in Teaching Business English.

Why a course blog? Well I thought it could serve the following purposes:

• to keep in touch prior to the course commencement,
• to post recommended reading and optional tasks
• to generally share information related to the course and exam.

The course will commence at 10.00 on Monday 03^rd January and the working day will be from 10.00-16.45. However, the school opens it’s doors at 08.30 and closes its doors at 18.00 this week.

All course participants are welcome to come to ILS during those hours to do a bit of supplementary reading or use the computers to check this blog!

Come back soon to see what's new.

Phil Marsdale